Grand Prairie, Texas is a suburb of Dallas/Ft Worth and has a population of about 150,000. The temperatures tend to be hot and humid in the summer, and are described as ‘subtropical.' The motto for Grand Prairie is ‘Dream Big – Play Hard' and they pride themselves on being a casual, friendly and family-oriented city. Those moving to Grand Prairie will find a city filled with pride. Each of the neighborhoods takes great pride in their particular areas. The city is also working hard on promoting green neighborhoods and city buildings.
Economy:
Grand Prairie enjoys a median income that is about the same as for the state in general. The cost of living index is lower than it is for the country in general. Unemployment is slightly higher here than the state average. There is no state income tax in Texas, making living there more economical than in many other states. There are several large manufacturing companies in Grand Prairie, including Lockheed Martin (building missiles), Vought Aircraft and Bell Helicopter. Siemen's Energy is located there. Six Flags and Eurocopter have their corporate offices in Grand Prairie. The city continues to work hard at attracting new businesses, and have gotten four new distribution centers in recent years, including one for Solo Cups and one for Discount Tires.
History:
Grand Prairie was first established as a town named Dechman, named after the man who first bought land there. After the Civil War, he sold some of his land to the T&P Railroad to make sure that the railroad ran through his land. The post office opened there in 1877, and mistakenly named the town ‘Deckman.' In 1856, the Post Office changed the name to Grand Prairie. The city incorporated in 1909. The population soared during World War II, when workers came to work in the Aviation Base that was established there by the Navy.
Tourism:
Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum is located in Grand Prairie. Joe Pool Lake is a 7,500 acre lake where you can boat, fish and camp. The Grand Prairie Museum is an example of a turn-of-the-century home that you can tour. Lone Star Park has world class thoroughbred horse racing. Traders Village is a year round flea market with more than 3,500 vendors. There are several theaters in Grand Prairie, and one golf course. You also have everything that is offered in both Dallas and Ft Worth Texas just minutes away.