Then and Now

See how much downtown Dallas has changed over the last 100 years

The new year tends to bring on feelings of nostalgia, along with the urge to look back at what once was and compare to what exists now. Like a good before-and-after picture parade, it's fun and a little bit humbling to see how places have grown over the years, especially a bustling metropolis such as Dallas.

Settled by John Neeley Bryant in 1841 and formally incorporated as a city in 1856, Dallas has seen its share of change over the decades. Many of the landmark buildings in downtown Dallas have undergone similar journeys, with some seeing drastic reinvention and others sprucing up to recapture the glory of days gone by.

Downtown Dallas, Inc. has provided a wealth of historic images that show just how much downtown has grown recently. From vintage shots of the Dallas Farmers Market in the 1940s to a glimpse at our cityscape before Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Arts District, take a trip down memory lane by exploring the photo gallery above.

Curious to see these sights in person? Stop in at any of downtown Dallas' hundreds of restaurants, shops, parks, or entertainment venues, or turn up for one (or several) of the dozens of festivals and community events held there each year. Check in with the DDI website to stay up to date with the most current information and event listings.

The Dallas Arts District is the largest contiguous arts district in the United States, spanning 19 blocks.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Arts District

The Dallas Arts District is the largest contiguous arts district in the United States, spanning 19 blocks.

downtown high-rises hotels promoted preservation urban-renewal museums parks

Money news

Dallas ranks as No. 1 city with smallest inflation problem in U.S.

Photo by Erin Hervey on Unsplash

Dallas' inflation has cooled off after it was last saddled with the highest inflation rate nationally in January 2024.

Inflation has been one of the biggest hot-button issues in the country in 2025, but a new study says inflation not impacting Dallas nearly as much as it is other U.S. cities.

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked as the metro with the smallest inflation problem in the U.S. in WalletHub's new report, "Changes in Inflation by City."

The report analyzed the impact of inflation across 23 major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) using Consumer Price Index data from the latest month available and compared to data from two months prior. The analysis also factored in inflation data from last year to better track both short- and long-term inflation changes.

Dallas saw only a 0.10 percent increase in its local inflation rate when compared to two months prior, and the rate is only 0.60 percent higher than it was this time last year.

Dallas residents may be feeling the sting a lot less than they did in January 2024, when WalletHub said the city had the No. 1 highest inflation rate in the U.S. In April 2023, Dallas-Fort Worth had the 10th highest inflation rate nationwide.

The study found Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire is the MSA that is currently being rattled by the highest inflation rate in the nation. The northeastern metro saw a 1.10 percent uptick in inflation when compared to two months ago, and it's 3 percent higher than it was a year ago.

Inflation has continued to fluctuate throughout the year in different areas, but WalletHub said the national inflation rate has significantly lowered since it last hit a 40-year high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The year-over-year inflation rate sits at 2.4 percent as of May 2025, which is still above the target rate of 2 percent," the report said. "Various factors, such as the war in Ukraine, labor shortages and recent tariffs, drive this higher than average inflation. Despite the country not meeting its target yet, the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates at the level set in December 2024."

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land experienced the 13th highest inflation rate in the U.S., the report found. Inflation in the region increased 0.90 percent over the last two months, and it is currently 1.2 percent higher than it was one year ago.

The top 10 metros where inflation has risen the most are:

No. 1 – Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Massachusetts-New Hampshire
No. 2 – St. Louis, Missouri-Illinois
No. 3 – Baltimore-Columbia-Townson, Maryland
No. 4 – San Diego-Carlsbad, California
No. 5 – Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado
No. 6 – Urban Honolulu, Hawaii
No. 7 – Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, California
No. 8 – Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin
No. 9 – Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California
No. 10 – New York-Newark-Jersey City, New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania

arlington dallas economy fort worth inflation report wallethub