Dallas, Dallas County, Texas Genealogy

Information about the city of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, United States of America

History
The State Legislature established the city of Dallas as the county seat of Dallas County. The town was incorporated by charter in 1856. The first mayor was Samuel B. Pryor. Other city officers elected in 1856 were Andrew M. Moore, marshall; William L. Murphy, treasurer; and Aldermen Willilam Burtle, W. Latimer, William J. Halsell, Burrill Wilkes, and George M. Baird.

Building Permits Archive
City of Dallas Building Inspector Record Books from 1905 - March 1970 are available in the Texas/Dallas History &amp; Archives Division of the Dallas Public Library. The volumes contain handwritten records of building permits issued. Building permit records will give you a date of construction and any significant changes or additions. They may also give you the name of the architect or contractor responsible for the building. Permits were not required until 1925, but may have been issued earlier.

You may also wish to contact the City of Dallas, Building Inspection Division, Central Files--located in the Oak Cliff Municipal Center. The telephone number is (214) 948-4318. They have microfilm of some (but not all!) of the actual building permits.

The above information is excerpted from the Dallas Public Library publication RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF A BUILDING on their web site.

Related Information
City of Dallas

Visitors and Convention Bureau