City of Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie

The town of Grand Prairie, with a population 300 in 1890, now sits at the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The aviation industry spurred city growth before and during World War II, and remains a staple of the city’s economy today. The Bankhead Highway appeared in Grand Prairie in 1920, when the main streets were paved as part of the completion of the Dallas–Fort Worth Turnpike. Over time, the Bankhead route through town was beautified to attract tourists. Many auto-related businesses opened along the highway and much of the futuristic signage common to the 1950s and 60s remains. The Uptown Theater, also built in the 1950s, offers a regular schedule of live performances, and recreational opportunities of all kinds are the name of the game in Grand Prairie today.