Grand Prairie, TX

Located halfway between the big cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, falls into three different Texas counties (Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis) and has a population of nearly 160,000 - an increase of more than 20 percent since the 2000 census. In spite of its sprawling shape and rapid growth, the city strives to maintain a small-town feel. In 2008 Grand Prairie won a spot on Money magazine's list of 100 Top Places to Live.

Grand Prairie attracts young professionals and young families looking for an affordable suburb with easy access to both Dallas and Fort Worth. A variety of ethnic communities contribute to Grand Prairie's cultural diversity, which is reflected in festivals that celebrate American Indian, Asian-American, Indian, and Mexican-American holidays.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Some of the most common industries for the residents of Grand Prairie include military and aircraft manufacturing, educational services, health care, social assistance, manufacturing, and administrative and waste management services.

Military and aircraft manufacturing became a major industry in Grand Prairie after World War II and many of those companies still have a presence in the city. In recent years, the Southwest Industrial District has attracted distribution and manufacturing centers to the area. Some of the other major employers include Bell Helicopter, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Lone Star Park and Poly-America Inc.

Grand Prairie has an unemployment rate of 10.6 percent.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The city of Grand Prairie accommodates an urban population of around 157,800 and a rural population of more than 500. Neighborhoods and districts of Grand Prairie accommodate around 46,000 houses, out of which more than 43,000 are occupied. Of the occupied houses, around 60 percent are owner-occupied while renters occupy the remaining 40 percent.

The city of Grand Prairie is somewhat walkable. Most grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, schools and drug stores are located close to the center of the city. Grand Prairie's convenient location offers residents access to cultural attractions in Dallas and Fort Worth, as well as opportunities for higher education on three nearby campuses at University of Texas at Arlington, Mountain View College and Dallas Baptist University.

South Grand Prairie is generally considered safer and more affluent than the north side of the city. Two of Grand Prairie's popular residential neighborhoods are:

• Nottingham Estates is a community of about 525 families located in north Grand Prairie, south of the Dallas/Fort Worth airport, and east of the City of Arlington. The neighborhood was built in a secluded post oak forest north of Johnson Creek where Carrier Parkway transitions from N-S to E-W.
• Westchester is one of the nicer neighborhoods in Grand Prairie. It is a well-kept, middle class, family-oriented area.

BEST BETS

• Dr. H. V. Copeland Home-Grand Prairie Museum: This white clapboard home, which is designated as a state landmark, was the former home of Dr. Horace Victor Copeland, a dedicated and respected doctor in the city for more than five decades.
• Splash Factory: This attraction is a water park geared toward younger children.
• Joe Pool Lake: Grand Prairie's 7,500-acre lake has a full-service marina, camping lots, cabins, and parks for fishing, swimming, water skiing, and camping.
• Traders Village: Opened in 1973, Traders Village has earned its title as "The Famous Texas Flea Market" for attracting more than 3.5 million visitors each year. Every weekend more than 3,500 vendors set up shop in the village's 161-acre site. The village also has kids' rides, arcade games, and lots of fair food.
• Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie: Previously known as NextStage, this state-of-the-art performance venue hosts numerous concerts and other events.
• Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe It or Not: This popular dual attraction features lifelike wax figures of famous actors and musicians in one area and oddity exhibits (including a realistic simulation of a Texas twister) in the other. An "Enchanted Mirror Maze" adds to the fun.
• Uptown Theater: This restored art deco-style building retains many of its original features (such as loveseats and a "cloud" ceiling) and serves as a multiuse entertainment venue.

EVENTS

• Annual Crappie Marathon: Fishing contest held at Joe Pool Lake
• Concert in the Park series: City-sponsored free concerts (jazz, big band, and more) throughout the spring
• Cajun Fest: Festival featuring authentic Cajun music and food
• Auto Swap Meet: A trade gathering that is the place to find anything even remotely car related.
• Caribbean Music Festival: Free music, dancing, and food
• National Championship Indian Powwow: Annual gathering at Trader's Village that draws competitors from all over the nation for tribal dance contests. Visitors can also enjoy heritage demonstrations, an arts and crafts market, and American Indian food.
• International Barbecue Cook-off: A two-day event with five competitions that lures hundreds of cooks from the Southwest every year.
• Prairie Lights: A two-mile path that showcases more than 500 Christmas displays. A holiday village halfway through the drive offers concessions, shopping, carousel rides, and pictures with Santa.

SPORTS TEAMS

Baseball fans have two teams to cheer for: the Grand Prairie AirHogs, a minor league team established in 2008, and the Texas Rangers, an American League team based out of nearby Arlington. Rangers Ballpark is home to both the Rangers and the Legends of the Game Baseball Museum and Learning Center.

With two of the Metroplex's favorite courses-Tangle Ridge and Prairie Lakes-plus several driving ranges, Grand Prairie is a great city for golfers. Two other sports venues offer residents and visitors plenty of action:

• Alliance Skate Park: This $1.2 million outdoor skate park features inline skating, skateboarding, and biking with an advanced outdoor course, covered course, and beginner's course. The park sponsors lessons, skate camps, concerts, and lock-ins, and also has a full skate shop.
• Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie: This park is a Thoroughbred horse racing track with live races and more than 150 television screens for simulcast races.

LOCAL MEDIA

The Dallas Morning News covers Grand Prairie, along with a community newspaper, the Grand Prairie Times. Fourteen AM radio stations, 20 FM radio stations, and 25 television stations serve the area.