City (pop., 2000: 1,188,580), northern Texas, U.S. Located on the Trinity River, it was first settled in 1841 and was probably named for George Dallas .
While cotton fed the town's growth, the discovery in 1930 of the great East Texas oil field made the city a major centre of the petroleum industry. It saw spectacular growth after World War II, when several large aircraft-manufacturing firms located in the area. These were followed by electronics and automobile-assembly plants. It is the headquarters of more than 100 insurance companies and the Southwest's leading financial centre, as well as a transportation hub. Its many educational institutions include Southern Methodist University (founded 1911). It is known for its cultural activities; the Dallas Theater Center is the only theatre designed by Frank Lloyd Wright .