Region: Prairies and Lakes
Settled in 1852 as a trading post. For years, Lancaster (pronounced
"LANK-aster") was the second largest city in Dallas County. It retains the look
and feel of a small town, although it's only minutes from metropolitan Dallas.
Some of the finest Victorian homes in the county are preserved here. Extensive
restoration of the downtown area was completed in the late 1970s. A tornado that
struck the city on April 25, 1994, did extensive damage to the downtown and
residential areas.
During the Civil War, a pistol factory here produced the huge Colt.44 Dragoon
revolver that collectors call the "Tucker & Sherrod Confederate Colt."
Memorabilia of the CSA foundry and gun factory are preserved in the city
library.
The town square retains the look and feel of a 19th-century North Texas
market town. The city is home to Cedar Valley Community College and the
University of North Texas–Dallas. Lancaster Country View Golf Course is a
championship 18-hole municipal course that offers quality golf for all skill
levels. Lancaster Community Park features playgrounds, recreation center,
swimming pools, sports courts and fields, trails and a state-of-the-art library.
Bear Creek Nature Preserve, a new addition to the park, features primitive
camping, bird watching and equestrian trails.