Dallas, Texas

Dallas is the third-largest city within the State of Texas, ninth in the United States, and together with Fort Worth and the Mid-Cities form the largest metropolitan economic area in the south-central United States. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, Dallas had a total population of 1.1 million (est. as of July 1, 2004 at 1,210,393). Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County. A small portion of the city also extends into the neighboring counties of Collin County, Denton County, Kaufman County, and Rockwall County.

Districts and communities

See also: Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lower Greenville

The area stretching along Greenville Avenue south of Mockingbird Lane is referred to as "Lower Greenville" by Dallas locals. This section of the city is characterized by numerous bars, restaurants, concert venues, and tattoo parlors. Like Deep Ellum, the city's primary nightlife district, Lower Greenville is an extremely popular nighttime destination for singles and couples, though its popularity with gay and lesbian Dallasites is eclipsed by the nightlife district near the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Koreatown

A sizeable Koreatown can be found in Dallas, though this mostly commercial area of the city has not been officially designated as such. The Koreatown is located near Interstate Highway 35, centering on the intersection of Royal Lane and Harry Hines Blvd. This area in the northwest part of the city is characterized by a large number of Korean-owned businesses serving the city's sizeable Korean American community. Very few Korean Americans actually reside in the Dallas Koreatown, despite the concentration of Korean American commercial enterprises there, but rather live elsewhere in the two cities or in their many suburbs. As a result of this, there are relatively few Korean churches, often considered the social centers of Korean American communities, in the Koreatown area. Instead, one can find a large number of Korean restaurants, cafes, Korean-style karaoke bars (noraebang) featuring song selections in Korean and English, bars serving soju and fried chicken, Korean grocery stores (including the large Komart grocery store on Royal Lane), gift shops featuring popular Asian cartoon paraphernalia (including an outlet store for the Korean chain Morning Glory), and discount retail stores. The influx of these Korean-owned businesses into the area within the past two decades has been credited with revitalizing a once-deteriorating Dallas neighborhood, previously characterized by adult entertainment centers and prostitution. Some remnants of this past can still be seen in the area today.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In addition to Koreatown, smaller concentrations of Korean business can be found in the Dallas suburbs of Garland (most notably at the intersection of Walnut Hill Road and Plano Road) and Richardson (more notable for its large Chinese and Vietnamese American shopping centers along Greenville Avenue between Arapaho and Belt Line), Irving, and the Ft. Worth suburb of Arlington, among others.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum is an area just east of downtown which has been historically occupied with counter-culture venues including a variety of bars and clubs featuring regular music acts and restaurants which feature more bold menus than traditional fare. Although a recent rise in crime has hindered businesses in the area, Deep Ellum continues to be a popular gathering place for the city's young bar-hopping and clubbing crowd.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~