About Those Parts of Dallas That “Feel Like Austin”
I know this thought is not an original one, but I had it nonetheless: The parts of Dallas that people invariably say are “like Austin” are the parts of Dallas that are hilly. Specifically, the east side, Oak Cliff, and a little bit of Bluffview. I went on a current topographical map search to do a side by side comparison, but I got sidetracked by these two maps from the 19th century. They make the two cities look more alike than they are different, with the Trinity and the Colorado Rivers cutting similar swaths and the downtowns of both of similar size back then (at least, according to the maps). Here, then, is Austin in 1896 and Dallas in 1889. Check ‘em out if so inclined:
6 Comments to “About Those Parts of Dallas That “Feel Like Austin””
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Hold on while I install my new 84″ monitor needed to view these images…
Nice images. I wouldn’t call an elevation change of 100 feet a “hill” necessarily, in the case of Dallas. At 750′el., the only part of Dallas Co. that’s even close to hilly would be Cedar HILL. Sure enough, check out the vegetation sometime…ashe juniper, etc. I have no idea what the hipster quotient of Cedar Hill is though. Austin’s east side flattens out topographically, and tends to have more low income areas. Basically it sucks to be downstream, I reckon.
I can see my house!
Interesting comparison. But if you compare roadway access and population Dallas beats Austin by a landslide. The four-lane streets in the ’sleepy capital’ are overflowing with so many transplants that Dallas traffic is a walk in the park.
Don has a good point. West Austin has some great hills that qualify it as part of the ‘Hill Country’. Dallas on the other hand is a pancake.
The Piedmont neighborhood and surrounds (near Scyene and Jim Miller) always have an Austin feel to me.
There is nothing topographically similar to Austin in Dallas except the area in Cedar Hill near the state park on 1382. That’s Dallasites for you. Always trying to compare ourselves to other parts of the country instead of being glad for what we have: great spring and fall weather, central location in the US, light rail, 3 professional sports teams, and reasonably priced real estate.