WELCOME TO THE DALLAS/FORT WORTH AREA

One of the largest Metro areas in the nation, the cosmopolitan cities of Dallas and Fort Worth continue to garner national accolades for its vibrant and growing international economy. Dallas was recently selected as the best city in North America for business by Fortune Magazine in recognition of rapid expansion of high-tech and financial industries. Nearly a dozen Fortune 500 companies have their headquarters in the area, taking advantage of high-level support services. Often called the "Silicon Prairie" for its concentration of high-tech companies, Dallas leads Texas in the number of workers employed in the manufacture of computer and electronic products.

Situated in the central Southwest, the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex are served by four major interstates and 13 other federal highways. The efficient transportation network that serves this region allows a company with a Dallas metro address to access 96 percent of the nation's population within two days ground transportation or to reach any domestic city in four or less hours by air. Commuters also enjoy mass transit options that enable them to work in densely populated urban areas but return in the evening to quiet enclaves or rural acreage. The Metroplex is distinguished as the leading business and financial center for the Southwest and home to the world's largest wholesale market. Little wonder that the Metroplex repeatedly appears on Fortune Magazine's list of the "Most Livable Cities in the Nation."

Services

The strong support for education is evidenced throughout the region in abundant options for private education and an excellent public school system. Local schools often earn state and national recognition, most recently the ranking of the Talented and Gifted High School in Dallas as number one in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Dallas Magnet High School for Science and Engineering garnered similar honors, making Dallas the only city in the nation with two schools listed in the Top Ten. Systems like the Dallas County, Collin County, and Tarrant County community college districts offer convenient two-year programs or an affordable start on a four-year degree. The University of Texas at Dallas is known for its excellent computer science, engineering, management, and behavioral sciences programs. High SAT scores and an impressive percentage of National Merit Scholars are just indicators of the university's enviable reputation. UTD is also recognized for its graduate programs in international management, economics, and political economy. North Texas University serves Dallas and Ellis counties with opportunities for undergraduate and graduate studies at the main campus in Denton but also at the Dallas campus. Other respected public institutions include Texas A&M University, Texas Woman's University, and the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Private colleges are abundant and include options like Amberton University, Argosy University, the Art Institute of Dallas, Baylor University, Criswell College, DeVry University, Parker College of Chiropractic, Paul Quinn College, Southern Methodist University, Wade College, and a number of others.

State-of-the-art healthcare services are available in nationally acclaimed hospitals and medical centers throughout the Metroplex, anchored by some of the nation's most highly respected health systems. Major teaching hospitals, research centers, community hospitals, specialized care centers, long-term care, rehabilitation, family practice clinics, walk-in and emergency care, skilled nursing, hospice, and home health are some of the elements of the comprehensive healthcare network. Skilled physicians in every specialty and nearly all subspecialties are available in private and group practice. The Metroplex takes a proactive approach to health through community outreach, health screenings, workshops and classes, nutritional counseling, and fitness programs.

Lifestyle

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex provides a wealth of attractions in an appealing atmosphere that blends Southern hospitality with cosmopolitan flair. The region manages to walk the line between urban sophistication and old-fashioned friendliness—an ideal mix for the top destination for tourism in Texas. In spite of its status among the nation's ten largest metro areas, the Metroplex is also the least densely populated urban center in the world, offering abundant space for some of America's most attractive neighborhoods and residential communities. Highland Park has been dubbed the Beverly Hills of Texas, while the Swiss Avenue corridor showcases the pinnacle of opulence and elegance in mansions from Art Deco to Spanish Renaissance.

Dallas means excitement that includes shopping, dining, and enjoying a kaleidoscope of entertainment by day and night. This shopper's paradise boasts more retail centers per capita than any other American city and surpasses New York City in restaurants per capita. Serious shoppers recognize Dallas as the birthplace of the exclusive retailer, Neiman Marcus. Residents and visitors flock to the Galleria to browse through hundreds of stores, shops, and boutiques. When the stars come out, many locals enjoy the eclectic Deep Ellum area, a former warehouse district that serves as a hub of live music. With its fine galleries and restaurants, this area is often called Southern SoHo and Little New Orleans. Natural and developed recreational amenities make this region ideal for those who enjoy a healthy outdoor lifestyle. Even in the cities and towns, active parks and recreation department have developed wonderful natural areas and supervised programs.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex offers a star-studded lineup of cultural attractions, from elegant venues and state-of-the-art arenas to intimate theaters and wonderful museums like Amon Carter, the Kimball Art Museum, and the Dallas Art Museum. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth and Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas anchor a wonderful range of performance venues, from cozy nightclubs to historic auditoriums to some of the world's leading concert halls. Hundreds of talented performing arts groups take the spotlight on these stages, filling the calendar with red-letter events. Families will appreciate the abundance of attractions and amenities that have the younger set in mind. The Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park, Dallas Children's Theater, the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, and the Dallas Zoo only highlight an exhaustive list of possibilities for quality family time. From its internationally famous professional sports teams to luxurious homes and booming economy, the Metroplex is one of the nation's most desirable places to live.