II . HISTORIC CONTEXT
POST WORLD WAR II ARLINGTON
During the decade-and-a-half period following the end of World War II , Arlington , Texas would be transformed from a mostly agricultural based small town with a two-year state college to a thriving industrial powerhouse with big-name national manufacturing firms , sprawling suburbs and a four-year college . Once General Motors announced its intention to build a new plant on the eastern edge of the town in 1951 , the town entered a new phase of rapid development with a population increase of 482 percent from 1950 to 1960 . With this development came new challenges to the City ’ s infrastructure as it struggled to provide new schools , health care facilities , recreational opportunities , adequate water and sewer systems and a transportation network capable of serving its citizens and the ever-growing business community . In meeting these challenges , Arlington evolved from a bedroom community dependent on its larger neighbors of Dallas to the east and Fort Worth to the west to a thriving , self-sufficient city of nearly 45,000 people .
In 1940 , Arlington had a population of 4,560 . The city experienced modest growth during World War II as residents were able to find employment in area defense industries , particularly at North American Aviation in nearby Grand Prairie , Texas , located a short distance east of Arlington . Census figures from 1950 indicate that at least 215 housing units were constructed between 1940 and 1945 . As the town ’ s population grew during that period , North Texas Agricultural College ( NTAC ), Arlington ’ s two-year college , experienced a decline in enrollment . The number of women remained fairly stable but the number of men attending the school fell more than 47 percent as they entered the armed forces or found employment in defense plants . The number of full-time faculty also fell from 77 to 53 . As did numerous colleges across the country , NTAC ’ s administration found ways to fill empty classrooms . The college offered government-sponsored training for those seeking employment in defense-related industries . Navy and Marine units also received training at the college . 1
In the immediate post-wars years , the Arlington area began to attract new industries , largely because of its location midway between Dallas and Fort Worth . One such company was the Cosden Petroleum Corporation whose general office was in Big Springs , Texas . Company officials chose Arlington because it was in the center of the largest gasoline consuming area of Texas . Cosden ’ s Arlington Terminal opened in 1947 and was located one mile east of the city on U . S . Highway 80 near the former Arlington Downs racetrack . The plant had a service area of 100 miles and provided three grades of gasoline , kerosene and diesel fuel . Although the plant only employed nine local residents , the area in which it was located would soon grow into one of the nation ’ s largest industrial centers of the mid-twentieth century . 2
A NEW ERA OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
After the war , as demand for military aircraft fell , North American Aviation closed its plant in Grand Prairie . But on April 18 , 1948 , the Department of the Navy announced that the Chance Vought Division of United Aircraft Corporation would be moving its headquarters from
1 U . S . Census , 1950 ; Gerald D . Saxon , Transitions : A Centennial History of The University of Texas at Arlington ( Arlington , Texas : UTA Press , 1995 ), 62-64 . 2 Tarrant County ( Texas ) Citizen , December 11 , 1947 ; Arlington ( Texas ) Journal , December 12 , 1947 .
FINAL REPORT
ARLINGTON HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY UPDATE
SEPTEMBER 2007
7