Editing Richardson, Texas

{{Short description|City in the Dallas and Collin counties of Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Richardson, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = Richardson August 2019 01 (plaza).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = A plaza near [[Galatyn Park station]] in 2019
| image_flag         = City of Richardson Flag.png
| nickname           = "The Telecom Corridor"
| image_map          = Dallas County Texas Incorporated Areas Richardson highighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location within [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas County]] and the state of [[Texas]]
| pushpin_map        = Texas#USA
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| pushpin_label      = Richardson
<!-- Location -->
| coordinates        = {{coord|32|59|30|N|96|42|14|W|type:city_region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]]<br />[[Collin County, Texas|Collin]]
| established_date   = 
<!-- Government -->
| government_type    = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
| leader_title       = [[City council]]
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]] Bob Dubey<br />Arefin Shamsul<br />Curtis Dorian<br />Jennifer Justice<br />Dan Barrios<br />Joe Corcoran<br />Ken Hutchenrider
| leader_title1      = [[City manager]]
| leader_name1       = Don Magner<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cor.net/government/city-manager-s-office/don-magner | title=Don Magner &#124; Richardson, TX }}</ref>
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 74.22
| area_total_sq_mi   = 28.66
| area_land_km2      = 73.99
| area_land_sq_mi    = 28.57
| area_water_km2     = 0.23
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.09
<!-- Population -->
| population_total   = 119469
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_density_km2 = 1609.66
| population_density_sq_mi = 4168.49
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
| population_rank    = US: [[List of United States cities by population|240th]]
<!-- General information -->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 75080–75083, 75085
| area_code          = [[Area codes 214, 469, 972, and 945|214, 469, 945, 972]]
| elevation_m        = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 633
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;5
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-61796
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2410933<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410933}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.cor.net}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Richardson''' is a city in [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]] and [[Collin County, Texas|Collin]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telecomcorridor.com/chamber/downloads/Relocation%20Packet.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226044214/http://www.telecomcorridor.com/chamber/downloads/Relocation%20Packet.pdf| url-status=dead |title=By area, 66% of Richardson is in Dallas County, but by registered voters, about 74% of the population is in Dallas County|archivedate=February 26, 2007}}</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total population of 119,469.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Richardson,%20Texas&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> Richardson is an [[Inner suburbs|inner suburb]] of the city of [[Dallas]].

It is home to the [[University of Texas at Dallas]] and the [[Telecom Corridor]], with a high concentration of telecommunications companies. More than 5,000 businesses have operations within Richardson's {{convert|28|sqmi|km2}}, including many of the world's largest telecommunications and networking companies, such as [[AT&T Inc.|AT&T]], [[Verizon]], [[Cisco Systems]], [[Samsung]], [[ZTE]], [[MetroPCS]], [[Texas Instruments]], [[Qorvo]], and [[Fujitsu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/classifieds/homecenter/profiles/richardson.html|title=The Dallas Morning News|website=dallasnews.com|access-date=20 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201135149/http://www.dallasnews.com/classifieds/homecenter/profiles/richardson.html|archive-date=2009-12-01|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="COR.net Press Release">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cor.net/PressRelease.aspx?id=14150|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728053957/http://www.cor.net/PressRelease.aspx?id=14150|url-status=dead |title=Richardson TX: Press Release|archivedate=July 28, 2011|website=www.cor.net}}</ref> Richardson's largest employment base is provided by the insurance industry, with [[Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas]]'s headquarters, a regional hub for the insurance company [[GEICO]], regional offices for [[United Healthcare]], and one of [[State Farm Insurance]]'s three national regional hubs located in the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telecomcorridor.com/site-selection/major-employers-1|title=Major Employers|date=March 7, 2017|website=Telecom Corridor|access-date=June 19, 2017}}</ref>

==History==
Emigrants from [[Kentucky]] and [[Tennessee]] settled near present-day Richardson in the 1840s. Before the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], a small settlement called Breckenridge, located near present-day [[Richland College]], was established. In 1873, the [[Houston and Texas Central Railway]] built a depot northwest of Breckenridge. After the H.&T.C. purchased acreage for a townsite from two local land-owners, the site was surveyed and laid out in blocks and lots, which the railroad began selling in 1874. The town was named after the secretary of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, Alfred S. Richardson.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Butler |first1=Steven R. |title=A Sesquicentennial History of Richardson, Texas, Vol. 1, Rural Roots |date=2022 |publisher=Poor Scholar Publications |location=Richardson, Texas |isbn=978-1737948018 |pages=77–79,93–96,106 |edition=First}}</ref>

In 1908, the [[Texas Electric Railway]], an [[electric railway]] known as the Interurban, connected Richardson to [[Denison, Texas|Denison]], [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], [[Corsicana, Texas|Corsicana]] and [[Dallas]]. In 1910 the population was approximately 600. A red brick schoolhouse was built in 1914 and is now the administrative office for the Richardson Independent School District. In 1924 the Red Brick Road, the present-day [[Lower Greenville, Dallas, Texas|Greenville Avenue]], was completed. The completion of the road brought increased traffic, population and property values. The town incorporated and elected a mayor in 1925. In 1940 the population was approximately 740.

After World War II the city experienced major increases in population, which stood at approximately 1,300 by 1950. Throughout the 1950s the city continued to see growth including the opening of the [[Rockwell Collins|Collins Radio]] Richardson office, [[Central Expressway (Dallas)|Central Expressway]], a police department, shopping centers, and many homes. [[Texas Instruments]] opened its offices in Dallas on the southern border of Richardson in 1956. This was followed by significant gains in land values, population, and economic status. In the 1960s Richardson experienced additional growth including several new parks, facilities, and the creation of the [[University of Texas at Dallas]] within the city limits. By 1972 the population was approximately 56,000. Residential growth continued through the 1970s and slowed in the 1980s. Commercial development increased throughout the 1980s. Richardson had a population of 74,840 according to the 1990 census. Population increases throughout the 1990s were primarily from development of the northeast part of the city. The city of [[Buckingham, Texas|Buckingham]], after being completely surrounded by Richardson, was annexed into the city in 1996.

Richardson had a population of 91,802 as of the 2000 census. By 2002 Richardson had four [[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] (DART) [[DART light rail|light rail]] stations and had built the [[Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts|Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations]] and the adjacent [[Galatyn Park Station|Galatyn Park]] urban center, which has a 2-acre public pedestrian plaza, a luxury hotel, and mixed-use development. Richardson was a [[Dry county|"dry city"]] with no alcohol sales until November 2006, when the local option election passed to allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery and convenience stores. In the fall of 2008 Peter Perfect, a [[Style Network]] television show, came to Richardson. The business-makeover show remodeled SpiritWear, an apparel and embroidery store in the city's historic downtown area. The episode first aired on January 22, 2009. It was the first episode of the series to be filmed outside of [[California]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richardsontexas.org/about.aspx|title=Richardson Convention & Visitors Bureau|website=www.richardsontexas.org|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dfw.com/105/story/88172.html DFW.com, SpiritWear, TV makeover]{{dead link|date=February 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:RichardsonTXMap.gif|thumb|Map of Richardson|left]]
The cities of [[Dallas]], [[Plano, Texas|Plano]] and [[Garland, Texas|Garland]] constitute almost all of the Richardson border apart from the municipality's extreme northeastern "panhandle."

Richardson borders the [[Lake Highlands]] area of northeast [[Dallas]] to the south, [[North Dallas]] to the southwest, [[Far North Dallas]] to the west, West Plano to the northwest, East Plano to the north, the city of [[Murphy, Texas|Murphy]] to the northeast, [[Sachse, Texas|Sachse]] to the east, and [[Garland, Texas|Garland]] to the southeast.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|74.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|74.0|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.2|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 0.32%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Richardson city, Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 19, 2012 }}</ref>

Approximately two-thirds of the city is in [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas County]], with the northern third of the city in [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]]. Of the {{convert|74.2|km2|order=flip}} contained within the borders of the city of Richardson, {{convert|18.2|sqmi|km2}} lie in Dallas County; the other {{convert|9.2|sqmi|km2}} are in Collin County.

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Richardson has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=885714&cityname=Richardson,+Texas,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Richardson, Texas Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{see also|History of Chinese Americans in Dallas–Fort Worth}}
{{US Census population
|1930= 629
|1940= 720
|1950= 1289
|1960= 16810
|1970= 48405
|1980= 72496
|1990= 74840
|2000= 91802
|2010= 99223
|2020= 119469
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/richardsoncitytexas/POP010220|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts|author=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 17, 2022}}</ref>}}

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Richardson, TX.png|thumb|Map of racial distribution in Richardson, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Richardson city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Richardson city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US4861796&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richardson city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4861796&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Richardson city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4861796&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|63,850
|57,600
|style='background: #ffffe6; |60,286
|69.55%
|58.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |50.46%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|5,586
|8,283
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,615
|6.08%
|8.35%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10.56%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|311
|318
|style='background: #ffffe6; |318
|0.34%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|10,666
|14,929
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20,412
|11.62%
|15.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.09%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|41
|42
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55
|0.04%
|0.04%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|120
|201
|style='background: #ffffe6; |535
|0.13%
|0.20%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.45%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|1,808
|2,001
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,720
|1.97%
|2.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.95%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|9,420
|15,849
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20,528
|10.26%
|15.97%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17.18%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''91,802'''
|'''99,223'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''119,469'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}


As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 119,469 people, 44,136 households, and 29,113 families residing in the city. As of the 2015 American Community Survey, there were 106,123 people, 40,020 households, and 27,327 families residing in the city.<ref name="Bureau">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|language=en|access-date=2017-06-20}}</ref> The population density was 3,213.9 people per square mile (1,241.1/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 36,530 housing units at an average density of 1,278.9 per square mile (493.8/km<sup>2</sup>).

There were 40,020 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the city, 21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 10.5% was from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males.

In the 2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates males had a median income of $60,709 versus $50,404 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,551. About 5.7% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. According to a 2015 estimate, the [[median income]] for a family in Richardson was $72,427 and a median home price of $198,900.

=== Race and ethnicity ===
By 1990, 10% of the Richardson population was not born in the United States, which increased to 18.1% by 2000. According to the 2015 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates, this figure was 24.3%. As of 2015, of those not born in the United States, almost 50% had arrived in the United States after 2000.<ref name="Bureau" />

Dallas County has an estimated 275,000 Arab Americans, many of whom have settled in Richardson. Many of them have come from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Yemen, Morocco, etc.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://yallacountmein.org/states/texas | title=Texas | date=June 5, 2019 }}</ref> The DFW Chinatown is located in Richardson, in part because of the large Asian population.<ref name="LightNanette">Light, Nanette. "[https://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/richardson-lake-highlands/headlines/20140221-three-decades-later-dallas-chinese-community-center-still-heart-of-asian-culture.ece Three decades later, Dallas Chinese Community Center still heart of Asian culture]" ({{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20141006122106/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/richardson-lake-highlands/headlines/20140221-three-decades-later-dallas-chinese-community-center-still-heart-of-asian-culture.ece Archive]}}). ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. February 21, 2014. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> Esther Wu, a former editor of the ''[[Dallas Morning News]]'', stated that Chinese immigration began in Richardson in 1975. Since then the Chinese community has expanded to the north.<ref name="Brenner">Brenner, Leslie. "[https://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/best-in-dfw/dining/20110309-best-in-dfw-chinese-restaurants.ece Best in DFW: Chinese restaurants]" ({{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140924062340/http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/best-in-dfw/dining/20110309-best-in-dfw-chinese-restaurants.ece Archive]}}). ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]''. March 9, 2011. Updated February 10, 2013. Retrieved on September 22, 2014.</ref> In the mid-1980s the majority of ethnic Chinese K–12 students in the DFW area resided in Richardson.<ref name="Kripke">Kripke, Pamela Gwyn. "[http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2012/june/why-30000-chinese-people-call-plano-texas-home Why 30,000 Chinese People Call Plano Home]" ({{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150122020824/http://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2012/june/why-30000-chinese-people-call-plano-texas-home Archive]}}). ''[[D Magazine]]''. June 2012. Retrieved on September 27, 2014.</ref>

By 2012 [[North Texas]] had over 60 Chinese cultural organizations and most of them were headquartered in Richardson and Plano.<ref name="Kripke" /> The Dallas Chinese Community Center (DCCC; {{zh|t=达拉斯华人活动中心|p=Dálāsī Huárén Huódòngzhōngxīn}}) is in the D-FW Chinatown. It includes [[English as a second language]] (ESL) classes and 20,000 books written in [[Simplified Chinese]]; the center imported some books from People's Republic of Mainland China.<ref name="LightNanette" /> As of 2011 the Chinese restaurants catering to ethnic Chinese in DFW are mainly in Richardson and [[Plano, Texas|Plano]].<ref name="Brenner" /> The [[University of Texas at Dallas]] in Richardson, as of 2012, has almost 1,000 Chinese students. The university has a program to recruit students of Chinese origin.<ref name="Kripke" />

Richardson's Indian immigrant community has been primarily driven by the international telecommunications industry that is so prevalent in the community. The Indian Association of North Texas headquarters are in Richardson.<ref name="Brettellp56">Brettell, Caroline B. '"Big D" Incorporating New Immigrants in a Sunbelt Suburban Metropolis' (Chapter 3). In: Singer, Audrey, Susan Wiley Hardwick, and Caroline Brettell. ''Twenty-First Century Gateways: Immigrant Incorporation in Suburban America'' (James A. Johnson metro series). [[Brookings Institution Press]], 2009. {{ISBN|0815779283}}, 9780815779285. Start p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bduAC5GaLScC&pg=PA53 53]. CITED: p.[https://books.google.com/books?id=bduAC5GaLScC&pg=PA56 56].</ref> Indo-Pak grocery store is located in an Indian-oriented strip shopping center east of [[Central Expressway (Dallas)|Central Expressway]].<ref name="Brettellp64">Brettell, Caroline B. '"Big D" Incorporating New Immigrants in a Sunbelt Suburban Metropolis' (Chapter 3). In: Singer, Audrey, Susan Wiley Hardwick, and Caroline Brettell. ''Twenty-First Century Gateways: Immigrant Incorporation in Suburban America'' (James A. Johnson metro series). [[Brookings Institution Press]], 2009. {{ISBN|0815779283}}, 9780815779285. Start p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bduAC5GaLScC&pg=PA53 53]. CITED: p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bduAC5GaLScC&pg=PA64 64].</ref> Of the suburbs in the DFW area, Richardson had one of the earliest Indian settlements.<ref name="Brettellp56" />

Richardson is home to a large community of [[Vietnamese Americans]] and even has a significant amount of Vietnamese-catering retail stores, malls, markets, and plazas, especially near [[U.S. Route 75 in Texas|U.S. 75]], such as the Hong Kong Market, the Cali Saigon Shopping Mall, etc.

==Economy==
Despite declining economies in other parts of the [[United States]], from 2005 to 2009 Richardson had substantial increases in its economy. The city's total assessed property value went up from $8.3 billion in 2005 to $14 billion in 2017. Sales tax collection went up from $21 million in 2005 to an estimated $32.9 million in 2017.

Since 2008, both [[Standard & Poor's]] and [[Moody's]] have upgraded Richardson's credit rating to "AAA" from the previous rating of "AA+". At the time, Richardson was one of only four cities in the state of Texas and one of 88 cities in the nation with an "AAA" rating from Standard & Poor's. In 2015, the [[North Central Texas Council of Governments]] (NCTCOG) determined Richardson's daytime population to be 156,065 based on American Community Survey information.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rdc.nctcog.org/Members/ServiceGroup.aspx?id=15|title=Research and Information Services - Regional Data Center|website=rdc.nctcog.org|access-date=2017-06-20}}</ref> The economy remains rooted in the telecommunication industry. However, Richardson's property tax base is deep and extends beyond its telecommunication roots to include other sectors including insurance, health care, technology and finance. The tax base is diverse with the 10 leading taxpayers accounting for 16.17% of total assessed value.

On March 1, 2014, the Richardson Fire Department officially received its Class 1 ISO rating. The [[Insurance Services Office]] (ISO) is "a leading supplier of statistical, underwriting and actuarial information for the property/casualty insurance industry", and its rating is used to measure the quality and effectiveness of fire protection in a community. At the time, Richardson was one of only 56 municipalities in the country to achieve this highest rating, which tends to reduce property/casualty insurance premiums.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1955 |title=City of Richardson, TX : ISO 1 Rating |access-date=2019-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107030114/https://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1955 |archive-date=2017-11-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Corporate headquarters===
[[File:Richardson August 2019 03 (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas).jpg|thumb|[[Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas]]]]
[[MetroPCS|Metro by T-Mobile]],<ref>"{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120629225820/http://investor.metropcs.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=177745&p=irol-faq FAQs]}}." [[MetroPCS]]. Retrieved on March 17, 2010.</ref> [[Fossil Group]], [[Lennox International]], Vent-A-Hood, [[id Software]], [[VCE (company)|VCE]],<ref>{{Cite news |title= VCE, Major Cloud Computing Company, Plans Major Expansion in Richardson |work= Press release |date= March 15, 2011 |publisher= VCE, The Virtual Computing Environment Company |url= http://www.vce.com/about/media/news?id=tcm:20-476 |access-date= August 9, 2013 }}</ref> [[Blue Cross Blue Shield Association|BlueCross BlueShield of Texas]], [[RealPage]], [[Fujitsu|Fujitsu Network Communications]] (U.S. Headquarters) and Samsung Mobile have their corporate headquarters in Richardson.

===Major employers===
[[File:Sherman Street and Buckingham Road, Richardson, Texas.jpg|thumb|[[Fossil Group]] headquarters (in the background)]]
According to the Richardson Economic Development Partnership's listing on Major Employers (last updated May 2018),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telecomcorridor.com/site-selection/major-employers-1|title=Major Employers|date=March 7, 2017|website=Telecom Corridor}}</ref> the top employers in the city were:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
|[[State Farm|State Farm Insurance]]
|8,000
|-
| 2
|[[AT&T Inc.]]
|5,000
|-
| 3
|[[Blue Cross and Blue Shield]] of Texas
|3,100
|-
| 4
|[[The University of Texas at Dallas]]
|2,674
|-
| 5
|[[Richardson Independent School District]]
|2,500
|-
|6
|[[RealPage]]
|2,100
|-
|7
|[[GEICO]]
|1,800
|-
| 8
|[[United Healthcare]]
|1,700
|-
| 9
|[[Raytheon]]
|1,700
|-
| 10
|[[Fujitsu|Fujitsu Network Communications]]
|1,500
|}

==Arts and culture==

The [[Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts]] is located in Richardson. It serves as the primary venue for the [[Richardson Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[Plano Symphony Orchestra]].

==Government==
Richardson was originally incorporated in 1925, with the first Charter being adopted in 1956 and the latest revision made in November 2015. The community is a home rule city and has operated under the [[Council–manager government|council–manager form of government]] since 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=112|title=City of Richardson, TX : City Council|website=www.cor.net|access-date=2017-06-20}}</ref> Richardson voters simultaneously elect six Council members and a mayor to represent them every two years. The Council members representing the four districts (1 to 4) must live in each district respectively; however, the mayor and the remaining two districts (5 and 6) can live in any part of the city. All Council members and the mayor are elected at large, with four Council members representing each of the city's four districts. The City Council is elected for two-year terms on a nonpartisan basis.

The Charter requires that the City Council appoint a city manager to act as the chief administrative and executive officer. The city manager is not appointed for a fixed time and may be removed at the will and pleasure of the majority of the City Council. One of the responsibilities of the city manager is to appoint and remove department heads and conduct the general affairs of the municipal government in accordance with the policies of the City Council.

The City provides to its citizens a full range of services including police and fire protection, emergency ambulance service, water and sewer service, solid waste disposal, park and recreational activities, cultural events, and a library. In addition, the City provides planning for future land use, traffic control, building inspection, and community services and operates two 18-hole golf courses. The City also operates the [[Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts|Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations]], which is a multi-venue performing arts and presentation center.

The City of Richardson is a voluntary member of [[North Central Texas Council of Governments|the North Central Texas Council of Governments]] (NCTCOG) association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.

===Politics===
{| class="wikitable"  style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Richardson city vote<br /> by party in Presidential elections<ref name="Dallas County Election Results">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallascountyvotes.org/|title=Dallas County Elections Department – Dallas County Elections – Your trusted source for voting information, resources, and updates. Explore voter registration, election details, polling locations, and essential tools to help you make informed choices. Empowering Dallas County to engage, educate, and vote}}</ref><ref name="collincountytx.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Pages/result_archive.aspx|title=Collin County Election Results Archive|access-date=January 25, 2021|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524214410/https://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Pages/result_archive.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election in Texas|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.26%''' ''30,621''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.84% ''21,840''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.90% ''1,016''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election in Texas|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.20%''' ''20,379''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.39% ''19,614''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.41% ''2,287''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election in Texas|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.07% ''15,969''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.04%''' ''23,131''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.89% ''753''
|}

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Richardson city vote<br /> by party in Class I Senate elections<ref name="Dallas County Election Results"/><ref name="collincountytx.gov"/>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2018 United States Senate election in Texas|2018]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.16%''' ''24,522''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.83% ''18,700''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.01% ''442''
|}

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Richardson city vote<br /> by party in Class II Senate elections<ref name="Dallas County Election Results"/><ref name="collincountytx.gov"/>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States Senate election in Texas|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.53%''' ''27,963''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.05% ''23,980''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.42% ''1,289''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2014 United States Senate election in Texas|2014]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.79% ''8,265''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.99%''' ''15,165''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.22% ''1,032''
|}

==Education==
===Colleges and universities===

[[File:UT Dallas Student Service Building.JPG|thumb|UT Dallas Student Services Building - A [[Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|LEED]] Platinum Building]]
The [[University of Texas at Dallas]], also referred to as UT Dallas or UTD, is a public [[research university]] in the [[University of Texas System]]. Despite its name the UT Dallas main campus, consisting of approximately {{convert|445|acre|km2}}, is within the Richardson city limits at 800 West Campbell Road. The campus is sited with Campbell Road on the south, Floyd Road on the east, Waterview on the west, and Synergy Park Boulevard on the north.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utdallas.edu/maps/|title=Campus Map|date=2009-04-29 |access-date=2010-09-16|publisher=The University of Texas at Dallas}}</ref> The university owns an additional {{convert|265|acre|km2}} in Richardson, adjacent to the campus, between Synergy Park Boulevard and the [[President George Bush Turnpike]].<ref name="Facilities Management">{{cite web|title= Facilities Management|url=http://www.utdallas.edu/facilities/|publisher=The University of Texas at Dallas|access-date=2010-10-20}}</ref> The UTD Student Services building, completed in 2010, is the first academic structure in Texas to be rated a [[LEED Platinum]] facility by the [[U.S. Green Building Council|United States Green Building Council]]. During 2016, construction was completed on the Student Services Building addition. New projects include an Alumni Center, a Brain Performance Institute and an engineering building as well as additional housing options. These enhancements are part of a campus renovation that has included hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in new and upgraded buildings since 2009. For the fall 2016 semester, UT Dallas had a total of 26,793 enrolled students.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.utdallas.edu/ospa/university-profile/|title=University Profile, Office of Strategic Planning and Analysis, The University of Texas at Dallas|website=www.utdallas.edu|access-date=2017-06-20}}</ref>

[[Dallas College]] (formerly Dallas County Community College District or DCCCD) serves areas in Dallas County.<ref name=CommCollareas>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.176.  DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.  The service area of the Dallas County Community College District includes the territory within: and Sec. 130.175.  COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.  The service area of the Collin County Community College District includes the territory within:].</ref> [[Richland College]] of Dallas College is in Dallas on the Richardson border. It is the largest school in the DCCCD, featuring nearly 20,000 students. In 2005, Richland became the first community college to receive the [[Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award]].<ref>"[http://www.quality.nist.gov/PDF_files/Richland_College_Profile.pdf 2005 Award Winner] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916100958/http://www.quality.nist.gov/PDF_files/Richland_College_Profile.pdf |date=2008-09-16 }}." ''[[National Institute of Standards and Technology]]''. Retrieved on January 19, 2008.</ref>

Residents within [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]] are in the zone of [[Collin College]].<ref name=CommCollareas/>

===Primary and secondary schools===

====Public schools====

The city is served by the [[Richardson Independent School District]] (RISD) within the [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas County]] portion of the city,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48113_dallas/DC20SD_C48113.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dallas County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48113_dallas/DC20SD_C48113_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> and the [[Plano Independent School District]] (PISD) within the [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]] portion of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48085_collin/DC20SD_C48085.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Collin County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-08-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48085_collin/DC20SD_C48085_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Despite that name, however, most of the Richardson Independent School District lies outside of the municipal boundaries of Richardson: 60 percent of RISD is in Dallas, with 35 percent in Richardson and 5 percent in Garland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.risd.org/group/aboutrisd/aboutrisd_main.html |title=Richardson ISD - About RISD |access-date=2018-12-04 |archive-date=2012-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502011227/http://www.risd.org/group/aboutrisd/aboutrisd_main.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The RISD and PISD have many Blue Ribbon Schools.<ref>"[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools 1982-2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326055622/http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-1982.pdf |date=2009-03-26 }}</ref><ref>"[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/list-2003.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools 2003-2006]</ref><ref>"[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2007/2007-schools.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools 2007]</ref><ref>"[http://www.ed.gov/programs/nclbbrs/2008/2008-schools.pdf Blue Ribbon Schools 2008]</ref> The [[Blue Ribbon Schools Program]] is a United States government program created to honor schools. The Blue Ribbon award is considered to be the highest honor that an American school can achieve.

Zoned RISD high schools in Richardson include [[Richardson High School]],<ref>"[http://www.risd.org/schools/school_finder/boundaries/inter003RichardsonHS.jpg inter003RichardsonHS.jpg]." ''[[Richardson Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.</ref> [[Lloyd V. Berkner High School]],<ref>"[http://www.risd.org/schools/school_finder/boundaries/inter005Berkner.jpg inter005Berkner.jpg]." ''[[Richardson Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.</ref> and [[J.J. Pearce High School]].<ref>"[http://www.risd.org/schools/school_finder/boundaries/inter004Pearce.jpg inter004Pearce.jpg]." ''[[Richardson Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.</ref> The Christa McAuliffe Learning Center is also in Richardson.<ref>"[http://www.risd.org/Schools/schools.asp?OrgCode=006 Christa McAuliffe Learning Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718223852/http://www.risd.org/Schools/schools.asp?OrgCode=006 |date=2009-07-18 }}." ''[[Richardson Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 6, 2009.</ref> [[Lake Highlands High School]] is part of the Richardson Independent School District but is located in [[Lake Highlands]], an area in Dallas just south of Richardson.

Sections of Richardson in the [[Plano Independent School District]] are served by several schools. Aldridge, Haggar, Miller, Schell, and Stinson elementary schools are within Richardson and serve Collin County portions of Richardson.<ref name="PlanoHS">"[http://www.pisd.edu/schools/maps/central.cluster.shtml Plano Senior HS Feeder Schools] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131085231/http://pisd.edu/schools/maps/central.cluster.shtml |date=2009-01-31 }}." ''[[Plano Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 8, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://www.pisd.edu/about.us/board.of.trustees/agendas/Meeting_11072006/SchellBoundaryMap.pdf SchellBoundaryMap.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324231018/http://www.pisd.edu/about.us/board.of.trustees/agendas/Meeting_11072006/SchellBoundaryMap.pdf |date=2009-03-24 }}." ''[[Plano Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 8, 2009.</ref> A section of Collin County Richardson is zoned to Mendenhall Elementary School in Plano.<ref name="Planoeast">"[http://www.pisd.edu/schools/maps/east.cluster.shtml Plano East Senior HS Feeder Schools] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203105449/http://pisd.edu/schools/maps/east.cluster.shtml |date=2009-02-03 }}." ''[[Plano Independent School District]]''. Retrieved on February 8, 2009.</ref> Otto, Frankford and Wilson middle schools in Plano and Murphy Middle School in [[Murphy, Texas|Murphy]] serve separate sections of Collin County Richardson. Vines High School and T.H. Williams High School, 9–10 schools in Plano, serve separate sections of Collin County Richardson, along with McMillen High School in Murphy. Plano Senior High School and Plano East Senior High School also serve separate sections of Collin County Richardson.

====Private schools====

The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas]] operates two K–8 schools, St. Joseph School<ref>{{Cite web | title=Home | url=https://www.stjosephccschool.net/ | access-date=2025-02-22 | website=www.stjosephccschool.net}}</ref> and St. Paul the Apostle School<ref>[https://www.spsdfw.org/ Unknown]{{Dead link | date=February 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> in Richardson. Other private schools include [[Canyon Creek Christian Academy]] (K–12), [[North Dallas Adventist Academy]] (K–12), [[IANT Quranic Academy]] (K–12), The Alexander School (8–12), Dallas North Montessori School (ages 3–9), and [[Salam Academy]] (K–12).

====Charter schools====

Four charter schools operate within the City of Richardson. These include the Evolution Academy Charter School (9–12), Premier High School of Richardson (6–12), Vista Academy of Richardson (K–12), and the [[Winfree Academy]] Charter School (Richardson) (9–12).

===Public libraries===
The Richardson Public Library is located at 900 Civic Center Drive at the southwest corner of [[U.S. Route 75]] (North Central Expressway) and Arapaho Road.<ref>"[https://www.cor.net/libraryfaq.aspx?id=5244 Library Location] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228055147/http://www.cor.net/libraryfaq.aspx?id=5244 |date=2008-12-28 }}." ''City of Richardson''. Retrieved on February 7, 2009.</ref>

The roots of the Richardson Public Library date back to 1947 when a branch of the Dallas County Library was established in a section of the Cash Dry Goods store on East Main Street in downtown Richardson. The fledgling library collection numbered about 400 volumes and was managed by Jessie Durham the store's proprietor. The City Council established the library as a city department in 1958 and in 1959 the library moved into a newly constructed building at 310 Tyler Street. This new library was just under {{convert|6000|sqft|m2}} in size and was built at a cost of $100,000.<ref name="Library History">[https://www.cor.net/LibraryFAQ.aspx?id=5228 Library History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324041932/http://www.cor.net/LibraryFAQ.aspx?id=5228 |date=2009-03-24 }}</ref>

Richardson was experiencing rapid growth in the 1960s and 1970s, and the library facility soon became inadequate for community needs. The current facility was constructed at a cost of $2 million and opened December 1, 1970. The new {{convert|81650|sqft|m2|adj=on}}, four-story building opened with the use of two floors and a small portion of a third.<ref>[https://www.cor.net/LibraryFAQ.aspx?id=5228 Richardson TX: Public Library<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324041932/http://www.cor.net/LibraryFAQ.aspx?id=5228 |date=2009-03-24 }}</ref> The basement was finished in 1980 for the reference collection and services. In 1995 the library underwent another expansion which finished the upper floor and renovated the three previously opened floors. Another renovation occurred in 2006 when the Youth Services department was expanded.<ref name="Library History"/>

In 2008 the library set a new record for the number of items circulated in a fiscal year when the 1 millionth item was checked out in the fall of 2008. The building has undergone building renovations and technological improvements in recent years that have enhanced the library experience for patrons. Since 2014, the digital library has expanded to include movies, music and magazines as well as books and [[audiobook]]s. In 2015, the Richardson Library established a "makerspace" that initially included a 3-D printer, designated computers with creative applications and software, and kits for the early exploration of electronics.

The Texas Municipal League recognized the library with its "Achievement of Excellence in Libraries" award every year from 2004 to 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cor.net/departments/public-library/faq/about-richardson-public-library|title = About Richardson Public Library &#124; Richardson, TX}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Richardson August 2019 25 (Galatyn Park Station).jpg|thumb|A [[DART light rail]] [[Red Line (DART)|Red Line]] train at [[Galatyn Park station]] in Richardson]]
Richardson and the region benefit from the location of two major highways in the city. The [[President George Bush Turnpike]], running east–west along the northern border of the city, provides a convenient connection to the [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|Dallas Fort Worth International Airport]], as well as links to [[Interstate 35E (Texas)|IH 35E]], [[Interstate 30|IH 30]], [[Interstate 20 in Texas|IH20]], [[Texas State Highway 114|SH 114]], and [[Texas State Highway 183|SH 183]] west of the city as well as a second link to [[Interstate 30|IH30]] east of the city.

Richardson also benefits from the [[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] (DART) Light Rail line which parallels [[U.S. Route 75|U.S. 75]] and has four stations in the city. In October 2016, DART approved the future construction of the [[Silver Line (DART)|Silver Line]] [[commuter rail]] with the adoption of its 20-Year Financial Plan. Service on the Cotton Belt is projected to commence in 2025. The Cotton Belt line will run from [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport|DFW Airport]] to the eastern side of Plano, with Richardson stations located at The [[University of Texas at Dallas]] and CityLine. The Cotton Belt rail line will also connect to [[Trinity Metro]]'s [[TEXRail|TEXRail line]], which connects downtown [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] to the DFW Airport. In order to take full advantage of these transportation assets for development and redevelopment purposes, the City has implemented three [[Tax increment financing|Tax Increment Financing]] (TIF) Districts. TIF District #1 was established in November 2006, encompassing both sides of the U.S. 75 corridor from Campbell Road south to Spring Valley Road, and then extending west from U.S. 75 along Spring Valley Road to Coit Road. TIF District #2, established in November 2011, is bounded by [[President George Bush Turnpike]] on the north, Wyndham Lane on the east, Renner Road on the south, and the DART light rail line on the west. TIF District #3, established in November 2011, is bounded by President George Bush Turnpike on the north, the DART light rail line on the east, Renner Road on the South and has its western boundary between Alma Road and U.S. 75. Dallas County participates financially in TIF District #1 and Collin County participates financially in TIF District #2 and TIF District #3.

===Central Trail===
[[File:Richardson August 2019 42 (Central Trail).jpg|thumb|Central Trail]]
The southern Central Trail extension opened in June 2014 and the northern extension opened in 2015. The new hike and bike trail segments mean that the central spine to Richardson's trail network will run from city limit to city limit, eventually connecting to trails throughout the region.

===Bike lanes===
In July 2015, Richardson was named a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=73&recordid=1750|title=City of Richardson, TX : News List : Richardson Named A Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists|website=www.cor.net|access-date=2017-06-21}}</ref> Richardson has a long-range plan to provide bicycle facilities and to designate preferred bicycle routes on lower-volume, lower-speed roadways. There are now more than 15 miles of bike lanes in Richardson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=265|title=City of Richardson, TX : Bicycle Facilities|website=www.cor.net|access-date=2017-06-21}}</ref>

===Major highways===

*[[File:I-635.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 635 (Texas)|Interstate 635]] – ([[Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway]])
*[[File:US 75.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 75 in Texas|U.S. Highway 75]] – ([[Central Expressway (Dallas)|North Central Expressway]])
*[[File:Texas 190.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 190 (Texas)|State Highway 190]] – ([[President George Bush Turnpike]]) (''toll'')

===Light rail===
*[[Dallas Area Rapid Transit|DART]]: {{DART R}} and [[Orange Line (DART)|Orange Line]]
**[[Spring Valley station (DART)|Spring Valley]]
**[[Arapaho Center station|Arapaho Center]]
**[[Galatyn Park station|Galatyn Park]]
**[[CityLine/Bush station|CityLine/Bush]]

==Notable people==

===Arts===

{{div col}}
* [[Pegah Anvarian]], fashion designer
* [[Steve Benson (cartoonist)|Steve Benson]], Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2011/01/18/nick-gillespie-takes-steve-benson-to-task/|title=Nick Gillespie takes Steve Benson to task|date=18 January 2011|website=dailycartoonist.com|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Tracy Hutson]], stylist, ''[[Extreme Makeover: Home Edition]]''<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Joyce Yu-Jean Lee]], artist
* [[Faris McReynolds]], artist
{{div col end}}

===Actors===

{{div col}}
* [[Jensen Ackles]], Actor/musician<ref>"[http://broadwayworld.com/article/Jensen_Ackles_to_Join_Phillips_for_TX_A_Few_Good_Men_20070428 Jensen Ackles to Join Phillips for TX A Few Good Men]." ''Broadway World''. Saturday April 28, 2007. Retrieved on February 6, 2009.</ref>
* [[Nicole Bilderback]], actress
* [[Catherine Crier]], television personality
* [[Bill Engvall]], actor and comedian<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Deborah Foreman]], actress<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Caleb Landry Jones]], actor/musician
* [[Jaren Lewison]], actor
* [[Jake McDorman]], actor<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Kin Shriner]], actor
* [[Nick Stahl]], actor
* [[Barry Watson (actor)|Barry Watson]], actor, ''[[7th Heaven (TV series)|7th Heaven]]''<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
{{div col end}}

===Businesspeople===

{{div col}}
* [[Ghassan Elashi]], co-founder of [[InfoCom Corporation]]
* [[Bette Nesmith Graham]], inventor of [[Liquid Paper]] and mother of [[Michael Nesmith]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Dies at 56|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wHshAAAAIBAJ&pg=4613,3284045&dq=bette+nesmith+graham&hl=en|quote=Bette Claire Graham, inventor of Liquid Paper ... She was the mother of Michael Nesmith, who was a member of the defunct Monkees rock group.|work=[[Associated Press]] in [[The Tuscaloosa News]]|date=May 15, 1980|access-date=March 18, 2010}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Entertainers===

{{div col}}
* [[Ryan Cabrera]], entertainer
* [[Jeff Dunham]], ventriloquist and stand-up comedian<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Jay Johnson (ventriloquist)|Jay Johnson]], ventriloquist<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Gordon Keith (radio host)|Gordon Keith]], radio personality
* [[Wil Shriner]], humorist
* [[Ashlee Simpson]], entertainer<ref>Christensen, Thor. "[http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-ashlee_0616gui.ART.State.Edition1.27d22a0.html Ashlee Simpson finds a high note in every low point of her career] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629073238/http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/DN-ashlee_0616gui.ART.State.Edition1.27d22a0.html |date=2006-06-29 }}." ''[[WFAA-TV]]''. Friday June 16, 2006. Retrieved on February 6, 2009.</ref>
* [[Jessica Simpson]], entertainer<ref>Wilonsky, Robert. "[http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2006/10/jessica_and_zayra_not_quite_go.php Jessica and Zayra: Not Quite Good Enough]." ''[[Dallas Observer]]''. Tuesday October 10, 2006. Retrieved on February 6, 2009.</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Filmmakers===

{{div col}}
* [[Jeremy Coon]], film producer<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.beatjeremycoon.com/ | url-status=usurped | title=Jeremy Coon on Jeremy Coon | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309230056/http://www.beatjeremycoon.com/ | archive-date=2013-03-09}}</ref>
* [[David Gordon Green]]
* [[Mike Judge]], creator of ''[[King of the Hill]]'' and ''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/pop-culture/2015/05/28/king-of-the-hill-creator-mike-judge-reveals-his-richardson-past-on-the-ticket/|title='King of the Hill' creator Mike Judge reveals his Richardson past on The Ticket|last1=Peppard|first1=Alan|publisher=[[The Dallas Morning News|Dallas News]]|date=May 28, 2015|access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Music===

{{div col}}
* [[John Gary]], RCA recording artist- vocalist<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fgaah|title=GARY, JOHN|first=SIMON, CHERYL|last=L.|date=15 June 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Bubba Hernandez]], Grammy Award winning Bassist
* [[Todd P]], New York City-based [[indie rock]] concert promoter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/toddpnyc|title=Public Facebook page for Todd Patrick|website=facebook.com|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref>
* [[Frank Ticheli]], composer, Professor Emeritus of Music at the University of Southern California
{{div col end}}

===Politicians===

{{div col}}
* [[Angie Chen Button]], state representative from District 112 in Dallas County
* [[Tony Goolsby]], politician<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.kxan.com/2011/09/20/former-house-member-goolsby-interested-in-replacing-shapiro-in-senate/|title=Former House member Goolsby interested in replacing Shapiro in Senate, September 20, 2011|publisher=blogs.kxan.com|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926151521/http://blogs.kxan.com/2011/09/20/former-house-member-goolsby-interested-in-replacing-shapiro-in-senate/|archive-date=2013-09-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Patti Ruff]], Iowa politician 
* [[Charles E. Turner (politician)|Charles E. Turner]], former mayor of [[Dallas]]
* [[Scott Turner (politician)|Scott Turner]], Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, Texas representative, and [[National Football League]] player<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Honorable Scott Turner |url=https://americafirstpolicy.com/team/scottturner |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=[[America First Policy Institute]]}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

===Sports===

{{div col}}
* [[Jeff Agoos]], soccer player<ref>"[http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/011709dnsposochof.2a59dd7.html Richardson Pearce's Agoos, Fawcett elected to the Hall of Fame]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." ''[[Associated Press]]'' at ''[[WFAA-TV]]''. Friday January 16, 2009. Retrieved on February 6, 2009.{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* [[Lance Armstrong]] (born 1971), former cyclist
* [[Justin Che]], soccer player<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/post/2020/10/02/fc-dallas-signs-academy-product-justin-che|title=FC Dallas Signs Academy Product Justin Che &#124; FC Dallas}}</ref>
* [[Keenan Evans]] (born 1996), basketball player in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the Euroleague
* [[Nolan Fontana]], baseball player
* [[Chris Jacke]], NFL kicker<ref>"{{cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JACKECHR01 |title=Chris Jacke Past Stats, Statistics, History, and Awards - databaseFootball.com |access-date=2009-02-09 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114045203/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JACKECHR01 |archive-date=2009-01-14 }}</ref>
* [[Eddie Jackson (American football, born 1980)|Eddie Jackson]], NFL defensive back<ref>"{{cite web|url=http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32265 |title=Eddie Jackson - Official New England Patriots Biography |access-date=2009-02-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009133503/http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=32265 |archive-date=2007-10-09 }}</ref>
* [[Justin Leonard]], professional golfer
* [[Liam McNeeley]], basketball player
* [[Shawn Michaels]], WWE wrestler<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Lee Nguyen]], soccer player
* [[Carla Overbeck]], founding member, [[Women's United Soccer Association]]
* [[Matt Stover]], NFL kicker
* [[Everson Walls]], NFL defensive back<ref>"[http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowContent/inspiration_expert_advice/famous_people/everson-walls-biography.html Unknown]{{dead link|date=May 2016|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
* [[Chris Wilson (American football coach)|Chris Wilson]], American football coach
{{div col end}}

===Writers===

{{div col}}
* [[Rogers Cadenhead]], author
* [[Deborah Crombie]], mystery writer<ref name="thecabinet.com">{{Cite web | url=http://www.thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=r&location_id=richardson_high_school_richardson_tx | title=Dark Destinations | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220153743/http://thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=r&location_id=richardson_high_school_richardson_tx | archive-date=2010-12-20 }}</ref>
* [[Gjekë Marinaj]], Albanian-American poet<ref>{{Cite web | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717140420/http://neighborsgo.com/stories/82602 | url=http://neighborsgo.com/stories/82602 | archive-date=2012-07-17 | title=Gjekë Marinaj’s words help defeat communism in Albania}}</ref>
* [[Anne Rice]], author<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/anne-rice-comes-home-to-richardson-7133696|title=Anne Rice Comes Home. To Richardson.|website=dallasobserver.com|access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref>
* [[John Maddox Roberts]], science fiction author<ref name="thecabinet.com"/>
* [[Brian Torrey Scott]], writer
{{div col end}}

===Others===

{{div col}}
* [[T. J. Cloutier]], professional poker player<ref>"[http://www.cardplayer.com/players/bio/T.J.-Cloutier/346 Poker Players]</ref>
* [[Richardson High School#Jeremy Wade Delle suicide|Jeremy Wade Delle]], student and subject of Pearl Jam's "[[Jeremy (song)|Jeremy]]"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=r&location_id=richardson_high_school_richardson_tx |title=Dark Destinations - Richardson High School, Richardson, TX |website=thecabinet.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101220153743/http://thecabinet.com/darkdestinations/location.php?sub_id=dark_destinations&letter=r&location_id=richardson_high_school_richardson_tx |archive-date=20 December 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Vernon Howell (a.k.a. [[David Koresh]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/a-mothers-words/|title=A Mother's Words|date=February 2009}}</ref>
* [[Joe S. Lawrie]], U.S. Army major general<ref name="Social">{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/4149418?mark=7b22746f6b656e223a225a44624b70413945446549743671326c584854584d586538356374616b574e6d54635732506f35634f47343d222c22746f6b656e5f76657273696f6e223a225632227d |title=U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Entry for Joe Stallings Lawrie |date=February 25, 2009 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=June 7, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
* [[Marina Oswald Porter]], wife of [[Lee Harvey Oswald]] at the time of the [[John F. Kennedy assassination|Kennedy Assassination]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=m6gQAAAAIBAJ&dq=richardson-texas&pg=6851,400593|title=The Age - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==Bibliography==
* Braithwaite, Barbara (editor). ''A History Of Richardson''. Richardson, Texas: Richardson Centennial Corporation, 1973.
* Gillespie, Gwyn. ''Historic Richardson: An Illustrated History''. San Antonio, Texas: Historical Publishing Network, 2002.
* Harris, Janet (editor). ''And The Telling Takes Us Back: An Oral History of Richardson''. Richardson, Texas: University of Texas at Dallas Center for Continuing Education, c1984-85. (Note: Part 1 consists of 21 interviews with representatives of families who settled in and helped in the development of the city. It covers the time period of early settlement to 1940. Part 2 begins with 1940 and continues to 1985.)

==See also==

*[[Dallas Repertory Company Theater]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.cor.net/ City of Richardson official website]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110809175256/http://www.telecomcorridor.com/default.aspx Richardson Economic Development Partnership]}}
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/browse/contributor/RPL/ Historic images from the Richardson Public Library, hosted by the Portal to Texas History]
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Richardson
|North     = [[Plano, Texas|Plano]]
|Northeast = [[Murphy, Texas|Murphy]]
|East      = [[Sachse, Texas|Sachse]]
|Southeast = [[Garland, Texas|Garland]]
|South     = [[Lake Highlands]]
|Southwest = [[North Dallas]]
|West      = [[Far North Dallas]]
|Northwest = [[Plano, Texas|Plano]]
}}
{{Richardson, Texas}}
{{Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex}}
{{Collin County, Texas}}
{{Dallas County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{US Chinatowns}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Richardson, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Cities in Collin County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1873]]
[[Category:1873 establishments in Texas]]