Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex , the city of Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. American settlers first moved into the area now occupied by Frisco via stagecoach, travel- ing first along the Shawnee Trail then later the Preston Trail. These stagecoach routes largely influenced settlements in the region, and communities like Preston and Lebanon formed along these routes. This pattern would be altered, however, as railroads were soon surveyed through the area. As early as 1849, engineers working for the railroad identified a geographical feature known as Preston Ridge that would provide a strategic resource for the growing network of railroads in the area. Engineers realized that Preston Ridge could be used to collect stormwater using a manmade lake, which would provide a power source for trains moving throughout the region. The highest point in Collin County, Preston Ridge runs from North to South through Frisco’s mod - ern city boundaries. The ridge’s western edge features a sharp drop off that quickly levels off into flat land. Engineers working for the railroad knew that, because of this unique topography, stormwater could be col- lected relatively easily, being channeled into the now non-existent Lake Frisco. This lake formed a vital piece of infrastructure for the railroads, allowing trains to stop and refuel their steam engines. The railroad line reached Frisco in 1901, and, at this vital stop in the railroad, the town of Emerson was formed, named in honor of the man who owned the land where it was constructed–Francis Emerson. Prior to the railroad’s arrival, the existing population of the area was focused in a settlement named Preston, which was located atop the Preston Ridge. However, with the coming of the Frisco railroad, more and more settlers began to move from neighboring communities into what would later become the town of Frisco. Shortly after the town was established, its application for a post office was denied on the grounds that it was too similar to nearby Emberson in Lamar county. The town decided to change the name to Frisco City in 1904 in honor of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad, later shortening it to its current name and establish - ing a post office that same year. With a railroad station and depot, Frisco’s population quickly rose to around 1,000 people shortly after its founding. Over the next century, Frisco would see itself transformed from a small but strategic point of railroad infrastructure to one of the largest suburbs in the United States. Despite the rapidness of its inception, Frisco’s population grew steadily for the next 80 years, growing from around 1,000 in 1917 to around 3,000 in 1980. However, again thanks to its location, Frisco expanded exponentially. During the 1990s, Frisco’s population exploded, and it boasted over 120,000 residents in the year 2000. This growth trend continues as today the city of Frisco has a population of over 200,000. And, while the railroad industry has seen its influence significantly re - duced in the time since Frisco’s founding, the town has still maintained Welcome to Frisco Luke Carothers looking back, moving forward
a position of strategic influence over another industry consistently growing in influence: sports. Frisco is home to an ever expanding num - ber of venues and organizational headquarters for sports ranging from American football to golf. Sports organizations such as the PGA, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Southland conference are all now located in the former railroad town. Just as the Frisco Railroad did, these organi - zations have chosen this town as a place to expand from.
LUKE CAROTHERS is the Editor for Civil + Structural Engineer Media. If you want us to cover your project or want to feature your own article, he can be reached at lcarothers@zweiggroup.com.
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