EARLY YEARS / PREHISTORY TO 1873

Fire of 1860

In 1860, 1,074 people were enslaved in Dallas County. The dominant white society was enmeshed in a southern culture that viewed slavery as necessary for economic growth and as sanctioned by God. The dominant society even believed it was a benefit for the enslaved. And yet, the white population also feared the anger of the enslaved, and the possibility of violent rebellion. When Dallas County had few enslaved people, such fears were limited. As the enslaved grew to a larger proportion of the population, fears grew and greater restrictions were placed on their daily lives. 

On Sunday, July 8, 1860, a fire destroyed all of the buildings of downtown Dallas except the brick courthouse. It began at 2:00 in the afternoon at the W. W. Peak & Sons Drug Store on the east side of the courthouse square and spread quickly to all of the wooden buildings.