In 1936 the growing cities of Dallas County were experiencing the Centennial Exhibition, the Great Depression, and a rising interest in fighting crime in an era when it was perceived as increasing amid desperation. Each community, from the largest to the smallest, still wanted to grow and thrive, but many that existed in 1936 would later be subsumed by other cities.

The Texas Highway Department was created in 1917 to meet federal requirements and gain federal aid in building a network of highways, making good progress by 1936. Dallas County was served by both state highways and U.S. highways, often overlapping in big cities. Many followed along the route of railroad tracks. They all traveled right through towns and cities, along local streets. It was not until after World War II than highways were routed around local roads and business centers.