NEIGHBORHOOD – DOWNTOWN, DEEP ELLUM and DALLAS FARMERS MARKET

In 1873, the area east of Downtown Dallas was established as a residential and commercial neighborhood to mostly African-Americans and European immigrants. The area was originally called Deep Elm, but the pronunciation “Deep Ellum” by early residents led to its current and historically accepted name.

In the early 1900s, Deep Ellum’s proximity to Downtown Dallas initiated an attraction for the commercial industry. Several notable businesses were constructed in the area, including Henry Ford’s first Model T automobile production facility and Robert S. Munger’s Continental Gin Company production complex, as well as William Sidney Pittman’s Knights of Pythias Temple.

By the 1920s, the neighborhood had attracted nationally recognized artists, jazz and blues musicians — “Blind Lemon” Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Huddie “Lead Belly Ledbetter, Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins, Alex Moore, and Bessie Smith — sparking the openings of numerous nightclubs, cafes, parlors, and music venues. This musical movement established Deep Ellum as one of the most significant entertainment districts in Texas. Today, the neighborhood continues to support its historical past with the addition and integration of live music venues, restaurants, breweries, and art galleries.

Walkability Map