Vickery is an ethnically-diverse neighborhood consisting almost exclusively of apartment complexes in Northeast Dallas, Texas, United States. The Midtown Improvement District states the neighborhood is bounded by Northwest Highway, Royal Lane, Central Expressway, and Abrams. The City of Dallas Office of Economic Development states that the boundaries of the Vickery Meadow Tax Increment Financing district, which was established in 2005, are “the east side of the intersection of US 75 (Central Expressway) and Park Lane and extends eastward along Park Lane to the ‘Five Points’ intersection at Park Lane, Fair Oaks Avenue and Ridgecrest Road.” Leslie Minora of the Dallas Observer described it as "a dense swath of about 100 apartment complexes cradled by NorthPark Center and Whole Foods to the west and Half Price books to the south. It's an overlooked anthill, population 25,000, packed with people here by circumstance."Minora, Leslie. "The Remaking of Vickery Meadow." Dallas Observer. Thursday February 9, 2012. Retrieved on July 20, 2015.
The area is one of the most densely populated areas of Dallas and is home to many immigrants and refugees. The area was originally developed to provide housing for childless, upper-income people in the mid-1970s. The area was built out in the early 1980s. With the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968, the demographics shifted to a mostly low income, immigrant population from Latin America and other countries around the world. During that time, area public schools began to become overcrowded. The school district responded by opening new schools in the area, including one high school, one middle school, and several elementary schools; some apartment complexes were razed to make room for new schools. The Midtown Improvement District (MID), a public improvement district, serves the Vickery area.
In 2014 the Dallas City Council member representing Vickery, Jennifer Staubach Gates, referred to it as "kind of the melting pot of America"."Vickery Meadow neighborhood is ‘melting pot of America’" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. October 11, 2014. Updated October 12, 2014. Retrieved on July 14, 2015.
History Vickery was at a site that is now on Loop 12, State Highway 75, Interstate Highway 635, the Southern Pacific line, and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas line in north central Dallas County. It was located on the original land grants of W. Jenkins, D. Barrow, N. McGraney, and W. P. Wyche. The area was originally settled by John J. and William Jenkins in the 1850s, and a small settlement began to develop around the Jenkins homes. The Houston and Texas Central Railway built through the community in 1873, but by 1900 it was still a small settlement of a few scattered houses. In the early 1900s before World War I, John E. Vickery laid out and promoted a townsite, which received a post office in 1912. Ten years later the community had 200 residents, six food and drug stores, four automobile repair shops, three churches, a bank, a cotton gin, a dining hall, and a public school. It had no water or fire department facilities. The population of Vickery fluctuated between a high of 800 in 1927 to a low of 200 in 1933. By 1939 the number of residents had increased to 650, and by 1941, to 1,000. Dallas annexed the community in March 1945. (Source: Texas State History On Line)
The area was developed as multifamily residences that provided housing for an influx of people to the Dallas area that began in the 1970s. When it was fully built out, Vickery had 15,500 apartments and 2,300 condos in an area of 2.86 square miles.
Many of these residents were described by Michael E. Young of The Dallas Morning News as "young, hip, and reasonably well off." They reportedly planned to stay in Vickery for a short time before buying houses in the Dallas suburbs.Young, Michael E. "Hope blooms in Vickery Meadow" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. Saturday January 7, 2006.
In 1988, the U.S. federal government passed the Fair Housing Act, which, under most circumstances, prohibits any policy that excludes families with children from living in an apartment complex. The passage of the act— which forced the complexes to admit children— and a rental market recession, caused a decrease in rent prices and a shift in the area's demographics throughout the 1990s. Immigrants and refugees from Mexico, Central America, Bosnia, Burma, Bhutan, and parts of Africa moved into the apartment complexes. The infrastructure that existed was largely not designed for families."2002 Annual Report." North Texas Food Bank. 5/20. Accessed October 10, 2008. The Midtown Improvement District, a coalition of the property owners,"Jack Lowe, Sr. Elementary School." Brochure. Dallas Independent School District. Accessed October 8, 2008. opened in 1993 to improve the quality of life of area residents and stabilize the area real property and real property investments.Home page." Vickery Meadow Improvement District. Accessed October 8, 2008. In 2004, Casie Pierce, the executive director of the Vickery Meadow Public Improvement District, argued in an editorial in The Dallas Morning News that Vickery ought to be redeveloped into modern urban renewal.Pierce, Casie. "Casie Pierce: Time to make Vickery Meadow match its demographic changes." [editorial] The Dallas Morning News. Sunday December 5, 2004. Retrieved on May 5, 2009.
In October 2014 Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian who lived in the vicinity of Vickery, contracted ebola as part of an epidemic. Vickery residents stated that people were discriminating against them because of the incident.Hunt, Dianna and Diane Solís. "Dallas’ Vickery Meadow residents enduring backlash over Ebola" (Archive). The Dallas Morning News. October 6, 2014. Retrieved on July 20, 2015.
Government and infrastructure
Vickery is within the Northeast Division of the Dallas Police Department, which is headquartered at 9915 East Northwest Highway; sectors 210 and 240 cover portions of Vickery."Northeast Division Sectors Beats Streets." Dallas Police Department. Accessed October 10, 2008."Northeast Division." Dallas Police Department. Accessed October 10, 2008. Vickery is in the service area of Fire Station 37 of the Dallas Fire Department; the station opened in 1954 to serve the community of Vickery, then a rural area."DFD Station #37." Dallas Fire Department. Accessed October 10, 2008. Two city council districts, 9 and 13, serve sections of Vickery."Adopted Council District 9 Map." City of Dallas. Accessed October 11, 2008."Adopted Council District 13 Map." City of Dallas. Accessed October 11, 2008. As of 2008 the representatives of the districts are Sheffie Kadane and Mitchell Rasansky, respectively."Council District 9." City of Dallas. Accessed October 11, 2008."Council District 13." City of Dallas. Accessed October 11, 2008. In 2005, the City of Dallas established the Vickery Midtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to improve the real estate market and encourage economic development in its area. It is located on the east side of Park Lane, extending from U.S. Route 75 (Central Expressway) to the "Five Points" intersection."Vickery Meadow Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District." City of Dallas Economic Development. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
The Midtown Improvement District was established in 1993. In 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2023, the district was renewed. Midtown Dallas Inc operates the district."Vickery Meadow Public Improvement District (VMPID)." City of Dallas Economic Development. Retrieved on November 19, 2011.
Vickery is located in District 114 of the Texas House of Representatives. As of 2023 John Bryant represents the district."House District 114." Will Hartnett. Accessed October 11, 2008. Vickery is within District 16 of the Texas Senate; as of 2023 Nathan M. Johnson represents that district."Senate District 16" Map. Senate of Texas. Accessed September 28, 2008. Vickery is in Texas's 32nd congressional district; as of 2023 Colin Allred represents the district."Congressional District 9." National Atlas of the United States.
The area's transit authority, Dallas Area Rapid Transit, manages public transport in Vickery. Bus routes through the area include 17, 20, 27, and 402. The Walnut Hill and Park Lane stations of the Red Line and Orange Line also serve Vickery Meadow."Map Quadrant D." Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Retrieved on April 20, 2009. The Parkland Health & Hospital System (Dallas County Hospital District) operates the Vickery Health Center."Clinic Sites and Services: " Parkland Health & Hospital System. Retrieved on October 25, 2012.
Cityscape The Midtown Improvement District includes 11,929 multi-family units, 110 businesses, and five schools of the Dallas Independent School District.
Demographics Vickery is the most densely populated community in Dallas, and some of its residents are immigrants and refugees. Vickery Meadow attracts refugees because of its inexpensive housing, access to health care facilities, and public transportation.Gross, Harriet P. "Faith-based groups find time for local refugees." The Dallas Morning News. Saturday July 12, 2008. Retrieved on May 27, 2009. The greater Midtown area, consisting of of land, including open parkland, had around 53,000 residents by 2004. The core Vickery Meadow area, known as the Midtown Improvement District and consisting of , had 40,646 people. Of the population, 5,303 were under 6 years old, 3,932 were ages 6 through 13, 1,670 were ages 14–17, 27,555 were ages 18–64, and 2,186 were 65 or older. 39% of the people were considered to be in poverty. The average residency period was less than five years. Of the population about 40% were Hispanic or Latino, 32% were White, 22% were African-American, and 6% were other groups, mostly including immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The Vickery Midtown Improvement District said that the true Hispanic and Latino population may be higher due to illegal immigration.
In 2004 Vickery had 14,860 housing units, including 12,558 apartment units, 2,300 condominium units, and two single-family houses. A total of 102 multi-family residential properties existed in Vickery Meadow, with the smallest having six housing units and the largest having 1,084 housing units.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
The Dallas Independent School District operates schools serving Vickery."Aerial Map." Vickery Meadow Improvement District. Retrieved on August 16, 2011. Five DISD schools are located in the Midtown Improvement District.
Elementary schools serving Vickery and within the PID include Jack Lowe, Sr. Elementary School,Fall 2011 Jack Lowe Sr. Elementary Attendance Zone Grades K-5." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 6, 2011."Vickery Meadows Public Improvement District." City of Dallas. Retrieved on November 19, 2011. Lee A. McShan, Jr. Elementary School,Fall 2011 Lee A. McShan Jr. Elementary Attendance Zone Grades K-5." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. and Jill Stone Elementary School at Vickery Meadow."Fall 2011 Jill Stone Elementary at Vickery Meadow Attendance Zone Grades K-5." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 6, 2011. Other elementary schools serving Vickery Meadow include L. L. Hotchkiss Elementary School and Dan D. Rogers Elementary School.Fall 2011 L. L. Hotchkiss Elementary Attendance Zone Grades PK-5." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 6, 2011.Fall 2011 Dan D. Rogers Elementary Attendance Zone Grades K-5." Dallas Independent School District. Retrieved on September 6, 2011.