A top northern suburb of Dallas, Richardson  was  chartered  in  1873  and named  after E.H. Richardson who built the railroad line from Dallas to Denton.  Richardson was ushered into the electronic age in the 1950’s when Collins Radio established operations in the heart of Richardson off US 75/ Central Expressway, which bisects the city north to south.

Known as the Telecom Corridor, Richardson is either  the  divisional,  regional,  or United States headquarters for such major employers as AT&T, Cisco Systems, Fujitsu, Samsung Mobile, Metro PCS, and Ericsson, and the home to more than 600 other technology firms focused on telecommunications, IT equipment/services, semiconductor manufacturing, software development, and nanotechnology.

Richardson is also the home to two of the best public school districts in the greater Dallas area: Richardson Independent School District and Plano Independent School District. Both have been recognized among the top urban school districts in Texas; more than 90 percent of RISD and PISD graduates go on to college. Richardson is also home to  The  University of Texas at Dallas, a major public research university known for engineering, computer science and executive MBA programs, as well as Richland College, the only community college in the United States to win the presti- gious Malcolm Baldrige Award for quality.

Housing ranges from entry-level first homes to spacious executive homes on tree-lined streets in  established  neighborhoods.  The northeast Richardson “panhandle” area features a 550-acre city park with trails, waterways, soccer, and softball fields. Most residents live within a half-mile of the city’s 30 parks, which are connected to a 40-mile trail system.

Richardson also has a vibrant arts community centered around the Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts. The facility is host to three venues; the largest seats 1,550, and is located on the DART light rail line in the Galatyn Park Urban Center. The Eisemann Center also houses the Richardson Symphony; the city is also home to a ballet troupe, children’s theater, and a community band.