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Irving occupies a prime location in the center of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, sandwiched between Dallas and Fort Worth along the Trinity River corridor. With a population of approximately 256,000, Irving is one of the most significant employment hubs in North Texas, home to multiple Fortune 500 corporate headquarters and the globally recognized Las Colinas Urban Center. The city blends a dynamic business environment with extensive parklands, a thriving arts scene, and a growing culinary landscape that reflects its remarkably diverse population.
Irving was founded in 1903 along the tracks of the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway and named after Washington Irving, the beloved American author. For its first half-century, Irving remained a small farming and railroad town. The city transformed dramatically in the 1970s when the Las Colinas master-planned community was developed on what had been ranchland, launching Irving into the national spotlight as a model of suburban corporate development. Today, Irving is the headquarters city for ExxonMobil, Kimberly-Clark, Fluor Corporation, and McKesson, and it sits adjacent to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world.
The area that is now Irving was originally inhabited by the Tonkawa and Wichita peoples, who lived along the Trinity River and its tributaries for thousands of years before European contact. The Trinity River served as a vital resource for hunting, fishing, and trade well into the 19th century, and the fertile bottomlands of the river valley made the area attractive to early Anglo-American settlers.
Irving was officially founded in 1903 by Otto Schulze and J.O. Schulze, who plotted the original town along the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railway line. They named the settlement after Washington Irving, the author of Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, reportedly because the landscape reminded them of the Hudson River Valley. The town incorporated in 1914 with a population of roughly 350 residents, sustained by cotton farming, cattle ranching, and rail commerce.
For decades, Irving remained a small, quiet agricultural community. The Great Depression hit local farmers hard, but the town survived through diversified crops and the resilience of its small business community. The construction of Highway 183 in the 1930s provided better access to Dallas and Fort Worth, sewing the seeds of future suburban growth.
The single most transformative event in Irving’s history came in 1971 when developer Ben H. Carpenter broke ground on Las Colinas, a 12,000-acre master-planned development that would redefine the city. Carpenter envisioned a self-contained urban center with corporate offices, residential neighborhoods, canals, and cultural amenities — a city within a city. Las Colinas attracted major corporate relocations throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including the world headquarters of ExxonMobil, and fundamentally transformed Irving from a small railroad town into a major economic powerhouse.
Irving offers an impressive variety of cultural, recreational, and entertainment options that reflect its status as both a corporate hub and a diverse suburban community.
The Toyota Music Factory in Las Colinas is the city’s premier entertainment complex, featuring an indoor-outdoor concert venue, multiple restaurants, a cinema, and a central plaza that hosts live music and community events year-round. The venue draws national touring acts and comedians, and its open-air design makes it a popular gathering spot even on non-show nights when the plaza fills with families, couples, and groups of friends enjoying the atmosphere.
History enthusiasts will appreciate the Ruth Paine House Museum, a restored 1950s ranch-style home with an extraordinary place in American history. It was in this house that Lee Harvey Oswald spent the night before the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the home has been preserved to interpret this pivotal chapter of the 20th century. The museum offers guided tours that explore both the Kennedy assassination and suburban life in mid-century Texas.
The Irving Arts Center is the cultural heart of the city, presenting live theater, symphony performances, dance productions, and rotating art exhibitions throughout the year. The center’s sculpture garden features over a dozen large-scale works by nationally recognized artists, and its indoor galleries host exhibitions that range from contemporary Texas painters to international traveling collections.
The Mustangs of Las Colinas is the most iconic sight in Irving and one of the most celebrated public art installations in Texas. Sculpted by Robert Glen and installed in Williams Square in 1984, the installation depicts nine wild mustangs galloping through a granite stream, capturing the untamed spirit of the American West. The bronze horses are life-sized, incredibly detailed, and set in a reflecting pool that makes them appear to run through water — it is a breathtaking work of public art that draws photographers and visitors from across the world.
Lake Carolyn anchors the Las Colinas Urban Center with a scenic waterfront walkway, paddleboat rentals, and views of the Dallas skyline reflected in its calm waters. The Mandalay Canal Walk, modeled after the canals of Venice and lined with restaurants, bridges, and waterfront seating, creates a European-inspired pedestrian experience in the heart of North Texas. Gondola rides are available seasonally, offering a unique and romantic way to experience the Las Colinas waterfront.
Campión Trails form a 22-mile network of paved and natural-surface paths that extend through some of the most scenic parts of Irving, connecting neighborhoods, parks, and natural areas along the Trinity River and its tributaries. The trail system is popular with cyclists, runners, and bird-watchers, and its well-maintained corridors provide a green ribbon of recreation that ties the city’s diverse districts together.
Irving’s parks system encompasses more than 80 parks and green spaces, making outdoor recreation easily accessible to every neighborhood in the city. The crown jewel is L.B. Houston Nature Trail, a 10-mile looped trail system within the Trinity River bottoms that includes some of the last remaining stands of bottomland hardwood forest in Dallas County. The trail offers shaded hiking, excellent bird-watching, and a rare opportunity to experience the Trinity River ecosystem as it would have appeared centuries ago.
Northwest Park is one of Irving’s largest recreational complexes, featuring sports fields, tennis courts, a community pool, playgrounds, and picnic pavilions spread across over 40 acres. The park is a hub for youth sports leagues and weekend family gatherings. Victoria Park offers a quieter natural experience with its small lake, fishing pier, and walking trails, while the Irving Golf Club provides a challenging 18-hole public course that is popular with both local residents and visitors from across the metroplex.
Spring is the ideal season to experience Irving, with daytime temperatures in the comfortable 60s to 80s°F and the city’s parks and trails at their most vibrant. The Mustangs of Las Colinas are particularly stunning against spring wildflower blooms, and the Mandalay Canal Walk comes alive with al fresco dining and weekend events. Bird migration along the Trinity River corridor makes this an excellent time for wildlife enthusiasts to explore the L.B. Houston Nature Trail and Campión Trails.
Fall brings crisp air and a packed events calendar, with outdoor concerts returning to the Toyota Music Factory and seasonal festivals drawing crowds to Lake Carolyn and the Irving Arts Center. Temperatures cool to the 60s and 70s°F, making it perfect for long walks along the Mandalay Canal or a round of golf at the Irving Golf Club. The fall months also coincide with the start of convention season, bringing a lively energy to the Las Colinas district.
Summer sees temperatures climb into the high 90s°F and frequently beyond 100°F, but the season also brings the most vibrant festival lineup, including Independence Day fireworks over Lake Carolyn and a full slate of summer concert series at the Toyota Music Factory. Visitors should schedule outdoor activities for early morning or late evening and take advantage of the air-conditioned galleries at the Irving Arts Center during the peak heat of the afternoon.
Winter is the quietest and most affordable time to visit Irving, with mild daytime temperatures in the 50s and 60s°F and relatively small crowds at major attractions. The Ruth Paine House Museum offers a comfortable indoor experience for history buffs, and the Irving Arts Center unveils its winter exhibition schedule during these months. Holiday light displays at Williams Square and throughout Las Colinas add a festive sparkle to the cityscape.
Here are some of our favorite things to do while visiting Irving. Pick your favorite!
The Mustangs of Las Colinas is one of the most celebrated public art installations in the United States, located in the heart of the Las Colinas Urban Center in Irving. Sculpted by Robert Glen , this breathtaking bronze sculpture depicts nine wild m…