History of Hutchins, Texas

Railroad Town to Diverse Suburb

The City of Hutchins is a suburb of Dallas, Texas, and is located at the crossroads of U.S. Highways 20 and 45 about nine miles south of downtown Dallas and is wholly within Dallas County. The city is bordered on the north and northwest by the City of Dallas, on the southwest by the City of Lancaster, on the south by Wilmer, and on the east is the Trinity River.

The community was established in 1860 as a regional trading post for settlers who made their home on the west bank of the Trinity River and for immigrant settlers arriving in the area that crossed the Trinity River at Dowd’s Ferry. The community did not officially become named Hutchins until the Houston and Texas Central Railway established a depot in the area in 1872. The town was named Hutchins in honor of William J. Hutchins, who was the director and promoter of Houston and Texas Central Railway. The railroad brought economic opportunity and rapid growth with a cotton gin, gristmill, church, a school, and several stores opening shortly after the arrival of the railroad. Hutchins was also officially granted a post office in late 1872.

Over the next 10 years, the community continued to grow and prosper and by 1884, the community was home to 250 people, three general stores, three gins, two gristmills, one sawmill, three doctors, and a wagon maker. In 1887, nine people came together and formed the first Methodist church in a farmhouse. Later, they shared a building with the Hutchins Christian Church. After A. S. Clark donated a parcel of land on Main Street, Reverend John M. Davis and the congregation completed the construction of a formal church in 1891. This was followed by the establishment of the Hutchins Baptist Church in 1904 with Dr. George Wharton as the first pastor. Before constructing a wooden sanctuary in 1911, congregants worshipped at the Methodist church. Unfortunately, in 1916, the Baptist Church was destroyed by fire but it was rebuilt within a year.

By the mid-1920s, the population had risen to about 500 people and remained at that level through the 1940s. The City of Hutchins was officially incorporated in 1945 and formed its first public library in 1948. After incorporating the city, it entered a period of slow but sustained growth and by 1950, the population had increased to over 740 residents. A formal library was completed in 1958 which was made possible by the generous donations from Charles Atwell.

Between 1960 and 1980, the city entered a period of accelerated growth with the population increasing to 1,755 people in 1970 and increasing again to over 2,900 by 1980. Unfortunately, the growth could not be sustained, and by 1990, the population had decreased slightly to approximately 2,700 residents. During the 1990s, the economy of Hutchins was driven by small manufacturers that produced central air conditioning equipment and parts, bronze and brass molds, data-processing cards, and magnetic tapes.

By the year 2000, the population of Hutchins was again on the rise with a reported population of 2,805 residents and approximately 130 operating companies. The next 10 years brought an explosion of development and growth with the population nearly doubling to over 5,300 people by the year 2010.

Today, the City of Hutchins is a mature but still growing suburb that covers 9.31 square miles and has over 5,900 people who have made the city their home.