Dallas was founded in 1841 as a frontier trading post and became a booming industrial center thanks to the construction of railroads in the late 1800s. The twentieth century. The city grew during the oil boom of the early 20th century and became a center for telecommunications and technology in the latter half of the century. The city played a role in the civil rights movement and experienced significant growth and development in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Today, it is one of the largest and most dynamic cities in Texas.