Rylie Prairie
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Named for the family of James and Mary Rylie, who came to Texas from Illinois about 1846, Rylie Prairie was a thriving community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A post office opened in 1883, and in 1884 streets were platted near the route of the Texas Trunk Railroad. At its height, the community included homes, churches, a school, and businesses including a cotton gin, grist mill, and general stores. The town began to decline in the 1930s and 1940s after the railroad discontinued service and people moved closer to Dallas and the new highway system.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Named for James and Mary Rylie, who came from Illinois to Texas around 1846, Rylie Prairie flourished as a farming community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A post office opened in 1883, streets were platted near the Texas Trunk Railroad, and at its height the town held homes, churches, a school, a cotton gin, grist mill, and general stores. It faded in the 1930s and 1940s as rail service ended and families moved toward Dallas and the new highways.
Why it matters
Rylie Prairie traces the full arc of a Texas rural community, from railroad-era boom to decline in the age of the automobile and the growing city.
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Related people
- · James Rylie
- · Mary Rylie
Themes & tags
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