Park Cities, Texas is an affluent area of Dallas County that consists of the cities Highland Park and University Park.  Park Cities is located just to the northwest of downtown Dallas and features some of the most beautiful and expensive homes in the state of Texas.  Although Highland Park and University Park are surrounded by the city of Dallas, they both have their own municipalities. 

University Park began as a small community surrounding Southern Methodist University, which was founded in 1915.  The town originally wanted to become part of Highland Park, but the cost of city services kept them out.  In 1924, the residents of the area voted to incorporate University Park as a separate city from Dallas.  Immediately after World War II, University Park’s property value and tax base had grown so much in value that the city of Dallas attempted to annex it back into its boundaries. The attempt failed and University Park has remained a separate entity to this day.  About 23,000 people call the city of University Park Home.

Highland Park got its name from wealthy investors who purchased the land in 1907.  The area was known for its higher elevation and a plan to reserve a large portion of land for parks, thus the name Highland Park.  The city itself was incorporated in 1913 and is now home to approximately 9,000 residents.  Real estate in Highland Park remains expensive because of its location relative to downtown Dallas and unique, old-world style homes.  Highland Park High School has one of the leading sports programs in the state of Texas and the community is known for its high percentage of residents with advanced educations.