The Carrollton Chronicle

History

The Chronicle covered the lives of the early families northwest Dallas County. It documented the significant events in their lives: marriages, deaths, scholastic achievements, military duty, religious events, and civic recognition. The small-town lens captured two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Civil Rights movement and how these events touched ordinary citizens.

Ads for various businesses and stores track changes in technology and society. Readers had a first-hand glimpse of fashions, transportation, or new services to home (i.e., electricity and water, long distance telephone services). One sees changes in technology as homeowners moved from iceboxes and home delivery of blocks of ice to modern refrigerators, or operator-assisted phone service to “metro” phone numbers and direct dialing.

During its lifetime the Chronicle exchanged hands many times, each owner continuing to focus on local news; however dwindling support from local advertisers made sustainability impossible. Publication ended abruptly in 1994.

About the Town

The physical growth of Carrollton is also evident as the adjacent farms became subdivisions of new housing. Suburbs were the places to live for young families, and Carrollton was on the leading front in providing new affordable homes and outstanding schools. The town square was platted in 1900, with the newspaper being one of the earliest businesses to open.