In the 1840’s, the Republic of Texas gave a grant to the Texas emigration and Land Company to bring 600 families to what is now Denton County. The first settlers to the Lewisville area came in 1844 and founded what became known as the Holford Prairie Settlement, which was near the present day Old Hall Cemetery on McGee Lane and extended south to the Prairie Creek. In 1855, Basdeal Lewis bought the Holford Land and laid out a town that he named Lewisville, for himself.

The extension of the Wichita Railroad about two miles east of the settlement in 1881 caused a gradual shifting of the community to the area now known as Old Town. Flooding on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River caused those establishments to be moved uphill and west to the area of Mill and Main Streets.

Lewisville was formally incorporated on Thursday, January 15, 1925 on a vote of 109-92. The new group of elected officials rented the front room of the Woodsmen of the World Hall of Main Street for $4.50 a month, which included heat and lights. Some of their first ordinances regulated medicine shows and set automobile speed limits at 18 mph! At the time of the incorporation election in 1925, the Lewisville community had grown to a population of about 850 and was served by five cotton gins and two saloons.

The population of Lewisville remained stable until the 1940’s, building to a total of 1,500 people in 1950. By 1960 the Corps of Engineers had built the Lewisville Lake Dam and U.S. 77 (now IH35E) was moved west to replace Mill Street as the primary north-south road running between Dallas and Denton. Lewisville’s 1960 population was almost 4,000 and during the late 1960’s Hunt Properties bought and had annexed into Lewisville more than 2,500 acres know as the Lewisville Valley Addition.

The 1970 population had grown to about 9,200 people, but the big boom was just beginning. Fox & Jacobs and Centennial Homes began construction in Lewisville, and entire neighborhoods were built seemingly overnight. Even with a recession during the last half of the 1970’s, Lewisville population had blossomed to almost 25,000 by 1980. The decade of the 80’s saw continued residential development, but job growth also began to take off as Lewisville was identified as an employment center. The 1990 population hit 46,500 people and, at the turn of the 21st century, Lewisville is now home to more than 86,000 people and 3,600 businesses.

Now Old Town Lewisville is at one of its most crucial stages in its long history. Street Scape has been in the planning for many years and is now on its way! The OTBA has officers that are very active in the community, involving Leadership Lewisville, Old Town Preservation Society, Chamber of Commerce and many others. It is the goal of the association to be aware of all the city businesses that affect the Old Town area. Any issues that arise from our meetings that affect the Old Town area can be discussed with other organizations and the City Council to keep our mission and goals in place.