Cedar Hill

Just 17 miles from Dallas, historic Downtown Cedar Hill offers a peaceful antidote to its fast-paced big-city neighbor to the north. Quiet streets give way to a quaint shopping and dining district with a unique past, leading to an architectural treasure trove of houses, all surrounded by acres of nature preserves and parkland. "Downtown Cedar Hill is really charming," says Claudia Rodriguez, a Realtor with Re/Max Best Realty, serving the area for over 12 years. "What makes the area so special is the history, how they've preserved it and what it represents." As the first developed area of the city of Cedar Hill, established in 1846, pieces of the past await around every corner in its Historic District and the Old Town Corridors. From the infamous two-time bank robbery heist by Bonnie and Clyde’s sidekick to the arrival of the railroad in 1882 to the rare fossil finding of the prehistoric reptile Plesiosaurus, Downtown Cedar Hill’s heritage is weaved into every aspect of its culture. Beyond its historic allure and preserved heritage, the neighborhood is known for its efforts to protect its natural surroundings. Sitting along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park, residents are treated to pristine natural areas, miles of winding trails, expansive preserves and wooded forests. A highly walkable and bikeable area, Downtown Cedar Hill has maintained its small-town charm, with quaint, colorful shops, restaurants, and businesses lining the streets. Known to locals as “The Square,” nearly all businesses are locally owned, and it’s the hub for celebrations and economic activity in the town. “There's so much shopping and dining available,” Rodriguez says. When it comes to local cuisine, the neighborhood does not disappoint. Fuel up in the morning at 1846 Coffee with a lavender and honey latte or a Mexican spiced hot chocolate. Babe's Chicken Dinner House is the go-to laid-back spot for lunch and dinner. Located on Main Street in a former fire station, the eatery is known for its famous fried chicken and other homestyle favorites like gravy-topped chicken fried steak. While the neighborhood offers several traditional barbecue options, longtime residents favor Soulman’s Barb-E-Cue. Beloved for its Texas-style heaping trays of smoked meats, Texas toast and southern sides, the BBQ joint’s specialty is loaded baked potatoes stuffed with brisket, pulled pork, cheese and a side of relish. While newcomers will need to venture to Downtown Dallas for all-night bar hopping, Downtown Cedar Hill still entertains with spots like Veracruz, known for its margaritas and Saviana Winery, offering live music and vino on the patio. The neighborhood’s shops are just as eclectic. Residents have their pick of antiques from Aunt Agatha’s Attic to Décor on the Hill and Cedar Hill Market. Cedar Hill Village and Hillside Village shopping centers in the neighborhood's northeast corner take care of most other shopping needs, offering Target, Walmart, Home Depot and Kohl’s. Beyond small boutiques and eateries, Downtown Cedar Hill also provides a variety of entertainment. Residents can lace up the roller skates and relive their nostalgic childhood days at Cedar Hill Roller Rink, the oldest rink in Texas, a staple since 1956. Peruse locally made art at Sly Cat Gallery or take in the neighborhood’s rich history along its 2-mile stretch of 30 historically significant homes, buildings and other places from its past, including the Victorian-style “Gingerbread House,” built in 1884 and the oldest structure in Cedar Hill. History buffs can take a deeper dive into Downtown Cedar Hill’s past at the Cedar Hill Museum of History, which details everything from the 1932 robbery of downtown's First State Bank by Raymond Hamilton, sidekick to the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, to pioneer artifacts and the largest fossil creature ever found in Dallas County. Newcomers will find a mix of homes surrounding the Downtown Cedar Hill streets grid. Most were built in the 1980s, but quite a few date back as early as 1905 and are listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places. An architectural checkerboard, the neighborhood offers English Tudor homes next to French Country houses to cozy cottages and farmhouses squeezed between ranch-style homes and modern abodes. "Cedar Hill is one of my favorite places to sell houses," Rodriguez says. "It's a good area for a first-time buyer, and it's a great community to raise a family." While many historic homes have ornate features and older architectural designs intact, most homes have also been upgraded with modern improvements, like multi-car garages, private decks and stone patios with gardens. Home sizes range widely from around 1,200 square feet for a three-bedroom home to 4,200 square feet for a four-bedroom with lots over an acre. Prices can span anywhere from $230,000 to $800,000, and newcomers have many options to choose from here. "The market has remained steady and strong close to downtown," Rodriguez says. Downtown Cedar Hill’s appeal extends beyond its charming historic district and unique homes. The broader area has 20% of its land reserved as park and green spaces, including 3,000 acres of preserves, giving residents plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Crawford Park is a 10-acre spot in the heart of the community, which features a playground, tennis and basketball courts and a baseball field. Bordering the neighborhood is Cedar Hill State Park, 1,800 acres of parkland and shoreline on the corner of Joe Pool Lake. Residents can catch largemouth bass and catfish, go kayaking, swimming or camping. It's also home to several sports complexes, which boast 18 soccer fields, seven basketball courts, a disc golf course, 21 ballfields and six tennis courts. Hikers and cyclists will love having access to the entire city’s 45 miles of multi-purpose trails and bikeways. The state park is home to DORBA Trail, one of the top mountain biking trails in the state. Cedar Hill Independent School District serves the area, and local students can attend Lake Ridge Elementary, W.S. Permenter Middle School and Cedar Hill High School. The elementary school, which offers STEM extracurricular programs, earned a B-minus grade on Niche, and Permenter earned a C. Earning a C-plus, Cedar Hill High has a championship-winning football team, an early college academy and a robotics pathways program. As a community known for preserving its heritage, Downtown Cedar Hill also takes pride in traditions. Every October, the neighborhood celebrates Country Day on the Hill, which has taken place in The Square for over 85 years. The event has a yearly theme, a parade, over 100 vendors, contests and live entertainment on three stages. In May, the neighborhood holds the Head for the Hills Biker Rally. Every Halloween and December, residents celebrate the holidays in The Square, the community hosts the Cedar Hill Block Party in March and Valley Ridge Park is the hub for a music series running throughout June. While the Historic District is extremely walkable, residents will need a car to get around the rest of the area. U.S. Route 67 is convenient nearby, connecting to other major highways, getting residents to Dallas in 17 miles and the Dallas Fort Worth Airport in 24 miles. Public transportation is convenient via STAR Transit, which offers bus service throughout the city.