Oak Cliff Neighborhood

Oak Cliff, called simply, "the Cliff" by residents, was originally an independent town. With the rise of the Dallas population and subsequent growth of the city of Dallas, Oak Cliff was annexed and made into a neighborhood within the city of Dallas. Oak Cliff has a reputation as being an older, more established neighborhood and is home to many families.

Oak Cliff is an established community with a long history of famous figures that have come out of the area. Clyde Barrow, of the infamous duo Bonnie and Clyde, is buried in Oak Cliff. Stevie Ray Vaughn was born in the area as well as Edie Brickell. Oak Cliff was originally established as a high end suburb to Dallas, but was annexed in the 1900's. This annexation gave the area a flavor of its own in the greater city of Dallas.

Oak Cliff, until recently, was predominantly African American, but the recent influx of Hispanic immigrants settling in the area has changed that. There is still marked disparity between two of Oak Cliffs segments, Oak Cliff and South Oak Cliff. South Oak Cliff has a much lower average income and the homes are not as well established or maintained. Crime in South Oak Cliff has been a problem, historically, as well. Oak Cliff, proper, that is, the area that was originally part of the town, has a large range or well maintained turn of the century homes. Many of these have been turned into apartments and lofts, offering potential residents the opportunity to live in a historic building.

Oak Cliff is one of Dallas' growing neighborhoods, with several revitalization and beautification projects on going. It is also the area where the Mayor of Dallas lives. With all the revitalization projects, Oak Cliff is attracting new businesses and residents all the time. It also has the distinction of being somewhat lower priced than some of Dallas' other northern neighborhoods and having a lower cost of living, as well.

Oak Cliff has some fantastic dining venues to tempt the palates of residents and visitors alike. From the flavor of Cosmo Rouge, to the landmark of Charco Broiler with its famous steer mounted on the roof. You'll find many appealing restaurants in the neighborhood. Norma's Café specializes in Southern cooking, while Texas Best Catfish offers the best catfish in the Southwest. Oak Cliff has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from, there are sure to be many that will please anyone's tastes.

Oak Cliff is served by the Dallas Independent School District and has nine high schools, four elementary or secondary schools, as well as several private schools, charter schools and academies. Oak Cliff's school system is dedicated to bringing out the best in the neighborhoods children and giving them the best education possible.