Plano, Texas: My How You’ve Grown
Campisi’s Restaurants opened our third restaurant at the intersection of Independence and Parker in 1994. Back then, Plano was an entirely different monster than it is today. But to fully grasp the insane population growth of the area, let’s look all the way back to the 19th century.
In 1848, the city of Plano was founded, but under a different name: Fillmore. It wasn’t until 1852 that the name Plano was chosen. They incorrectly believed that “plano” meant “plain” (the terrain, not the adjective) in Spanish. “Plano” actually translates to “flat”.
By 1870, the city had a meager population of just 155 people. Most of the settlers migrated to Plano from Kentucky and Tennessee. However, after the Houston and Texas Railroad was completed in 1872, the city was poised for a boom. In less than 30 years, the city had grown by almost ten times to 1,304 in 1900.
Throughout the 20th century, Plano really took off. The Star-Courier newspaper began publication, City Hall was constructed, and the City of Plano was officially incorporated in 1962. By the 1980s, the city had grown to an astonishing 70,000.
Here’s where Campisi’s comes back into the picture, with the construction of our third Italian restaurant at Independence and Parker in 1994. At this point, the population of Plano has reached over 130,000.
This is the craziest part of Plano history: in 150 years, this small town 20 miles north of Dallas grew from nothing to a bustling suburban metropolis with nearly 300,000 people. You may not be aware, but Plano is actually the 9th most populous city in Texas and the 69th most populous in the entire United States.
In April of 2017, we opened up our new Plano pizza restaurant down the road at Parker and Preston. Now, Plano is a force to be reckoned with. Many major corporations have their headquarters in the area, and Plano has become an amazing to place to live, work, and play for families of all sizes and backgrounds. The Campisi family is proud to call Plano our home.
Plano also has a wonderful series of festivals throughout the year. In March, introduce your family to fly fishing at the Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival. In May, head to Haggard Park for the Asian American Heritage Festival that showcases the rich cultures of Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. It really is a world of fun.
Don’t miss out on the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival in September at Plano’s Oak Point Park. 2018 will be the 39th year of ballooning in Plano. It’s truly a sight to behold as the balloons gracefully float into the distance.
When the festivals are over, you can go shopping at Legacy West, explore the Interurban Railway Museum, or test your courage at the Dark Hour Haunted House. Looking for a way to escape into nature? Adventure into the beautiful 800-acre preserve at Oak Point Park. You can hike the trails, canoe, or climb about in the treetop course.
When hunger strikes, we hope you’ll consider paying us a visit. At our new Plano location, you can still expect the same classic, homemade Italian family dishes and oval-shaped pizzas you’ve come to know and love, only now in a larger, modernized version of our vintage dining atmosphere. Stop by for lunch, dinner or drinks, we’re open all week long. You can enjoy the classic Campisi’s experience indoors, or enjoy the weather outside on our wraparound patio.
So, we want to know: what’s your favorite part about living in Plano?