Before It Was North Dallas, Part Two: The Tiny City Hidden Inside Richardson

Imagine living in Richardson, driving through Richardson and being completely surrounded by Richardson, but technically residing in a different city.

That was life in Buckingham.

Before it officially became part of Richardson, Buckingham was an independent municipality covering only about 159 acres. The tiny community was completely surrounded by Richardson, making it a city within a city.

It is one of the strangest and most interesting chapters in Richardson’s history.

A Small Community Surrounded by Growth

Buckingham incorporated around 1958, just as the surrounding Richardson area was beginning to grow rapidly.

For years, it remained a semi-rural enclave with a population of roughly 150 to 200 people. While Richardson expanded around it with neighborhoods, businesses and public infrastructure, Buckingham maintained its own municipal identity.

It was small enough that many people could pass through the area without realizing they had briefly entered another city.

But Buckingham’s limited size did not prevent it from becoming part of a complicated real estate and development story.

Developers Arrive

In 1983, developers began buying homes from the 64 families living in Buckingham.

Their plan was to redevelop the community with a mixture of apartments, condominiums and commercial businesses. By 1985, most of the property was controlled by the Buckingham Development Venture.

Before residents moved away, they worked with the developers to approve alcohol sales within Buckingham.

That decision made Buckingham a “wet” community where alcohol could legally be sold, even though Richardson was largely dry at the time. For developers hoping to attract restaurants, retail or entertainment businesses, those regulations could significantly affect the value and future use of the land.

For a brief period, this tiny municipality had something the much larger city surrounding it did not.

When the Development Plan Fell Apart

The timing proved difficult.

North Texas experienced a major real estate downturn during the 1980s. The proposed Buckingham development stalled, and the Buckingham Development Venture went bankrupt in 1987.

By 1990, the community’s population had fallen to 102 residents.

The bold redevelopment plans never fully materialized as originally envisioned, and Buckingham’s future remained uncertain.

In 1996, Richardson formally annexed the former city, ending Buckingham’s existence as an independent municipality and incorporating its 159 acres into Richardson.

What Buckingham Teaches Us About Real Estate

Buckingham’s story may sound unusual, but it illustrates something that continues to shape real estate today.

Property is influenced by much more than the structures sitting on it.

City boundaries, zoning, infrastructure, alcohol regulations, annexation and economic timing can all change what land is worth and what can eventually be built there.

The developers saw Buckingham not simply as a small collection of homes, but as a strategic piece of land surrounded by a growing city. Residents understood that their independent municipal status gave them decision-making powers that neighboring properties did not have.

The story also shows that development is never guaranteed. Even a potentially valuable location can be affected by financing conditions, economic downturns and shifting market demand.

A City That Disappeared From the Map

Today, Buckingham is part of Richardson. There is no separate Buckingham city government and no municipal boundary to announce that you have arrived.

But its story remains embedded in the development of the surrounding area.

It is a reminder that the cities and neighborhoods we treat as permanent are constantly evolving. Boundaries change. Communities are absorbed. Farmland becomes housing, housing becomes commercial property, and yesterday’s unusual jurisdiction becomes part of the city people recognize today.

Before it was simply another part of Richardson, Buckingham was a tiny independent city with its own regulations, development ambitions and identity.

What piece of North Dallas history do you think deserves to be remembered?

As a Richardson native and longtime North Dallas REALTOR®, I believe understanding how communities developed helps us better understand their homes, neighborhoods and long-term character. Whether you are buying, selling or evaluating property, the story of the land matters. I'm here to help you break down and understand it all, reach out. 

Next in the series: We are following the railroad west to a community originally called Noell Junction, where local history includes buried gold, a post-office problem and an unexpected secret agent.

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