Although regular flooding of the Trinity River, originally from the Spanish La Santisima Trinidad, was uncommon, in 1908 a great flood left much of Dallas under as much as 12 feet of water. On May 26, 2008, the river maxed out at a new level of 52.6 feet and was one and a half miles wide.

Much of the town was virtually drowned and property damages totaled over $2.5 million. Five people lost their lives, as many as 4,000 were without shelter and thousands of livestock were killed. The residential district of Oak Cliff in western Dallas suffered the greatest damage. Rescue efforts proved difficult to attempt by boat.

In the aftermath of the flood, legislators were forced to push bond measures to develop levees and an important bridge that would connect Oak Cliff with the rest of Dallas. By 1929, the river’s natural bends were straightened and several levees had been built. In addition, bridges were built to connect North and South Dallas and the neighborhood of Oak Cliff.

To this day, the city of Dallas is responsible for much of the water management for river and ground water channels in Dallas County. The Trinity River has three focal flood points: the East Fork, the Elm Fork and the West Fork. The river itself is the longest in Texas and runs within state bounds.

The river first shaped the foundations of Dallas. Today, the city shapes the course of the river. But the river has not lost its defining character as it runs through the city, dividing North and South Dallas.