16 Ways Dallas – Fort Worth Quietly Became The Coolest Area In The Southwest

Of course, the Dallas - Fort Worth area is about the coolest place to live in the country. We're prideful Texans, so we have always known we are all that — we just didn't want to brag. But the truth is that just about everyone wants to live and work here. Here are 16 reasons why:

1. We absolutely love our festivals.

We celebrate wine, art, cotton, cows, watermelon, music, peaches, and everything in between. Amongst our hoards of cities that make up the Metroplex, you can always find an outdoor festival, street fair, concert in the park, or art show on any given weekend of the year.

2. We like being sister cities... for the most part.

We may fight like siblings and can get pretty darn competitive with each other at times, but at the end of the day, we support each other and are a true DFW team.

3. There's water, water, everywhere!

Maybe it's the triple-digit temperatures we often face during the dog-days of summer or the fact we have have mostly sunny skies year round and rarely any snow or ice, but we love water. We have some impressive water fountains, like Fort Worth's water gardens.

Our lakes are big in size and plentiful, as well. We have 13 of them to choose from, and we can promise you won't be disappointed with any.

Our state's 710-mile Trinity River snakes throughout the Metroplex and unites us. Dallas and Fort Worth have each built public areas and trails around the river, as have our suburban neighbors.

4. We really love great food.

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has more restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the United States. Since we are a diverse community, you can find any type of ethnic food around here. However, Tex-Mex, barbecue and steakhouses still prevail.

5. We dig eclectic art.

How can you not fall in love with "Traveling Man" in Dallas' Deep Ellum area?

This Chihuly glass exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum is just another example of how cool we are.

6. We are a total sports metropolis.

Professional basketball, football, hockey, and baseball teams all make their home here in the Metroplex. We also have Texas Motor Speedway for Nascar driving, professional rodeos, and the biggest high school stadiums found anywhere in the country.

7. We are a haven for corporate headquarters.

The Metroplex is home to more than 10,000 corporate headquarters, making us the largest corporate headquarters concentration in the United States. Do the names Toyota, Exxon Mobile, AT&T, J.C. Penney, and GameStop ring any bells? Places like Lockheed Martin keep conducting hiring fairs to get enough workers for their upcoming projects.

8. People can actually afford to live — and eat — around here.

The cost of living is below the national average and our home prices are still reasonable. Whether you are an urbanite or suburbian, you can certainly find a place to hang your hat.

9. We are surrounded by top-notch public and private universities and colleges.

From the tonier Southern Methodist and Texas Christian universities to outstanding state schools like the University of Texas at Arlington or University at North Texas, we have higher education all around. We also have some stellar community colleges.

10. We have not one, but TWO, airports.

DFW International Airport and Love Field make air travel easily accessible. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are headquartered here as well.

11. We celebrate our history.

We love our history and have preserved parts of our Wild West past. This historic Fort Worth building still hosts the annual Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo.

West End Dallas is a happening place for food and fun. If you get a chance, take a tour to find out why it's so historic!

12. We keep an eye forward to the future.

The modern architecture found in DFW is epic. We like bold and beautiful.

The Margaret Hunt Hill bridge is a vision in white.

13. This is what we call a snowstorm.

Snowbirds flock to DFW when they want to escape bone-chilling cold and snow. Many locals don't even own a coat.

14. We still have lots of wide open spaces.

We have lots of fields, green spaces, and pastures that make our area feel like, well, "Texas."

15. We have a happenin' music scene.

We draw in the very biggest names in entertainment, who fill stands at American Airlines Center and AT&T Stadium. We also have lots of smaller venues that equally draw in the crowds. Do not think we only love country & western — all kinds are music to our ears.

16. If you're not originally from Dallas - Fort Worth, we just know you got here as soon as you could.

We're friendly, welcoming, and ready to make you feel at home. We're really that cool!

Where do you rate the Dallas - Fort Worth area on the "coolness" factor? Are there other attributes deserving of mention?