It is home to the University of Texas at Dallas and the Telecom Corridor, with a high concentration of telecommunications companies.

More than 5,000 businesses have operations within Richardson's 28 square miles (73 km2), including many of the world's largest telecommunications and networking companies, such as AT&T, Verizon, Cisco Systems, Samsung, ZTE, MetroPCS, Texas Instruments, Qorvo, and Fujitsu.

Before the Civil War, a small settlement called Breckenridge, located near present-day Richland College, was established.

purchased acreage for a townsite from two local land-owners, the site was surveyed and laid out in blocks and lots, which the railroad began selling in 1874.

A red brick schoolhouse was built in 1914 and is now the administrative office for the Richardson Independent School District.

After World War II the city experienced major increases in population, which stood at approximately 1,300 by 1950.

Throughout the 1950s the city continued to see growth including the opening of the Collins Radio Richardson office, Central Expressway, a police department, shopping centers, and many homes.

In the 1960s Richardson experienced additional growth including several new parks, facilities, and the creation of the University of Texas at Dallas within the city limits.

By 2002 Richardson had four Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) light rail stations and had built the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts and Corporate Presentations and the adjacent Galatyn Park urban center, which has a 2-acre public pedestrian plaza, a luxury hotel, and mixed-use development.

The business-makeover show remodeled SpiritWear, an apparel and embroidery store in the city's historic downtown area.

[11][12] The cities of Dallas, Plano and Garland constitute almost all of the Richardson border apart from the municipality's extreme northeastern "panhandle."

[22] Esther Wu, a former editor of the Dallas Morning News, stated that Chinese immigration began in Richardson in 1975.

[25] Indo-Pak grocery store is located in an Indian-oriented strip shopping center east of Central Expressway.

In 2015, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) determined Richardson's daytime population to be 156,065 based on American Community Survey information.

At the time, Richardson was one of only 56 municipalities in the country to achieve this highest rating, which tends to reduce property/casualty insurance premiums.

In addition, the City provides planning for future land use, traffic control, building inspection, and community services and operates two 18-hole golf courses.

The City of Richardson is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.

Despite its name the UT Dallas main campus, consisting of approximately 445 acres (1.80 km2), is within the Richardson city limits at 800 West Campbell Road.

[35] The university owns an additional 265 acres (1.07 km2) in Richardson, adjacent to the campus, between Synergy Park Boulevard and the President George Bush Turnpike.

New projects include an Alumni Center, a Brain Performance Institute and an engineering building as well as additional housing options.

These enhancements are part of a campus renovation that has included hundreds of millions of dollars of investment in new and upgraded buildings since 2009.

The Richardson Public Library is located at 900 Civic Center Drive at the southwest corner of U.S. Route 75 (North Central Expressway) and Arapaho Road.

The fledgling library collection numbered about 400 volumes and was managed by Jessie Durham the store's proprietor.

In 2015, the Richardson Library established a "makerspace" that initially included a 3-D printer, designated computers with creative applications and software, and kits for the early exploration of electronics.

Richardson also benefits from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Light Rail line which parallels U.S. 75 and has four stations in the city.

In October 2016, DART approved the future construction of the Silver Line commuter rail with the adoption of its 20-Year Financial Plan.

The Cotton Belt line will run from DFW Airport to the eastern side of Plano, with Richardson stations located at The University of Texas at Dallas and CityLine.

In order to take full advantage of these transportation assets for development and redevelopment purposes, the City has implemented three Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts.

TIF District #2, established in November 2011, is bounded by President George Bush Turnpike on the north, Wyndham Lane on the east, Renner Road on the south, and the DART light rail line on the west.

In July 2015, Richardson was named a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists.