University Park is an affluent city in Dallas County, Texas, situated as an inner northern suburb of Dallas. At the 2020 census, the city recorded a population of 25,278. Bordered by Dallas on nearly all sides and adjacent to the town of Highland Park, University Park is one half of the "Park Cities," a pair of established, upscale residential enclaves that have long ranked among the most desirable addresses in the Dallas–Fort Worth region. The city is defined by its namesake institution. Southern Methodist University, a private research university founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, anchors the community, and its campus shapes the city's geography and character. The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes a presidential library and museum, is located on the SMU campus and stands as one of the area's most prominent landmarks. University Park's residential fabric is mature and leafy, with substantial single-family homes on tree-lined streets, and the Snider Plaza district provides a walkable core of shops and restaurants near the university. Public education is provided by the Highland Park Independent School District, which also serves Highland Park and is widely regarded as one of the state's strongest districts, a key reason the Park Cities remain so sought after by families. University Park incorporated in 1924, emerging alongside Southern Methodist University as the campus and surrounding residential neighborhoods grew through the early twentieth century. The city has long ranked among the most affluent and highly educated communities in Texas, with a stable, fully built-out character and a strong sense of civic identity. For residents, University Park combines a quiet, established suburban feel with immediate access to downtown Dallas, the city's arts and cultural institutions, and the broader metroplex's employment centers.