Moving to the Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex? Get your answers and make your buying decisions easy by using our resource guide.
| Dallas and Beyond |
While Dallas is the most populous city in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area (Dallas MSA), it consists of a sprawling 12 counties: Collin, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise. The metro area’s population of 6,810,913 ranks fourth among U.S. MSAs and is among the nation’s fastest growing. The area has grown nearly 6 percent between 2010 and 2013 by U.S. Census Bureau estimates—adding nearly 385,000 people—while the nation’s population as a whole increased only 2.8 percent in the same period.
The Dallas MSA comprises two metropolitan divisions (MDs): Dallas-Plano-Irving and Fort Worth-Arlington MD. Together the two MDs bring the Dallas MSA to a total of 9,286 square miles, an area bigger than the state of Rhode Island, Delaware, and Connecticut combined.
In 2013, the gross domestic product for all industries in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA brought in $420,340 million, which is more than some countries when compared to national economies. The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport moved more than 465 tons of cargo during 2013, and the Dallas region is only behind New York, Houston and Chicago in having the most Fortune 500 company-based headquarters.
As the financial hub of the Southwest and being home to a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas’ growth is stimulated by high-tech companies, manufacturing, and service industries. With low taxes, affordable land and a large labor force continuing to steady job growth throughout the region, the Dallas area is well positioned to prosper in the global economy.
TEXAS COUNTIES
In general, Texas county government is an extension of state government, focusing on the judicial system, health and welfare service delivery, law enforcement, and road construction. In contrast to the jurisdiction of other counties, Texas counties usually do not have responsibility for schools, water and sewer systems, electric utilities, and commercial airports. Dallas County, like the state’s other 253 counties, has a governing body (the Commissioner's Court) consisting of one member elected at large (the county judge) and four members (County Commissioners) elected from districts. The county tax rate is set by the Commissioners Court and it also adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government.
The following information is an overview of the 12 counties which make up the Dallas/Fort Worth region (commonly called the Metroplex). Some cities reside in more than one county and in those cases that part of the overlapping city may be very small. School districts also might fall into multiple cities and counties.
COLLIN COUNTY—OVERVIEW
Collin County, named in honor of Collin McKinney, one of the five men who drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence, is the seventh most populous and the fastest growing county in Texas. The area takes up 848 square miles of land, 38 square miles of water and a small portion of the city of Dallas is located in the county. The majority of Collin County residents vote Republican in Presidential and congressional elections, the last Democrat to win in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Collin County is less than 20 miles north of Dallas and borders six other counties. Residents make use of the five county parks and open spaces, 40 plus recreational and senior centers, and local lakes. Currently, road expansions are being built from the $1.5 billion Highway 121 toll revenues for easier east-west commutes.
Major Communities (2013 Population): Allen (92,020), Anna (9,515), Carrollton (126,700), Celina (6,744), Dallas (1,257,676), Fairview (8,148), Frisco (136,791), Garland (234,566), Lucas (6,180), McKinney (148,559), Melissa (6,112), Murphy (19,515), Plano (274,409), Princeton (7,732), Prosper (12,943), Richardson (104,475), Royse City (10,275), Sachse (22,026) and Wylie (44,575)
Demographics
Education
For more information, visit the county’s website at www.co.collin.tx.us.
DALLAS COUNTY—OVERVIEW
Primarily a rural and agricultural county around the turn of the 20th century, cotton was the leading crop until the manufacturing industry took over thereafter. Today, Dallas County is ninth in residential population for all counties in the United States. The 902 square miles of land is mostly flat and heavy Blackland Prairie and the rest is 29 square miles of water. In 2007 Dallas formally adopted a guide of objectives to be pursued over the next 10 years that outlines five essential goals: become a model interagency partner; have a healthy community; be safe, secure, and prepared; proactively address critical regional issues; and be the destination of choice for residents and businesses. Unlike many of its neighboring counties in the area, Dallas is gradually shifting political allegiances towards the Democratic party due to the stronghold in the city of Dallas. Dallas County can be reached by Interstate Highways 20, 30, 45, and 635.
The Dallas MSA comprises two metropolitan divisions (MDs): Dallas-Plano-Irving and Fort Worth-Arlington MD. Together the two MDs bring the Dallas MSA to a total of 9,286 square miles, an area bigger than the state of Rhode Island, Delaware, and Connecticut combined.
In 2013, the gross domestic product for all industries in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA brought in $420,340 million, which is more than some countries when compared to national economies. The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport moved more than 465 tons of cargo during 2013, and the Dallas region is only behind New York, Houston and Chicago in having the most Fortune 500 company-based headquarters.
As the financial hub of the Southwest and being home to a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas’ growth is stimulated by high-tech companies, manufacturing, and service industries. With low taxes, affordable land and a large labor force continuing to steady job growth throughout the region, the Dallas area is well positioned to prosper in the global economy.
TEXAS COUNTIES
In general, Texas county government is an extension of state government, focusing on the judicial system, health and welfare service delivery, law enforcement, and road construction. In contrast to the jurisdiction of other counties, Texas counties usually do not have responsibility for schools, water and sewer systems, electric utilities, and commercial airports. Dallas County, like the state’s other 253 counties, has a governing body (the Commissioner's Court) consisting of one member elected at large (the county judge) and four members (County Commissioners) elected from districts. The county tax rate is set by the Commissioners Court and it also adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government.
The following information is an overview of the 12 counties which make up the Dallas/Fort Worth region (commonly called the Metroplex). Some cities reside in more than one county and in those cases that part of the overlapping city may be very small. School districts also might fall into multiple cities and counties.
COLLIN COUNTY—OVERVIEW
Collin County, named in honor of Collin McKinney, one of the five men who drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence, is the seventh most populous and the fastest growing county in Texas. The area takes up 848 square miles of land, 38 square miles of water and a small portion of the city of Dallas is located in the county. The majority of Collin County residents vote Republican in Presidential and congressional elections, the last Democrat to win in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Collin County is less than 20 miles north of Dallas and borders six other counties. Residents make use of the five county parks and open spaces, 40 plus recreational and senior centers, and local lakes. Currently, road expansions are being built from the $1.5 billion Highway 121 toll revenues for easier east-west commutes.
Major Communities (2013 Population): Allen (92,020), Anna (9,515), Carrollton (126,700), Celina (6,744), Dallas (1,257,676), Fairview (8,148), Frisco (136,791), Garland (234,566), Lucas (6,180), McKinney (148,559), Melissa (6,112), Murphy (19,515), Plano (274,409), Princeton (7,732), Prosper (12,943), Richardson (104,475), Royse City (10,275), Sachse (22,026) and Wylie (44,575)
Demographics
- Population in 2013.........................................................854,778
- Population Increase (2010–13)...................................9.3%
- Persons per square mile.............................................930
Education
- Independent School Districts: Allen, Anna, Farmersville, Lovejoy, McKinney Independent School District, Melissa, Plano, Princeton, Wylie and several others are partially in the county
- Educational Attainment (Adult Population 2013)
- High school diploma.......................................93.1%
- College degrees..............................................39%
For more information, visit the county’s website at www.co.collin.tx.us.
DALLAS COUNTY—OVERVIEW
Primarily a rural and agricultural county around the turn of the 20th century, cotton was the leading crop until the manufacturing industry took over thereafter. Today, Dallas County is ninth in residential population for all counties in the United States. The 902 square miles of land is mostly flat and heavy Blackland Prairie and the rest is 29 square miles of water. In 2007 Dallas formally adopted a guide of objectives to be pursued over the next 10 years that outlines five essential goals: become a model interagency partner; have a healthy community; be safe, secure, and prepared; proactively address critical regional issues; and be the destination of choice for residents and businesses. Unlike many of its neighboring counties in the area, Dallas is gradually shifting political allegiances towards the Democratic party due to the stronghold in the city of Dallas. Dallas County can be reached by Interstate Highways 20, 30, 45, and 635.
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