Denton

 

city (1990 pop. 66,270), seat of Denton co., N Tex.; inc. 1866. The city lies in an agricultural and industrial region, but the economy is based on education and research. The Univ. of North Texas, Texas Woman's Univ., and the Denton State School for the mentally retarded are there. Denton is also known as a city of roses. The North Texas State Fair is held there annually. The city is also the site of the first federally sponsored regional emergency and disaster center, where preparedness operations are undertaken.

City of Denton
Courthouse-on-the-Square
Flag Seal
Nickname: Redbud Capital of Texas
Motto: North of Ordinary
City limits within the state of Texas
Coordinates: 33°12′59″N 97°7′45″W / 33.21639, -97.12917
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Denton
Settled	1857
Incorporated	1866
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	Perry McNeill
- City Manager	George S. Campbell
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2007)[1]
- City
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
- Metro
- Demonym
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CST (UTC-5)
Zip Codes	76201 through 76210
Area code(s)	940
FIPS code	48-199722
GNIS feature ID	13342603

Denton is a city in the United States and the county seat of Denton County, Texas. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 80,537, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. In July 2006, however, the United States Census Bureau estimated Denton's population as 109,561.^[2] The same estimate names Denton as the nation's ninth fastest-growing city among those over 100,000 people.^[3]

Denton is home to two state universities, the University of North Texas, the largest university in North Texas and the fourth largest in Texas,^[4] and Texas Woman's University, the largest state-supported university for women in the United States.

Both the city and county were named after John B. Denton, a pioneer, preacher, lawyer and Texas Militia Captain. Residents of Denton are known as "Dentonites" and the city has been known as the “Redbud Capital of Texas” since 1993.^[5] In 2006, Denton was selected by Money magazine as one of the "Top 100 Best Places to Live in America."^[6]

Geography

Denton is located at the northern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area at the intersection of I-35, US-380, and US-377. It is here that I-35E (from Dallas) and I-35W (from Fort Worth), which split south of the Metroplex at Hillsboro, rejoin to form I-35 on its way north to Oklahoma City.

Denton is located at 33°12′59″N, 97°7′45″W (33.216296, -97.129194).¹

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 161.4 km² (62.3 mi²). 159.3 km² (61.5 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (1.33%) is water.

Demographics

Denton's population increased in its first century primarily due to its role as a local agricultural trade center and subsequently when it became host to two universities. Since the mid 1900s, Denton has grown as a result of its proximity to Dallas and Fort Worth. According to July 2005 population estimates, Denton is the 239th largest city in the U.S.^[7]

As of the census² of 2000, there were 80,537 people, 30,895 households, and 16,405 families residing in the city. The population density was 505.7/km² (1,309.7/mi²). There were 32,716 housing units at an average density of 205.4/km² (532.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.62% White, 9.12% African American, 0.58% Native American, 3.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.85% from other races, and 2.40% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race comprised 16.38% of the population.

There were 30,895 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.9% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population consists of 20.7% under the age of 18, 25.0% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 15.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,422, and the median income for a family was $51,419. Males had a median income of $33,698 versus $26,037 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,365. About 8.7% of families and 16.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

Denton was founded in 1857 because of the need for a county seat. Denton, as well as Denton County, was named after John B. Denton, a prominent Methodist lawyer and Native-American fighter. The city was ultimately incorporated in 1866, when J.B. Sawyer was elected the first mayor.

Government and politics

Denton's city government is organized using the council-manager form of government. The current mayor is Perry McNeill. The city manager is George C. Campbell. Council members include:

• Pete Kamp, mayor pro tem (district 2)
• Joe Mulroy, deputy mayor pro tem (at-large)
• Bob Montgomery, councilmember (at-large)
• Charlye Heggins, councilmember (district 1)
• Jack Thomson, councilmember (district 3)
• Guy McElroy, councilmember (district 4)

Denton's city budget is just under $390 million for FY 2006-2007. The city employs more than 1,200 people, 300 of whom are public safety personnel.^[8]

Other governmental activities

Denton is the county seat of Denton County and home to FEMA's Region VI headquarters. Most State of Texas agencies also have facilities in the city, the larger of which include a Texas Workforce Center, a driver license/highway patrol office, and a state school.

Culture and Recreation

Dentonites take pride in being part of a unique and diverse creative community, and many consider this community to be the primary value of life in Denton that separates it from other Texas cities. Many in the creative community see Denton as the antidote to the ballooning traffic and population concerns of larger cities. The combination of Denton's respected music and art cultures, and the large intellectual population sustained by the town's two universities, which together have a combined enrollment of over 45,000 students, make Denton one of the state's most dominant cultural bases.

Notable Residents

Main article: List of notable residents of Denton, Texas

Denton's position as a cultural and educational center for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex has resulted in many notable people having resided in the city.

Downtown Square

Denton's Historic downtown square is centered around the former county courthouse which now serves as a museum. Bordered by Elm, Oak, Hickory and Locust Streets, the downtown square is surrounded by many shops and restaurants, most of which have been in business for many years.

Historic Fry Street

Considered by many to be a cultural epicenter of Denton, the area surrounding Fry Street is home to a group of shops, bars, restaurants, and other cultural venues. Many of the buildings were originally constructed in the 1920s.

Redevelopment

In May 2006, the 100-block of Fry Street was purchased by United Equities, a Houston-based real estate company, which announced that several of the historic buildings would be demolished to accommodate a new mixed-use center. Known as Fry Street Village, the center would include lower level retail with apartments above. A grass roots effort by the non-profit organization Save Fry Street began soon thereafter seeking to preserve Fry Street as a historic and cultural icon for the city. The group was unsuccessful in preventing the demolition of two of the buildings, one a former gas station and the other a coffee shop. Most of the remaining businesses on the property were served with eviction notices with a vacating date of January 31, 2007, but it was not until May 2007 that businesses along Fry Street began to close. In June 2007, the entire block of Fry Street establishments was demolished.

Fry Street Fair

Main article: Fry Street Fair

The Fry Street Fair is a mostly annual event held by the independent fraternity Delta Lodge. It is typically the most attended event of the year on Fry Street with many bands performing. After two of the largest and most critically-acclaimed fairs in 2001 and 2002, Fry Street Fair was moved to Deep Ellum due to overcrowding and complications with the city. However, a scaled-down version of the fair returned to the Fry Street area in 2005. In 2007, the Fry Street Fair moved yet again to the North Texas State Fairgrounds. After losing money in both 2006 and 2007, the festival's creators announced that the fair would no longer be thrown.

Music

See also: Musicians from Denton, Texas

The pervasive music culture that exists in Denton was originated in the University of North Texas's College of Music, a top-rated institution that draws musicians from all over the world . The college's Jazz Studies program, established in 1947, was the first of its kind in the country, and in more recent years the college's Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia (CEMI) has developed its own distinct reputation as an internationally-renowned center for teaching, research, and groundbreaking music creation.

Denton's vibrant and diverse music culture, however, extends well beyond the rigorous and disciplined world of UNT's College of Music. A thriving independent music scene has emerged and gained outside notoriety separate of Denton's more civically embraced academic music establishments.

The latest development of Denton's evolving scene has been the arrival of musicians creating work outside the University of North Texas College of Music. These Denton transplants move there because they are aware of Denton's reputation as a music town, but they are most familiar with the independent music, not the studied musicianship, the town has produced.

The city's live music venues are chiefly supported by Denton's very active music listening audience, but show attendance is often partly comprised of Dallas/Ft.Worth music listeners. Dallas's largest alternative weekly, the Dallas Observer, once even suggested Dallas music listeners drive north to Denton to hear the best local music the Metroplex has to offer.

Denton Arts and Jazz Festival

Main article: Denton Arts and Jazz Festival

Every spring - usually the last three days of April - Denton hosts the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, a city-sponsored event that brings over 200,000 people per year for live music, food, drink, crafts, and recreation at the Civic Center Park. Big-name performers and bands such as Arturo Sandoval and Tower of Power have performed at the Festival.

North Texas State Fair and Rodeo

Main article: North Texas State Fair and Rodeo

Started in 1928, the annual fair held in August is compact by state fair standards, yet covers every aspect a local fair would encompass. The fair brings in over 100,000 people annually during its average 9 day run. It has been held at the North Texas State Fair Grounds, where it continues to be today, since 1948.

Famous Musicians

Denton was once the home and is the birthplace of The Riverboat Gamblers, and is the birthplace of Chris Burnley from Bowling for Soup.

Education

Public Schools

Denton is served by the Denton Independent School District. Small portions of Denton extend into the neighboring districts of Argyle Independent School District and Sanger Independent School District.

Private Schools

• Denton Calvary Academy
• Immaculate Conception Catholic School
• The Selwyn School
• Community School
• Countryside Montessori

Colleges and Universities

• Texas Woman's University
• University of North Texas
• University of North Texas Research Park

Transportation

Major Highways

• Interstate 35
• Interstate 35E
• Interstate 35W
• Loop 288
• Highway 380
• Highway 377
• Highway 77

Public Transportation

Denton is served by the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) which currently operates express bus service to downtown Dallas along with local fixed route and paratransit service throughout the city. DCTA plans to open a commuter rail line run from Denton to Carrollton in 2010. This line will tie in to a planned Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail line also opening in 2010.^[9]

Additional paratransit service for senior citizens is offered by Special Programs for Aging Needs (SPAN), a non-profit organization.

Sports

Denton is home to the Denton Outlaws summer league baseball team. TWU and UNT field a variety of collegiate teams as members of the NCAA. Several area school districts have large athletics programs which draw significant attendance from the general public, especially for high school football games.

Sister City

Denton is a part of the Sister Cities International program and maintains cultural and economic exchange programs with it sister city.^[10]

• San Nicolas de los Garza, Mexico

References

External links

• City of Denton, TX website
• City of Denton Animal Services
• Denton Census information
• Denton, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online

• The Texas Storytelling Festival Annual storytelling festival in March/April

Coordinates: 33.216296° N 97.129194° W

• Bird's eye view of Denton, Denton County, Texas : 1883 / drawn by Augustus Koch.

Denton

Acme Brick • Ben E. Keith Co. • C. H. Collins Athletic Complex • Denton Arts and Jazz Festival • Denton ISD • Denton Municipal Airport • DCTA • Denton Regional Medical Center • FEMA • Fouts Field • Fry Street Fair • Golden Triangle Mall • Lake Lewisville • Lake Ray Roberts • Morrison Milling • North Texas State Fair and Rodeo • NUCONSTEEL • Peterbilt Motors • Precision Pattern, Inc • Presbyterian Hospital of Denton • Rayzor Ranch • Sally Beauty Company • Texas Woman's University • United Copper Industries • University of North Texas • University of North Texas Research Park • UNT Coliseum

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