Frisco is a city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a wealthy and rapid growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 33,714, while according to 2008 city and census estimates, the city's population has surpassed 100,000.[3] Frisco has been and continues to be one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. In the late 1990s, the northern Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex suburban development tide hit the northern border of Plano and spilled into Frisco, sparking explosive growth into the 2000s. Like many of the cities located in the booming northern suburbs of Dallas, Frisco serves as a bedroom community for many professionals that work in the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex.
Since 2003, Frisco has received the designation "Tree City USA" by the National Arbor Day Foundation [1]. In 2007, Frisco received the National Arbor Day Foundation Growth Award for the third year in a row. This award recognizes environmental improvement and encourages a higher level of tree care and tree preservation within the community. A 2007 Forbes study named Frisco as the seventh-fastest growing suburb in the United States [2].
History
When the Dallas area was being settled by American pioneers, many of the settlers traveled by wagon trains along the old Shawnee Trail. This trail was also used for cattle drives north from Austin. This trail later became the Preston Trail, and later, Preston Road. With all of this activity, the community of Lebanon was founded along this trail and granted a U.S. post office in 1860. In 1902, a line of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway was being built through the area, and periodic watering holes were needed along the rails for the steam engines. The current settlement of Lebanon was on the Preston Ridge and was thus too high in elevation, so the watering hole was placed about four miles (6 km) to the west on lower ground. A community grew around this train stop. Residents of Lebanon actually moved their houses to the new community on logs. The new town was originally named Emerson, but that name was rejected by the U.S. Postal Service as being too similar to another town in Texas. In 1904, the residents chose Frisco City in honor of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway on which the town was founded, later shortened to its present name.
Geography
Frisco is located at 33°08′29″N 96°48′47″W / 33.141263°N 96.813120°W / 33.141263; -96.813120 (33.141263, -96.813120).[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 70.0 square miles (181.4 km2), of which, 69.9 square miles (181.0 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2) of it (0.23%) is water.
Major highways
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 33,714 people, 12,065 households, and 9,652 families residing in the city. The population density was 482.4 people per square mile (186.3/km2). There were 13,683 housing units at an average density of 195.8/sq mi (75.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.25% White, 3.76% African American, 0.38% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.34% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.02% of the population.
There were 12,065 households out of which 46.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.3% were married couples living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.0% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.13.
The age distribution is 30.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 45.9% from 25 to 44, 14.5% from 45 to 64, and 3.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $93,478, and the median income for a family was $102,620.[3] Males had a median income of $58,620 versus $37,440 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,089. About 2.2% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Like many Dallas suburbs, Frisco is accumulating a tremendous number of retail properties, including Stonebriar Centre (opened August 2000), a 165-store regional mall, and IKEA (opened 2005), a furniture store with an area of 28,800 square meters (310,000 sq ft). Retail establishments and restaurant chains line Preston Road, which is one of the major north-south-running traffic arteries in the city.
Frisco took a different economic track than many surrounding cities and elected to use a fractional percent of local sales tax to fund the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) rather than DART, the regional transportation body. The effectiveness of the FEDC, whose primary purpose is to reallocate such tax dollars to commercial ventures, is a matter of public debate.
Frisco also built Frisco Square, a mixed-use development that will become the new downtown. Frisco Square has about 250 rental residential units, 7 restaurants, about 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) of commercial office space and a few personal service locations. The major development in the project is the new City Hall and main library and a public commons.
According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [5] the top employers in the city are:
| # |
Employer |
# of Employees |
% of Total City Employment |
| 1 |
Frisco Independent School District |
4,200 |
9.58% |
| 2 |
T-Mobile USA |
1,500 |
3.42% |
| 3 |
City of Frisco |
1,096 |
2.50% |
| 4 |
Rodman Excavation |
800 |
1.83% |
| 5 |
Collin County College - Preston Ridge |
550 |
1.25% |
| 6 |
Amerisource Bergen Specialty Group |
500 |
1.14% |
| 7 |
CLA USA, Inc |
450 |
1.03% |
| 8 |
IKEA Frisco |
400 |
0.91% |
| 9 |
Mario Sinacola & Sons Excavating |
400 |
0.91% |
| 10 |
Target |
350 |
0.80% |
Government
Local Government
Frisco is a "Home Rule" city. Frisco voters adopted its initial "Home Rule" Charter in 1987. In May 2002, Frisco residents voted to revise the Charter and approved 19 propositions.
The form of government adopted by Frisco is the Council-Manager, which consists of a Mayor and six City Council members elected "at-large" and a City Manager. Council members' duties include enacting local legislation (ordinances), adopting budgets, determining policies and appointing the City Manager and City Secretary.
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $227.2 million in Revenues, $184.4 million in expenditures, $1,647.0 million in total assets, $753.1 million in total liabilities, and $159.3 million in cash and investments. [6]
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is: [7]
| City Department |
Director |
| City Manager |
George A. Purefoy |
| City Attorney |
Richard Abernathy |
| City Secretary |
Jenny Page |
| Deputy City Manager |
Henry J. Hill, III |
| Assistant City Manager |
Nell Lange |
| Assistant City Manager |
Ron Patterson |
| Director of Communications |
Dana Baird |
| Director of Engineering Services |
Paul Knippel |
| Director of Financial Services |
Anita Cothran |
| Fire Chief |
Mack Borchardt |
| Director of Human Resources |
Lauren Safranek |
| Director of Information Technology |
Curt Balogh |
| Director of Library Services |
Shelly Holley |
| Director of Parks & Recreation |
Rick Wieland |
| Director Development Services |
John Lettelleir |
| Police Chief |
Todd Renshaw |
| Director of Public Works |
Gary Hartwell |
| Economic Development Corp President |
James Gandy |
| Executive Director CVB |
Marla Roe |
Education
Primary and Secondary
Most of Frisco is a part of the Frisco Independent School District. Some parts extend into Lewisville Independent School District, Little Elm Independent School District, and Prosper Independent School District.
Frisco ISD currently has five high schools: Frisco High School, Centennial High School, Liberty High School, Wakeland High School, and Heritage High School. A 6th high school, Lone Star High School, has completed construction in 2009, but won't accept students until Fall 2010. Additional bond measures have been approved to begin plans for an 7th High School. Frisco, Centennial, Liberty, and Wakeland all compete at 4A sports level. Heritage will begin 3A play in 2010 and 2011, and move up to 4A at a later time.
They have 9 middle schools including Wester, Clark, Fowler, Staley, Griffin, Roach, Stafford, Scoggins and Pioneer-Heritage.
Frisco also has 28 Elementary Schools: Allen, Anderson, Ashley, Bledsoe, Boals, Borchardt, Bright, Carroll, Christie, Corbell, Curtsinger, Elliott, Fisher, Gunstream, Isbell, Mooneyham, Ogle, Pink, Riddle, Robertson, Rogers, Sem, Shawnee Trail, Smith, Sparks, Spears, Tadlock and Taylor.
Higher
The Preston Ridge campus of the Collin County Community College District opened on Wade Boulevard in Frisco in August 1995.
Dallas Baptist University opened up a regional academic center in Frisco's Hall Office Park in January 2006, located at Warren Parkway and Internet Boulevard.
Amberton University has a local campus on Parkwood Blvd north of Warren Parkway.
In 2008 Frisco ISD also opened the CTE center (Career and Technology Education).
University of Dallas moved the Carrollton campus to Frisco.
Recreation
Frisco has built the Frisco Athletic Center, which features 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2) of indoor aquatics elements and about 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) of outdoor aquatic features. Some may refer to this as the "Rec Center." It features upscale exercise equipment, as well as long hours.
Sports
The Texas LeagueAA minor league baseballteam Frisco RoughRidersplay in Frisco at the award-winning Dr Pepper Ballpark. The NBA D-League Friscowill be the Dallas Mavericks affiliate in the NBA Development League for the 2010-2011 season and will be playing at the newly renovated Dr Pepper Arena. The Dallas StarsNational Hockey Leagueis headquartered in Frisco and the team practices at the Dr Pepper Arenathere. The Texas Tornadoof the North American Hockey Leaguehave been based in Frisco since the fall of 2003, and shortly after the NAHLmoved its main offices to Frisco. FC Dallas(formerly the Dallas Burn), a Major League Soccerteam who formerly played at Dallas' Cotton Bowl, moved their home to Pizza Hut Parkat the corner of the Dallas North Tollwayand Main St. in Frisco in August 2005. A major international youth soccer tournament, The Dallas Cup, is hosted in Frisco each year and draws teams from around the world. Frisco is also home of the Superdrome, one of the top outdoor velodromes in the nation. The Southland Conference, an NCAA Division I athletics organization, relocated to Frisco in 2006.
References
External links
