According to legislative action, the city is the "Rodeo Capital of Texas".[6] In 2016, Mesquite received a Playful City USA designation[7] for the fourth year in a row.[8] The city has been named aTree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for over 25 years.[9] The city of Mesquite holds the 10th-longest reign in all of Texas.[10]
Centuries before American settlers moved into the area, Mesquite was an openprairie land and a key trading ground forindigenous peoples. The Ionies were a western tribe located close to present-dayFort Worth. The Tawakonies were in present-day Dallas. Finally, theCaddo were the native farmers of the Mesquite land. From 1680 to 1790, after harvest was over, these three tribes held an annual tournament and trading fair.[14]
The city of Mesquite was founded on March 14, 1878, on land along theTexas & Pacific Railway, which ran from Dallas toShreveport, Louisiana. The locals then named the town after Mesquite Creek. The city was officially incorporated on December 3, 1887, after electing Mayor J.E. Russell.[15]
In the city's earliest years, it was known for many outlaws residing in the area. A prominent outlaw wasSam Bass, historically known for his train robberies in Texas. In 1878, he robbed a train in downtown Mesquite, escaping with only $152. Bass missed the $30,000 hidden by the express agent in the unused pot belly stove.[15]TheMesquiter, established in 1882 by R.S. Kimbrough, was Dallas County's longest-running newspaper.[15]
Mesquite prospered through the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a farming community, growingcotton,hay,corn, andsugarbeets, and using the railroad to ship raw goods. The town remained predominantlyagrarian until afterWorld War II, when thesuburban boom took root in Mesquite.
In 1946, theMesquite Rodeo was founded by Charlie Columbus McNally, and was one of the only rodeos that had a permanent location. By the mid-1980s, the events were being broadcast byESPN.[16]
In 1959,Big Town Mall opened as the first air-conditionedshopping mall in the United States. Portions of the Talking Heads movie 'True Stories' were filmed at this mall. The mall was demolished in the summer of 2006, andFedEx opened a logistics center on the property in 2017.[13]
By 1970, theLBJ Freeway (I-635) was constructed, connecting Mesquite to its neighbors,Garland to the north andBalch Springs to the south. Also, in 1971,Town East Mall was constructed. The mall was used by directorRon Howard to film portions of the movieCotton Candy in 1978. It can also be seen in drive-by footage in theTalking Heads movie 'True Stories', by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. The mall's associated traffic and shops would continue to grow the town.
In 1986, the Mesquite Arena opened its doors as the new home for the Mesquite ProRodeo. By 1998, the facility was expanded to include a convention center, exhibition hall, and aHampton Inn and Suites.
By the1990 census, the city had grown to 101,484 people, up from 1,696 residents in1950.
In 2011, Mesquite passed a law allowing beer and wine sales in the city. The measure had been considered several times for many years, but was always blocked by strong protest against the proposed sales. It was one of the few cities without beer and wine sales in eastern Dallas County before the law came into effect.
In June 2015, the Mesquite Arts Center added a Freedom Park exhibit, in memorial ofSeptember 11. The park displays a 15-foot (4.6 m) beam that was recovered from the remains ofGround Zero. The Mesquite Fire Department received the beam in 2011.[17]
Mesquite is located in eastern Dallas County with a portion extending east into Kaufman County. The city is bordered to the west by Dallas, to the north byGarland, to the northeast bySunnyvale, to the south bySeagoville and Dallas, and to the southwest byBalch Springs.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.293 square miles (127.67 km2), of which, 49.102 square miles (127.17 km2) is land and 0.191 square miles (0.49 km2) is water.[1] Mesquite is part of theDallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metroplex, in which one quarter of all Texans live.
On average, the warmest month is July. The highest recorded temperature in Mesquite was 112 °F (44 °C) in 1980. The average coolest month is January. The lowest recorded temperature was 1 °F (−17 °C) in 1989. May is the average wettest month.
Mesquite city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, there were 150,108 people, 50,123 households, and 36,989 families residing in the city.[22] Thepopulation density was 3,096.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,195.4/km2). There were 52,615 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 33.5%White, 25.1%African American, 1.4%Native American, 2.9%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 19.9% from some other races and 17.2% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.1% of the population.[23] 28.0% of residents were under the age of 18, 7.4% were under 5 years of age, and 11.4% were 65 and older.
As of the2010 census, there were 139,824 people, 48,586 households, and 34,641 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 3,038.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,173.1/km2). There were 51,952 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 59.0%White, 21.8%African American, 0.8%Native American, 3.2%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 11.9% from some other races and 3.1% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.6% of the population.
As of the2000 census, there were 124,523 people, 43,926 households, and 32,900 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,107.3/km² (2,868.1/mi²). There were 46,245 housing units at an average density of 411.2/km² (1,065.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.54%White, 13.32%African American, 0.60%Native American, 3.75%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 6.43% fromother races, and 2.31% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 15.66% of the population.
There were 43,926 households out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% weremarried couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,424, and the median income for a family was $56,357. Males had a median income of $37,756 versus $29,905 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $20,890. About 5.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.
In 2016, the Mesquite Public Library System was presented with a 2016 Achievement of Library Excellence Award by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. Of the 548 public library systems in Texas, the Mesquite Public Library was one of only 43 libraries to earn this prestigious honor.[29] The Mesquite Public Library System consists of two branches to serve the community. Both branches offer traditional and non-traditional programs.[30]
The city houses 76 parks and four recreation centers. The city has been designated a Playful City USA four years running and opened its Heritage Trail system in 2015.[31] The hike and bike trail system consists of 4.25 miles of concrete trails and sidewalks, three trailheads, and other improvements that connect residents from their homes to the Mesquite Golf Club, schools, recreation centers, sports fields, shopping, and more.[32]
Mesquite Golf Club is a 154-acre (62 ha), 18-hole golf course for both novice and expert golfers. Operated by the City of Mesquite, the course is open seven days a week and features a pro shop and driving range.[33]
The 36,700-square-foot (3,410 m2) municipal arts facility houses a 494-seat music performance hall, black box theater, rehearsal hall, galleries, and support space.[34] The facility serves as the cultural center for the community and is home to the Mesquite Community Theatre, Mesquite Community Band and the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra.[35]
TheTexas Legislature defines all of Dallas County (including the vast majority of Mesquite) as being in theDallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College or DCCCD) district. The portion in Kaufman County is within theTrinity Valley Community College district.[38]Eastfield College provides undergraduate degrees and continuing-education credits as part of Dallas College.
Higher education also is provided by two other institutions.Columbia College-Mesquite Campus is located on the Eastfield College campus. It is a private, nonprofit institution that was founded inColumbia, Missouri, in 1851. It provides bachelor's and master's degree programs.
Mesquite shares the same television and radio market with Dallas. The Mesquite Independent School District operatesKEOM, a high-school sports and classic-hits radio station. The city's newspaper community primarily subscribes toThe Dallas Morning News,Al Dia, and other Dallas-based newspapers.The Dallas Morning News has a section dedicated to local news in Mesquite.[39]Star Local News distributes theMesquite News newspaper.
Mesquite is served by a publicly owned and operated airport,Mesquite Metro Airport. The airport includes a 6,000-foot (1,800 m) lighted runway withILS. General aviation accounts for about 75% of daily operations, while commercial aviation accounts for the rest.[40] Mesquite Metro Airport is popular among transient aircraft due to its location near Dallas and favorable fuel prices.[41]
Two other nearby airports,Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport andDallas Love Field, provide regular commercial passenger service to the region. Dallas Love Field is around 15 miles (24 km) from Mesquite; DFW Airport is roughly 30 miles (48 km) from Mesquite.
Mesquite is not a member ofDallas Area Rapid Transit, but on April 12, 2011, the DART Board changed its policy to permit DART to contract with nonmember cities for services, such as passenger rail and express service. The city and DART staffs have developed a coordinated plan to have a weekday commuter service in operation between the Hanby Stadium visitor parking lot and the DART's Green Line Lawnview Station. This route opened March 12, 2012. The city also has an optional public transportation service where citizens can schedule specific pickup and drop off times and locations within Mesquite through theSTAR Transit service.[42]
Union Pacific Railroad operates anintermodal facility for its freight rail service as part of the SkylineIndustrial Park. The recent expansion of this intermodal facility won a Silver award in the Industrial Paving Category by the American Concrete Pavement Association.[43]
Interstate 20 is a major east–west interstate serving the south side of Mesquite passing through rural and residential areas including theLawson area. I-20 connects withBalch Springs to the west andTerrell to the east.
Interstate 635 (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway) is anauxiliary interstate serving as a partial loop around Dallas and its suburbs. I-635 bisects the city of Mesquite and serves as the main freeway through the city as most of the local businesses and attractions (including Town East Mall and Mesquite Championship Rodeo) are built near or around I-635. The interstate connects with Garland to the north and Balch Springs to the south. I-635 also connects Mesquite withDallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
U.S. Highway 80 is an east–west freeway passing through north Mesquite. US 80 connects withSunnyvale,Forney, and Terrell to the east. To the west of Mesquite, the highway merges onto I-30.
Texas Highway 352 (Military Parkway/Scyene Road) is an east–west highway passing through both west Mesquite and downtown Mesquite. In the downtown area, it is known locally as Main Street on the westbound section and Davis Street on the eastbound section.
Belt Line Road also passes through Mesquite and serves as a major road. Belt Line Road serves as an outer loop around the Dallas suburbs.
Planning stages and environmental studies are being conducted to expandPresident George Bush Turnpike to connect from its current terminus at I-30 in Garland to I-20. The new segment of thetoll road would pass through Sunnyvale and Mesquite in route to I-20 and would complete the loop aroundDallas County.[44]
^Brettell, Caroline B. '"Big D" Incorporating New Immigrants in a Sunbelt Suburban Metropolis' (Chapter 3). In: Singer, Audrey, Susan Wiley Hardwick, and Caroline Brettell.Twenty-First Century Gateways: Immigrant Incorporation in Suburban America (James A. Johnson metro series).Brookings Institution Press, 2009.ISBN0815779283, 9780815779285. Start p.53. CITED: p.64.
^Brettell, Caroline B. '"Big D" Incorporating New Immigrants in a Sunbelt Suburban Metropolis' (Chapter 3). In: Singer, Audrey, Susan Wiley Hardwick, and Caroline Brettell.Twenty-First Century Gateways: Immigrant Incorporation in Suburban America (James A. Johnson metro series).Brookings Institution Press, 2009.ISBN0815779283, 9780815779285. Start p.53. CITED: p.65.
^"Archived copy". Archived fromthe original on September 1, 2006. RetrievedSeptember 9, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)City of Mesquite web site. Accessed September 9, 2006
^[1]AirNav: Mesquite Metro Airport. Accessed September 8, 2006
^[2]City of Mesquite Public Transportation. Accessed October 12, 2021
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