A Texasland grant led to the formation of Denton County in 1846, and the city was incorporated in 1866. Both were named after pioneer and Texas militia captainJohn B. Denton. The arrival of a railroad line in the city in 1881 spurred population, and the establishment of theUniversity of North Texas in 1890 andTexas Woman's University in 1901 distinguished the city from neighboring regions. After the construction ofDallas/Fort Worth International Airport finished in 1974, the city had more rapid growth; as of 2011, Denton was the seventh-fastest growing city with a population of over 100,000 in the country.
Located on the far north end of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in North Texas onInterstate 35, Denton is known for its active music scene; theNorth Texas State Fair and Rodeo,Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, andThin Line Fest attract over 300,000 people to the city each year. The city has hot, humid summers and few extreme weather events. Its diverse citizenry is represented by a nonpartisan city council, and numerous county and state departments have offices in the city. With over 45,000 students enrolled at the two universities within its city limits, Denton is often characterized as acollege town. As a result of the universities' growth, educational services play a large role in the city's economy. Residents are served by theDenton County Transportation Authority, which provides commuter rail and bus service to the area.
Denton's formation is closely tied to that of Denton County. White settlement of the area began in the mid-1800s when William S. Peters of Kentucky obtained aland grant from theTexas Congress and named it Peters Colony. After initial settlement in the southeast part of the county in 1843, the Texas Legislature voted to form Denton County in 1846.[13] Both the county and the town were named forJohn B. Denton, a preacher and lawyer who was killed in 1841 during a skirmish with theKichai people in what is nowTarrant County.[14] Pickneyville and Alton were selected as the county seat before Denton was named the seat in 1857. That year, a commission laid out the city and named the first streets.
On July 8, 1860, approximately half of the downtown Square burned down in what was later called the "Texas Troubles".[15] Fires occurred in ten Texas communities that day, including Dallas and Pilot Point, and were quickly attributed to a slave insurrection.[15] By the end of July, vigilante justice took hold and "[r]egularly constituted law-enforcement agencies stepped aside to allow the vigilantes to do their work. Although no hard evidence was ever adduced to prove the guilt of a single alleged black arsonist or white abolitionist, many unfortunates of both classes were nevertheless hanged for their alleged crimes."[15]
Dentonincorporated in 1866; its first mayor was J.B. Sawyer.[17] As the city expanded beyond its original boundaries (which extended half a mile in every direction from center of the public square[18]), it became an agricultural trade center for the mill and cottage industries. The arrival of theTexas and Pacific Railway in 1881 gave Denton its first rail connection and brought an influx of people to the area.[17] North Texas Normal College, now theUniversity of North Texas, was established in 1890, and the Girls' Industrial College, nowTexas Woman's University, was founded in 1901. As the universities increased in size, their impact on Denton's economy and culture increased.[17] Electricity came to Denton in 1905 with the creation of Denton Municipal Electric.
After the Civil War, "Freedmen Settlements" were started throughout the South.[19] One Freedman Settlement, Quakertown, thrived just south of what is now Texas Woman's University until around 1920, when the city government forcibly removed the residents to make way for a park.[20] Quakertown's Black children were served separately from white children by the Frederick Douglass School.[20] Originally scheduled to open in September 1913, it was mysteriously burned down the night before its scheduled opening.[20] It was rebuilt and in 1949 renamed the "Fred Moore School".[21]
Denton's population grew from 26,844 in 1960 to 48,063 in 1980. Its connection to theDallas–Fort Worth metroplex via I-35E and I-35W played a major role in the growth, and the opening of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 led to a population increase. In the 1980s, heavy manufacturing companies like Victor Equipment Company andPeterbilt joined older manufacturing firms such as Moore Business Forms and Morrison Milling Company in Denton. The population rose from 66,270 in 1990 to 80,537 in 2000.[17] In May 2006,Houston-based real estate company United Equities purchased the 100-block of Fry Street and announced that several of the historic buildings would be demolished and the businesses displaced to accommodate a new mixed-use commercial center. Some residents, who sought to preserve the area as a historic and cultural icon, opposed the proposal.[22] The Denton City Council approved a new proposal for the area from Dinerstein Cos in 2010.[23]
Denton is on the northern edge of theDallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. These three cities form the area known as the "Golden Triangle of North Texas".[46] According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 89.316 square miles (231.33 km2), of which 87.952 square miles (227.79 km2) is land and 1.364 square miles (3.53 km2) is covered by water.[9] The city lies in the northeast edge of theBend Arch–Fort Worth Basin, which is characterized by flat terrain. Elevation ranges from 500 to 900 feet (150 to 270 m).[13] Part of the city is atop theBarnett Shale, a geological formation believed to contain large quantities ofnatural gas.[47][48]Lewisville Lake, a man-madereservoir, is 15 miles (24 km) south of the city.
With its hot, humid summers and cool winters, Denton's climate is characterized ashumid subtropical and is within USDAhardiness zone 8a. The city's all-time high temperature is 113 °F (45 °C), recorded in 1954. Dry winds affect the area in the summer and can bring temperatures of over 100 °F (38 °C), although the average summer temperature highs range from 91 to 96 °F (33 to 36 °C) between June and August. The all-time recorded low is −6 °F (−21 °C), set onFebruary 16, 2021, and the coolest month is January, with daily low temperatures averaging 33 °F (1 °C).[49] Denton lies on the southern end of what is commonly referred to as "Tornado Alley"; theNational Weather Service occasionally issuestornado watches, but tornadoes rarely form in the city. The city receives about 37.7 inches (96 cm) of rain per year.[49] Flash floods and severe thunderstorms are frequent in the spring.[50] Average snowfall is similar to the Dallas–Fort Worth average of 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) per year.[51]
Climate data for Denton, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1913–present)
Denton 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.
Along with much of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Denton has grown rapidly since the beginning of the 21st century, becoming the seventh-fastest growing city in the U.S. with a population over 100,000 between 2010 and 2011.[59] The median income for a household was $60,018 in 2020. Theper capita income was $29,109. About 15.7% of the population were below thepoverty line. Denton fares above the national average with 90.4% of the population high school graduated or higher and 38.9% with a bachelor's degree or higher.[12] According to the2020 United States census, there were 139,869 people, 47,777 households, and 28,430 families residing in the city. Denton's population made it the197th largest city in the United States and the20th largest in Texas per the 2020 census.
The United States Census Bureau defines anurban area of northern Dallas-area suburbs that are separated from the Dallas–Fort Worth urban area, with Denton andLewisville as the principal cities: the Denton–Lewisville, TX urban area had a population of 429,461 as of the 2020 census, ranked96th in the United States.[8]
The educational services, health and social services, manufacturing, and general retail sectors employ over 20,000 people in Denton. The city's three largest educational institutions, including the University of North Texas, Denton Independent School District, and Texas Woman's University, are the largest employers, employing almost 12,000 people. The University of North Texas is the city's largest employer, with 7,764 employees comprising 12.59% of the workforce. The City of Denton also employs more than 1,334 people.[60] Wholesale trade and hospitality jobs also play major roles.[61] Notable businesses headquartered in Denton include truck manufacturerPeterbilt, beauty supplierSally Beauty Company, and jewelry producerJostens.Golden Triangle Mall, the city's largest shopping complex with over 90 specialty shops, is a major source of retail trade.[62]
Denton is home to several annual artistic and cultural events that cater to residents and tourists. The annualNorth Texas State Fair and Rodeo began in 1928 and promotes Texas'scowboy culture. In addition to a rodeo, the event features several localcountry rock performances, pageants, and food contests. Hosted by the North Texas State Fairgrounds since 1948, the fair brings in over 150,000 people during its nine-day run.
TheDenton Municipal Airport has hosted the annual Denton Airshow since 1998. The event includes aerial demonstrations and airplane exhibits; it attracted over 10,000 attendees in 2012.[64] Other events in the city include an annual Redbud Festival,[65][66] the Fiesta on the Square,[67] the Thin Line Fest,[68] and the Day of the Dead Festival.[69][70][71] Denton houses the largestcommunity garden in the nation,Shiloh Field Community Garden, which covers 14.5 acres.[72]
Denton'sindependent music scene has emerged alongside its academic music establishments, including theUniversity of North Texas College of Music.[73] The city's live music venues are largely supported by Denton's college-town atmosphere, although show attendance is bolstered by area residents.[74] Since 1976 the Denton Community Band and Jazz Ensemble has provided performance opportunities at local concerts and holiday festivals for the many talented amateur musicians incubated in Denton's rich environment of music education.[75] TheDallas Observer features a column on Denton's music scene.[76] In 2007 and 2008, Denton's music scene received feature attention fromThe Guardian,Pop Matters, andThe New York Times.[77]Paste Magazine named Denton's music scene the best in the nation in 2008.[78] In 2014, theHuffington Post listed Denton as Texas's top emerging cultural hot spot, calling Denton "practically an indie band factory at this point".[79]
The city-sponsoredDenton Arts and Jazz Festival attracts over 200,000 people each year for live music, food, crafts, and recreation at Civic Center Park.[80] With hopes to create a live music event likeSouth by Southwest, Denton held the first North by 35 Music Festival, later renamed35 Denton, in March 2009. The festival ceased in 2017 after running annually for several years.[81][82] The city has also hosted the annual film and music festivalThin Line Fest annually since 2007. It is Texas's longest-running documentary film festival and attracts thousands of tourists over a few days each year.[83]
The Denton Square, bordered by Oak, Hickory, Locust, and Elm Streets, is a cultural and political hub of the city. At its center is theDenton County Courthouse-on-the-Square, which includes local government offices and a museum showcasing area history and culture.[84]
Listed on theU.S. National Register of Historic Places, the former county courthouse was restored for the TexasSesquicentennial in 1986.[85] The positive response to the renovation sparked a downtown revitalization program that generated new jobs and reinvestment capital.[86] The downtown square is populated by local shops and restaurants, some of which have been in business since the 1940s. Each year, the downtown square is adorned with lights and spotlighted during the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival.[87]
In 1918, theDaughters of the Confederacy erected theDenton Confederate Soldier Monument, a 12-foot tall (3.7 m) granite, arched monument topped with a statue of a Confederate soldier, in the Denton Square on the courthouse lawn.[88] The monument was controversial, and Denton County Commissioners unanimously approved its removal on June 9, 2020.[89]
Denton is thecounty seat ofDenton County. From 1914 to 1959, the City of Denton used amayor–city commission system, but a charter adopted in 1959 created acouncil–manager form of city government.[17] Residents elect a mayor, four single-member district council members, and two at-large members. The Denton City Council appoints the city manager.[17] Council terms are for two years, with a maximum of three consecutive terms, and elections are held each year in May.[94] Denton Municipal Utilities administers utilities; the city provides water, wastewater, electric, drainage and solid waste service. The electric utility, Denton Municipal Electric (DME), has been in operation since 1905. In 2009, DME began providing 40% of its energy to customers through renewable resources. The City of Denton Water Utilities Department serves the city's water demand.Atmos Energy provides the city's natural gas.[95] Denton is a part of theSister Cities International program and maintains cultural and economic exchange programs with itssister cities,Madaba,Jordan, andSan Nicolás de los Garza,Mexico.[96]
Denton is a voluntary member of theNorth Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.
Denton historically is a solidly Republican-voting city,[citation needed] but it has become more competitive in national elections as its population has diversified, shifting toward theDemocratic Party in more recent elections.
Denton city vote by party in presidential elections[97]
After the 2021 redistricting process, new and significantly different political boundaries were set for Denton County. Starting in 2023, most of Denton will be in the13th Congressional district. The southwest portions of the city will be in the26th Congressional district.
TheDenton State Supported Living Center, formerly Denton State School, is Texas's largest residential facility for people with developmental disabilities. It serves an 18-county area and employs approximately 1,500 people.
All Denton city council and mayoral terms are two years, unlike in most cities in the area, which use three-year terms. Even-numbered years bring the elections of the three at-large seats, places 5 & 6 and mayor. Odd-numbered years bring the elections of the four district council members.
List of mayors of Denton, Texas
J. B. Sawyer, 1869
W. J. Austin, 1870
Dempsey Jackson, 1871
W. C. Bobbett, 1872
R. B. Coleman, 1873
David Jones Eddleman, 1874-1875
Joseph Warren Jagoe, 1876
M. W. Deavenport Sr., 1877, 1891
John Allen Withers, 1878
Thomas E. Hogg, 1879
I. D. Ferguson, 1880
D. N. Dodson, 1881
C. L. Herbert Jr., 1882
D. A. Robinson, 1883
T. W. Abney 1883-1885
Oliver Perry Poe, 1885-1888, 1891-1894, 1896-1904, 1910-1911
Denton is also host to several private schools with religious affiliations and alternative education models. According to the 2010 United States Census, 35.1% of all adults over the age of 25 in Denton have obtained a bachelor's degree, as compared to the state average of 25.8%, and 86.1% of residents over the age of 25 have earned a high school diploma, as compared to the state average of 80%.[12]
The Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception Catholic School, aK–8 school of theRoman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, opened in 1995. Construction on the current facility started on July 15, 2001, with its opening on August 19, 2002.[106]
Thecharter school operator Life's Beautiful Educational Centers Inc. (closed 1999) operated the school L.O.V.E. in Denton.[107]
Denton is served by the Denton Public Library, which has three branches: Emily Fowler Central Library, North Branch Library, and South Branch Library.[108]
Texas Woman's University (TWU) is a public university system in Denton with two health science center campuses in Dallas and Houston. Founded in 1901, the university enrolls more than 13,000 undergraduates and graduates. Men have been admitted to TWU since 1972 but make up less than ten percent of the university. TWU's College of Nursing is the second largest in Texas and in the top 20 of largest nursing programs in the United States, and the school's nursing doctoral program is the largest in the world.[112][113][114]
North Central Texas College (NCTC) is a public community college based in Gainesville, Texas. Starting in the 2019–2020 school year, North Central Texas College partnered with First State Bank to open a branch campus in downtown Denton. Located in the formerDenton Record-Chronicle building, the campus focuses on accounting, business, biology, early childhood education, kinesiology, psychology, and general studies.[115]
Since 1899, theDenton Record-Chronicle has been the newspaper of record for Denton. When it was acquired byBelo Corporation in 1999, the newspaper had a circulation of 16,000.[116] TheNorth Texas Daily andThe Lasso provide daily and weekly news to students at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. The city's public television station, Denton TV (DTV), covers city council meetings, restaurant scores, high school football, and educational programming.[117] UNT's television station,ntTV, is broadcast on local channels provided byCharter Communications andVerizon Communications.ntTV News is broadcast live Monday through Thursday.[118]KNTU 88.1 FM is UNT's official radio station. First aired in 1969, the station primarily plays a mixture of jazz and blues and covers local sports and news.[119]
Two major hospitals operate in Denton:Medical City Denton andTexas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton are both full-service hospitals with differing capacities: 208 beds and 255 beds, respectively.[120] Each employs more than 800 employees and are licensed with emergency services.[121]
In response to the previously mentioned, 2014 city referendum prohibitinghydraulic fracturing (fracking) that passed with 59% of the vote,[102] Texas enacted a law specifying "the exclusive jurisdiction of this state to regulate oil and gas operations in this state and the express preemption of local regulation of those operations",[122] though it allows some "commercially reasonable" rules.[123] Denton's city council put out a statement affirming it will "continue to enforce our current regulations to protect the health and safety of our residents, but we do not know how the operators or courts will react".[124]
I-35E andI-35W, which split inHillsboro south of the Metroplex and come north through Dallas andFort Worth respectively, rejoin near the University of North Texas campus in the southwest part of Denton to formInterstate 35 as it continues north on its way to Oklahoma.Loop 288 partially encircles the city; it passes through the northern limits of the city byC. H. Collins Athletic Complex and the eastern side near Golden Triangle Mall.Highway 77 and377 go through the historic town square andHighway 380 connects Denton toFrisco andMcKinney in the east andDecatur in the west.Denton Enterprise Airport is a public airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the central business district (CBD) of Denton. This airport serves as home to various cargo and charter operators as well as two flight schools. A new terminal opened in 2008, but as of June 2008 no scheduled commuter service is in place.[125]
Denton is served by theDenton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), which operates local bus service,[126] on-demand GoZone service,[127] and regional rail toLewisville and Carrollton, with connections toDallas' DART rail system. In 2011,Downtown Denton Transit Center andMedpark Station opened ascommuter rail stations on DCTA'sA-train,[128] which now has five stations and connects to the Green Line of Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) Green Line at Trinity Mills Station. The two transit companies, along with the Trinity Rail Express (TRE) of Fort Worth, offer regional passes to be used on any of the three systems. As of August, 2017 (no deadline announced), rides between the first two (DDTC and Medpark) and the last two (Hebron and Trinity Mills) are "fare-free", though any ride to or through the 3rd stop (Lewisville Lake) will require a paid pass.[129] DCTA states this will relocate downtown parking needs to the underutilized space at Medpark station, and enhance mobility in Downtown Denton, including for students, as well as for residents of Hebron who connect to the DART system one stop away at Trinity Mills.
DCTA also operates the Connect local bus service within Denton, special university shuttles, and on-demand GoZone services in partnership with TransitTech providerVia Transportation. All Connect services (not the A-train) are free of charge for students at the University of North Texas who swipe their ID at the bus entrance.[130]Special Programs for Aging Needs (SPAN), a non-profit organization, offersparatransit service for senior citizens and people with disabilities of all ages.[131]
^"Population".dentonedp.com. Denton, Texas: Denton Economic Development Partnership. 2012. State and Federal Estimates. Archived fromthe original on February 2, 2015. RetrievedOctober 9, 2012.
^Breeding, Lucinda (January 30, 2010)."Prestige builds for NX35".Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived fromthe original on January 12, 2012. RetrievedFebruary 11, 2010.
^"Commission on Colleges". Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Archived fromthe original on September 18, 2009. RetrievedSeptember 23, 2009.
