Denton, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denton, Texas
City
Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square
Seal
Nicknames:  Little Austin, Little D, Redbud Capital of Texas
Location of Denton in Denton County, Texas
Denton, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Denton, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Denton
Incorporated	1866
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• City	97.95 sq mi (253.70 km2)
• Land	96.35 sq mi (249.55 km2)
• Water	1.60 sq mi (4.14 km2)  1.527%
Elevation	659 ft (201 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	139,869
• Density	1,451.68/sq mi (560.49/km2)
• Urban	429,461 (US: 96th)
• Urban density	2,853.9/sq mi (1,101.9/km2)
Demonym(s)	Dentonian or Dentonite
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Zip Codes	76201–76210
Area code(s)	940, 682,817
FIPS code	48-19972
GNIS feature ID	2410323
Website	City of Denton

Denton, TX city map; outlines and buildings updated in 2023

Denton is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the main city of Denton County. In 2020, about 139,869 people lived there. This makes it the 20th largest city in Texas. It's also the 12th largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area.

Denton County was created in 1846. The city of Denton was officially started in 1866. Both were named after John B. Denton, a brave Texas militia captain. When the railroad arrived in 1881, more people moved to Denton. The city became even more special when the University of North Texas opened in 1890. Then, Texas Woman's University opened in 1901.

After the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was built in 1974, Denton grew very fast. By 2011, it was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. Denton is known for its lively music scene. Big events like the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo and the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival bring many visitors. Denton has hot, humid summers. It is often called a "college town" because of its two large universities. These schools help the city's economy a lot.

Denton's Story: A Look at its History

Map of Denton in 1883

The story of Denton is linked to Denton County. White settlers first came to this area in the mid-1800s. William S. Peters received a land grant from the Texas Congress. He named the area Peters Colony. In 1846, the Texas Legislature created Denton County.

Both the county and the city were named after John B. Denton. He was a preacher and lawyer. He died in 1841 during a fight with the Kichai people. Denton became the county seat in 1857. That year, the city's first streets were planned.

Denton officially became a city in 1866. J.B. Sawyer was its first mayor. The city grew as a center for farming and small industries. In 1881, the Texas and Pacific Railway came to Denton. This brought many new people to the area.

North Texas Normal College opened in 1890. It is now the University of North Texas. The Girls' Industrial College opened in 1903. It is now Texas Woman's University. As these universities grew, they had a big impact on Denton's economy and culture.

Denton's population grew a lot from 1960 to 1980. Its connection to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex helped this growth. The opening of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 also led to more people moving in. In the 1980s, big companies like Peterbilt joined older businesses in Denton. The population kept growing, reaching over 80,000 by 2000.

In 2006, some old buildings on Fry Street were planned for demolition. This caused some people to protest. They wanted to save the area's history. A new plan for the area was approved in 2010.

Denton's Location and Climate

Denton is on the northern edge of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. These three cities are part of the "Golden Triangle of North Texas." The city covers about 97.95 square miles (253.70 km2). Most of this area is land.

Denton is in a flat area. Its elevation ranges from 500 to 900 feet (150 to 270 meters). Part of the city is over the Barnett Shale. This is a rock layer that holds a lot of natural gas. Lewisville Lake, a large man-made lake, is about 15 miles (24 km) south of Denton.

Denton's Weather: Hot Summers and Mild Winters

Denton has hot, humid summers and cool winters. It has a Humid subtropical climate. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 113°F (45°C) in 1954. Summer highs are usually between 91°F and 96°F (33°C and 36°C). The coldest temperature ever was -3°F (-19°C). January is the coolest month, with lows around 33°F (1°C).

Denton is near "Tornado Alley." Tornado warnings happen sometimes, but tornadoes rarely hit the city directly. The city gets about 37.7 inches (96 cm) of rain each year. Heavy thunderstorms and flash floods are common in spring. Denton gets about 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) of snow per year.

Who Lives in Denton? A Look at its People

Denton has grown quickly since the early 2000s. Between 2010 and 2011, it was one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. for cities over 100,000 people. In 2020, the average household income was $60,018. The average income per person was $29,109. About 15.7% of the people lived below the poverty line.

Denton has a well-educated population. About 90.4% of adults have a high school diploma or higher. Also, 38.9% have a bachelor's degree or higher. This is more than the state average for Texas. In 2020, Denton had 139,869 people. It was the 197th largest city in the United States. It was also the 20th largest city in Texas.

Denton's Economy: Jobs and Businesses

Education, health, manufacturing, and retail are big parts of Denton's economy. These areas employ over 20,000 people. The largest employers are the University of North Texas, Denton Independent School District, and Texas Woman's University. They employ almost 12,000 people combined.

The University of North Texas is the biggest employer. It has 7,764 employees. The City of Denton also employs more than 1,334 people. Other important jobs are in wholesale trade and hospitality.

Famous businesses in Denton include Peterbilt (trucks), Sally Beauty Company (beauty supplies), and Jostens (jewelry). Golden Triangle Mall is the city's largest shopping center. It has over 90 stores.

Top Employers in Denton

Here are some of the top employers in Denton:

• University of North Texas (5,100 employees)
• Denton Independent School District (4,417 employees)
• Peterbilt Motors (2,000 employees)
• Texas Woman's University (868-1,875 employees)
• Denton County (1,803 employees)
• City of Denton (1,757 employees)
• Denton State Supported Living Center (1,700 employees)
• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton (1,100 employees)
• Medical City Denton (799 employees)
• Sally Beauty Holding,Inc (1,000 employees)

Arts and Culture in Denton

Denton hosts many fun events each year for locals and visitors. The North Texas State Fair and Rodeo started in 1928. It celebrates Texas's cowboy culture. It includes a rodeo, country music, and food contests. Over 150,000 people visit the fair each year.

The Denton Municipal Airport has hosted the Denton Airshow since 1998. This event features amazing aerial shows and airplane displays. In 2012, over 10,000 people attended. Other events include the Redbud Festival and the Day of the Dead Festival. Denton also has the largest community garden in the U.S., called Shiloh Field Community Garden. It covers 14.5 acres.

Denton's Music Scene

Denton has a vibrant independent music scene. This grew alongside the music programs at the University of North Texas College of Music. Live music venues are popular, especially with college students. The Denton Community Band and Jazz Ensemble has performed locally since 1976.

Many magazines and newspapers have praised Denton's music scene. Paste Magazine called it the best in the nation in 2008. In 2014, the Huffington Post said Denton was a top cultural hot spot. They called it "practically an indie band factory."

The city's Denton Arts and Jazz Festival attracts over 200,000 people. It features live music, food, and crafts. Denton also hosted the 35 Denton Music Festival for several years. The city has also hosted the Thin Line Fest since 2007. This is Texas's longest-running documentary film festival.

The Heart of Denton: The Denton Square

Denton Historic Town Square

The Denton Square is a central place in the city. It is surrounded by Oak, Hickory, Locust, and Elm Streets. The Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square is in the middle. It has local government offices and a museum. The museum shows the area's history and culture.

The old courthouse is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It was fixed up in 1986. This led to a project to improve the downtown area. The square has many local shops and restaurants. Some have been there since the 1940s. Every year, the square is decorated with lights for the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival.

In 1918, a monument to a Confederate soldier was placed in the square. In 2020, the Denton County Commissioners voted to remove it.

Learning in Denton: Schools and Universities

Schools for Younger Students

The Denton Independent School District (DISD) serves most of the city. It has four high schools: Braswell, Denton, Guyer, and Ryan. There are also other elementary and middle schools. Small parts of Denton are in other school districts. These include Argyle, Krum, Ponder, and Sanger.

Denton also has private schools. Many of these are connected to religious groups. In 2010, about 35.1% of adults in Denton had a bachelor's degree. This is higher than the Texas average. Also, 86.1% of adults had a high school diploma.

The Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science is in Denton. It is a special program for gifted high school students. Immaculate Conception Catholic School is a private K-8 school. It opened in 1995.

Public Libraries

Denton has three public libraries. They are the Emily Fowler Central Library, North Branch Library, and South Branch Library.

University of North Texas (UNT)

The University of North Texas is the second largest university in North Texas.

The University of North Texas (UNT) is a major university in Denton. It is part of the University of North Texas System. UNT has over 42,000 students. This makes it the fifth largest university in Texas.

UNT's College of Music is very famous. It was the first school to offer a degree in jazz studies. Many successful musicians have come from this program.

Texas Woman's University (TWU)

Texas Woman's University (TWU) is another public university in Denton. It also has campuses in Dallas and Houston. TWU was founded in 1901. It has over 13,000 students. Men have been allowed to attend TWU since 1972.

TWU's College of Nursing is the second largest in Texas. It is also one of the largest nursing programs in the United States. Its nursing doctoral program is the biggest in the world.

North Central Texas College (NCTC)

North Central Texas College (NCTC) is a community college. It opened a campus in downtown Denton in 2019. This campus focuses on subjects like accounting, business, and biology.

Media in Denton

The Denton Record-Chronicle has been Denton's newspaper since 1899. The North Texas Daily and The Lasso provide news for university students. Denton TV (DTV) is the city's public television station. It shows city council meetings and local sports. UNT also has its own television station, ntTV. KNTU 88.1 FM is UNT's radio station. It plays jazz and blues music and covers local news.

City Services and Transportation

Fracking Regulations

In 2014, Denton voters approved a ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking). This is a way to get natural gas from the ground. Texas then passed a law saying the state controls oil and gas rules. Denton's city council said they would still try to protect residents.

Getting Around Denton

DCTA A-train station at Downtown Denton Transit Center

Interstate 35 runs through Denton. It splits into I-35E and I-35W south of the city. Loop 288 goes around part of the city. Highway 77, 377, and 380 also pass through Denton.

The Denton Enterprise Airport is a public airport. It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) west of downtown. It is used by cargo and charter planes. It also has two flight schools.

Public Transportation

Denton has public transportation run by the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA). They have local bus service and on-demand GoZone service. They also have a train called the A-train. The A-train connects Denton to Lewisville and Carrollton. You can then connect to Dallas's DART rail system.

The Downtown Denton Transit Center and Medpark Station are A-train stations. Students at the University of North Texas can ride DCTA buses for free with their ID. Special Programs for Aging Needs (SPAN) helps senior citizens and people with disabilities get around.

Famous People from Denton

Denton, Texas, city limit sign

Politicians and Activists

• Amber Briggle, activist and business owner
• Bob Castleberry, former mayor

Artists, Entertainers, and Celebrities

• Aaron Aryanpur, stand-up comedian
• Shirley Cothran, 1975 Miss America
• Herschel Evans, jazz musician
• Phyllis George, 1971 Miss America
• Sarah Jaffe, singer-songwriter
• Ralph Kirshbaum, classical cellist
• Jason Lee, actor, skateboarder
• Livingston, singer-songwriter
• Meat Loaf, singer and actor
• Memphis May Fire, metal band
• Xander Mobus, voice actor
• Ray Peterson, 1950s/1960s pop singer
• Leila Rahimi, television sports anchor
• Andrew Savage, painter, musician
• Robert Ray "Rocky" Shahan, actor, stuntman
• Ann Sheridan, actress
• Sly Stone, Sly & The Family Stone founder
• Tommy Taylor, musician
• Mike Wiebe, musician, actor, and stand-up comedian

Athletes

• Mario Bennett, former NBA player
• Jim Chamblee, former MLB player
• Brandon Erwin, racing driver
• Carl Garrett, NFL player
• Abner Haynes, former NFL player
• Austin Jackson, MLB player
• Corey Knebel, MLB player
• Jarvis Moss, NFL player
• Jalen Wilson, NBA player

Other Notable People

• Stanley G. Payne, historian

See also

In Spanish: Denton (Texas) para niños