Irving, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Irving, Texas

Clockwise from top left: Urban Towers at Las Colinas, the former Texas Stadium, Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, Downtown Las Colinas Skyline, The Mustangs at Las Colinas

Flag

Motto(s):

"Delivering Exceptional Services"

Location within Dallas County

Irving, Texas

Location in Texas

Irving, Texas

Location in the United States

Country

Incorporated (city)

April 14, 1914

Government

• Type

Council-Manager

Area

• City

67.97 sq mi (176.04 km²)

• Land

66.98 sq mi (173.48 km²)

• Water

0.99 sq mi (2.57 km²)

Elevation

482 ft (147 m)

Population

(2020)

• City

256,732

• Rank

(US: 88th)

• Density

3,580.20/sq mi (1,382.32/km²)

• Urban

5,121,892 (6th)

• Metro

6,810,913 (4th)

• CSA

7,206,144 (6th)

• Summer (DST)

75014-75017, 75038-75039, 75059-75064

Area code(s)

214, 469, 945, 972, 682, 817

FIPS code

48-37000

GNIS feature ID

1338507

Website

cityofirving.org

Irving is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is part of the larger Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex area. Irving is known for its many different cultures and people.

In 2020, about 256,684 people lived in Irving. This makes it the twelfth-largest city in Texas. Irving is also home to the Las Colinas community and part of the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.

History of Irving, Texas

Irving was started in 1903 by J.O. "Otto" Schulze and Otis Brown. They named the town after the famous writer Washington Irving. Before that, the area was called Gorbit in 1889, and then Kit in 1894.

Irving officially became a city on April 14, 1914. Otis Brown was its first mayor. In the late 1800s, the area had churches, cotton gins, a blacksmith shop, and a general store. Public schools began in 1909.

The city grew slowly at first, with only 357 people in 1925. But in the 1930s, more people started moving there. By the early 1960s, about 45,000 people lived in Irving. Many factories, transportation companies, and stores opened.

The University of Dallas opened in Irving in 1956. Texas Stadium, which was the home of the Dallas Cowboys football team, was finished in 1971.

In 2011, the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas opened. Later, in 2015, a high school student named Ahmed Mohamed gained national attention for building a clock that was mistaken for something dangerous. This event sparked discussions about how people are treated.

By 2019, Irving had a new entertainment area in Las Colinas. It includes the Westin Irving Convention Center Hotel and the Toyota Music Factory. This area has restaurants, a movie theater, and a place for concerts.

Geography and Climate

Irving covers about 67.7 square miles (175.3 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Key Developments in Irving

Irving includes a large planned community called Las Colinas. This area is over 12,000 acres and has many big companies. It also has the Las Colinas Entertainment District. Part of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is also in Irving. Another planned community in Irving is Valley Ranch.

Weather in Irving

The warmest month in Irving is usually July. The highest temperature ever recorded was 112°F (44°C) in 1980. January is typically the coolest month. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -8°F (-22°C) in 1899. Irving has a humid subtropical climate, which means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. May is usually the wettest month.

People and Diversity

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1920	357	—
1930	731	104.8%
1940	1,089	49.0%
1950	2,621	140.7%
1960	45,985	1,654.5%
1970	97,260	111.5%
1980	109,943	13.0%
1990	155,037	41.0%
2000	191,615	23.6%
2010	216,290	12.9%
2020	256,684	18.7%
U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate

Irving is known for having a very diverse population. This means people from many different backgrounds and cultures live there. A study in 2012 found that one of Irving's zip codes was the most diverse in the United States. Irving was also ranked as one of the most diverse cities overall.

**Irving 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.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	92,445	66,559	53,982	48.25%	30.77%	21.03%
Black or African American alone (NH)	19,254	25,550	31,714	10.05%	11.81%	12.36%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	905	807	733	0.47%	0.37%	0.29%
Asian alone (NH)	15,674	30,161	57,301	8.18%	13.94%	22.32%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	199	221	250	0.10%	0.10%	0.10%
Other Race alone (NH)	247	434	1,227	0.13%	0.20%	0.48%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	3,053	3,591	6,008	1.59%	1.66%	2.34%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	59,838	88,967	105,469	31.23%	41.13%	41.09%
Total	191,615	216,290	256,684	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

In 2010, there were 216,290 people living in Irving. About 29% of the population was under 19 years old. The average age was about 31 years.

Economy and Major Employers

Irving is home to many large companies and businesses. This creates many jobs for people living in the city.

According to a 2021–2022 report, here are some of the top employers in Irving:

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Citigroup, Inc.	6,162
2	Vistra Energy	5,400
3	Allstate Insurance	3,068
4	Verizon Communications	3,000
5	Microsoft	2,681
6	Irving Mall	2,100
7	YRC Freight	1,941
8	Baylor Scott & White Health	1,907
9	DFW International Airport	1,900
10	Accenture	1,900

Many companies have their main offices, called headquarters, in Irving. These include Nexstar Media Group, Chuck E. Cheese, Cicis, Kimberly-Clark, Michaels Stores, and 7-Eleven. The national headquarters for the Boy Scouts of America is also in Irving.

International Business Connections

Irving is also home to the American headquarters of companies like Nokia America and NEC Corporation of America. Because of its connection with Nokia, Irving is a "sister city" with Espoo, Finland, where Nokia's main office is located.

Arts and Culture in Irving

Irving has many places where you can enjoy art and learn about history.

Local Attractions

The Irving Arts Center is a place for many different art groups. It offers cultural programs and chances for people to get involved in music, acting, and art. The Irving Arts Center is connected with the Smithsonian, a famous group of museums.

The city also has four history museums:

The Jackie Townsell Bear Creek Heritage Center
The Ruth Paine House Museum
The Mustangs of Las Colinas Museum
The Irving Archives and Museum (opened in 2020)

Sports in Irving

Irving is an important city for college sports. It is the headquarters for two major college athletic groups: the Big 12 Conference and the American Athletic Conference.

High schools in the Irving Independent School District (IISD) play football and other sports at the Joy and Ralph Ellis Stadium.

Irving's Sports History

Irving was once the home of Texas Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys football team played from 1971 to 2008. The team also had its training facility in Irving from 1985 to 2016. The stadium was taken down on April 11, 2010.

Education in Irving

Irving has many schools, from elementary to college.

Schools for Kids and Teens

Most of Irving is served by the Irving Independent School District (IISD). Other parts of the city are served by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD), Coppell Independent School District (CISD), and Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.

Here are some of the main high schools in Irving:

Irving High School (IISD)
MacArthur High School (IISD)
Nimitz High School (IISD)
Jack E. Singley Academy (IISD)
Ranchview High School (CFBISD)
Coppell High School (CISD)

There are also charter schools, which are public schools run by independent groups. Some of these in Irving include Uplift Infinity Preparatory and Uplift North Hills Preparatory.

Private Schools in Irving

Irving has several private schools:

Cistercian Preparatory School: A school for boys in grades 5-12.
The Highlands School: A school for students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
Holy Family Catholic Academy: A Catholic school for Pre-K to 8th grade.
Islamic School of Irving: A school for Pre-K to 12th grade.
The Sloan School and StoneGate Christian Academy: Christian private schools.

Colleges and Universities

For higher education, Irving is home to:

University of Dallas
North Lake College, which is part of Dallas College
DeVry University also has a campus in Irving.

Transportation in Irving

Irving has several major highways that make it easy to travel around the city and to other places. These include SH 183, I-635, SH 114, and the President George Bush Turnpike.

Irving is also part of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which provides bus and train services. The city has bus routes and two stops for the Trinity Railway Express commuter train. DART's Orange Line also runs through Irving and Las Colinas to the DFW Airport.

In the Las Colinas area, there is a special people-mover system called the Las Colinas APT System. It connects businesses and entertainment spots.

Notable People from Irving

Many interesting people have lived in Irving, including:

Larry D. Alexander, artist/writer
Frank Beard, drummer for ZZ Top
Jim Beaver, actor/writer
Brian Bosworth, professional football player
David Garza, musician
Michael Huff, professional football player
Peter MacNicol, actor
Lee Harvey Oswald, known for his role in a historical event
Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon Mobil and U.S. Secretary of State
Beth Van Duyne, Congresswoman and former mayor of Irving
Jeremy Wariner, Olympic gold medalist in sprinting
Kerry Wood, professional baseball player

Sister Cities

Irving has "sister city" relationships with cities around the world. These partnerships help promote cultural exchange and understanding. Irving's sister cities are: