Mesquite, Texas facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Mesquite, Texas
City
Top to bottom, left to right: AMC 30 Mesquite, Stephen Decatur Lawrence Farmstead, Mesquite Memorial Stadium, Mesquite Metro Airport hangar, Mesquite High School, and Mesquite Tower
Nickname(s): Rodeo Capital of Texas
Motto(s): Real. Texas. Flavor.
Location within and around Dallas County
Country	United States
State	Texas
Counties	Dallas, Kaufman
Founded	May 1873
Incorporated	December 3, 1887
Named for	Mesquite Creek
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• City	49.293 sq mi (127.668 km²)
• Land	49.102 sq mi (127.175 km²)
• Water	0.191 sq mi (0.495 km²)
Elevation	495 ft (151 m)
Population (2020)
• City	150,108
• Estimate (2023)	147,317
• Rank	US: 185th TX: 21st
• Density	3,000/sq mi (1,158/km²)
• Urban	5,732,354 (US: 6th)
• Metro	8,100,037 (US: 4th)
Time zone	UTC–6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes	75149–75150, 75180–75182, 75185, 75187
Area code(s)	214, 469, 972, and 945
FIPS code	48-47892
GNIS feature ID	2411090
Sales tax	8.25%

Mesquite is a city in the state of Texas, located mostly in Dallas County. A small part of the city also reaches into Kaufman County. In 2020, about 150,108 people lived there, making it one of the largest cities in Texas.

Mesquite is a very important hub because it's located where four major highways meet. These highways are Interstate 30, Interstate 635, Interstate 20, and U.S. Route 80. This makes it easy to get to places like downtown Dallas, Lake Ray Hubbard, and the DFW International Airport.

The city is known as the "Rodeo Capital of Texas" because of its famous rodeo. Mesquite has also been recognized as a "Playful City USA" and a "Tree City USA" for many years. This means it's a great place for fun and has lots of trees! Unlike many other cities near Dallas and Fort Worth, Mesquite has its own airport, the Mesquite Metro Airport. Many big companies like United Parcel Service, Sears, and FedEx also have a major presence here.

History of Mesquite

Early Times Before Settlement

Long before American settlers arrived, the area where Mesquite now stands was open prairie land. It was an important trading spot for different Native American tribes. The Ionies lived near what is now Fort Worth, the Tawakonies were in present-day Dallas, and the Caddo tribe were farmers in the Mesquite area. From the late 1600s to the late 1700s, these three tribes would gather here after harvest for an annual tournament and trading fair.

How Mesquite Was Founded

The city of Mesquite was officially started on March 14, 1878. It was built on land along the Texas & Pacific Railway, a train line that connected Dallas to Shreveport, Louisiana. The people living there decided to name the town after Mesquite Creek. The city became officially incorporated on December 3, 1887, and its first mayor was J.E. Russell.

In its early days, Mesquite was known for some outlaws. One famous outlaw was Sam Bass, who was known for robbing trains in Texas. In 1878, he robbed a train right in downtown Mesquite, but he only got away with $152. He missed a much larger amount of money hidden on the train!

Mesquite's Growth and Development

Mesquite grew steadily in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a farming community. Farmers grew crops like cotton, hay, corn, and sugarbeets. They used the railroad to ship their goods to other places. The town stayed mostly a farming area until after World War II, when more people started moving to the suburbs.

In 1946, the famous Mesquite Rodeo was started by Charlie Columbus McNally. It was special because it was one of the few rodeos that had a permanent home. By the mid-1980s, the rodeo events were even shown on TV by ESPN.

In 1959, Big Town Mall opened its doors. It was the first air-conditioned shopping mall in the United States! The mall was torn down in 2006, and a FedEx shipping center now stands on that land.

By 1970, the LBJ Freeway (I-635) was built. This highway connected Mesquite to nearby cities like Garland to the north and Balch Springs to the south. In 1971, Town East Mall was built. This mall and the traffic it brought helped the town continue to grow.

In 1986, the Mesquite Arena opened. This became the new home for the Mesquite ProRodeo. Later, in 1998, the facility was made even bigger to include a convention center and a hotel.

By 1990, the city's population had grown to over 100,000 people, a huge jump from just 1,696 residents in 1950. In June 2015, the Mesquite Arts Center added a special "Freedom Park" exhibit. This park is a memorial to the events of September 11. It features a 15-foot beam that was recovered from the remains of the World Trade Center in New York City.

Geography and Climate

Mesquite is located in the eastern part of Dallas County, with a small section extending into Kaufman County. It shares borders with Dallas to the west, Garland to the north, and Balch Springs to the southwest.

The city covers a total area of about 49.29 square miles (127.67 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water. Mesquite is part of the larger Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metroplex, which is a very large urban area where about a quarter of all Texans live.

Neighborhoods

Mesquite has many different neighborhoods, including:

Lawson
Samuell Farms
Meadow Creek
Parkview
Broadmoor Estates
Old Broadmoor Estates
Crooked Lane
Fuentes
Eastern Heights
Edgemont Park
Creek Crossing
Rutherford
Falcon's Lair
Falcon's Ridge
Pecan Creek
Rollingwood Hills
Skyline
Big Town Estates
Presidential Estates
Pasadena Gardens
Original Town
Melton
Tealwood
Northridge
Quail Hollow
Wildwood
Valley Creek
Idle wood
Meadowview
Palos Verdes
hagan hills
Mesquite Park
Casa View Heights
Solterra Texas

Climate in Mesquite

Mesquite has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. It is also known for having a wide range of temperatures throughout the year. Mesquite is located at the lower end of Tornado Alley, which means it can experience extreme weather like thunderstorms and tornadoes.

Usually, July is the hottest month. The highest temperature ever recorded in Mesquite was 112 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius) in 1980. January is typically the coolest month. The lowest temperature ever recorded was 1 degree Fahrenheit (-17 degrees Celsius) in 1989. May is usually the wettest month, with the most rainfall.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	135	—
1900	406	200.7%
1910	687	69.2%
1920	674	−1.9%
1930	729	8.2%
1940	1,045	43.3%
1950	1,696	62.3%
1960	27,526	1,523.0%
1970	55,131	100.3%
1980	67,053	21.6%
1990	101,484	51.3%
2000	124,523	22.7%
2010	139,824	12.3%
2020	150,108	7.4%
2023 (est.)	147,317	5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census

Mesquite has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, there were 150,108 people living in the city. About 28% of the residents were under 18 years old, and 11.4% were 65 or older.

Mesquite is a very diverse city. According to the 2020 census, the population included people of various backgrounds. About 44.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino. The city also has significant populations of White, African American, Asian, and people of two or more races.

Many people in Mesquite identify with a religion. Christianity is the most common religion, with many different Christian groups present. There is also a notable presence of Islam and other faiths like Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Mesquite is also a special place for Indian Christians from the state of Kerala, who were among the first Indian Americans to settle in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Economy and Jobs

Mesquite's economy is closely connected to the larger city of Dallas, but it also has many important local businesses.

Major Employers in Mesquite

Here are some of the biggest employers in the city, based on a 2023 report:

#	Employer	Type of Business	# of Employees
1	Mesquite Independent School District	Education	1,000+
2	Town East Mall	Enclosed Shopping Mall	1,000+
3	United Parcel Service Inc.	Package Delivery Company	1,000+
4	Canadian Solar	Renewable Energy Company	1,000+
5	City of Mesquite	Government	1,000+
6	Pepsi Bottling Group	Food and Beverage Industry	500-999
7	Dallas Regional Medical Center	Medical Hospital	500-999
8	Eastfield College	Higher Education	500-999
9	Walmart Supercenter	Retail	500-999
10	Ashley Furniture	Manufactures, Distributes, and Markets Furniture	500-999
—	Total employers	—	80,210

Arts and Culture

The Mesquite Public Library System is highly regarded. In 2016, it received an "Achievement of Library Excellence Award." Only a small number of public libraries in Texas earn this honor. The library system has two branches that offer many different programs for the community.

Parks and Recreation

Mesquite Golf Club

Mesquite is home to 76 parks and four recreation centers, offering lots of opportunities for outdoor activities and sports. The city has been named a "Playful City USA" for four years in a row. In 2015, Mesquite opened its "Heritage Trail" system. This system includes 4.25 miles of concrete trails and sidewalks. These trails connect homes to the Mesquite Golf Club, schools, recreation centers, sports fields, and shopping areas.

Mesquite Golf Club

The Mesquite Golf Club is a large 154-acre (62-hectare), 18-hole golf course. It's great for both beginners and experienced golfers. The city of Mesquite runs the course, which is open every day. It also has a pro shop and a driving range where you can practice.

Mesquite Arts Center

The Mesquite Arts Center is a big 36,700-square-foot (3,410-square-meter) building for the arts. It has a large music hall with 494 seats, a black box theater, a rehearsal hall, and art galleries. This center is the main place for cultural events in the community. It is home to groups like the Mesquite Community Theatre, the Mesquite Community Band, and the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra.

Education

North Mesquite High School

Most of Mesquite is served by the Mesquite Independent School District (MISD), which provides education from kindergarten through 12th grade. A small part of Mesquite is served by the Dallas Independent School District. There's also a small area in Kaufman County that is part of the Forney Independent School District, but no one lives there. MISD also serves a part of Balch Springs.

Mesquite has 33 public elementary schools and ten public middle schools. It also has five public high schools:

Public High Schools
Name	Year founded	Size	Mascot	Principal
Mesquite High School	1901	6A	Stormy the Skeeter	Jeff Johnson
North Mesquite High School	1969	5A	Stallion	T.J. Reed
West Mesquite High School	1976 (initially as middle school)	5A	Wrangler	Dr. Jordan Simmons
Poteet High School	1986	5A	Pirate	Kelly Long
John Horn High School	2000	6A	Jaguar	Deeadra Brown
Vanguard High School	2021	N/A	N/A	Clinton Elsasser

The private Dallas Christian School is also located within the city limits.

Colleges and Universities

Most of Dallas County, including Mesquite, is part of the Dallas College district. The part of Mesquite in Kaufman County is in the Trinity Valley Community College district. Eastfield College, which is part of Dallas College, offers college degrees and continuing education classes.

There are also two other colleges in Mesquite. Columbia College-Mesquite Campus is located on the Eastfield College campus. It's a private, non-profit school that offers bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Media

Mesquite shares its television and radio market with Dallas. The Mesquite Independent School District runs KEOM, a radio station that plays classic hits and covers high school sports. The main newspapers for Mesquite residents are The Dallas Morning News and Al Dia, which are based in Dallas. The Dallas Morning News even has a special section just for local news in Mesquite. The Mesquite News newspaper is distributed by Star Local News.

Transportation

Mesquite has its own airport, the Mesquite Metro Airport, which is owned and operated by the city. The airport has a 6,000-foot (1,829-meter) lighted runway with an ILS. Most of the daily flights are for general aviation (private planes), while about 25% are commercial flights. The Mesquite Metro Airport is popular with visiting planes because it's close to Dallas and has good fuel prices.

Two other large airports nearby, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Dallas Love Field, offer regular commercial flights for passengers. Dallas Love Field is about 15 miles (24 km) from Mesquite, and DFW Airport is about 30 miles (48 km) away.

Mesquite is not a member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), which provides public transportation for Dallas and some suburbs. However, DART changed its rules in 2011 to allow them to work with cities that are not members. Because of this, Mesquite and DART created a plan for a weekday commuter service. This service, which started on March 12, 2012, connects the Hanby Stadium parking lot to DART's Green Line Lawnview Station. Mesquite also has a public transportation service called STAR Transit. Residents can schedule specific pick-up and drop-off times and locations within Mesquite using this service.

The Union Pacific Railroad operates a large intermodal facility in the Skyline Industrial Park. This facility is used for moving freight by train and helps with shipping goods.

Highways in Mesquite

Interstate 20 is a major highway that runs east-west through the south side of Mesquite. It connects Mesquite with Balch Springs to the west and Terrell to the east.
Interstate 30 is another important east-west highway that goes through the north side of Mesquite. It links Mesquite to Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth to the west, and to Garland, Lake Ray Hubbard, and Rockwall to the east.
Interstate 635 (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway) is a highway that forms a partial loop around Dallas and its suburbs. It cuts through the middle of Mesquite and is the main freeway for the city. Many local businesses and attractions, like Town East Mall and the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, are located near I-635. This interstate connects Mesquite to Garland in the north and Balch Springs in the south, and also to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
U.S. Highway 80 is an east-west freeway in north Mesquite. It connects to Sunnyvale, Forney, and Terrell to the east. West of Mesquite, this highway joins I-30.
Texas Highway 352 (Military Parkway/Scyene Road) is an east-west highway that passes through western Mesquite and downtown Mesquite. In the downtown area, it's known as Main Street (westbound) and Davis Street (eastbound).
Belt Line Road also goes through Mesquite and is a major road. It serves as an outer loop around the Dallas suburbs.
There are plans to extend the President George Bush Turnpike to connect from its current end point at I-30 in Garland to I-20. This new part of the toll road would pass through Sunnyvale and Mesquite, completing a loop around Dallas County.