Rockwall, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rockwall, Texas
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| City of Rockwall | |
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The Scott Self Lighthouse at the Harbor in Rockwall
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Location of Rockwall in Rockwall County, Texas
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Rockwall |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 29.97 sq mi (77.62 km2) |
| • Land | 29.47 sq mi (76.33 km2) |
| • Water | 0.50 sq mi (1.29 km2) 1.63% |
| Elevation | 561 ft (171 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 47,251 |
| • Density | 1,576.61/sq mi (608.75/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Rockwaller, Rockwallite, Rockwallian |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
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| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 945, 972 |
| FIPS code | 48-62828 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2410982 |
Rockwall is a city in Texas, USA. It's also the main city of Rockwall County. In 2020, about 47,251 people lived there. The city gets its name from a cool natural rock formation that looks like a man-made wall.
Contents
Rockwall's History: From Ancient Times to Today
Early People in the Rockwall Area
Long, long ago, about 13,000 years back, people lived in the Rockwall area. We know this because scientists have found old tools and bones of ancient animals. Later, Caddo and Creek Native American tribes lived here.
How Rockwall Got Its Name
In 1851, the first American settlers arrived. As they dug wells, they found huge rock walls underground. At first, they thought people had built these walls. But later, experts found out they were natural rock formations. These formations are called sandstone dikes. They look like a perfect rectangle from above, with some straight lines and sharp corners.
The town was officially started on April 17, 1854. It was named "Rockwall" because of these unique rock formations. In 1873, Rockwall County was created, and Rockwall became its main city.
Geography and Climate of Rockwall
Where is Rockwall Located?
Rockwall is a city that covers about 29.97 square miles (77.62 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 0.50 square miles (1.29 square kilometers) is water.
The city is right on the eastern side of Lake Ray Hubbard. It's about 20 miles northeast of Dallas. You can find Rockwall near state highways 205 and 66, just north of Interstate 30.
Rockwall's Weather
Rockwall has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool.
Rockwall's Population and People
How Many People Live in Rockwall?
Rockwall has grown a lot over the years. Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 215 | — | |
| 1890 | 843 | 292.1% | |
| 1900 | 1,245 | 47.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,136 | −8.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,388 | 22.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,074 | −22.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,318 | 22.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,501 | 13.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,166 | 44.3% | |
| 1970 | 3,121 | 44.1% | |
| 1980 | 5,939 | 90.3% | |
| 1990 | 10,486 | 76.6% | |
| 2000 | 17,976 | 71.4% | |
| 2010 | 37,490 | 108.6% | |
| 2020 | 47,251 | 26.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 52,918 | 41.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 47,251 people living in Rockwall. These people lived in over 16,000 homes.
Diversity in Rockwall
Rockwall is home to people from many different backgrounds. Here's a look at the racial makeup of the city in 2020:
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 30,786 | 65.15% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 3,706 | 7.84% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 205 | 0.43% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,705 | 3.61% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 29 | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 128 | 0.27% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 2,043 | 4.32% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8,649 | 18.3% |
| Total | 47,251 |
Education in Rockwall
Public Schools for Kids and Teens
The Rockwall Independent School District serves the city. Rockwall has four public high schools:
- Rockwall High School
- Rockwall-Heath High School
- The Rockwall High School Freshman Center
- The Rockwall-Heath High School Freshman Center
There are also sixteen elementary schools and three middle schools in Rockwall.
Colleges and Higher Learning
Rockwall is home to the Higher Education Center at Rockwall. This center is part of Collin College, a community college. Texas A&M University-Commerce also offers classes at this center.
Getting Around Rockwall: Transportation
Rockwall is connected by several important highways:
Interstate 30
U.S. Highway 67 (runs with Interstate 30)
State Highway 66
State Highway 205
State Highway 276
Farm to Market 549
Farm to Market 552
Farm to Market 740
The Ralph M. Hall/Rockwall Municipal Airport is just two miles east of the city. It is mainly used by small planes.
Sports and Fun in Rockwall
Rockwall has many places for sports and activities:
- Baseball fields on Airport Road.
- The Landing Point complex, which has a fencing center, zipline, and dance studios.
- The Rockwall Indoor Sports Expo on South 205.
Lake Ray Hubbard is a great place for boating and jet skiing. There are also two golf courses near Rockwall.
Famous People from Rockwall
Many interesting people have connections to Rockwall:
- Dan Bartlett, a former advisor to the President.
- Jason Castro, a singer who was on American Idol.
- Joe Driver, a former Texas State Representative.
- Zack Eskridge, a former football quarterback.
- Allie Gonino, an actress, singer, and violinist.
- Ralph Hall, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Cliff Harris, a professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys.
- Alex Jones, a radio show host.
- Roger Kieschnick, a former baseball outfielder.
- Kendial Lawrence, a former football running back.
- Larry Lea, a religious leader.
- Carlton Massey, a football defensive lineman.
- James McSweeney, a retired UFC fighter.
- Mason Musso, lead singer of Metro Station.
- Mitchel Musso, an actor and singer.
- Afernee Orji, a football linebacker.
- Marina Oswald Porter, known for her connection to a historical event.
- William Hubbel Price, a Texas Legislator.
- Amar Sandhu, the first American-born Punjabi singer.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, an NFL wide receiver.
- Andy Tanner, a former football wide receiver.
- Travis Tedford, a former child actor, known for The Little Rascals.
The Mystery of the Rock Wall
In 1925, a person named Byron Khun de Prorok suggested that the natural rock wall in Rockwall might have been built by an ancient civilization. However, geologists and archaeologists have since confirmed that these walls are natural rock formations.
See also
In Spanish: Rockwall para niños
