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Van Alstyne, Texas facts for kids

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Van Alstyne,Texas
Van Alstyne, Texas.jpg
Motto(s): 
"Proud Past, Bright Future"
Location of Van Alstyne, Texas
Location of Van Alstyne, Texas
Grayson County VanAlstyne.svg
Country United States
State Texas
Counties Grayson, Collin
Government
 • Type Council-manager
Area
 • City 5.33 sq mi (13.81 km2)
 • Land 5.33 sq mi (13.81 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
 • Metro
979 sq mi (2,536 km2)
Elevation
781 ft (238 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 4,369
 • Estimate 
(2023)
8,500
 • Density 819.7/sq mi (316.36/km2)
 • Metro
120,877
 • Metro density 130/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
75495
Area code(s) 903, 430
FIPS code 48-74924
GNIS feature ID 2412145

Van Alstyne is a city located in the state of Texas, USA. It is found in both Grayson and Collin Counties. In 2020, about 4,369 people lived there. Van Alstyne is part of a larger area called the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History of Van Alstyne

How Van Alstyne Started

Van Alstyne was founded in 1873. It was built as a stop along the Houston and Texas Central Railway line. People settled here to be close to the train. The town was named after Marie Van Alstyne, who was an important shareholder in the railroad company.

Becoming an Official City

The town officially became a city on September 11, 1883. This means it gained the power to govern itself. In May 2022, the people of Van Alstyne voted to approve their first city charter. This made Van Alstyne a "home rule" city in Texas.

How Van Alstyne is Governed

Van Alstyne uses a council-manager form of government. This means there is a mayor and six city council members. They are all elected by the citizens to serve three-year terms. A city manager helps run the daily operations of the city.

Geography of Van Alstyne

Where is Van Alstyne Located?

Van Alstyne is in the southeastern part of Grayson County. A small part of the city also reaches into Collin County.

Getting Around Van Alstyne

The U.S. Route 75 freeway runs along the western side of the city. You can get on or off the freeway at Exits 50 and 51. This highway can take you about 27 miles north to Denison. It also goes about 50 miles south to the center of Dallas. Van Alstyne's close neighbors are Anna to the south and Howe to the north.

How Big is Van Alstyne?

The city of Van Alstyne covers an area of about 10.5 square kilometers (or 5.33 square miles). All of this area is land.

Population and People

How Many People Live in Van Alstyne?

The number of people living in Van Alstyne has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population counts:

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 213
1880 737 246.0%
1890 737 0.0%
1900 1,940 163.2%
1910 1,441 −25.7%
1920 1,588 10.2%
1930 1,453 −8.5%
1940 1,650 13.6%
1950 1,649 −0.1%
1960 1,608 −2.5%
1970 1,981 23.2%
1980 1,860 −6.1%
1990 2,090 12.4%
2000 2,502 19.7%
2010 3,046 21.7%
2020 4,369 43.4%
2023 (est.) 6,782 122.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

Who Lives in Van Alstyne?

In 2020, there were 4,369 people living in Van Alstyne. These people made up 1,307 households and 1,108 families. The city is home to people from many different backgrounds.

Van Alstyne racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 3,220 73.7%
Black or African American (NH) 152 3.48%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 41 0.94%
Asian (NH) 37 0.85%
Some Other Race (NH) 3 0.07%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 206 4.72%
Hispanic or Latino 710 16.25%
Total 4,369

Education in Van Alstyne

Public Schools in Van Alstyne

Students in Van Alstyne attend schools that are part of the Van Alstyne Independent School District. The schools include:

  • Partin Elementary School
  • Sanford Elementary School
  • Van Alstyne Middle School
  • Van Alstyne High School

Colleges in Van Alstyne

For students who want to continue their education, Grayson County College has a campus in Van Alstyne.

Grayson College South
Grayson College's south campus in Van Alstyne

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