Dallas County, Texas

Dallas County, Texas
The former Dallas County Courthouse in Dallas.
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	March 30, 1846
Named for	George Mifflin Dallas
Seat	Dallas
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	908 sq mi (2,353 km²) 880 sq mi (2,278 km²) 29 sq mi (75 km²), 3.19%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	2,368,139 2,692/sq mi (1,039.57/km²)
Website	www.dallascounty.org

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area (colloquially referred to as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex). As of 2010, the county had an official population of 2,368,139 and is now the ninth most populous county in the United States. Dallas county was founded in 1846 and was named for George Mifflin Dallas, the 11th Vice President of the United States.

Its county seat is Dallas^[1], which is also the largest city in the county, the third-largest city in Texas, and the eighth-largest city in the United States. Dallas County is the most populous county within the metropolitan area and contains the largest of its principal cities.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 908 square miles (2,352 km²), of which 880 square miles (2,279 km²) is land and 29 square miles (75 km²) (3.19%) is water.

Major Highways

Adjacent counties

• Collin County (north)
• Rockwall County (northeast)
• Kaufman County (east)
• Ellis County (south)
• Tarrant County (west)
• Denton County (northwest)
• Johnson County (southwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	2,743		—
1860	8,665		215.9%
1870	13,814		59.4%
1880	33,488		142.4%
1890	67,042		100.2%
1900	82,726		23.4%
1910	135,748		64.1%
1920	210,551		55.1%
1930	325,691		54.7%
1940	398,564		22.4%
1950	614,799		54.3%
1960	951,527		54.8%
1970	1,327,321		39.5%
1980	1,556,390		17.3%
1990	1,852,810		19.0%
2000	2,218,899		19.8%
2010	2,368,139		6.7%

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile (974/km²). There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi (375/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.35% White, 20.31% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 3.98% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.04% from other races, and 2.70% from two or more races. 29.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 807,621 households out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.90% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the wider county, the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 18.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was US$43,324, and the median income for a family was $49,062. Males had a median income of $34,988 versus $29,539 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,603. About 10.60% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Dallas County is governed by a Commissioners Court. The Dallas County Commissioners Court consists of the County Judge (the chairperson of the Court) who is elected County-wide and four Commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four districts.

The Commissioners Court is the policy-making body for the County; in addition, the County Judge is the senior executive and administrative position in the County. While the cities in the County handle many tasks in local government, the County holds responsibility for the following:

"The Commissioners Court sets the County tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Each commissioner also supervises a Road and Bridge District. The Commissioners Court also approves the budget and sets the tax rate for the hospital district, which is charged with the responsibility for providing acute medical care for citizens who otherwise would not receive adequate medical services."^[3]

The total 2010 fiscal year budget is approximately $871 million USD.^[4]

Currently (November 2010), the major elected officials are^[5]

Position	Name	Party
	County Judge	Clay Jenkins	Democratic
	Commissioner, Precinct 1	Maurine Dickey	Republican
	Commissioner, Precinct 2	Mike Cantrell	Republican
	Commissioner, Precinct 3	John Wiley Price	Democratic
	Commissioner, Precinct 4	Elba Garcia	Democratic
	District Attorney	Craig Watkins	Democratic
	District Clerk	Gary Fitzsimmons	Democratic
	County Clerk	John Warren	Democratic
	Sheriff	Lupe Valdez	Democratic
	Tax Assessor-Collector	John Ames	Democratic
	Treasurer	Joe Wells	Democratic

There are 6 congressional districts either entirely or partly within Dallas County. There are 5 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

Representative	Party	Home Town/City	District
	Sam Johnson	R	Plano	3
	Jeb Hensarling	R	Dallas	5
	Kenny Marchant	R	Coppell	24
	Michael C. Burgess	R	Lewisville	26
	Eddie Bernice Johnson	D	Dallas	30
	Pete Sessions	R	Dallas	32

There are 5 Texas Senate districts either entirely or partly within Dallas County. There are 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat.

Senator	Party	Home Town/City	District
	Bob Deuell	R	Greenville	2
	Florence Shapiro	R	Plano	8
	Chris Harris	R	Arlington	9
	John Carona	R	Dallas	16
	Royce West	D	Dallas	23

There are 16 members of the Texas House of Representatives who are based in Dallas County. There are 10 Republicans and 6 Democrats.

Representative	Party	Home Town/City	District ↑
	Eric Johnson	D	Dallas	100
	Cindy Burkett	R	Mesquite	101
	Stefani Carter	R	Dallas	102
	Rafael Anchia	D	Dallas	103
	Roberto R. Alonzo	D	Dallas	104
	Linda Harper-Brown	R	Irving	105
	Rodney E. Anderson	R	Grand Prairie	106
	Kenneth Sheets	R	Dallas	107
	Dan Branch	R	Dallas	108
	Helen Giddings	D	De Soto	109
	Barbara Mallory Caraway	D	Dallas	110
	Yvonne Davis	D	Dallas	111
	Angie Chen Button	R	Richardson	112
	Joe Driver	R	Garland	113
	Will Hartnett	R	Dallas	114
	Jim Jackson	R	Carrollton	115

Politics

Presidential Election Results 1960-2008

Year	Democrat	Republican
2008	57.5% 424,468	41.9% 309,477
2004	49.0% 336,641	50.4% 346,246
2000	44.9% 275,308	52.6% 322,345
1996	46.0% 255,766	46.8% 260,058
1992	35.0% 231,412	38.7% 256,007
1988	40.9% 243,198	58.4% 347,094
1984	33.4% 203,592	66.4% 405,444
1980	36.8% 190,459	59.2% 306,682
1976	42.3% 196,303	56.7% 263,081
1972	29.6% 129,662	69.5% 305,112
1968	34.1% 123,809	50.7% 184,193
1964	54.7% 166,472	45.1% 137,065
1960	37.0% 88,876	62.2% 149,369

Dallas County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in almost every election since 1960; the only exceptions being in 1964 and 2008. More recently however, it has gradually shifted more Democratic in recent elections. The Democratic gains are primarily due to the city of Dallas, which has become a stronghold of that party.

In the United States House of Representatives, districts 30 and 32 are entirely within the county and districts 3, 5, 24, and 26 include portions of Dallas County. Five of the six districts are currently represented by Republicans. In order of district number they are Sam Johnson (R-03), Jeb Hensarling (R-05), Kenny Marchant (R-24), Michael C. Burgess (R-26), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-30), and Pete Sessions (R-32).^[6]

Cities and towns

Addison Balch Springs Cedar Hill† Carrollton† Cockrell Hill Combine† Coppell† Dallas†

DeSoto Duncanville Farmers Branch Ferris† Garland† Glenn Heights† Grand Prairie† Grapevine†

Highland Park Hutchins Irving Lancaster Lewisville† Mesquite† Ovilla† Richardson†

Rowlett† Sachse† Sand Branch (unincorporated) Seagoville† Sunnyvale University Park Wilmer Wylie†

^†Denotes a municipality whose physical boundaries extend beyond Dallas County

Historical communities

• Bird's Fort
• Buckingham (Annexed by Richardson in 1996)
• Embree (merged into Garland in 1887)
• Fruitdale (annexed by Dallas in 1964)
• Duck Creek (merged into Garland in 1887)
• Letot (Northwest Dallas County, annexed by Dallas)^[7]
• Long Creek (Merged into Sunnyvale in 1953)
• Hatterville (Merged into Sunnyvale in 1953)
• New Hope (Merged into Sunnyvale in 1953 - not to be confused with the Collin County town of the same name)
• Oak Cliff (Annexed by Dallas in 1903)
• Penn Springs (Annexed by Duncanville in 1947)
• Pleasant Grove (Annexed by Dallas by 1962)
• Renner (annexed by Dallas in 1983)
• Tripp (Merged into Sunnyvale in 1953)
• Trinity Mills (Annexed by Carrollton)^[8]

Education

The following school districts serve Dallas County:

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD (partly in Denton County) Cedar Hill ISD Coppell ISD Dallas ISD DeSoto ISD Duncanville ISD Ferris ISD (mostly in Ellis County) Garland ISD

Grand Prairie ISD Grapevine-Colleyville ISD (mostly in Tarrant County) Highland Park ISD Irving ISD Lancaster ISD Mesquite ISD Richardson ISD Sunnyvale ISD

Transportation

Love Field, located in Dallas and in Dallas County, serves many domestic passengers.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport partially located in the city of Irving in Dallas County and Grapevine and Euless in Tarrant County.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit provides bus and rail service to many cities in Dallas County, with Dallas being the largest.

The Trinity Railway Express provides commuter rail service to Tarrant County, including downtown Fort Worth.

Government and infrastructure

Dallas County operates several jail facilities. They include:^[9]

• 111 Riverfront Blvd (Dallas)
  • North Tower Jail
  • South Tower Jail - also known as the "Suzanne Kays Tower"
  • West Tower Jail
• Government Center Jail - 600 Commerce Street (Dallas)
• Decker Detention Center - 899 North Stemmons Freeway (Dallas)
• (formerly) Suzanne Kays Jail - 521 North Industrial Boulevard (Dallas) - population integrated into the South Tower; demolished to clear way for the Trinity River Project^[10]

Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Hutchins Unit state jail for men in an unincorporated area adjacent to Hutchins.^[11] Corrections Corporation of America operates the Dawson Unit, a co-gender state jail in Downtown Dallas, under contract.^[12]

Federal Correctional Institution, Seagoville is located in Seagoville.

See also

• Dallas County District Attorney
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Texas

References

External links

• Dallas County Government official site
• Dallas County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• History of Dallas County, Texas: from 1837 to 1887 by John Henry Brown, published 1887, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
• Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas published 1892, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
• Official directory, taxpayers of Dallas County, Texas published 1896, hosted by the Portal to Texas History.
• Dallas County Jail stories.

	Denton County	Collin County	Rockwall County
Tarrant County		Kaufman County
Dallas County, Texas
Johnson County	Ellis County

Coordinates: 32°46′N 96°47′W / 32.77°N 96.78°W