Denton, Texas

Denton is a city in and the county seat of Denton County, Texas, United States. With an estimated population of 141,541 as of 2019,[9] it is the 24th-most populous city in Texas, the 196th-most populous city in the United States, and the 12th-most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

Denton, Texas
City
City of Denton
Seal
Nicknames: 
Little D, Redbud Capital of Texas, City of the Star
Location of Denton in Denton County, Texas
Denton, Texas
Location of Denton in Denton County, Texas
Denton, Texas
Denton, Texas (the United States)
Coordinates: 33°12′59″N 97°7′45″W
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyDenton
Incorporated1866
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • City Council[1]Mayor Chris Watts
Mayor Pro Tem Gerard Hudspeth
Keely Briggs
Jesse Davis
John Ryan
Paul Meltzer
Deb Armintor[2]
 • City ManagerTodd Hileman
 • City AttorneyAaron Leal[3]
Area
 • Total97.95 sq mi (253.70 km2)
 • Land96.35 sq mi (249.55 km2)
 • Water1.60 sq mi (4.14 km2)  1.527[5]%
Elevation
642 ft (195 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total113,383
 • Estimate 
(2019)[6]
141,541
 • Density1,468.98/sq mi (567.18/km2)
 • Demonym
Dentonite
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Zip Codes
76201–76210
Area code(s)940, 817[7]
FIPS code48-19972[8]
GNIS feature ID1334260[8]
WebsiteCity of Denton

A Texas land grant led to the formation of Denton County in 1846 and the city was incorporated in 1866. Both were named after pioneer and Texas militia captain John B. Denton. The arrival of a railroad line in the city in 1881 spurred population, and the establishment of the University of North Texas in 1890 and Texas Woman's University in 1901 distinguished the city from neighboring regions. After the construction of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport finished in 1974, the city had more rapid growth; as of 2011, Denton was the seventh-fastest growing city with a population over 100,000 in the country.

Located on the far north end of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in North Texas on Interstate 35, Denton is known for its active music life; the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, and 35 Denton Music Festival attract over 300,000 people to the city each year. The city experiences hot, humid summers and relatively few extreme weather events. Its diverse citizenry is represented by a nonpartisan city council, and numerous county and state departments have offices in the city. With over 45,000 students enrolled at the two universities located within its city limits, Denton is often characterized as a college town. As a result of the universities' growth, educational services play a large role in the city's economy. Residents are served by the Denton County Transportation Authority, which provides commuter rail and bus service to the area.

History
Map of Denton in 1883

The formation of Denton is closely tied with that of Denton County. White settlement of the area began in the middle of the 1800s when William S. Peters of Kentucky obtained a land grant from the Texas Congress and named it Peters Colony. After initial settlement in the southeast part of the county in 1843, the Texas Legislature voted to form Denton County in 1846.[10] Both the county and the town were named for John B. Denton, a preacher and lawyer who was killed in 1841 during a skirmish with Kichai people in what is now Tarrant County.[11] Pickneyville and Alton were selected as the county seat before Denton was named for that position in 1857. That year, a commission laid out the city and named the first streets.

On July 8, 1860, approximately one-half of the downtown Square burned down in what was later called the "Texas Troubles."[12] Fires occurred in ten Texas communities that day, including Dallas and Pilot Point and were quickly attributed to a slave insurrection.[12] By the end of July, vigilante justice took hold and "[r]egularly constituted law-enforcement agencies stepped aside to allow the vigilantes to do their work. Although no hard evidence was ever adduced to prove the guilt of a single alleged black arsonist or white abolitionist, many unfortunates of both classes were nevertheless hanged for their alleged crimes."[12]

In February 1861, a statewide referendum was held and Texans voted to join the Confederate States of America.[13]

See also: Texas in the American Civil War

Antebellum Era

Denton incorporated in 1866; its first mayor was J.B. Sawyer.[14] As the city expanded beyond its original boundaries (which extended half of a mile in every direction from center of the public square[15]), it became an agricultural trade center for the mill and cottage industries. The arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway in 1881 gave Denton its first rail connection and brought an influx of people to the area.[14] North Texas Normal College, now the University of North Texas, was established in 1890, and the Girls' Industrial College, now Texas Woman's University, was founded in 1901. As the universities increased in size, their impact on Denton's economy and culture increased.[14] Electricity came to Denton beginning in 1905 with the creation of Denton Municipal Electric.

Segregation and Jim Crow Era

Like many cities in the Southern United States, Denton has a legacy of racial segregation stemming from the trans-Atlantic slave trade. In 1918, the Daughters of the Confederacy gifted the City of Denton with a monument entitled "Our Confederate Soldiers."[16] At the base of the monument two water fountains are present, one engraved "whites" and the other engraved "colored." The monument was placed on the grounds of the Denton County Courthouse.

After the Civil War, "Freedmen Settlements" were started throughout the South.[17] One Freedman Settlement called Quakertown, thrived just south of what is now Texas Woman's University until around 1920, when the residents were forcibly removed by the City government to make way for a park.[18] Quakertown's Black children were served separately from white children by the Frederick Douglass School.[18] Originally scheduled to open in September 1913, it was mysteriously burned down the Sunday night prior to the scheduled opening.[18] It was rebuilt and in 1949 renamed the "Fred Moore School."[19]

Although the United States Supreme Court ordered school integration in the seminal Brown v. Board of Education decision of 1954, Denton public schools remained segregated until 1963, when the local school board voted unanimously to integrate them.[19] Integration was not complete in Denton public schools until 1967, 13 years after the Brown v. Board of Education decision.[19] The federal deadline for complete integration of schools in Texas was September 1, 1967.[20]

In 1933, the local chapter of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, or I.O.O.F., deeded a cemetery to the City of Denton which contained a "whites only" deed restriction preventing the burial of Black people at the now-City-owned cemetery.[21] The deed restriction was allegedly no longer enforced by the 1950s, however the unlawful restriction was not removed by City action until 2016.[21]

Post-War Growth

Denton grew from a population of 26,844 in 1960 to 48,063 in 1980. Its connection to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex via I-35E and I-35W played a major role in the growth, and the opening of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1974 led to an increase in population. In the 1980s, heavy manufacturing companies like Victor Equipment Company and Peterbilt joined older manufacturing firms such as Moore Business Forms and Morrison Milling Company in Denton. The population jumped from 66,270 in 1990 to 80,537 in 2000.[14] In May 2006, Houston-based real estate company United Equities purchased the 100-block of Fry Street and announced that several of the historic buildings would be demolished and the businesses displaced to accommodate a new mixed-use commercial center. The proposal drew opposition from some residents, who sought to preserve the area as a historic and cultural icon for the city.[22] The Denton City Council approved a new proposal for the area from Dinerstein Cos in 2010.[23]

Timeline
Timeline of Denton, Texas

Geography

Denton is located on the northern edge of the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. These three cities form the area known as the "Golden Triangle of North Texas."[45] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 89.316 square miles (231.33 km2), of which 87.952 square miles (227.79 km2) is land and 1.364 square miles (3.53 km2) is covered by water.[5] The city lies in the northeast edge of the Bend Arch–Fort Worth Basin, which is characterized by flat terrain. Elevation ranges from 500 to 900 feet (150 to 270 m).[10] Part of the city is located atop the Barnett Shale, a geological formation believed to contain large quantities of natural gas.[46][47] Lewisville Lake, a man-made reservoir, is located 15 miles (24 km) south of the city.

Climate
Denton, Texas
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.9
 
 
53
34
 
 
2.6
 
 
62
38
 
 
2.8
 
 
68
45
 
 
3.3
 
 
74
52
 
 
5.4
 
 
82
61
 
 
3.3
 
 
90
69
 
 
2.5
 
 
94
73
 
 
2.3
 
 
92
72
 
 
3.4
 
 
85
65
 
 
4.8
 
 
77
54
 
 
2.9
 
 
64
43
 
 
2.7
 
 
57
36
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: Weather.com / NWS

With its hot, humid summers and cool winters, Denton's climate is characterized as humid subtropical and is within USDA hardiness zone 8a. The city's all-time high temperature is 113 °F (45 °C), recorded in 1954. Dry winds affect the area in the summer and can bring temperatures of over 100 °F (38 °C), although the average summer temperature highs range from 91 to 96 °F (33 to 36 °C) between June and August. The all-time recorded low is −3 °F (−19 °C), and the coolest month is January, with daily low temperatures averaging 33 °F (1 °C).[48] Denton lies on the southern end of what is commonly referred to as "Tornado Alley"; the National Weather Service occasionally issues tornado watches, although tornadoes rarely form in the city. The city receives about 37.7 inches (96 cm) of rain per year.[48] Flash floods and severe thunderstorms are frequent occurrences during spring.[49] Average snowfall in Denton is similar to the Dallas–Fort Worth average of 2.4 inches (6.1 cm) per year.[50]

Climate data for Denton, TX (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 90
(32)		 96
(36)		 99
(37)		 102
(39)		 111
(44)		 108
(42)		 113
(45)		 113
(45)		 111
(44)		 103
(39)		 90
(32)		 89
(32)		 113
(45)
Average high °F (°C) 55.7
(13.2)		 59.5
(15.3)		 67.8
(19.9)		 75.6
(24.2)		 82.8
(28.2)		 90.1
(32.3)		 94.9
(34.9)		 95.3
(35.2)		 87.4
(30.8)		 77.2
(25.1)		 66.0
(18.9)		 56.3
(13.5)		 75.7
(24.3)
Average low °F (°C) 34.6
(1.4)		 37.9
(3.3)		 45.4
(7.4)		 53.2
(11.8)		 62.5
(16.9)		 70.0
(21.1)		 73.8
(23.2)		 73.3
(22.9)		 65.7
(18.7)		 55.1
(12.8)		 44.8
(7.1)		 35.9
(2.2)		 54.4
(12.4)
Record low °F (°C) −3
(−19)		 −2
(−19)		 5
(−15)		 23
(−5)		 35
(2)		 47
(8)		 51
(11)		 52
(11)		 36
(2)		 16
(−9)		 10
(−12)		 0
(−18)		 −3
(−19)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.10
(53)		 2.83
(72)		 3.25
(83)		 3.28
(83)		 5.31
(135)		 3.59
(91)		 2.39
(61)		 2.13
(54)		 3.09
(78)		 4.89
(124)		 2.97
(75)		 2.46
(62)		 38.29
(971)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 0.1
(0.25)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.1
(0.25)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.0
(0.0)		 0.2
(0.51)		 0.5
(1.26)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7 7 7 6 9 7 5 5 5 8 7 7 80
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5
Source: NWS Nowdata for Denton 2 SE (Dallas/Fort Worth Area)

Arts and cultural life

Denton is home to several annual artistic and cultural events that cater to residents and tourists. The annual North Texas State Fair and Rodeo began in 1928 and promotes the cowboy culture of Texas. In addition to a rodeo, the event features several local country rock performances, pageants, and food contests. Hosted by the North Texas State Fairgrounds since 1948, the fair brings in over 150,000 people during its nine-day run. The Denton Municipal Airport has hosted the annual Denton Airshow since 1998. The event includes aerial demonstrations and airplane exhibits; it attracted over 10,000 attendees in 2012.[51] Other events in the city include an annual Redbud Festival,[52][53] the Fiesta on the Square,[54] and the Thin Line Documentary Film Fest.[55]

Denton houses the largest community garden in the United States, specifically Shiloh Field Community Garden, which measures at 14.5 acres of land.[56]

Music

The local independent music scene in Denton has emerged alongside of Denton's academic music establishments, including the University of North Texas College of Music.[57] The city's live music venues are largely supported by Denton's college-town atmosphere, although show attendance is bolstered by area residents.[58] The Dallas Observer features a column on Denton's local music scene.[59] In 2007 and 2008, Denton's music scene received feature attention from The Guardian, Pop Matters, and The New York Times.[60] Paste Magazine named Denton's music scene the best in the United States in 2008.[61] The city-sponsored Denton Arts and Jazz Festival attracts over 200,000 people each year for live music, food, crafts, and recreation at Civic Center Park.[62] Bands such as Tower of Power, Brave Combo, and Arturo Sandoval have performed at the festival, as well as jazz groups from the University of North Texas.[63] With hopes of creating a live music event similar to South by Southwest, Denton held the first annual North by 35 Music Festival, now called 35 Denton, in March 2009.[64][65] In 2014, the Huffington Post listed Denton as the number-one emerging cultural hot spot in Texas to visit, while referring to Denton as "Practically an indie band factory at this point..."[66]

Denton Square
Denton Historic Town Square

The Denton Square, bordered by Oak, Hickory, Locust, and Elm Streets, is a cultural and political hub of the city. At its center is the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square, which includes local government offices and a museum showcasing area history and culture.[67] Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the former county courthouse was restored for the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986.[68] The positive response to the renovation sparked a downtown revitalization program that generated new jobs and reinvestment capital.[69] The downtown square is populated by local shops and restaurants, some of which have been in business since the 1940s. Each year, the downtown square is adorned with lights and spotlighted during the Denton Holiday Lighting Festival.[70]

The Denton Confederate Soldier Monument, a 12-foot tall (3.7 m) granite, arched monument topped with a statue of a Confederate soldier, was erected in 1918 in the Denton Square on the courthouse lawn by the Daughters of the Confederacy.[16] The monument was controversial, and though previous attempts to remove it were unsuccessful, the Denton County Commissioners unanimously approved its removal on June 9.[71]

Government
Denton County Courts Building

Denton is the county seat of Denton County. From 1914 to 1959, the City of Denton used a mayor–city commission system, but a charter adopted in 1959 created a council–manager form of city government.[14] Residents elect a mayor, four single-member district council members, and two at-large members. The city manager is appointed by the Denton City Council.[14] Council terms are for two years, with a maximum of three consecutive terms, and elections are held each year in May.[72] Utilities are administered by Denton Municipal Utilities; the city provides water, wastewater, electric, drainage and solid waste service. The electric utility, Denton Municipal Electric (DME), has been in operation since 1905. In 2009, DME began providing 40 percent of its energy to customers through renewable resources. The City of Denton Water Utilities Department serves the city's water demand. Atmos Energy provides the city's natural gas.[73] Denton is a part of the Sister Cities International program and maintains cultural and economic exchange programs with its sister cities, Madaba in Jordan and San Nicolás de los Garza in Mexico.[74]

The city of Denton is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.

State and national representation

Denton is located within U.S. House 26th Congressional district, which is represented by Michael C. Burgess. In the US Congress, the city is in the 30th District in the Texas Senate, represented by Republican Craig Estes.[75] It is in the 64th District of the Texas House of Representatives, represented by Republican Myra Crownover since 2001.[76]

Several Texas state agencies have facilities in the city, including a Texas Workforce Center,[77] a Texas Department of Public Safety office,[78] a Texas Department of Criminal Justice office, and a Denton District Parole Office. The Denton State Supported Living Center, formerly Denton State School, is the largest residential facility for people with developmental disabilities in Texas. The center serves an 18-county area and employs approximately 1,500 people. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has its Region VI headquarters in Denton.[79]

Demographics
Map of median family income in Denton County in 1999
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870361—
18801,194230.7%
18902,558114.2%
19004,18763.7%
19104,73213.0%
19207,62661.2%
19309,58725.7%
194011,19216.7%
195021,37291.0%
196026,84425.6%
197039,87448.5%
198048,06320.5%
199066,27037.9%
200080,53721.5%
2010113,38340.8%
Est. 2019141,541[6]24.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[80]

Along with much of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Denton has grown rapidly in recent years, becoming the seventh fastest-growing city in the U.S. with a population over 100,000 between 2010 and 2011.[81] The city has a population of 113,383 according to the 2010 United States Census, making it the 230th largest city in the United States and the 27th largest in Texas. The population density was 1,289.1 people per square mile. There were 46,211 housing units and 39,060 households in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.8% White, 10.3% African American, 4.1% Asian, 0.8% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race comprised 21.2% of the population. The median income for a household was $44,415 in 2010. The per capita income was $22,940. About 20.3% of the population were below the poverty line.[8]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Denton Independent School District (DISD) provides the public primary and secondary educational system in the city. The district comprises four comprehensive high schools (Braswell, Denton, Guyer, and Ryan), one alternative high school, and multiple elementary and middle schools.[82] Small portions of the city extend into the Argyle and Sanger school districts. Denton is also host to several private schools with religious affiliations and alternative education models. According to the 2010 United States Census, 35.1% of all adults over the age of 25 in Denton have obtained a bachelor's degree, as compared to the state average of 25.8%, and 86.1% of residents over the age of 25 have earned a high school diploma, as compared to the state average of 80%.[8]

The high school residential program Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science, for gifted students, is in Denton.

The Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception Catholic School, a K-8 school of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, opened in 1995. Construction on the current facility started on July 15, 2001, with its opening on August 19, 2002.[83]

The charter school operator Life's Beautiful Educational Centers Inc. (closed 1999) operated the school L.O.V.E. in Denton.[84]

Public libraries

Denton is served by the Denton Public Library, which has three branches: Emily Fowler Central Library, North Branch Library, and South Branch Library.[85]

University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is the second largest university in North Texas.
Main article: University of North Texas

The University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton is the flagship university of the University of North Texas System, which also includes the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, the University of North Texas at Dallas, and UNT Dallas College of Law.[86] With an enrollment of nearly 38,000, it's the sixth largest university in Texas.[87] The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).[88] Its College of Music, the first school to offer a degree in the field of jazz studies, is nationally recognized.[57]

Texas Woman's University
Main article: Texas Woman's University

Texas Woman's University (TWU) is a public university in Denton with two health science center branches in Dallas and Houston. Founded in 1901, the university enrolls more than 13,000 undergraduates and graduates. Men have been admitted to TWU since 1972 but make up less than ten percent of the university. TWU's College of Nursing is the second largest in Texas and in the top 20 of largest nursing programs in the United States, and the school's nursing doctoral program is the largest in the world.[89][90][91]

FSB Exchange at NCTC Denton
Main article: North Central Texas College

North Central Texas College (NCTC) is a public community college based in Gainesville, Texas. Starting in the 2019-2020 school year, North Central Texas College partnered with First State Bank to open a branch campus in downtown Denton. Located in the former Denton Record-Chronicle building, the campus focuses on accounting, business, biology, early childhood education, kinesiology, psychology, and general studies.[92]

Economy

The educational services, health and social services, manufacturing, and general retail sectors employ over 20,000 people in Denton. The city's three largest educational institutions, including the University of North Texas, Denton Independent School District, and Texas Woman's University, are the largest employers, employing almost 12,000 people. The University of North Texas is the largest employer in the city, with 7,764 employees comprising 12.59% of the workforce. The City of Denton also employs more than 1,334 people.[93] Wholesale trade and hospitality jobs also play major roles.[94] Notable businesses headquartered in Denton include truck manufacturer Peterbilt, beauty supplier Sally Beauty Company, and jewelry producer Jostens. Golden Triangle Mall, the city's largest shopping complex with over 90 specialty shops, is a major source of retail trade.[95]

Top employers

According to the city's 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[96] the top employers in Denton are:

# Employer Number of
employees
1 University of North Texas 8,738
2 Denton Independent School District 4,417
3 Peterbilt Motors 2,314
4 Denton State Supported Living Center 1,700
5 Texas Woman's University 1,672
6 City of Denton 1,630
7 Denton County 1,581
8 Federal Emergency Management Agency 1,100
9 Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton 1,076
10 Medical City Denton 950

Media
See also: List of newspapers in Texas, List of radio stations in Texas, and List of television stations in Texas

Since 1899, the Denton Record-Chronicle has been the newspaper of record for Denton. When it was acquired by Belo Corporation in 1999, the newspaper had a circulation of 16,000.[97] The North Texas Daily and The Lasso provide daily and weekly news to students at the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University. The city's public television station, Denton TV (DTV), covers city council meetings, restaurant scores, high school football, and educational programming.[98] UNT's television station, ntTV, is broadcast on local channels provided by Charter Communications and Verizon Communications. ntTV News is broadcast live Monday through Thursday.[99] KNTU 88.1 FM is UNT's official radio station. First aired in 1969, the station primarily plays a mixture of jazz and blues and covers local sports and news.[100]

Transportation
DCTA A-train station at Downtown Denton Transit Center

I-35E and I-35W, which split in Hillsboro south of the Metroplex and come north through Dallas and Fort Worth respectively, rejoin near the University of North Texas campus in the southwest part of Denton to form Interstate 35 as it continues north on its way to Oklahoma. Loop 288 partially encircles the city; it passes through the northern limits of the city by C. H. Collins Athletic Complex and the eastern side near Golden Triangle Mall. Highway 77 and 377 go through the historic town square and Highway 380 connects Denton to Frisco and McKinney in the east and Decatur in the west. Denton Enterprise Airport is a public airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the central business district (CBD) of Denton. This airport serves as home to various cargo and charter operators as well as two flight schools. A new terminal opened in 2008, but as of June 2008 no scheduled commuter service is in place.[101]

Mass transit

Denton is served by the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), which operates local bus service and regional rail to Lewisville and Carrollton, with connections to Dallas' DART rail system. In 2011, Downtown Denton Transit Center and Medpark Station opened as commuter rail stations on DCTA's A-train,[102] which now has five stations and connects to the Green Line of Dallas Area Rapid Transit's (DART) Green Line at Trinity Mills Station. The two transit companies, along with the Trinity Rail Express (TRE) of Fort Worth, offer regional passes to be used on any of the three systems. As of August, 2017 (no deadline announced), rides between the first two (DDTC and Medpark) and the last two (Hebron and Trinity Mills) are "fare-free," though any ride to or through the 3rd stop (Lewisville Lake) will require a paid pass.[103] DCTA states this will relocate downtown parking needs to the underutilized space at Medpark station, and enhance mobility in Downtown Denton, including for students, as well as for residents of Hebron who connect to the DART system one stop away at Trinity Mills. DCTA also operates the Connect local bus service within the cities of Denton and Lewisville and special university shuttles. All Connect services (not the A-train) are free of charge for students at the University of North Texas who swipe their ID at the bus entrance.[104] Special Programs for Aging Needs (SPAN), a non-profit organization, offers paratransit service for senior citizens and people with disabilities of all ages.[105]

Health care
Medical City Denton, one of the major hospitals in Denton

Two major hospitals operate in Denton: Medical City Denton and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton are both full-service hospitals with differing capacities: 208 beds and 255 beds, respectively.[106] Each employs more than 800 employees and are licensed with emergency services.[107]

Fracking ban

In response to a 2014 city referendum prohibiting hydraulic fracturing (fracking) that passed with 59% of the vote,[108] Texas enacted a law specifying "the exclusive jurisdiction of this state to regulate oil and gas operations in this state and the express preemption of local regulation of those operations",[109] though it allows some "commercially reasonable" rules.[110] Denton says it will "continue to enforce our current regulations to protect the health and safety of our residents, but we do not know how the operators or courts will react".[111]

Green Tree Estates water crisis

The Green Tree Estates is a low-income mobile home neighborhood with an estimated 50 residents currently living on the property. The city of Denton annexed the neighborhood in 2011, but the land remained as private property.[112] Residents claim that landowner, Don Roddy, was supposed to install infrastructure to connect to the city of Denton's water supply but never did. The residents living on the Green Tree Estates property relied on the privately-owned well for water.[113] After numerous fines for failing to bring the system into compliance, Roddy announced that he would shut down the well-based water system completely on November 15th, 2019.[114] The water from that systems was murky yellow, orange, and brown. On November 13, 2019, Denton Mayor Chris Watts issued a declaration of local state of disaster for the Green Tree Estates neighborhood[115] and two days later, the City of Denton began sending tanks of water to Green Tree Estates.[116]

2019 events

The owner and well operator of Green Tree Estates, Don Roddy, turned off the private well on November 15th, 2019.[117][118][119][117] It was later reported that Roddy had reached out to the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality and reported some of the connections were illegal, allowing Roddy to disconnect service at any time.[120] On October 29 a neighborhood meeting took place to inform the Green Tree Estates residents of the situation and to collect feedback. However, the majority of the residents are Hispanic and few speak English so many residents did not acquire understanding from the meeting.[121] In the meeting, Denton director of utilities, Ken Banks, estimated that the cost of bringing in a modern water system to the neighborhood would exceed $500,000. A representative from the Public Utility Commission reported that the city is not in a position to force Roddy to keep the water system on any longer.[122] On November 11 at an additional meeting, City Manager, Todd Hileman, discussed how declaring the situation as an emergency would allow for temporary funding to ease the situation until a more permanent plan could be put into action. A translator is also present at this meeting to convey information to the Green Tree Estates residents.[123] On November 13, 2019 Denton Mayor Chris Watts issued a declaration of local state of disaster for the Green Tree Estates neighborhood.[124][115][125][126] This allowed for 90-day temporary funding for the Green Tree Estates residents.[115][127]

On November 15, 2019, a special city council meeting was held to discuss how emergency funds will be spent. The city decided to purchase 14 275-gallon tanks to fill with water and distribute them to families of the Green Tree Estates. The city also plans to refill the tanks three days a week.[116] Green Tree Estates residents expressed their concerns that this was not going to be enough water.[128]

On December 10, 2019 the Denton City Council agreed to extend an emergency declaration over water service to the Green Tree Estates until February. In the meantime, plans to conduct courtesy home inspections and collect a census on property owners and tenants are made and considered key to settling on a long-term solution.[129]

2020 events

City leaders asked for the cooperation from the Green Tree Estates residents regarding conducting home inspections as well as helping to identify which residents owned their properties and which were tenants. Through these actions, advocacy groups and the city of Denton could work together on the needed easements for new water lines. City manager, Todd Hileman, said that the city's ability to get those easements was "key" to settling on a long-term solution. However, residents of the Green Tree Estates expressed confusion stating that they didn't understand what was being asked of them.[129] An attorney representing the Green Tree Estates neighborhood advised the residents to hire their own inspectors, resulting in none of the 14 homes accepting courtesy inspections from the city of Denton. The residents are seeking to calculate the total costs before deciding to connect to Denton's water system which means they need more time for the assessments and work. The residents of Green Tree Estates are asking the city of Denton for an extension on the public emergency until May 2021.[130]

As of February 4, 2020, none of the 14 families living in the Green Tree Estates had completed the courtesy inspections of their homes from the city of Denton. Instead, the neighborhood's attorney recommended the residents bring in their own inspectors. A Univision television reporter reported that "the residents want to calculate the total costs before deciding to connect to the system." Lastly, the residents told the deputy director of public affairs that they needed more time for the assessments and the work and asked the city council to extend the public emergency until May 2021. Some council members were uneasy with the request for the extension to continue for more than a year, but other members were more comfortable with it as long as progress is shown to be made. At a February 18, 2020 the Denton city council said that it plans to revisit the issue April 21, to give residents and city officials time to see which owners would be able to connect if the water main.[131] The expressed concern that residents may not actually connect to the water main if it is supplied.[131] However, this idea is currently on hold due to concerns that many residents living at Green Tree estates will not be able to afford the fees required by the contractors, questions regarding which homes are up to code and concerns on the quality, age, and structural integrity of the private water system.

Notable people

Further reading
  • Dr. C. A. Bridges (1978). History of Denton, Texas From Its Beginning to 1960. Texian Press.
  • Odom, E.D. (1996). An Illustrated History of Denton County, Texas: From Peters Colony to Metroplex. ISBN 978-0-9651324-0-4.
gollark: <@319753218592866315> You are composed of selenium.
gollark: Yes, mostly. Anyway, !lyricly☭demote!.
gollark: Mostly.
gollark: The electorate is not toast.
gollark: * based

References
  1. "2007–08 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report". City of Denton. 2008-09-30. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2009-07-17.
  2. "City Council Members". City of Denton. 2019. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-10-14. Retrieved 2017-10-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  5. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files – Places". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-01. Archived from the original (TXT) on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "Area Codes for DENTON, TX".
  8. "Denton (city), Texas". United States Census Bureau. 2012-01-31. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  9. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Denton city, Texas; Denton County, Texas". www.census.gov. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
  10. Odom, E. Dale. "Denton County". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  11. Bates, Edward (1918). History and Reminiscences of Denton County. Denton, Texas: McNitzky Printing Company. LCCN 19004337. OCLC 2133818.
  12. REYNOLDS, DONALD E. (2010-06-15). "TEXAS TROUBLES". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  13. BUENGER, WALTER L. (2010-06-15). "SECESSION". tshaonline.org. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  14. Odom, E. Dale. "Denton, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2009-10-21.
  15. "Denton Record-Chronicle from Denton, Texas on July 4, 1976 · Page 42".
  16. "Confederate Soldiers' Monument". Portal to Texas History. University of North Texas. February 20, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  17. "Celebrating Black History Month". Denton County Office of History and Culture: Blog. 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  18. Glaze, Michele Powers (1991). "Quakertown". The Denton Review. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  19. "Desegregating Denton County's Schools". Denton County Office of History and Culture: Blog. 2018-02-23. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  20. "May 28, 1965 Issue | Texas Observer Print Archives". issues.texasobserver.org. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  21. Unger, Todd. "Texas city to renounce 'whites only' cemetery restriction". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  22. Heid, Jason (2011-01-19). "Can Denton's Fry Street Rise Again?". D Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  23. "Fry Street Lot in Denton Remains Untouched by Developer". Pegasus News. 2009-09-16. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  24. Hellmann 2006.
  25. "Texas Historic Sites Atlas". Austin: Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  26. Bates 1918.
  27. "US Newspaper Directory". Chronicling America. Washington DC: Library of Congress. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  28. "History of Denton". City of Denton. Retrieved April 14, 2017. (Timeline)
  29. Calendar 1985.
  30. "City Population History from 1850–2000: Denton", Texas Almanac, Texas State Historical Association, 2011-01-12
  31. University of North Texas Libraries. "Denton County (TX) Newspaper Collection, 1892-1911". Finding Aids. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  32. Federal Writers' Project 1940.
  33. "Crews find remnants of passenger rail system", Denton Record-Chronicle, September 13, 2014
  34. Calendar 1987.
  35. "Historical marker to honor black community that Denton gutted to create a park", Dallas Morning News, January 26, 2013
  36. Jack Alicoate, ed. (1939), "Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States: Texas", Radio Annual, New York: Radio Daily, OCLC 2459636
  37. E. Dale Odom (2010-06-12). "Denton, TX". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  38. "NCTCOG Members". Arlington: North Central Texas Council of Governments. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  39. "County museum celebrates 30-year anniversary", Colony-Courier Leader, Plano, TX: Star Local Media, March 24, 2009
  40. "City of Denton, Texas, USA". Archived from the original on December 21, 1996 – via Internet Archive, Wayback Machine.
  41. Kevin Hyde; Tamie Hyde (eds.). "United States of America: Texas". Official City Sites. Utah. OCLC 40169021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2000.
  42. "Texas". Official Congressional Directory. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. 2003. hdl:2027/mdp.39015054040954 – via HathiTrust.
  43. "Denton city, Texas". QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  44. "Denton City Council". City of Denton. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  45. "Denton History". City of Denton. Archived from the original on 2009-10-10. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  46. "About Barnett Shale". Barnett Shale Energy Education Council. Archived from the original on 2009-11-20. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  47. Airhart, Marc (2007-01-01). "Barnett Boom Ignites Hunt for Unconventional Gas Resources". Jackson School of Geosciences (University of Texas at Austin). Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  48. "Average Weather for Denton, TX – Temperature and Precipitation". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  49. "Texas Flood Report – 2001". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  50. "Snowfall – Average Total In Inches". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2008-08-20. Archived from the original on 2011-06-19. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  51. Cobb, Dawn (2012-06-20). "'Breakout Year' for Denton Airshow". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-06-22.
  52. "KDB – Denton Redbud Festival". Keep Denton Beautiful. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  53. "Official Capital Designations – Texas State Library". Texas State Library and Archives. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  54. Lewis, Bj (2009-09-14). "Fiesta on the Square built out of partnerships". Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  55. "About Thin Line". Thin Line Film Fest. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  56. Wylie, Melissa (April 4, 2014). "Largest community garden in U.S. feeds the hungry in Denton". The Dallas Morning News. James M. Moroney III. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  57. "University of North Texas College of Music". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
  58. Sims, Dave (2008-11-21). "Signs of Life 2008: Best Music Scene – Denton, Texas". Paste.
  59. Freedman, Pete (2008-05-09). "Dallas Music – Denton Music Deserves Our Attention". Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  60. Beehner, Lionel (2008-05-11). "An Indie Scene That Comes With a Texas Twang in Denton". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  61. Lionel Beehner. "Signs of Life 2008: Best Music Scene – Denton, Texas". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  62. "Denton Arts & Jazz Festival". City of Denton. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  63. "Denton Jazz Festival – The Festival Beat" (PDF). Denton Festival, Inc. 2009-01-01. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  64. Breeding, Lucinda (2010-01-30). "Prestige builds for NX35". Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2012-01-12. Retrieved 2010-02-11.
  65. "The Road to 35: The Meaning and Reasons Behind A Festival's Various Name-Changes | FrontRow". Frontrow.dmagazine.com. 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
  66. Rao, Mallika (2014-03-18). "Forget SXSW, Here Are 8 Emerging Cultural Hot Spots You Need To Visit In Texas". Huffington Post.
  67. "National Register of Historical Places – TEXAS (TX), Denton County". National Register of Historical Places. 2001-01-05. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  68. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  69. "Denton Economic Development". Denton Economic Development Partnership. Archived from the original on 2009-02-23. Retrieved 2009-10-03.
  70. Breeding, Lucinda (2011-11-22). "No Combo". Denton Record-Chronicle. Retrieved 2012-10-26.
  71. "Commissioners approve removal and relocation of Confederate soldier memorial".
  72. "City Council Members". City of Denton. Archived from the original on 2009-10-11. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  73. "City of Denton, TX: Denton Municipal Electric". City of Denton. Archived from the original on 2009-10-10. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
  74. "Sister Cities International (Online Directory: Texas, USA)". Sister Cities International. Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2007-04-09.
  75. "The Texas State Senate – Senate Members Complete List". Texas Senate. Archived from the original on 2009-07-05. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  76. "Texas Legislature Online – Information for Rep. Myra Crownover". Texas Legislature Online. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  77. "Texas Workforce Center Tax Offices". Texas Workforce Center. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  78. "Denton County, Texas – Department of Public Safety". Denton County. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  79. "FEMA: Region IV". Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  80. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  81. "Population". dentonedp.com. Denton, Texas: Denton Economic Development Partnership. 2012. State and Federal Estimates. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  82. "About Our District". Denton Independent School District. Retrieved 2012-11-23.
  83. "History". Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Retrieved 2019-11-02.
  84. Eskenazi, Stuart (1999-07-22). "Learning Curves". Houston Press. Retrieved 2019-05-28. - Older URL
  85. "City of Denton, TX: History of Denton Public Library". City of Denton. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  86. "Perry Signs UNT Law School Bill". Dallas Business Journal. American City Business Journals. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  87. "UNT's enrollment hits new all-time high". 2017-10-04.
  88. "Commission on Colleges". Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Archived from the original on 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  89. "TWU – Brief History of TWU". Texas Woman's University. Archived from the original on 2009-02-21. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  90. "Patricia Holden-Huchton named dean of TWU's College of Nursing". Texas Woman's University. Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  91. "Texas Board of Nursing" (PDF).
  92. Start Smarter... NCTC Creates Opportunities in Downtown Denton
  93. Langley, Bryan (2012-12-10). City of Denton, Texas Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Year Ending September 30, 2011 (Report). City of Denton. p. 115. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  94. "Denton Economic Development". Denton Economic Development. Archived from the original on 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  95. "Golden Triangle Mall – About Us". Golden Triangle Mall. Archived from the original on 2009-04-30. Retrieved 2009-09-21.
  96. Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2017 (PDF) (Audited Report). City of Denton, Texas. March 2, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  97. "Belo Acquires Denton Publishing Company" (Press release). PRNewswire. 1999-06-17. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  98. "DTV – Schedule". City of Denton. Archived from the original on 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  99. "About News Department". NorthTexasTelevision.com. ntTV. Retrieved 2012-12-14.
  100. "KNTU". KNTU. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  101. Brown, Lowell. "Senator: New airport terminal to help city grow". Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2009-09-18.
  102. Peterson, Matt (2011-06-20). "A-train Railway Begins Rolling, Carrying Commuters from Denton to Carrollton". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-06-20.
  103. /humans.txt. "News & Events | Denton County Transportation Authority". www.dcta.net. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  104. "Resources - Transportation | Division of Student Affairs". studentaffairs.unt.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  105. "SPAN, Inc". Special Programs for Aging Needs. Archived from the original on 2009-09-19. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
  106. "About Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton". Texas Health. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  107. "Best of Denton: Business at their best". Denton Record-Chronicle. 2009-04-29. Archived from the original on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2009-10-14.
  108. Krauss, Clifford (November 5, 2014). "Split Decision by Voters on Local Fracking Bans". The New York Times.
  109. "HB 40". Texas Legislature Online.
  110. Malewitz, Jim (May 18, 2015). "Abbott Signs "Denton Fracking Bill"". Texas Tribune.
  111. Graeber, Daniel J. (May 20, 2015). "Texas city will still enforce fracking regulations". UPI.
  112. "Water woes at Green Tree Estates".
  113. "Some city of Denton taxpayers are days away from losing water service". WFAA. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  114. "This neighborhood in Denton has had poisoned water for decades". 29 November 2019.
  115. "Mayor declares disaster for Green Tree Estates".
  116. "Resident hopes city will extend Green Tree Estates emergency declaration".
  117. "'Humanitarian crisis': Denton leaders vote to extend emergency declaration over neighborhood's water woes".
  118. "A small community in Denton braces to lose water Friday".
  119. "Denton Community Water Service Set to be Cut off".
  120. "Small Denton neighborhood seeks viable water options as they prepare to lose current service".
  121. Small Denton neighborhood seeks viable water options as they prepare to lose current service.
  122. "Water options running low for small mobile home neighborhood".
  123. "Denton City Council could declare emergency for residents of Green Tree Estates".
  124. Declaration of Disaster
  125. "Mayor of Denton Declares State of Emergency for Mobile Home Community". 14 November 2019.
  126. "Mayor Declares Disaster for Denton Neighborhood over Water Service".
  127. "Mayor to declare public emergency for Green Tree water supply".
  128. "Denton votes to provide temporary water services to Green Tree Estates for 90 days".
  129. "Denton to extend emergency declaration for Green Tree through May".
  130. "Denton continues to work with Green Tree residents on water issue".
  131. "For Denton neighbors with serious water worries, the future is unclear".
  132. Mario Bennett Profile: Information, Highlights and Stats with the Lakers
  133. Sweepstakes Winner Elected Mayor

Bibliography
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.