Collin County, Texas Explained

County:Collin County
State:Texas
Flag:Flag of Collin County, Texas.svg
Seal:Seal of Collin County, Texas.svg
Founded Year:1846
Seat Wl:McKinney
Largest City Wl:Plano
Area Total Sq Mi:886
Area Land Sq Mi:841
Area Water Sq Mi:45
Area Percentage:5.1
Census Yr:2020
Pop:1,064,465
Pop Est As Of:2021
Population Est:1,109,462
Density Sq Mi:auto
Ex Image:Collin county tx courthouse.jpg
Ex Image Size:270px
Ex Image Cap:The Collin County Courthouse in McKinney
Web:https://www.collincountytx.gov/
Time Zone:Central
District:3rd
District2:4th
District3:32nd
Named For:Collin McKinney

Collin County is a county in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and a small part of Dallas is in the county. At the 2020 United States census, the county's population was 1,064,465, making it Texas's sixth-most populous county and the 43rd-largest county by population in the United States.[1] Its county seat is McKinney.[2]

History

Both the county and the county seat were named after Collin McKinney (1766-1861),[3] one of the five men who drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence and the oldest of the 59 men who signed it.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of, of which is land and (5.1%) is covered by water.[4]

Lakes

Adjacent counties

Communities

Cities (shared with other counties)

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Historical communities

Ghost towns

Demographics

In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau determined 491,675 people resided in Collin County.[5] With the economic and population growth of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, its population increased to 1,064,465 at the 2020 U.S. census. The population density as of 2019 was 1229.8/mi2.[6] Among the population, its median age was 37.3, up from the statewide median age of 35.1. Linguistically, 11.6% of the county spoke Spanish as their household language, followed by Asian and Pacific Islander languages.[7] Altogether 29.7% of Collin County spoke a language other than English at home, contributed in part by its large foreign-born population which made up 22% of the population according to 2019 estimates from the American Community Survey.[8]

The median income for a household in the county as of 2019 was $96,134, up from $70,835 in 2000.[9] Families had a median household income of $113,471, married-couple families $127,575, and non-family households $53,986. An estimated 6.3% of Collin County's residents lived at or below the poverty line from 2014 to 2019.[10] In 2000, about 3.30% of families and 4.90% of the population lived at or below the poverty line, including 5.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those aged 65 and older.

Of its residential properties, the median value of an owner-occupied housing unit was $354,100 in 2019, with a total of 8% of owner-occupied housing units ranging from less than $100,000 up to $200,000. In 2007, Collin County was ranked No. 21 for high property taxes in the U.S. as percentage of the homes' value on owner-occupied housing.[11] It also tanked in the top 100 for amount of property taxes paid and for percentage of taxes of income. Part is this is due to the Robin Hood plan school financing system in Texas.[12]

Race and ethnicity

Collin County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)!Pop 1990[13] !Pop 2000[14] !Pop 2010[15] ![16] !% 1990!% 2000!% 2010!
White alone (NH)226,654374,116493,492style='background: #ffffe6; 542,47285.84%63.08%style='background: #ffffe6; 50.96%
Black or African American alone (NH)10,72723,21264,715style='background: #ffffe6; 108,1004.06%8.27%style='background: #ffffe6; 10.16%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)9971,9373,278style='background: #ffffe6; 3,8740.38%0.42%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.36%
Asian alone (NH)7,31733,90287,276style='background: #ffffe6; 188,3652.77%11.16%style='background: #ffffe6; 17.70%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)N/A194387style='background: #ffffe6; 613N/A0.05%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.06%
Some Other Race alone (NH)1836301,364style='background: #ffffe6; 4,9100.07%0.17%style='background: #ffffe6; 0.46%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)N/A7,17416,475style='background: #ffffe6; 46,973N/A2.11%style='background: #ffffe6; 4.41%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)18,15850,510115,354style='background: #ffffe6; 169,1586.88%14.74%style='background: #ffffe6; 15.89%
Total264,036491,675782,341style='background: #ffffe6; 1,064,465100.00%100.00%100.00%style='background: #ffffe6; 100.00%

At the 2000 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the county was 81.39% White, 4.79% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 6.92% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.26% from other races, and 2.11% from two or more races; 10.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino American of any race. In 2019, the American Community Survey estimated its non-Hispanic white population now represented 55%, reflecting a national demographic trend of diversification.[17] The Black or African American population grew to 10%, Asian Americans made up 16% of the population, and Hispanic or Latino Americans increased to 16% of the total population in 2019; multiracial Americans made up an estimated 2% of the county population. The largest European ancestry groups from 2014 to 2019 were Germans, English Americans, and Irish and Italian Americans. By the publication of the 2020 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of Collin County was 50.96% non-Hispanic white, 10.16% Black or African American, 0.36% American Indian or Alaska Native, 17.70% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.46% some other race, 4.41% multiracial, and 15.89% Hispanic or Latino American of any race.

Religion

Christianity has historically been the predominant religious affiliation among the county's residents as part of the Bible Belt. According to the 2020 Public Religion Research Institute study, non-Christian religions are present and have been growing, largely due to migration into the county; among the non-Christian population, 3% were Hindu, 2% Muslim and 2% Jewish.[18] Overall among its Christian population, Baptists, Methodists, Catholics and non- or inter-denominational Christians have been prominent.

Government, courts, and politics

Government

Collin County, like all counties in Texas, is governed by a Commissioners Court. The court is chaired by a county judge (equivalent to a county executive in other states) who is elected county-wide, and four commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four precincts.[19]

County Judge & Commissioners

Office[20] NameParty
bgcolor=red County JudgeChris HillRepublican
bgcolor=red Commissioner, Precinct 1Susan FletcherRepublican
 Commissioner, Precinct 2Cheryl WilliamsRepublican
bgcolor=red Commissioner, Precinct 3Darrell HaleRepublican
bgcolor=red Commissioner, Precinct 4Duncan WebbRepublican

County Officials

OfficeNameParty
bgcolor=red County ClerkStacey KempRepublican
bgcolor=red Criminal District AttorneyGreg WillisRepublican
 District ClerkMike GouldRepublican
bgcolor=red SheriffJim SkinnerRepublican
bgcolor=red Tax Assessor-CollectorKenneth MaunRepublican

Justices of the Peace

OfficeNameParty
bgcolor=red Precinct 1Paul RaleehRepublican
bgcolor=red Precinct 2Ellen SkinnerRepublican
bgcolor=red Precinct 3Mike MissildineRepublican
bgcolor=red Precinct 4Vincent J. VenegoniRepublican

Politics

Like most suburban Texas counties, Collin County has consistently supported Republican candidates in presidential and congressional elections since the 1960s. The last Democrat to win the county was native Texan Lyndon Johnson in 1964. By 2020, Collin County was considered a highly competitive bellwether county due to its demographic changes and the shift of college-educated voters away from the Republicans.[21] Despite this, it remains very Republican downballot; Republicans hold all of the county-level offices and all but one of the county's seats in the state legislature.[22]

Collin County vote by party in Class I Senate elections!Year!Democratic!Republican!Other
201846.53% 165,61452.65% 187,4250.82% 2,927
201232.83% 96,72664.20% 189,1422.98% 8,759
200626.79% 36,67070.91% 97,0552.30% 3,149
200017,72% 30,64879.93% 138,2272.34% 4,219
Collin County vote by party in Class II Senate elections!Year!Democratic!Republican!Other
202043.00% 207,00554.64% 263,0742.36% 11,383
201427.97% 48,87668.36% 119,4503.67% 6,415
200833.47% 96,09464.09% 184,0002.44% 6,996
200229.13% 36,75069.86% 88,1361.01% 1,266
Collin County vote by party in gubernatorial elections!Year!Democratic!Republican!Other
202244.31% 161,73754.31% 198,2361.37% 5,003
201839.25% 139,17558.83% 208,0751.82% 6.444
201432.60% 57,43165.65% 115,6471.74% 3,072
201033.08% 51,89063.98% 100,3592.93% 4,600
200623.49% 32,45749.08% 67,81327.42% 37,889
200230,850 30,85074.12% 95,4961.94% 2,492

United States House of Representatives

District[23] NamePartyResidence
bgcolor=red 3rd Congressional DistrictKeith SelfRepublicanMcKinney
bgcolor=red 4th Congressional DistrictPat FallonRepublicanSherman
 32nd Congressional DistrictColin AllredDemocraticDallas

Texas State Representatives

DistrictNamePartyResidence
bgcolor=red District 33Justin HollandRepublicanHeath
 District 61Frederick FrazierRepublicanMcKinney
 District 66Matt ShaheenRepublicanPlano
 District 67Jeff LeachRepublicanPlano
 District 70Mihaela PlesaDemocraticDallas
 District 89Candy NobleRepublicanLucas

Texas State Senators

DistrictNamePartyResidence
 District 2Bob HallRepublicanEdgewood
 District 8Angela PaxtonRepublicanMcKinney
 District 30Drew SpringerRepublicanMuenster

State Board of Education member

Education

K-12 education

The following school districts lie entirely within Collin County:[24]

The following districts lie partly within the county:

In the 1990s Plano ISD received many non-Hispanic white families leaving urban areas. From circa 1997 and 2015 the number of non-Hispanic white children in K-12 schools in the county increased by 40,000 as part of a trend of white flight and suburbanization by non-Hispanic white families; however the same number of Plano ISD in particular decreased by 10,000 in that period.[25]

Colleges and universities

Collin College opened its first campus on Highway 380 in McKinney in 1985.[26] The college has grown to seven campuses/locations—two in McKinney and two in Plano and as well as Frisco, Allen, Rockwall, Wylie, Farmersville, and Celina. Collin College's official service area includes all of Collin County.[27]

Dallas Baptist University also has an extension site in Frisco, DBU Frisco, as well as the University of North Texas's extension side, UNT Frisco.[28]

The majority of the University of Texas at Dallas campus in Richardson, Texas lies within Collin County.[29] While the main campus' address is officially within the jurisdiction of Richardson and Collin county, approximately one-third of the college is physically located within the border of Dallas county.[30]

Transportation

With the Red Line operated by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) ending with its northern terminus at Parker Road Station in Plano, most of Collin County is not served by any public transit agencies as of 2023.[31] The Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS) transit service provided bus routes for a short period from 2013 until Collin County bus service was suspended in 2015.[32] [33] The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) in a 2022 meeting discussed the possibility of expansion of the Red Line corridor from Plano through Allen to McKinney. Either the Red Line or Silver Line could be extended north.[34] While the Red Line could be expanded further north into Allen, Allen is currently unable to levy the 1% sales tax required to become a DART member city.[35]

Major highways

Parks

See main article: Parks and open spaces of Collin County, Texas.

Media

Collin County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth media market. Local media outlets are: KDFW-TV, KXAS-TV, WFAA-TV, KTVT-TV, KERA-TV, KTXA-TV, KDFI-TV, KDAF-TV, and KFWD-TV. Other nearby stations that provide coverage for Collin County come from the Sherman/Denison market and they include: KTEN-TV and KXII-TV.

Newspapers in the Collin County area include the Allen American, Celina Record, Farmersville Times, Frisco Enterprise, McKinney Courier-Gazette, and the Plano Star-Courier. Nearby publications The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram also provide news coverage of cities in the county.

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 Population and Housing State Data. live. August 20, 2021. United States Census Bureau. EN-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210812173619/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html . August 12, 2021 .
  2. Web site: Find a County . June 7, 2011 . National Association of Counties . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx . May 31, 2011 .
  3. Book: The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States . Govt. Print. Off. . Gannett, Henry . 1905 . 87.
  4. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. April 21, 2015. August 22, 2012.
  5. Web site: U.S. Census website . . May 14, 2011 .
  6. Web site: Census profile: Collin County, TX. October 21, 2021. Census Reporter. en.
  7. Web site: 2019 Household Languages. live. October 21, 2021. data.census.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021185240/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US48085&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1601&hidePreview=true . October 21, 2021 .
  8. Web site: 2019 Selected Social Characteristics. live. October 21, 2021. data.census.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021185242/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US48085&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP02&hidePreview=true . October 21, 2021 .
  9. Web site: 2019 Annual Income Statistics. live. October 21, 2021. data.census.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021185239/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US48085&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1901&hidePreview=true . October 21, 2021 .
  10. Web site: 2019 Poverty Statistics. live. October 21, 2021. data.census.gov. https://web.archive.org/web/20211021185240/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US48085&tid=ACSST1Y2019.S1701&hidePreview=true . October 21, 2021 .
  11. Web site: Tax Foundation. Tax Foundation.
  12. News: A Public Policy Failure. Virginia. Postrel. The New York Times. October 7, 2004.
  13. Web site: Texas: 1990, Part 1 . July 15, 2024.
  14. Web site: P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Collin County, Texas. United States Census Bureau.
  15. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Collin County, Texas. United States Census Bureau.
  16. Web site: P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Collin County, Texas. United States Census Bureau.
  17. Web site: August 13, 2021. Census data: US is diversifying, white population shrinking. October 21, 2021. AP NEWS. en.
  18. Web site: August 11, 2021. Americans make use of their religious freedom. live. October 21, 2021. Dallas News. en. Collin County scored slightly lower on the PRRI religious diversity scale than Dallas, but Collin County is 3% Hindu, 2% Muslim, and 2% Jewish, compared to 1% for those religions in Dallas County.. https://web.archive.org/web/20210811133234/https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2021/08/11/americans-make-use-of-their-religious-freedom/ . August 11, 2021 .
  19. Web site: Commissioners Court. www.collincountytx.gov. en. November 3, 2017.
  20. Web site: Government. www.collincountytx.gov. en. December 4, 2017.
  21. News: Wasserman . David . October 6, 2020 . Opinion The 10 Bellwether Counties That Show How Trump Is in Serious Trouble . en-US . The New York Times . June 6, 2023 . 0362-4331.
  22. Web site: November 9, 2022 . Democrat Mihaela Plesa Wins Purple Collin County Texas House Seat, Defeating Republican Jamee Jolly . January 10, 2023 . The Texan . en-US.
  23. Web site: Texas Redistricting. www.tlc.state.tx.us. November 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019041053/http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/redist/districts/districts.html. October 19, 2017. dead.
  24. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Collin County, TX. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48085_collin/DC20SD_C48085.pdf . October 9, 2022 . live. U.S. Census Bureau. June 30, 2022. - Text list
  25. Web site: Nicholson, Eric. In Dallas, White Flight Never Ends. Dallas Observer. May 3, 2016. October 29, 2019.
  26. Web site: Homepage - Collin College. www.collin.edu.
  27. Web site: EDUCATION CODE CHAPTER 130. JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS. statutes.capitol.texas.gov.
  28. Web site: Welcome to DBU Frisco. www.dbu.edu. https://web.archive.org/web/20110309083757/http://www3.dbu.edu/frisco/. March 9, 2011. dead.
  29. Web site: County divide to have implications for elections. Mercury. The. 2018-09-17. The Mercury. en-US. 2019-04-21.
  30. Web site: The Tale of a Happy Union between UTD and Richardson – UT Dallas Magazine – The University of Texas at Dallas. www.utdallas.edu. 2019-04-21.
  31. Web site: Would Collin County, D-FW growth support a regional transit system? . . McFarland . Susan . September 25, 2023 . January 5, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240105220144/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/09/25/would-collin-county-dfw-growth-support-a-rail-regional-transportation/.
  32. Web site: TAPS Public Transit begins service in Collin County . North Texas e-News . July 3, 2013 . Acree . Dan . April 11, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240411192516/http://www.ntxe-news.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=53&num=83885&printer=1.
  33. Web site: TAPS Suspends Bus Service in Collin County Indefinitely . . November 14, 2015 . June 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210621112312/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/taps-suspends-bus-service-in-collin-county-indefinitely/2008510/.
  34. Web site: Regional Transportation Council looks to extend DART rail line from Plano to McKinney. Pirayesh . Erick . February 17, 2022 . Community Impact . . https://web.archive.org/web/20230818194910/https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/plano/transportation/2022/02/17/regional-transportation-council-looks-to-extend-dart-rail-line-from-plano-to-mckinney/ . August 18, 2023.
  35. Web site: Public Transit . . April 9, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409184745/https://www.cityofallen.org/1486/Public-Transit . April 9, 2024.