SOME OF THE best housing values can be found outside of Dallas and Fort Worth in the surrounding communities. Here’s a rundown of our neighbors in an alphabetical listing, from Allen to Waxahachie.
ALLEN
Population: 15,000
Square miles: 28
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station; 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 1 mall; 6 strip centers
Number of child-care centers: 8
Education: 3 elementary. 1 junior high; 1 high school
ARLINGTON
Population: 261,300
Square miles: 98
Community services: 11 fire stations: 1 police station; 5 libraries
Major shopping areas: 4
Number of child-care centers: 71
Education: 32 elementary; 9 junior high; 4 high schools
BALCH SPRINGS
Population: 18,000
Square miles: 9
Community services: 1 fire station; 1 police station: 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 3 strip centers
Number of child-care centers: 5Education: either Mesquite ISD or Dallas ISD
BEDFORD
Population: 50,360
Square miles: 10.1
Community services: 1 fire station; 1 police station: 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 11
Number of child-care centers: 5
Education: 5 elementary; 2 junior high: 1 high school
CEDAR HILL
Population: 14,000
Square miles: 39
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station; i public library
Major shopping areas: 3 strip centers
Number of child-care centers: 8
Education: 3 elementary: 1 intermediate; 1 middle: 1 high school
COLLEYVILLE
Population: 9.000
Square miles: 12
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station
Major shopping areas: 3 Number of child-care centers: 2
Education: 2 elementary; 1 middle school; high school located in Grapevine
DENTON
Population: 63,100
Square miles: 32.8
Community services: 4 fire stations; 1 police station; 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 17
Number of child-care centers: 20
Education: 9 elementary; 2 junior high; 1 high school; 2 universities (North Texas State University, TexasWoman’s University)
DESOTO
Population: 27,000
Square miles: 25
Community services: 2 fire stations: 1 police station:1 public library
Major shopping areas: 8 local shopping centers
Number of child-care centers; 12 (including churches)
Education: 4 elementary; 2 junior high; 1 high school; 5 private schools
DUNCANVILLE
Population: 37,500
Square miles: 14.5
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station; 1 public library
Number of child-care centers: 15
Education: 6 elementary, 2 junior high; I high school
EULESS
Population: 44,420
Square miles: 16. 5
Community services: 1 fire station; 1 police station, 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 4
Number of child-care centers: 8
Education: 6 elementary; 2 junior high; 1 high school
Garland
Population: 178,000
Square miles: 56 square miles
Community services: 6 fire stations; 1 police station;3 public libraries
Major shopping areas: 7
Number of child-care centers: 50
Education: 33 elementary; 10 junior high; 5 high schools
GRAND PRAIRIE
Population: 96,000
Square miles: 71
Community services: 8 fire stations; I police station: 1 public library
Number of child-care centers: 25
Education: 16 elementary. 6 middle; 2 high schools
GRAPEVINE
Population: 24,500
Square miles: 32
Community services: 4 fire stations-. 1 police station; 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 5 strip centers
Number of child-care centers: 4
Education: 5 elementary; 2 junior high; 1 high school
HALTOM CITY/NORTH RICHLAND HILLS/RICHLAND HILLS/WATAUGA
Population: 93,540 (Haltom City: 30,690; North Richland Hills: 36,500; Richland Hills: 8,350; Watauga: 18,000)
Square miles: 45.3 (Haltom City: 16.5; North Richland Hills: 18.9; Richland Hills: 39; Watauga: 6)
Community services: 8 fire stations; 4 police stations; 4 public libraries
Major shopping areas: 2 malls; 26 strip centers
Education: 17 elementary; 6 junior high; 2 high schools
Hurst
Population: 45,640
Square miles: 9.7
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station;1 public library
Major shopping areas: 9
Number of child-care centers: 9
Education: 17 elementary; 5 junior high; 1 high school; 1 community college
IRVING
Population: 151,400
Square miles: 67.7
Community services: 9 fire stations; 1 police station; 3 public libraries (new central library)
Major shopping areas: 33 strip centers including malls
Number of child-care centers: 5Education: 16 elementary; 6 junior high; 3 high schools; 3 colleges (University of Dallas. Devry Institute of Technology. North Lake Community College)
LANCASTER
Population: 20,750Square miles: 24
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station;1 public library
Number of child-care centers: 6, in addition to 3
church-run facilities
Education: 5 elementary; 1 intermediate; 1 junior high;1 high school; 1 community college
LEWISVILLE
Population: 40,000
Square miles: 36
Community services: 3 fire stations-, I police station;1 public library
Major shopping areas: 11
Number of child-care centers: 20
Education: 13 elementary; 4 junior high; 3 high schools
MCKlNNEY
Population: 19,500
Square miles: 24.2
Community services: 2 fire stations; I police station; 1 public library
Major shopp.ng areas: 3
Number of child-care centers:9
Education: 4 elementary: 2 junior high; 1 high school
MESQUITE
Population: 93,000
Square miles:40.54
Community services: 6 fire stations; I police station; 2 public libraries
Major shopping areas: 3
Number of child-care centers: 30
Education: 22 elementary; 4 junior high; 4 high schools: 1 community college
METROCREST
Metrocrest is the name adopted in 1983 to define the four-city area that includes Ad-dison, Carrollton, Coppell, and Farmers Branch. Each city elects its own government and maintains its own public services. All cities are convenient to malls, elegant hotels and restaurants, and business centers.
ADDISON
Population: 10,000
Square miles: 6
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station
Major shopping areas: 4
Number of child-care centers: 2
Education: students attend Dallas or Carrollton schools
CARROLLTON
Population: 80,000
Square miles: 30
Community services: 5 fire stations. 1 police station. 1 public library
Education: 12 elementary; 3 junior high; 2 high schools (Carrollion/Farmers Branch School District)
COPPELL
Population: 16,000
Square miles: 12
Community services: fire stations; I police station;
I public library
Major shopping areas: 2; 3 under construction
Number of child-care centers: 3
Education: 2 elementary; 2 junior high; 1 high school
FARMERS BRANCH
Population: 27.000
Square miles: 12
Community services: 2 fire stations, 1 police station;1 public library
Major shopping areas: 2
Number of child-care centers: 10
Education: (Farmers Branch and Carrollton share schools) 12 elementary; 3 junior high; 2 high schools;2 colleges (Brookhaven Community College. Dallas Christian College)
PIANO
Population: 113,000
Square miles: 64.2
Community services: 6 fire stations; 1 police station; 2 public libraries
Major shopping areas: 2
Number of child-care centers: 35
Education: 20 elementary; 6 junior high; 6 high schools
RICHARDSON
Population: 75.000
Square miles: 28.2
Community services: 5 fire stations; 1 police station;1 public library
Major shopping areas: 2 large malls
Number of child-care centers: 31
Education: 35 elementary, 10 junior high; 4 high schools; 2 colleges (University of Texas at Dallas. Richland College)
ROCKWALL
Population: 10,000
Square miles: 14.5
Community services: 1 fire station; 1 police station; I public library (county)
Major shopping areas: 2
Number of child-care centers: 6
Education: 3 elementary: 1 junior high; 1 high school
ROWLE
Population: 17,500
Square miles: 17.3
Community services: 2 fire stations; 1 police station; 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 2
Number of child-care centers: 6
Education: (Garland School District) 2 elementary: 1 junior high; i high school
WHXAHACHIE
Population: 20,000
Square miles: 29.5
Community services: 3 fire stations; 2 police stations; 1 public library
Major shopping areas: 4
Number of child-care centers: 5
Education: 3 elementary: 1 junior high: 1 high .sch
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