Garland, Texas
Garland, Texas | |
|---|---|
 Location within Dallas County and the state of Texas | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Dallas |
| Incorporated | 1891 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Ronald E. Jones |
| • City Attorney | Brad Neighbor |
| Area | |
• Total | 57.1 sq mi (147.9 km2) |
| • Land | 57.1 sq mi (147.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 551 ft (168 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
• Total | 215,768 |
| • Density | 3,778/sq mi (1,459/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 75040-75049 |
| Area code(s) | 214,972 |
| FIPS code | 48-29000Template:GR |
| GNIS feature ID | 1388185Template:GR |
| Website | http://www.ci.garland.tx.us |
Garland is a city in Dallas County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is an inner suburb northeast of Dallas and is a major part of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 215,768, making it the tenth-most populous city in Texas and the eighty-sixth most populous city in the United States. Garland is within a short driving distance of most major attractions in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area.
History
Settlers began arriving in the Peters colony area around 1850 but a community wasn't created until 1874. Two communities sprung up in the area: "Embree," named for the physician K. H. Embree, and "Duck Creek," named for the local creek of the same name. A rivalry between the two towns ensued as the area began to grow around the Santa Fe Railroad depot. Eventually, to settle a dispute over which town should have the local post office, Dallas County Judge Thomas A. Nash asked visiting Congressman Joe Abbott to move the post office between the two towns, which was done in 1887. The new location was named "Garland" after Attorney General Augustus Hill Garland. Embree and Duck Creek were combined to form the city of Garland. In 1891, the new city was incorporated. By 1904 the town had a population of 819 people.
In 1920, local businessmen financed a new generator (sold by Fairbanks-Morse) for the town. Out of this was formed Garland Power & Light, the municipal electric provider that still powers the city today.
On May 9, 1927, a devastating tornado destroyed much of the town and killed 17 people, including former mayor S. E. Nicholson.
Businesses began to move into the area in the late 1930s. The Craddock food company and later the Byer-Rolnick hat factory (now owned by Resistol) moved into the area. In 1937, KRLD, a major Dallas radio station, built a radio tower in Garland, which is operational to this day. During World War II, several aircraft plants were operated in the area and Kraft Foods purchased one after the war for their own manufacturing usage. By 1950, the population had reached 10,571 people.
From 1950 to 1954, the area suffered from a serious drought. To supplement the water provided by wells, the city began using the waters of nearby Lake Lavon.
Following World War II, the suburban population boom that the nation experienced also reached Garland. By 1960, the population had more than tripled from 1950 numbers to 38,501. By 1970, it more than doubled again to 81,437. By 1980, the population had crossed the 100,000-person threshold with 138,857 people.
Population history
| 1900: 202 1910: 1,054 1920: 4,505 1930: 8,958 |
1940: 5,698 1950: 10,547 1960: 38,501 1970: 81,437 |
1980: 138,857 1990: 164,748 2000: 215,768 2007: 224,750 (NCTCOG estimate) [1] |
Recent developments
In the 2000s, Garland added several notable developments, mostly in the northern portion of the city. Hawaiian Falls waterpark opened in 2003 (Garland formerly had a Wet 'n Wild waterpark, which closed in 1993). The Garland Independent School District's Special Events Center,[1] an arena and conference facility, opened in 2005, as did Firewheel Town Center, an outdoor mall with more than 100 businesses. A franchise of the large sporting goods store Bass Pro Shops opened near Lake Ray Hubbard in 2006.
Future Developments
The success of the Special Events center has allowed for Hyatt Hotels to join in partnership with Garland ISD, and will be expected to host many future events.[2]
Recently, voters approved a $450 million bond issue in May 2004, which covers new buildings and expansion for Dallas County Community College District, plus the addition of five community education campuses in under served or fast-growing areas of Dallas County - including plans for a Garland Education Center.[3]
In 2006, it was announced that the Dallas County Community College District, would allow Richland College to oversee the development of the project, set to begin in late 2007. Goals for this campus include:
- A clear program focus on addressing the workforce development training needs of Garland by offering specific corporate and contract training;
- Flexible scheduling and configuration for training needs;
- Courses offered by several DCCCD institutions at one location, which is accessible by DART bus and light rail routes;
- A new Business Innovations Center, where principles of performance, excellence and prototype product and systems development can be offered;
- An environmentally friendly campus facility; and
- Offices for appropriate mission-related job opportunity/chamber/career development agency partners who can enhance on-site training and employment needs.[4]
Geography
Garland is located at 32°54′26″N 96°38′7″W / 32.90722°N 96.63528°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (32.907325, -96.635197).Template:GR According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.1 square miles (147.9 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 215,768 people, 73,241 households, and 55,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,778.1 people per square mile (1,458.7/km²). There were 75,300 housing units at an average density of 1,318.5/sq mi (509.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.27% White, 11.87% African American, 0.60% Native American, 7.35% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 11.99% from other races, and 2.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.58% of the population.
There were 73,241 households out of which 41.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 3.37.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,156, and the median income for a family was $53,545. Males had a median income of $35,859 versus $29,392 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,000. About 6.8% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Most of Garland is in the Garland Independent School District (GISD). Parts of Garland extend into other districts, including the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), the Mesquite Independent School District (MISD), and the Richardson Independent School District (RISD).
The GISD does not have school zoning, so GISD residents may apply to any GISD school.
The GISD portion of Garland is served by several high schools. Garland High School is home to the district's International Baccalaureate program. North Garland High School is the math, science and technology magnet. Lakeview Centennial High School is GISD's "College and Career" magnet school. South Garland High School is known within the community for its vocational cosmetology program. Other GISD high schools include Naaman Forest High School, Rowlett High School, and Sachse High School.
The MISD portion of Garland is served by Price Elementary School, Vanston Middle School, and North Mesquite High School.
The RISD portion is served by O. Henry Elementary School, Liberty Junior High School, and Berkner High School, which are in the western portion of Garland.
As of November 2006, the GISD had 52,391 students and 3,236 teachers, for an average ratio of 16.2 students per teacher.[2] The 2006 GISD property tax rate was $1.5449 per hundred dollars of assessed property value.[3]
Neighborhoods and historical communities
Infrastructure
Transportation
Major highways
- Interstate 30
- Interstate 635
- President George Bush Turnpike (toll)
- State Highway 78
- Belt Line Loop (some parts are named as First Street and Broadway Blvd)
Trains
One train track runs parallel to Garland Road, coming out of Mesquite and heading all the way through the other side of Garland City.
Light rail
Utilities
The city of Garland operates the city's water system and waste services. Electricity for about 85 percent of Garland is provided by the city's municipal utility, Garland Power & Light (GP&L). Electricity for the other 15 percent was formerly provided by TXU, but is now supplied by multiple companies after deregulation of the Texas electricity market.
In 2008 CNN and Money Magazine released their list of the Top 100 Places to Live, and Garland was ranked number 67. The city’s comfortable, hometown feel in the midst of a thriving metropolitan area was just one of the outstanding characteristics mentioned in the report.
Some of the Garland assets mentioned in the article were the solid base of sound infrastructure, excellent city services, and responsive, locally-owned utilities, anchored by Garland’s Environmental Waste Services, Water and Wastewater Utility, and Garland Power & Light.
Environmental Waste Services Garland’s award winning Environmental Waste Services, headed by Lonnie Banks, has long been recognized as the gold standard for customer service. Waste management personnel have voluntarily moved heavy waste containers for citizens who have physical limitations that prevent them from “putting their trash out.” They have gone far beyond just “picking up the trash” to providing real compassionate caring service to Garland’s citizens. This level of service along with the city’s weekly bulk pickup has resulted in a very clean and healthy environment for the residents.
Water and Wastewater Utilities Garland is an original member city of the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD). The vision of the City fathers in the early 1940’s resulted in Garland and its companion member cities benefitting from reliable, high quality, affordable water from the water district’s many reservoirs. Most significantly, last year Garland residents were only minimally affected by the region’s worst drought in almost a century. The water district’s decision to move forward with a high tech ozonation of its raw water will result in a higher quality safe water with a significant reduction in the chlorine currently used.
The effluent from Garland’s Wastewater Treatment Plant flows through a NTMWD man- made, 1,840-acre wetland. This provides a natural habitat for a wide variety of birds and reduces the sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of the water to a drinkable level. Through the use of selected aquatic plants, this environmentally friendly project will provide millions of gallons of reusable water and reduce the environmental impact.
Garland Power & Light Garland Power & Light (GP&L) was founded in 1923 to provide Garland residents with affordable reliable electric service and to attract manufacturers to the city. GP&L has provided most of the residents of the City (85%) with electricity at rates that are consistently the lowest in the region. GP&L customers and anyone in the State of Texas can go to the State’s website “Power to Choose” and compare the rates. From time to time there may be a provider or two that will have a rate a fraction of a cent lower than GP&L, but these are typically temporary introductory rates designed to bolster their customer base. On the other hand GP&L rates remain low year in and year out. As a non-profit publicly owned power provider, GP&L has been able to build a highly efficient state-of-the-art reliable power distribution network which has resulted in GP&L’s customers enjoying a highly reliable power source with very few (below national average) interruptions. The two national indexes are System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) and System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI). SAIFI is the number of times power is lost, and SAIDI is the length of time the power is out. These standards compare the frequency and duration of power outages and the customers affected. Garland is one of the few power providers that proudly post their SAIDA/SAIFI numbers because they are so unusually favorable.
Garland Power and Light is a diversified, high tech, innovative power-generating provider. GP&L’s state-of-the-art power control center provides the region with the necessary system oversight and controls to ensure the efficient operation of the system. Their abilities have been recognized regionally, and other providers have contracted for GP&L to provide them these services. In addition to traditional fossil fueled power generating stations, GP&L owns a hydro-electric facility at the Lake Lewisville dam and purchases wind turbine power. A commitment by GP&L to provide green energy has kept it ahead of most for-profit energy providers.
In an effort to provide its citizens with the broadest green power opportunities, the City Council recently passed a residential wind energy ordinance. They already had a residential solar panel ordinance. Together these ordinances will allow Garland’s residents the ability to offset or control their energy costs by allowing them the ability to generate their own power.
GP&L like all private utility services (such as cable television, internet service, phone service, and other electric service providers) pays the city for the right to use City easements. All cities generate general operation funds from the leasing of their public right-of-ways to utility service providers. GP&L’s fund transfers to the City are commiserate to those fees collected from similar right-of-way agreements with private providers throughout the City.
As of August 2007, GPL cost data and consumer prices are not available to consumers, residents, or the general public. The GP&L 2006 Annual Report reflects a $41.8 million net income and cumulative total of $242.8 million in "retained earnings" from consumers. The city council reviews GP&L data in secret meetings and does not make the data available. The Texas Public Utility Commission says GP&L is unregulated. The United States Department of Energy says Texas electric utilities are unregulated by the US Government since Texas is the only state not connected to the national power grid. GP&L claims to be non-profit, but they report millions of dollars in profits that are unaccounted for. Texas law, Local Government Code §402.902E, prohibits municipal electric utilities from using profits for any purpose other than to finally pay of bonds; however, the Dallas County District Attorney's office says this law is unenforceable since the Texas Legislature did not provide criminal or civil penalties for violation (Source: See TxLGC §402.902E) According to US Energy Information Administration statistics, GP&L customers pay some of the highest rates for electricity in the United States. A prominent former mayor of Garland, Jim Spence, says GPL raised prices in 2004 based on "bogus fuel cost data" to generate an average of $12 million for city subsidies. Texas State Senator John Carona has been instrumental in protecting GP&L profits for the City of Garland.[5] Much of the information above is questioned by supporters of the Garland community. For information provided by the city of Garland concerning rates and the electric utility, visit www.garlandpower-light.org.
Points of interest
Cultural arts & entertainment
- Historic Downtown Garland
- Patty Granville Arts Center is a complex owned and operated by the city. Included within the complex are two elegant proscenium theatres which seat 720 and 200, respectively. Also included as part of the complex is the Plaza Theatre, which has seating for 350. The Atrium at the Granville Arts Center is a 6,500-square-foot (600 m2) ballroom encased in glass on two sides and opening onto an elegant outdoor courtyard. The Atrium provides civic, community and commercial organizations the opportunity to house banquets, receptions, trade shows, and conventions.
- The Garland Opryis a non-profit organization which has been providing the Garland community with weekly Country and Gospel music entertainment for over 32 years.
- The Plaza Theater
- Pace House
Parks & recreation
- Spring Creek Forest Preserve & Park Preserve
- Rowlett Creek Preserve and Mountain Bike Trails
- Firewheel Golf Park
- Hawaiian Falls
- Surf and Swim @ Audubon Park
- Lake Ray Hubbard
- Lake Lavon, tributary to Lake Ray Hubbard
What is Garland Famous for?
The animated television series King of the Hill was created by former Garland resident Mike Judge, who used elements of Garland as an inspiration for its setting — the fictional (and similar-sounding) town of Arlen.
Other former and current Garland residents who have gained national and international recognition include singer LeAnn Rimes, actress Crystal Bernard, musician Dean Sams of the band Lonestar, singer Amber Dotson, singer/songwriter Austin Cunningham and Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductee Gene Summers.
Garland has also had its share of sports stars including NFL placekicker Mac Percival, NFL All-Pro Bobby Boyd, NFL Safety Melvin Bullitt and NBA players Mookie Blaylock and Ricky Pierce.
Long before the infamous Waco incident, David Koresh attended Garland High (he dropped out before graduating).
3D Realms, the video game creator is best known for creating the Duke Nukem series, is in Garland. Some episodes of the Chuck Norris television series Walker, Texas Ranger were filmed in Garland, as well as some scenes for the Fox Network series Prison Break. Garland has a street called Star Trek Lane, the first and probably the only official place name of the Star Trek television series created by Gene Roddenberry (who was born in El Paso, Texas).
Mitchel Musso, who is Oliver on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana, was born and raised in Garland, TX.[citation needed]
The sport of Agility for dogs all started in Garland, Texas when Kenneth Tatsch, President and USDAA Founder, created The United States Dog Agility Association to introduce the sport to north America and to include all breeds of dogs. Founded in 1986, the USDAA is now international and considered the world's largest independent authority for the sport of dog agility, with more than 22,000 registered competitors. The most recent international competition that was held in Garland was at Winter's Park in approximately 2002. The USDAA's corporate office is located at 300 South Kirby Street, Suite 101 in downtown Garland.
References
- ^ Special Events Center
- ^ Garland ISD's events center profits take center stage | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News
- ^ DCCCD: DCCC Trustees Approve Purchase of Land for Garland Education Center
- ^ DCCCD: DCCCD Announces Change in Administration for Garland Center
- ^ The Texas State Senate: John Carona Capitol Update
External links
- The City of Garland Home Page
- The Garland Landmark Society, Inc.
- Garland, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Garland Online Local Garland News Website
- Downtown Garland Historic Downtown Garland Business Association Website
- GarlandCivicTheatre.org Garland Civic Theatre
- GarlandCitizensForum.org A Local Interactive Forum Discussing Politics, Education, Business, City, and Cultural Arts
- Information on Garland Real Estate
Municipalities and communities of Collin County, Texas, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities of Dallas County, Texas, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDP | ||
| Other community | ||
| Historical communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Municipalities and communities of Rockwall County, Texas, United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
