History of Colleyville
Colleyville began as a rural community, situated primarily between Big Bear and Little Bear Creek in the central portion of northeastern Tarrant County. The first significant settlement of the area began in the 1850s. Samuel C.H. Witten came to Texas from Missouri in 1854 and established a farm along Little Bear Creek. He became one of the founders of the Spring Garden community, which flourished in the 1860s around a well-known school, finally declining in the 1870s as Bedford rose to prominence. Other settlers from the upper South included Jonathan A. Riley, who came from Kentucky in 1856 and settled near the Spring Garden community; the Kentucky-born adventurer and Civil War veteran Ryan Harrington, who bought land in 1865 near the community of Pleasant Glade; and William B. Cheek, who migrated to northeast Tarrant County from Kentucky in 1869, eventually settling near Ryan Harrington’s property.

Other farmers continued to arrive throughout the 19th century. William Dunn settled property between Big Bear Creek and Bransford in 1875; the James R. Forbes family, of Bedford County, Tennessee, established a farm in 1887; and French native Anthelm Bidault began cultivating his renowned orchards and vineyards near the Pleasant Run community in 1897. The communities of Pleasant Glade and Pleasant Run were hamlets situated in clearings of the Eastern Cross Timbers. Churches, schools, and stores served the rural population. Pleasant Run Baptist Church, organized in 1877, was the first church within what is now Colleyville.

The St. Louis, Arkansas, & Texas Railway (later known as the St. Louis & Southwestern or the Cotton Belt Route) extended its tracks between Fort Worth and Grapevine in the late 1800s, passing through the hamlet of Red Rock in the Colleyville area in 1888. The nearby community of Bransford, clustered around the general store and post office of Felix G. Bransford, disappeared that same year when the store and post office were moved to Red Rock, which was renamed Bransford. The new Bransford prospered over the next several decades, becoming the largest community in the Colleyville area. In addition to the post office, the town had two blacksmith shops, a livery stable, four general stores, and a lodge hall shared by the Masons, Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. Four doctors resided there.

Lilburn Howard Colley was one of these doctors. A native of Missouri and a veteran of the Union Army, Dr. Colley and his wife moved to Texas in 1880, eventually settling in Bransford soon after the town was founded. In his 40 years of active practice, he became one of the best-known physicians in northeast Tarrant County and was widely respected as a leader in the Bransford area. Colley’s name became associated with a community that formed around a store opened by W.G. Couch on Glade Road south of Bransford in 1914. The surrounding area gradually acquired the name “Colleyville.” The hamlets of Pleasant Run and Pleasant Glade had populations of 75 and 80, respectively, in 1940, and today have all but disappeared. Bransford declined after World War I as the automobile took precedence over railroads for passenger travel. The last store, owned by John R. Webb, closed in 1925. The town became known primarily for a large nursery established by Andy Felps around 1920. Bransford had a population of 155 in 1940, but today has vanished except for a cluster of houses around the train tracks.

Colleyville was incorporated on January 10, 1956, and its city limits are now contiguous with those of Grapevine and Euless on the east, Bedford and Hurst on the south, Keller and North Richland Hills on the west and Southlake on the north. Although once a predominantly rural community, Colleyville has experienced significant residential development during the past decade. From a population of about 1,500 in 1960, it grew to 6,700 in 1980 and had an estimated population of 11,300 by 1989. Grapevine Highway (Highway 26) passes through its center, and many of its residents commute to Fort Worth.

“Tarrant County Historic Resources Survey”
Historic Preservation Council of Tarrant County, Texas
Copyright, 1990

Important Links:
Vistors of Colleyville – http://www.colleyville.com/visiting.html
Schools Districts : http://www.gcisd-k12.org/159110124125726830/site/default.asp
City Departments: http://www.colleyville.com/departments.html
Demographics – http://www.colleyville.com/demographics.html

The History of the Grapevine Prairie
Grapevine is the oldest settlement in Tarrant County, originating under the Lone Star flag in 1844, a year before Texas became a part of the United States.

In October, 1844, General Sam Houston and fellow Republic of Texas Commissioners camped at Tah-Wah-Karro Creek, also known as Grape Vine Springs, to meet with leaders of ten Indian nations. This historic meeting culminated in the signing of a treaty of “peace, friendship and commerce,” which opened the area for settlement by homesteaders and pioneers. The settlement was named Grapevine because of its location on the Grape Vine Prairie near Grape Vine Springs, both of which were named for the tart, wild Mustang grapes that blanketed the area.

“Millions of stories are gone forever, but it is not too late to capture what remains…” Mayor William D. Tate
February 11, 2002

Important Links:
Visitors to Grapevine TX – https://www.grapevinetexasusa.com/Default.aspx
Schools : http://www.gcisd-k12.org/gcisd/site/default.asp
City Departments : http://www.grapevinetexas.gov/Government/CityStaff.aspx
Demographics : http://www.grapevinetexas.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3ZXEjpb9SXU%3d&tabid=1146

Located near Double Springs, the “Village” of Keller began with the news that the Texas Pacific Railroad would extend north of Fort Worth. Keller was settled in the early 1850′s, and received its name at the urging of a Texas Pacific Railroad official, honoring John C. Keller, a foreman on the railroad, after the site became a stop on the railroad line. By 1882, the settlement, formerly known as Athol, become present day Keller. The wooded region around Keller attracted settlers because of the close proximity to the Trinity River, a supply of plentiful game and water, and the abundance of land for cattle raising and farming.

With railroad service now available, Keller began to prosper as a trade center for the surrounding farm community. The post office was established in 1886 when the post office at Double Springs, located about 5 miles northeast of Keller, was discontinued. Paper work for this change began about two years earlier and it is possible that at the time C.C. Nance moved to Keller and was serving as postmaster there for those years. In 1886, John H. Wallace was appointed postmaster.

Keller’s water supply was originally limited to home cisterns, which caught rain water, and a public well located on Vine Street. In 1906, a new well was drilled on Main Street and remained in service until 1960. Electricity came to Keller in the early 1880′s, followed by a telephone system which was privately owned until 1966.

In the first years, the closest school to Keller stood on Bear Creek Road and Elaine Street. The building was erected by the Mount Gilead Baptist Church as a school reserving church privileges. It was a subscription school. The exact date when this was abandoned and a new building was erected at the southwest corner of Olive and Elm Streets in the town has not been verified. By 1898, property was purchased on the corner of ;Keller Parkway ;(FM 1709) and College Street. The school was moved to this new location, where the Keller Education Center now stands.

Keller had benefited not only from being situated on the Texas and Pacific Railroad – it had the advantage of U.S. Highway 377 which runs from Fort Worth to Denton. Keller was incorporated on November 16, 1955. The first elected officials were Joseph Knox, Mayor; Councilmen A.L. Pipkin, B.B. Stateham, L.D. Feaster, C.A. Anderson, Jr., and C.T. Lee; and Randall Simpson, City Secretary.

New residential development is expanding within the city in all directions. Keller today is energetic, diverse, and growing toward its bright future. This emerging city overlies an interesting and colorful past.

We’re 7th in “Top 100 Places to Live”

MONEY magazine has named the City of Keller 7th in its top 100 “Best Places to Live” ranking of small U.S. towns. The magazine’s annual list was released Monday, July 13, on its Web site, http://money.cnn.com, with an article to be published in the magazine’s August 2009 edition.

“I am pleased that Keller is gaining national attention for the many things residents already know,” Mayor Pat McGrail said Monday. “We have big-city conveniences and amenities, but remain firmly planted in our small-town roots.”

The list ranks small towns by looking at the strength of their economies, home values, public schools, unemployment rates, crime rates and amenities that enrich the quality of life, among other attributes. For Keller, the article cites the energy industry that has bolstered the region, as well as major offices just outside the City for FedEx, Fidelity Investments and Sabre Holdings. The Keller Town Center district and abundant park amenities were also noted as assets. These factors, as well as the booming Alliance corridor and companies such as American Airlines, have helped Keller’s population triple since 1990.

Keller was the only Texas city in the Top 10, leading the five others in the Top 100: Mansfield (24th), Friendswood (32nd), Schertz (39th), Georgetown (45th) and Hewitt (46th). In 2007, Keller was ranked 50th on the MONEY magazine list.

The distinct business districts, historic Old Town Keller and the urban Keller Town Center, are just two of the City’s unique economic engines. The citywide parks and trails system, anchored by Big Bear Creek, offers recreation and mobility among the City’s recreation and aquatics center, The Keller Pointe, and multiple sports facilities. The Keller Senior Activities Center brings senior citizens together for stimulating activities, emphasizing health and fellowship. But the City isn’t resting on its past successes, evidenced by the current renovation and expansion under way at the Keller Public Library.

A diverse housing market, from luxury senior living, multi-family apartments, patio homes and houses with acreage, provides something for nearly everyone. A nationally accredited police department and professional fire department helps maintain public safety. Keller ISD is recognized for its excellence in public education. Active volunteers and civic groups contribute greatly to Keller’s supportive atmosphere, including the Keller Rotary Club, Keller Lions Club, Greater Keller Women’s Club and Keller Masonic Lodge.

MONEY’s listing merely confirms what residents and business owners already know: Keller is a fantastic place to live, work and play.

Important Links:

Visitors of Keller – http://www.cityofkeller.com/index.aspx?page=21

School Districts – http://www.kellerisd.net/Pages/default.aspx

City Departments – http://www.cityofkeller.com/index.aspx?page=27

Demographics – http://www.cityofkeller.com/index.aspx?page=810

<History: The Southlake area was settled by pioneers in the 1840s, but was not incorporated Southlake until 1956, four years after Lake Grapevine was finished.

Overview

The population was 21,519 at the 2000 census. In December 2008, Forbes.com named Southlake the most affluent neighborhood in the United States based on average median household income estimates.^[5] In 2009, Southlake’s zip code, 76092, was ranked as the richest zip code in the United States with a population between 10,000-25,000 people. The average home in Southlake costs around 630,000 dollars and has 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and around 4,000 square feet (370 m²). Southlake is well known for its Southlake Town Square project, a shopping center located on State Highway 114 and Southlake Boulevard. A plan was approved in March 2005 that allowed the Town Square’s area to be doubled. The new additions to Town Square were completed in the summer of 2006, making it one of the most popular shopping centers in DFW. Southlake is well known for the all exemplary school district Carroll ISD and the Southlake Carroll Dragons.

Sabre Holdings, an S&P 500 company and owner of Travelocity, is headquartered in Southlake. Industrial businesses include gasoline storage and distribution and concrete works on the east side of town near the DFW Airport border. Southlake is also home to Gateway Church, a non-denominational Christian megachurch, which averages more than 16,000 in attendance per week. Gateway has finished construction on their new campus in north Southlake, off State Highway 114.

Education

The vast majority of Southlake is in the Carroll Independent School District. This school district contains the following schools:

Elementary: Carroll Elementary School, Old Union Elementary School, Rockenbaugh Elementary School, Durham Elementary School, and Johnson Elementary School.^[7]

Intermediate: Eubanks Intermediate School and Durham Intermediate School.^[7]

Middle: Dawson Middle School and Carroll Middle School.^[7]

High Schools: Carroll High School (9,10) and Carroll Sr. High School (11,12).^[7]

The Denton County portions of the city are in the Northwest Independent School District while the extreme western portions are in the Keller Independent School District and extreme eastern portions are in the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District. The families in the Denton County portion of Southlake are given the choice between Northwest ISD and Carroll ISD. Most families choose Carroll ISD because of the closer proximity of the schools and better performing schools. There is currently a dispute between Carroll ISD and Northwest ISD regarding having all Denton County Southlake being in Carroll ISD.

All of the schools are listed as “Exemplary” by Texas Education Association standards making them among the best in the state. (Wikipedia)

Important Links:
Independent School District
Visitors to Southlake
City Departments
Demographics

• Trophy Club is the first master planned community in Texas
• The Town is a true residential community covering 2,385 acres, of which only 15 are zoned for commercial use
• The Town originally envisioned as a retirement community, has a very cosmopolitan make up.
• Population growth has come mainly from families

The roots of Trophy Club run deep in the history of this area of North Texas, back to the days in 1847 when Charles and Matilda Medlin along with 20 other families from Missouri settled along Denton Creek. Floods drove them to higher ground, to the area around present day Trophy Club.

Much of the early history of the town, is reflected in inscriptions on the tombstones in Medlin Cemetery which was designated a Texas historical landmark in 1977. As legend has it, the area was chosen as a cemetery site when Mittie Ann Medlin died April 15, 1850 at the age of 21. She had told her parents she wanted to be buried on this hill because of the beautiful views.

Trophy Club began in 1973 when Houston developers Johnson and Loggins approached the Council of Westlake on the possibility of constructing a housing development around a posh country club. The town name came from the original plan that the Country Club would house the trophy collection of golfing legend Ben Hogan. The Hogan course at Trophy Club Country Club is the only golf course ever designed by Mr. Hogan.

In 1983, Gibraltar sold the development to Independent America Group of Dallas who added nine holes to the golf course called the Eagle. As with the early pioneers, the residents needed a voice in planning the future of the town, and Trophy Club was incorporated on January 19,1985.

In 1994 Jeff Beck purchased the remaining 1200 acres of undeveloped land in the community and a new era of growth and development was born. Trophy Club has long been a development with foresight, the foresight of the growth corridor of Northeast Tarrant County and Southern Denton County. We now sit at the gateway of the State Highway 114 corridor between the D/FW International Airport and the Solana/Alliance Industrial Complex poised to continue to grow beautifully in the new Millennium.

Important Links
Independent School District
Visitors of Trophy Club
City Departments
Demographics

History of Westlake

The Town of Westlake was settled by Charles and Matilda Medlin when they arrived in the area with about 20 other families in 1847. They initially settled along Denton Creek but moved south to higher ground after weathering ferocious floods from the creek.

Until 1997, the three-story Medlin barn was a local historic landmark. When it had to be removed for safety issues, it was believed to be 130 years old. Legends include those of Sam Bass and Bonnie and Clyde hiding in the barn.

In 1956, Dallas lawyer Glen Turner purchased about 2,000 acres along State Highway 114. The area came to be known as Circle T Ranch.

Soon after, ranches and homeowners in the surrounding community incorporated, taking the name Westlake. The area included what is known today as Westlake, plus the area north, to the northern shore of Denton Creek. This northern land was later disannexed from Westlake and formed Trophy Club. By 1952, Denton Creek was dammed and Lake Grapevine was formed.

In the early 1970s, Houston developers Johnson and Loggins and professional golfer Ben Hogan approached Westlake about building a golf course, country club, and a housing development. Residents’ interests differed. In 1973, Westlake disannexed that area, clearing the way for the upscale housing development.

In the mid 1970s, the Circle T Ranch was purchased by oil millionaire Nelson Bunker Hunt. The ranch became known for its glamorous parties attended by celebrities from all over the world. By 1989, Hunt had declared bankruptcy and the ranch was up for sale. It was purchased by Ross Perot Jr. in 1993.

In the mid 1980s, IBM built Solana, the multi use office complex. IBM maintained a large presence until the mid 1990s. At that time, several of the office buildings became available for use by other corporations. Eventually, IBM sold its partnership interest.

In 1997, to the dismay of residents, there was an attempt to dissolve the Town of Westlake. Many court battles — including appeals to the Texas Supreme Court — were waged as emotions rose.

Important Links:
Visitors of Westlake – http://www.westlake-tx.org/en/Visiting_Westlake.html
School Districts – http://www.westlake-tx.org/en/QualitySchools.html
City Departments – http://www.westlake-tx.org/en/contacts.html
Demographics – http://www.westlake-tx.org/en/Facts_And_Figures3.html

Dallas was incorporated as a town in 1856. Samuel Pryor was elected the first mayor. Dallas continued to grow steadily. Many settlers from the failed colony of La Reunion came to Dallas and became leading citizens, adding an artistic and intellectual element to the city. By 1859, Dallas boasted a barber shop and photographer.

Two thousand people lived in Dallas by 1860. The railroad was approaching from the south, and several stage lines were already passing through. However, 1860 was a tumultuous year. Dallas began to prepare for war. Public debates on the issue of secession were held, and a volunteer company was begun. In July of that year, a fire broke out in the square, destroying most of the buildings in the business district. A slave plot was immediately suspected. Two abolitionists were run out of town. Three African-American slaves were hung, and all other slaves in the town were ordered whipped. By December, most of the town was rebuilt. The population was growing so quickly that there was a housing shortage.

In 1861, Dallas County voted 741-237 for secession. On June 8, a state of war was declared. Citizens were very supportive of the war effort. Parades were held, and the town was decorated. There was no shortage of volunteers. Since Texas and Dallas were so far from the theater of war, they gave money, flour, and various other supplies to the Southern cause. A munitions factory was built. When the Union Army began to approach Mississippi and Louisiana, their cotton was transported and stored here.

However, times were rough. Prices for basic household necessities rose dramatically. The newspaper stopped printing for almost a year. Cloth was impossible to purchase.

Many Southerners came to the Dallas area to rebuild their fortunes after the war. They could no longer maintain plantations, but the farm land of North Texas meant opportunity. Dallas continued to grow during the Reconstruction years, unlike other Southern towns that had to rebuild first. Dallas had also become the center of the buffalo market.

Politics during Reconstruction were difficult. During the first election, the voter registration board allowed only those who supported African American suffrage to vote. In 1872, the governor of Texas, E. J. Davis, ordered the mayor of Dallas, Henry Ervay, to be removed from office. He refused and was thrown into jail. The state supreme court ruled that the governor did not have the power to remove officials from office, and he was released.

On July 16, 1872, the first passenger train, the Houston and Texas Central, steamed into Dallas. In 1873, the Texas and Pacific came. With the arrival of the trains, the population soared, from 3,000 in early 1872 to more than 7,000 in September of the same year. New businesses and buildings appeared daily. Telegraph lines came into town, connecting Dallas with the outside world. Dallas was now a concentration point for raw materials, such as grain and cotton, shipped to the South and East. It was a last chance for people traveling farther west to get supplies. Large, grand hotels were being built but most buildings remained plain and utilitarian. Utilities, such as water and gas, became available. In 1871, the first volunteer fire company, Dallas Hook and Ladder Company #1, was organized. Gas lamps lighted Dallas streets in 1874. The first telephone line linked the water company to the fire station in 1880.

This intense growth did not come without problems. Farmers struggled to get fair prices for their crops. After buying supplies on credit during the year, farmers owed the merchants most of their crop. Shipping costs to the coast were high, and the price for cotton was dropping. The Farmer’s Alliance, formed in 1877, set up a warehouse in Dallas to ship cotton to St. Louis, since freight charges were cheaper. They hoped to break the cycle of poverty. However, bankers refused to finance the warehouse, and the venture failed in twenty months.

Outlaws were also common during this period. Belle Starr began her adventures in Dallas as a dance hall singer and dancer, and later sold stolen horses and harbored outlaws. Doc Holliday came to Dallas to restore his health. He opened a dentist’s office, but soon turned to gambling. In 1875, he killed a man and left Dallas. Sam Bass robbed four trains in two months during the spring of 1878. Three months later, Bass was killed in an ambush near Round Rock.

In 1890, Dallas annexed the city of East Dallas, which had a larger geographical area than that of Dallas. In 1893, a nation-wide financial panic stalled Dallas’s growth. Several banks closed, cotton prices dropped drastically, and the lumber and flour markets all but vanished. People began to leave the city. However, by 1898, the city had begun to recover and grow again. In 1903, Oak Cliff, a city on the other side of the Trinity, was annexed.

The relationship between Dallas and the Trinity River has never been quite what Dallas has intended. Trinity River navigation was a dream of many that was never realized. Floods occurred in 1844, 1866, 1871 and 1890, but none were as disastrous as the flood of 1908. The river was 52.6 feet deep and a mile and a half wide. Five people died, four thousand people were homeless, and property damages were estimated at $2.5 million. Dallas was completely dark for three days, all telephone and telegraph service was down, and rail service was cancelled. Oak Cliff could only be reached by boat.

After the flood, the city began to discuss the possibilities of flood control and a bridge linking Oak Cliff and Dallas. Prominent citizens began to ask for long range city planning, and in 1911, George Kessler released his plan. Major points included using levees to divert the river, removing the railroad lines on Pacific Avenue, consolidating railroad depots into one central one, new parks and playgrounds, and the widening and straightening of several streets. Most of the plan gathered dust, but in later years, many began to see its importance. In 1920, Kessler was brought back to update the plan, and by the 30s, many of the ideas had been implemented.

The only thing that the city of Dallas was lacking was a major university. In 1910, efforts began to have Southwestern University in Georgetown move to Dallas. They refused, but this action brought Dallas to the attention of the Methodists. They voted in 1911 to establish a university in Dallas, after the city offered $300,000 and 666.5 acres of land for the campus. In 1915, Southern Methodist University opened its doors.

In 1911, Dallas became the location of one of twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks. The city campaigned for years, and the bank’s arrival assured Dallas’s place as a financial center.

World War I brought Dallas to the forefront of aviation. Love Field was established as an aviation training ground, and Fair Park was the home of Camp Dick, another training facility. The city bought Love Field in 1927 to operate as a municipal airport.

The Great Depression gave Dallas a new set of challenges. By 1931, more than 18,000 people were unemployed. Before the New Deal policy began, the city established a work-for-food program that helped many. Even during the closing of the banks, many businesses continued to operate as usual. The main reason Dallas did not suffer as other cities during the Depression was the discovery of oil. In 1930, Columbus Marion “Dad” Joiner struck oil 100 miles east of Dallas. Oil was booming in East Texas, and Dallas was in the perfect position to benefit from this. In the first two months of 1931, twenty-eight businesses either formed or moved to Dallas for the oil. Banks made loans to develop the oil fields, and Dallas became the financial center for oil fields in East Texas, the Permian Basin, the Panhandle, the Gulf Coast, and Oklahoma.

After a lengthy campaign, the state of Texas chose Dallas as the site of the Texas Centennial Exposition. Dallas had a long history of hosting the State Fair of Texas. More than fifty buildings were built in Fair Park, and 10 million visitors came to see the $25 million spectacle.

In 1948, a new trend in Dallas growth began. Chance Vought, now LTV, moved its headquarters to Dallas. Other corporations followed suit, and hometown corporations were also making an impact. By 1974, more than 626 companies, including Texas Instruments, EDS, and Mary Kay Cosmetics Inc., had their headquarters in Dallas. The opening of DFW International Airport in 1974helped the trend even more.

Dallas continued to gain national attention. In 1960, Dallas was home to two professional football team: the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Texans. In 1962, the Texans were moved to Kansas City and renamed the Chiefs. By the 1970s, the Cowboys’ success and popularity earned them the nickname “America’s Team.” In 1972, baseball came to Dallas with the Texas Rangers. The Mavericks brought basketball in 1980. Soccer came in 1984 with the Sidekicks. In 1993, professional hockey came with the Dallas Stars.

November 22, 1963, brought a defining moment for Dallas and the nation. Near the spot where John Neely Bryan had first settled, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder. Two days later, he was killed by Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner. Dallas, and the nation, grieved, and then moved on. But Dallas never forgot. In 1970, the Kennedy Memorial was erected, and in 1989, the Sixth Floor Museum opened.

Dallas soon began to look more toward its cultural heritage. In 1966, the Dallas County Heritage Society formed to save Millermore, the last antebellum mansion. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Old City Park. In 1973, Swiss Avenue was designated as Dallas’s first historic district. The West End, an old warehouse district, opened in the ’80s as a restaurant and entertainment area. Voters approved an arts district in 1979. The Dallas Museum of Art moved there from Fair Park in 1984, and the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center opened in 1989.

In 1983, voters approved a Dallas Area Rapid Transit service plan. Construction later began on a light rail system, which opened in 1996. The system has been successful, and DART continues to expand.

The years of two major daily newspapers ended with the closing of the Dallas Times Herald on December 9, 1991. Dallas was one of the last major cities to have two newspapers.

Dallas has come a long way in the last 150 years. From a town of two cabins to a city of more than a million people, Dallas’s focus has always been growth and progress. In the coming years, Dallas will certainly co

Important Links
Independent School District
Dallas,TX
Visitors of Dallas
City Departments & Services
Demographics

Lewisville was formally incorporated 75 years ago after a January 15, 1925, election, but the settlement as a community actually began about 80 years earlier.In the 1840s, the Republic of Texas gave a grant to the Texas Emigration and Land Company to bring 600 families to what is now Denton County. Each family was to receive 640 acres of land, bachelors receiving 320 acres. By 1846, the necessary families had arrived, and Denton County was formed. The first settlers to the Lewisville area were the families of John and Augustus King, who migrated to the area in 1844. Following their lead, John and James Holford brought several families from Platt, Missouri and settled on the western part of the King land. Many of the original “new” buildings were located very near the railroad (later the MKT and now the Union Pacific), but flooding on the Elm Fork of the Trinity River caused those establishments to be moved uphill and west to the area of Mill and Main Streets. A grist mill, constructed near the location of today’s Sonic Drive In, firmly anchored the settlement in the new location. By the time of the incorporation election in 1925, the Lewisville community had grown to a population of about 850 residents and was served by five cotton gins and two saloons. The January 1925 incorporation election marked the beginning of the municipality as we now know it, with a vote of 109-92. County Judge Jackson certified the election of the town’s mayor and aldermen March 10, and the first official town meeting was held March 16, 1925. The first ordinances regulated medicine shows and set speed limits for automobiles at 18 mph. The taxable value of property in the newly incorporated town was $779,086. The population of Lewisville remained stable until the 1940s, building to a total of 1,500 people in 1950. By 1960, the Corps of Engineers had built the Lewisville Lake Dam and U.S. 77 (now IH-35E) was moved west to replace Mill Street as the primary north-south road running between Dallas and Denton. Lewisville’s 1960 population was almost 4,000, and during the late 1960s, Hunt Properties bought and had annexed into Lewisville more than 2,500 acres known as the Lewisville Valley Addition. The 1970 population had grown to about 9,200 people, but the big boom was just beginning. Home builders discovered a Lewisville eager for growth. Entire neighborhoods were built seemingly overnight, and even with a recession during the last half of the 1970s, Lewisville’s population had blossomed to almost 25,000 by 1980. The decade of the ‘80s saw continued residential development, but job growth also began to take off, as Lewisville was identified as an employment center. The 1990 population hit 46,500 people, and at the beginning of the 21st century, Lewisville is now home to almost 90,000 people and 3,600 businesses.

Important Links-
Independent School District
Lewisville TX
Visitors of Lewisville
City Departments
Demographics

Modern day Copper Canyon came about in April of 1973. At that time several residents got together and decided to incorporate the Town in order to preserve the rural atmosphere of the community. The first Mayor was Robert Woodin. The first Town Council (founding fathers) was Bill Ferris, Arthur Huston, Paul Vickery, Don Colby and Betty Harmon. The first Town Marshall was Robert Shackelford. Council Meetings were held in homes until 1978 when several residents got together and built the current Town Hall at 400 Woodland Drive. The developer of the Woodlands Addition donated the land. Resident, Bill Ferris headed up a unique group of people and the Town Hall was built on donations. Community spirit in the Town was a wonderful asset and continues to be the bond that brings the residents together and makes Copper Canyon what it is today.

The Town is governed by a Mayor-Council form of government. The Mayor and Council are elected by the residents (registered voters) and serve two (2) year terms of office. Copper Canyon is a general law city that operates under the laws of the State of Texas. Ordinances have been passed to protect the safety and welfare of the residents, enhance property values and offer a comfortable setting for those who live here.

Town Council meetings are the 2nd Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Citizen involvement and participation in the Park Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, and Road Advisory Commission is vital to the operation of the Town.

Important facts on our Town:

• Located in Denton County
• Population 1,300
• 4.25 square miles
• Low Tax rate of $0.301713 per $100 valuation
• Lewisville and Denton School Districts
• Water supplied by Bartonville Water Supply
• Served by Argyle Volunteer Fire Department,
• Police protection provided by the Denton County Sheriff’s Department
• Mayor and Council form of government elected by the registered voters
• Residents can enjoy camping, picnics, boating a Pilot Knoll park
• Horse trails that are maintained for the enjoyment of equestrian riders
• Local phone service is Verizon
• Electrical service is provided by Co-Serv Electric

Important Links:

Independent School District
Copper Canyon TX
City Departments
Demographics