Flower Mound, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Flower Mound, Texas | |
| Nickname: The Mound, Flo Mo | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Denton, Tarrant |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Jody Smith |
| Area | |
| - Town | 43.4 sq mi (112.3 km²) |
| - Land | 69 sq mi (105.9 km²) |
| - Water | 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km²) |
| Elevation | 604 ft (184 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 50,702 (city proper) |
| - Density | 1,240.6/sq mi (479.0/km²) |
| - Metro | 5,700,256 |
| Time zone | Central (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | Central (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 75022, 75027, 75028 |
| Area code(s) | 972 |
| FIPS code | 48-26232[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1335983[2] |
| Website: http://www.flower-mound.com | |
Flower Mound is a city in Denton and Tarrant Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 50,702, although the U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate was 63,526.[3] The city derives its name from the prominent 12.5-acre mound located in the southern portion of the city which is covered by wild flowers. The most widely accepted explanation for the mound is that it was a sacred ceremonial ground of Wichita Indians in the early 1800s.[4] Though surrounded by commercial and residential development, the mound is privately owned so as to be protected from further development.
Flower Mound has a small-town atmosphere with easy access to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It refuses to be referred to as a "city" despite its recent growth; it bills itself as the "Town of Flower Mound" with a "Town Hall" and a "Town Council".
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[edit] History
Native American habitation of what eventually became Denton County dates back to at least 4000 B.C., according to archaeological surveys by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. European settlement in the Flower Mound area is reported as early as the 1840s. Nineteenth-century settlers such as Andrew Morriss and David Kirkpatrick are still memorialized with street names in the city.
The town area remained sparsely populated for many decades after this initial settlement. Not until 1961 was the town incorporated to avoid annexation by the city of Irving. William Wilkerson, who became the town's second mayor, spearheaded the incorporation effort and helped improve the town's phone service and water supply.
As late as 1970, though, the town only numbered 1,685 residents. It was part of the United States Army's failed "New Town" development scheme. However, the enormous expansion of Flower Mound began as part of the growth of the area north of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
In 1990 there were slightly over 15,000 people living in Flower Mound and its population had tripled during that decade.[5]
During the 1990s the town's population was growing at a rate of nearly 13% per year. Flower Mound was the nation's 10th fastest growing community during the 1990s - growing from 15,527 to 50,702.[6] In 2000-2002, Flower Mound was ranked 9th among the 100 fastest growing cities in United States with a population greater than 50,000.[7] This growth has led to efforts to limit further development in the town to maintain rural characteristics and a more natural environment.
In 1999, the town adopted the SMARTgrowth (acronym representing "Strategically Managed And Responsible Town Growth") management plan, a smart growth initiative to manage both the rate and character of development in the community.[8] However, Flower Mound's population continued to rise by approximately 5% per year during the 2000-2005 period. The town also encourages conservation development projects to protect and preserve existing open space, vistas and natural habitats while allowing for controlled growth. The goal is environmentally sensitive urban development and the mitigation of the ill-effects of urban sprawl. While more controlled growth can be seen in the central and western portion of Flower Mound open space is still slowly disappearing. Traffic continues to increase on the two lane roads and highways in Flower Mound and especially in Northwest Flower Mound in the new retail district on the corner of FM 2499 Long Prairie RD and FM 407 Justin RD. Critics including former mayor Lori DeLuca charge that shopping centers, grocery stores, housing developments and other projects continue to replace rural land.[9]
D Magazine has consistently ranked Flower Mound in the Top 10 suburbs to live in Dallas-Ft. Worth. In 1995, it was ranked 6th, in 2004 was ranked 8th, in 2006 was ranked 8th[10]
[edit] Geography
Flower Mound is located at (33.031741, -97.078818).[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43.4 square miles (112.3 km²), of which, 40.9 square miles (105.9 km²) of it is land and 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²) of it (5.76%) is water.
Although physical geography is not greatly varied in North Texas, Lake Grapevine and Marshall Creek form much of the southern boundary of Flower Mound. The city borders Lewisville to the east and a number of cities and towns to the north, including Highland Village, Double Oak, and Bartonville. The two major highways in Flower Mound are Farm to Market Roads. FM 1171, known as Cross Timbers Road, runs east to west across the entire city. FM 2499 runs north to south and furnishes access to State Highway 121 and Interstate 635 just north of DFW Airport.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 50,702 people, 16,179 households, and 14,269 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,240.4 people per square mile (479.0/km²). There were 16,833 housing units at an average density of 411.8/sq mi (159.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.24% White, 2.92% African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.77% from other races, 1.61% from two or more races, and Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.63% of the population.
There were 16,179 households out of which 56.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.6% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.8% were non-families. 9.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3,000 sq ft (300 m²). and the average family size was 3.34. Most homes (approx. 80%) were built during the population boom of the 1990s.
In the town the population was spread out with 34.8% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 39.5% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 2.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.
Males had a median income of $69,467 versus $41,317 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,699. About 2.2% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 1.8% of those age 65 or over.
According to a 2006 estimate by CNNMoney.com, the median income for a family in Flower Mound was $110,035.[12]
[edit] Education
The town is mostly served by the Lewisville Independent School District. Other parts of Flower Mound are located in the Argyle Independent School District and Northwest Independent School District. The city is home to two high schools, Edward S. Marcus High School and the newer Flower Mound High School, both part of the Lewisville district. Private schools as Liberty Christian School, Coram Deo Academy, and The Highlands School serve students from Flower Mound who are seeking a private, religion-affiliated education, while Explorations Preparatory School provides a secular education focused on science and nature instruction.
[edit] References
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ 2005 population estimate for Flower Mound. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ The Best Places to Live. D Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Hobson, Archie, ed., The Cambridge Gazeteer of the United States and Canada (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995) p.217
- ^ Flower Mound SmartGrowth Management Plan. Town of Flower Mound. Retrieved on 2007-02-29.
- ^ Top 100 Fastest Growing Cities from 2000 to 2002 (pop. 50,000+). City-data.com. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Flower Mound SmartGrowth Management Plan. Town of Flower Mound. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Ranking the suburbs. D Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Best Places To Live: Flower Mound. CNNMoney.com (2006). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
[edit] External links
- Official Flower Mound Town Website
- Flower Mound at the Handbook of Texas Online
- Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce
- Lewisville - Flower Mound info site
- Flower Mound, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
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