| Dallas County, Texas | |
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The former Dallas County Courthouse in Dallas.
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Location in the state of Texas |
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Texas's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | March 30, 1846 |
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| Named for | George Mifflin Dallas |
| Seat | Dallas |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
908 sq mi (2,353 km²) 880 sq mi (2,278 km²) 29 sq mi (75 km²), 3.19% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
2,368,139 2,692/sq mi (1,039.57/km²) |
| Website | www.dallascounty.org |
Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area (colloquially referred to as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex). As of the 2010 census, the county had an official population of 2,368,139[1] and is now the ninth most populous county in the United States. Dallas county was founded in 1846 and was named for George Mifflin Dallas, the 11th Vice President of the United States.
Its county seat is Dallas[2], which is also the largest city in the county, the third-largest city in Texas, and the eighth-largest city in the United States. Dallas County is the most populous county within the metropolitan area and contains the largest of its principal cities.
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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 908 square miles (2,352 km2), of which 880 square miles (2,279 km2) is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) (3.19%) is water.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 2,743 |
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| 1860 | 8,665 | 215.9% | |
| 1870 | 13,814 | 59.4% | |
| 1880 | 33,488 | 142.4% | |
| 1890 | 67,042 | 100.2% | |
| 1900 | 82,726 | 23.4% | |
| 1910 | 135,748 | 64.1% | |
| 1920 | 210,551 | 55.1% | |
| 1930 | 325,691 | 54.7% | |
| 1940 | 398,564 | 22.4% | |
| 1950 | 614,799 | 54.3% | |
| 1960 | 951,527 | 54.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,327,321 | 39.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,556,390 | 17.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,852,810 | 19.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,218,899 | 19.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,368,139 | 6.7% | |
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Texas Almanac: 1850-2010[4] |
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As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile (974/km²). There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi (375/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 58.35% White, 20.31% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 3.98% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 14.04% from other races, and 2.70% from two or more races. 29.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 807,621 households out of which 35.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.90% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.34.
In the wider county, the population was spread out with 27.90% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 18.90% from 45 to 64, and 8.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was US$43,324, and the median income for a family was $49,062. Males had a median income of $34,988 versus $29,539 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,603. About 10.60% of families and 13.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
Dallas County is governed by a Commissioners Court. The Dallas County Commissioners Court consists of the County Judge (the chairperson of the Court) who is elected County-wide and four Commissioners who are elected by the voters in each of four districts.
The Commissioners Court is the policy-making body for the County; in addition, the County Judge is the senior executive and administrative position in the County. While the cities in the County handle many tasks in local government, the County holds responsibility for the following:
"The Commissioners Court sets the County tax rate, adopts the budget, appoints boards and commissions, approves grants and personnel actions, and oversees the administration of county government. Each commissioner also supervises a Road and Bridge District. The Commissioners Court also approves the budget and sets the tax rate for the hospital district, which is charged with the responsibility for providing acute medical care for citizens who otherwise would not receive adequate medical services."[6]
The total 2010 fiscal year budget is approximately $871 million USD.[7]
Currently (November 2010), the major elected officials are[8]
| Position | Name | Party | |
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| County Judge | Clay Jenkins | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 1 | Maurine Dickey | Republican | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Mike Cantrell | Republican | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 3 | John Wiley Price | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Elba Garcia | Democratic | |
| District Attorney | Craig Watkins | Democratic | |
| District Clerk | Gary Fitzsimmons | Democratic | |
| County Clerk | John Warren | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | Lupe Valdez | Democratic | |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | John Ames | Democratic | |
| Treasurer | Joe Wells | Democratic | |
There are 6 congressional districts either entirely or partly within Dallas County. There are 5 Republicans and 1 Democrat.
| Representative | Party | Home Town/City | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Johnson | R | Plano | 3 | |
| Jeb Hensarling | R | Dallas | 5 | |
| Kenny Marchant | R | Coppell | 24 | |
| Michael C. Burgess | R | Lewisville | 26 | |
| Eddie Bernice Johnson | D | Dallas | 30 | |
| Pete Sessions | R | Dallas | 32 | |
There are 5 Texas Senate districts either entirely or partly within Dallas County. There are 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat.
| Senator | Party | Home Town/City | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bob Deuell | R | Greenville | 2 | |
| Florence Shapiro | R | Plano | 8 | |
| Chris Harris | R | Arlington | 9 | |
| John Carona | R | Dallas | 16 | |
| Royce West | D | Dallas | 23 | |
There are 16 members of the Texas House of Representatives who are based in Dallas County. There are 10 Republicans and 6 Democrats.
| Representative | Party | Home Town/City | District ↑ | |
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| Eric Johnson | D | Dallas | 100 | |
| Cindy Burkett | R | Mesquite | 101 | |
| Stefani Carter | R | Dallas | 102 | |
| Rafael Anchia | D | Dallas | 103 | |
| Roberto R. Alonzo | D | Dallas | 104 | |
| Linda Harper-Brown | R | Irving | 105 | |
| Rodney E. Anderson | R | Grand Prairie | 106 | |
| Kenneth Sheets | R | Dallas | 107 | |
| Dan Branch | R | Dallas | 108 | |
| Helen Giddings | D | De Soto | 109 | |
| Barbara Mallory Caraway | D | Dallas | 110 | |
| Yvonne Davis | D | Dallas | 111 | |
| Angie Chen Button | R | Richardson | 112 | |
| Joe Driver | R | Garland | 113 | |
| Will Hartnett | R | Dallas | 114 | |
| Jim Jackson | R | Carrollton | 115 | |
| Year | Democrat | Republican |
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| 2008 | 57.5% 424,468 | 41.9% 309,477 |
| 2004 | 49.0% 336,641 | 50.4% 346,246 |
| 2000 | 44.9% 275,308 | 52.6% 322,345 |
| 1996 | 46.0% 255,766 | 46.8% 260,058 |
| 1992 | 35.0% 231,412 | 38.7% 256,007 |
| 1988 | 40.9% 243,198 | 58.4% 347,094 |
| 1984 | 33.4% 203,592 | 66.4% 405,444 |
| 1980 | 36.8% 190,459 | 59.2% 306,682 |
| 1976 | 42.3% 196,303 | 56.7% 263,081 |
| 1972 | 29.6% 129,662 | 69.5% 305,112 |
| 1968 | 34.1% 123,809 | 50.7% 184,193 |
| 1964 | 54.7% 166,472 | 45.1% 137,065 |
| 1960 | 37.0% 88,876 | 62.2% 149,369 |
Dallas County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in almost every election since 1960; the only exceptions being in 1964 and 2008. More recently however, it has gradually shifted more Democratic in recent elections. The Democratic gains are primarily due to the city of Dallas, which has become a stronghold of that party.
In the United States House of Representatives, districts 30 and 32 are entirely within the county and districts 3, 5, 24, and 26 include portions of Dallas County. Five of the six districts are currently represented by Republicans. In order of district number they are Sam Johnson (R-03), Jeb Hensarling (R-05), Kenny Marchant (R-24), Michael C. Burgess (R-26), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-30), and Pete Sessions (R-32).[9]
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†Denotes a municipality whose physical boundaries extend beyond Dallas County
The following school districts serve Dallas County:
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Love Field, located in Dallas and in Dallas County, serves many domestic passengers.
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport partially located in the city of Irving in Dallas County and Grapevine and Euless in Tarrant County.
Dallas Area Rapid Transit provides bus and rail service to many cities in Dallas County, with Dallas being the largest.
The Trinity Railway Express provides commuter rail service to Tarrant County, including downtown Fort Worth.
Dallas County operates several jail facilities. They include:[12]
Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Hutchins Unit state jail for men in an unincorporated area adjacent to Hutchins.[14] Corrections Corporation of America operates the Dawson Unit, a co-gender state jail in Downtown Dallas, under contract.[15]
Federal Correctional Institution, Seagoville is located in Seagoville.
| Denton County | Collin County | Rockwall County | ||
| Tarrant County | Kaufman County | |||
| Dallas County, Texas | ||||
| Johnson County | Ellis County |
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