Collin County

History of Collin County

Collin County was founded in 1846 and was named after Collin McKinney, a strong force within the Texas Revolution and one of the five drafters of the Texas Declaration of Independence. The estimated population at that time was 150 settlers. The county’s fertile soil and lack of Native American resistance first attracted settlers to the area, and the majority of those settlers were farmers who produced wheat and corn.

Many of the first settlers and farmers utilized the streams coming from the Trinity River for transportation of wheat, corn and other produce. Unfortunately, in some parts of the county, farmers were unable to reach navigable rivers, which led to a decrease in cotton production.

In 1872, the Houston and Texas Central Railway banished all transportation barriers, connecting McKinney and Plano to Houston as well as opening up the opportunity to transport goods across the state. A decade later, six railroads were connecting farmers across the country to retailers, and crop production in Collin County was booming.

While the Great Depression and the introduction of farming machinery did drive many farmers away from the county, the growth of the Dallas metropolitan area diversified Collin County’s economy, providing more opportunity for those who chose to move there.

Collin County Today

Collin County has grown to become an affluent county with a population of 914,127 people according to the 2015 Census. The sixth most populous county in Texas, Collin County is one of the fastest growing counties in Texas, with many young families making their way to the area from all over the country.

Collin County is also one of the wealthiest counties in Texas. According to the Collin County Government, 4 out of the 5 major cities in Collin County, including Frisco, Plano, Allen and McKinney, are nationally ranked in the top 100 wealthiest cities in the United States with a median income of $84,233 and a booming job market.

The county is home to over 238 public schools, serving around 164,279 students and 21 public independent school districts. There are also a number of colleges and universities located in Collin County, including Collin College, the University of Texas at Dallas, Amberton University and Remington College.

The average commute to work for Collin County residents is 28 minutes, and although the majority of residents drive their own vehicles to work on a daily basis, the public transportation system is also thriving, with use doubling over the past eight years. In addition, residents of Collin County enjoy close proximity to major airports for airline travel including McKinney National Airport (30 miles north of downtown Dallas), Dallas Love Field Airport (51 miles from Collin County), and DFW International Airport (49 miles from Collin County). There are also major highways including U.S. Highway 75, U.S. Highway 380, Dallas North Tollway (DNT), Sam Rayburn Tollway (SRT/121) and President George Bush Turnpike,

What People Are Saying About Collin County:

• In 2016, the Biz Beat Blog from The Dallas Morning News named Frisco as the city with the “healthiest housing market” in the U.S.
• In 2015, Collin County was named the “healthiest county in Texas” by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• In 2014, Money Magazine ranked McKinney as #1 on their list of “Best Places to Live in America”.
• In 2014, Allen was ranked #4 on the “Best Places to Find a Job in America” list by Money Magazine.
• According to Niche, in 2016, the Plano Independent School District was ranked #5 on the “Best School Districts in Texas.”

Large Corporations and Headquarters in Collin County:

There are several large corporations and headquarters operating in Collin County, Texas. The following companies below are currently operating or expected to be operating in Collin County:

• Toyota Headquarters – Plano, TX
• J.C. Penny Headquarters – Plano, TX
• FedEx Office – West Plano, TX
• Dr. Pepper Corporate Office – Plano, TX
• Frito-Lay Headquarters – Plano, TX
• Capital One Auto Finance Headquarters – Plano, TX
• State Farm Insurance Regional Office – Richardson, TX 
• Liberty Mutual Insurance Office Campus (opening in 2017) – Plano, TX
• JP Morgan Chase Corporate Office Complex (opening in 2017) – Plano, TX

If you would like to learn more about living in Collin County or would like view homes for sale in Collin County or would like to sell your existing home, contact Brian S. Curry. He is with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and Collin County Homes. He would be happy to help you find the perfect home for you and your family or sell your existing home.

Living in Collin County

Collin County is a sprawling hub of activity and opportunity for residents of any age. Great jobs, beautiful homes, and plenty of shopping, attractions and special events appeal to families, singles and couples from a variety of backgrounds. While there are countless Collin County attractions, landmarks and festivals, here are just a few highlights.

Popular Attractions & Landmarks:

• The Star: This 91-acre campus in Frisco, TX is home to the Dallas Cowboys practice facility and corporate offices, as well as an entertainment district full of shops and restaurants, a hotel and more. The Star campus also hosts special events and tours.
• Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary: This museum and wildlife sanctuary in McKinney, TX boasts beautiful gardens, fascinating scientific collections and educational exhibits for kids and adults.

• Southfork Ranch: Made famous by the TV series Dallas, this ranch in Parker, TX is a venue for special events and community activities, and also offers group tours and scenic horseback trail rides.

• Toyota Stadium: This multipurpose sports stadium in Frisco, TX is one of the top venues in the U.S. for professional and amateur soccer.
• Charles W. Eisemann Center for Performing Arts: One of the leading performing arts centers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts hosts a variety of cultural events, from ballet performances and comedy acts to symphony orchestra concerts and educational talks.
• Dr Pepper Ballpark: Home to the Frisco RoughRiders, this baseball stadium in Frisco, TX is a hub of activity for the local community.

• Frisco Square: The Frisco Square is a popular urban development that is home to restaurants, shops, bars, family activities, and ongoing community events including an annual holiday lights display and the largest farmers market north of Dallas.
• Historic Downtown McKinney: Downtown McKinney is a unique, thriving destination and is one of the oldest downtown locations in Texas. Historic Downtown McKinney offers over 100 shops, several restaurants and festivals including the Red, White and Boom Parade, Bike the Bricks and Classics on the Square.

Special Events & Festivals:

• Collin County Fall Home and Garden Show: Held in Allen, TX each September, this popular event features the latest in home and garden products.
• Plano Balloon Festival: One of the largest hot air balloon festivals in the U.S., this event in Plano, TX attracts more than 100,000 people each year, typically in September.
• Festival at the Switchyard: This annual event in Carrollton, TX draws thousands with local food vendors, live music concerts, kid’s activities, free admission and more. This event is usually scheduled in the Fall.

Resources for Residents:

• Public Parks
• County Clerk’s Office
• Public Works
• Veteran Services
• Chambers of Commerce

Independent School Districts:

• Allen ISD
• Anna ISD
• Blue Ridge ISD
• Bland ISD
• Carrollton ISD
• Celina ISD
• Dallas ISD
• Farmersville ISD
• Frisco ISD
• Garland ISD
• Lucas ISD
• McKinney ISD
• Melissa ISD
• Plano ISD
• Princeton ISD
• Richardson ISD
• Royse City ISD
• Trenton ISD
• Van Alstyne ISD
• Wylie ISD
• Prosper ISD

Towns and Cities in Collin County

• Allen – Population: 84,246
• Anna – Population: 11,463
• Blue Ridge – Population: 862
• Carrollton (Collin, Denton and Dallas Counties) – Population: 133,168
• Celina (Collin and Denton Counties) – Population: 7,697
• Dallas (Dallas, Collin, Denton, Kaufman, and Rockwall Counties) – Population: 1,300,092
• Farmersville – Population: 3,301
• Frisco (Collin and Denton Counties) – Population: 154,407
• Garland (Collin and Dallas Counties) – Population: 236,897
• Josephine (Collin and Hunt Counties) – Population: 812
• Lavon – Population: 2,219
• Lowry Crossing – Population: 1,711
• Lucas – Population: 6,883
• McKinney (county seat) – Population: 162,898
• Melissa – Population: 7,436
• Murphy – Population: 20,610
• Nevada – Population: 822
• Parker – Population: 3,811
• Plano (Collin and Denton Counties) – Population: 283,558
• Princeton – Population: 8,939
• Richardson (Collin and Dallas Counties) – Population: 110,815
• Royse City (Collin and Rockwall Counties) – Population: 2,957
• Sachse (Collin and Dallas Counties) – Population: 24,554
• Van Alstyne (Collin and Grayson Counties) – Population: 3,046
• Weston – Population: 563
• Wylie (Collin, Dallas and Rockwall Counties) – Population: 46,708
• Fairview – Population: 8,438
• Hebron (Denton and Collin Counties) – Population: 415
• New Hope – Population: 614
• Prosper (Collin and Denton Counties) – Population: 15,967
• St. Paul – Population: 1,066
• Westminster – Population: 861

Unincorporated Communities:

• Altoga
• Arnold
• Beverly Hill
• Bloomdale
• Branch
• Buckner
• Chambersville
• Chambliss
• Climax
• Collin
• Copeville
• Cowley
• Culleoka
• Deep Water Point Estates
• Desert
• Fayburg
• Forest Grove
• Frognot
• Kelly
• Lavon Beach Estates
• Lavon Shores Estates
• Little Ridge
• Marilee
• Milligan
• Millwood
• New Mesquite
• Pebble Beach Sunset Acres
• Pecan Grove
• Pike
• Rhea Mills
• Rockhill
• Roland
• Sedalia
• Snow Hill
• Trinity Park
• Valdasta
• Verona
• Walnut Grove
• Wetsel
• Winningkoff
• Yucote Acres

Contact Brian S. Curry with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs and Collin County Homes if you’re interested in learning more about living in Collin, Denton or Dallas County. He can assist in scheduling a viewing to see a home or sell your existing home. He is a RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs real estate agent and would be happy to help you find the perfect home or sell your existing home.