Geographic region of the U.S. state of Texas
Region in Texas, United States
North Texas
is a term used primarily by residents of
Dallas
, Fort Worth
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
Dallas?Fort Worth metroplex
generally consider North Texas to include the area south of
Oklahoma
, east of
Abilene
, west of
Paris
, and north of
Hillsboro
.
[11]
It does not include the
Panhandle of Texas
, which expands further north than the region previously described, nor does it include most of the region near the northern border of Texas.
[
citation needed
]
Today, North Texas is centered upon the Dallas?Fort Worth metroplex, the largest
metropolitan area
in Texas and the
Southern United States
. People in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas sometimes use the terms
Metroplex
,
DFW
, and
North Texas
interchangeably. However, North Texas refers to a much larger area that includes many rural counties along the northern border.
[12]
History
[
edit
]
Indigenous tribes in North Texas included the
Caddo
,
Tawakoni
,
Wichita
,
Kickapoo
, and
Comanche
.
[13]
[14]
[15]
With European colonization,
Mexican independence
, and
Texan independence
and
annexation to the United States
, many of these tribes experienced demographic decline through relocation, slavery, etc. Since European colonization and the independence movements, the North Texas area was settled and most notably developed the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.
Climate
[
edit
]
The North Texas climate is
subtropical
with hot summers. It is also
continental
, characterized by a wide annual temperature range. Average annual
precipitation
also varies considerably, ranging from less than 28 to more than 48 inches (700?1200 mm). Severe
storms
are frequent in the spring, as the area lies in the southern section of "
tornado alley
".
South is the prevailing wind direction, and southerly winds are frequently high and persist for several days. Strong northerly winds often occur during the passage of cold fronts. Dusty conditions are infrequent, occurring mostly with westerly winds.
Dust storm
frequency and intensity depend on soil conditions in eastern
New Mexico
,
West Texas
, and the
Texas Panhandle
.
Winters can be mild, but northers occur about three times each month, and often are accompanied by sudden drops in temperature. In Dallas, a record-setting 12.8 inches of snow fell in February 2010. Periods of extreme cold that occasionally occur are short-lived, so that even in January mild weather occurs frequently.
[16]
The highest temperatures of summer are associated with fair skies, westerly winds, and moderate to high humidities. Characteristically, hot spells in summer are broken into three- to five-day periods by
thunderstorm
activity. There are only a few nights each summer when the low temperature exceeds 80 °F (27 °C). Summer daytime temperatures frequently exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Air conditioners are recommended for maximum comfort indoors and while traveling via automobile.
Throughout the year, rainfall occurs more frequently during the night. Usually, periods of rainy weather last for only a day or two, and are followed by several days with fair skies. A large part of the annual precipitation results from thunderstorm activity, with occasional heavy rainfall over brief periods of time. Thunderstorms occur throughout the year, but are most frequent in the spring.
Hail
falls on about two or three days a year, ordinarily with only slight and scattered damage. Windstorms occurring during thunderstorm activity are sometimes destructive.
Snowfall
is uncommon.
The average length of the warm season (freeze-free period) is about 249 days. The average last occurrence of 32 °F (0 °C) or below is mid March and the average first occurrence of 32 °F or below is in late November.
[17]
Counties
[
edit
]
Although the terms "Northeastern Texas" or "North Texas" are not official state designations, the Texas State Data Center and Office of the State Demographer lists the following counties as belonging to the
North Central Texas Council of Governments
(NCTCOG):
[18]
[19]
The Texas State Demographer also lists the following regional county groupings, some or all of which are often included in the informal meaning of the terms "North Texas" or "North Central Texas."
Additionally, some other Texas counties contiguous with those named above are sometimes included in the general meaning of "North Texas."
Major cities
[
edit
]
City
|
Population (2023)
|
State rank
|
U.S. rank
|
Dallas
|
1,259,404
|
3
|
9
|
Fort Worth
|
961,885
|
5
|
13
|
Arlington
|
390,399
|
7
|
50
|
Plano
|
291,450
|
9
|
69
|
Garland
|
235,293
|
12
|
91
|
Irving
|
248,931
|
13
|
93
|
Grand Prairie
|
199,395
|
15
|
127
|
McKinney
|
214,302
|
17
|
155
|
Frisco
|
227,528
|
18
|
162
|
Mesquite
|
143,792
|
20
|
181
|
Carrollton
|
132,935
|
23
|
197
|
Denton
|
160,564
|
26
|
202
|
Richardson
|
113,613
|
32
|
255
|
Wichita Falls
|
103,687
|
35
|
285
|
Lewisville
|
114,170
|
36
|
288
|
Allen
|
109,411
|
40
|
|
Flower Mound
|
79,102
|
50
|
|
Other cities and towns
[
edit
]
Statistical areas
[
edit
]
In the North Texas region there is one
combined statistical area
, three
metropolitan areas
, and seven
micropolitan areas
.
Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)
- Dallas?Fort Worth?Arlington
is the only MSA in Texas subdivided into metropolitan divisions:
- Dallas?Plano?Irving (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties)
- Fort Worth?Arlington?Grapevine (Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, and Wise counties)
- Sherman?Denison
(Grayson County)
Micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs)
Wichita Falls area
[
edit
]
Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)
Micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs)
Other
[
edit
]
Micropolitan statistical Areas (μSAs)
Economy
[
edit
]
Top employers
[
edit
]
Dallas?Fort Worth metroplex
[22]
Wichita Falls metropolitan area
[23]
Sherman?Denison metropolitan area
[24]
Colleges and universities
[
edit
]
Sports
[
edit
]
The North Texas region has teams from the four major professional sports leagues. Major professional sports first came to the area in 1960, when the
Dallas Cowboys
began competing in the
National Football League
and the Dallas Texans began competing in the
American Football League
. (The Texans later relocated to
Kansas City
and became the
Chiefs
). In 1972,
Major League Baseball's
Washington Senators moved to Arlington to become the
Texas Rangers
, named after the
statewide law enforcement agency
. The
National Basketball Association
expanded into North Texas in 1980 when the
Dallas Mavericks
were added to the league. The fourth sport was added in 1993 when the
Minnesota North Stars
of the
National Hockey League
moved to Dallas, becoming the
Dallas Stars
.
The
Major League Soccer
team
FC Dallas
is based in Frisco, and the
Dallas Wings
of the
WNBA
plays in Arlington. The area is also home to many minor league professional teams and four colleges that compete in
NCAA Division I
athletics.
Major professional sports teams
[
edit
]
^- Indicates year team relocated to the area
Other professional teams
[
edit
]
^- Indicates year team relocated to the area
Division I college teams
[
edit
]
The headquarters for both the Big 12 and Conference USA are located in
Irving
, and the Southland Conference headquarters are in
Frisco
.
Transportation
[
edit
]
Commercial airports
[
edit
]
Public transit
[
edit
]
Major highways
[
edit
]
Interstates
[
edit
]
U.S. Routes
[
edit
]
Tollways
[
edit
]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hood County, Texas; Erath County, Texas; Denton County, Texas; Ellis County, Texas; Collin County, Texas; Dallas County, Texas"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Parker County, Texas; Palo Pinto County, Texas; Navarro County, Texas; Kaufman County, Texas; Johnson County, Texas; Hunt County, Texas"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Baylor County, Texas; Archer County, Texas; Wise County, Texas; Tarrant County, Texas; Somervell County, Texas; Rockwall County, Texas"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Montague County, Texas; Jack County, Texas; Hardeman County, Texas; Foard County, Texas; Cottle County, Texas; Clay County, Texas"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:Grayson County, Texas; Fannin County, Texas; Cooke County, Texas; Young County, Texas; Wilbarger County, Texas; Wichita County, Texas"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Taylor County, Texas; Jones County, Texas; Haskell County, Texas; Knox County, Texas; Hamilton County, Texas"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
2022-07-20
.
- ^
"North Texas Facts and Figures from the North Texas Commission"
.
NTC-DFW
. Retrieved
2022-06-02
.
It is a 9,000-square-mile, 13-county region that is home to 7.5 million people. North Texas is made up of 150 cities ? including Dallas and Fort Worth ? with 15 of those cities boasting a population of more than 100,000.
- ^
"Counties in the North Central Texas Region of Texas - US Travel Notes"
.
travelnotes.org
. Retrieved
2022-06-02
.
- ^
"Why Grayson County? | North Texas Regional Airport"
. Retrieved
2022-06-02
.
- ^
"TSHA | Grayson County"
.
www.tshaonline.org
. Retrieved
2022-06-02
.
Grayson County, in north central Texas, is bordered by the Red River and by Fannin, Collin, Denton, and Cooke counties. The county seat, Sherman, which lies approximately sixty-five miles north of Dallas, is part of the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- ^
"North Central Texas Council of Governments"
.
Texas Association of Regional Councils
. Retrieved
2022-06-02
.
- ^
"W5JCK Map of North-Central Texas Counties"
. Archived from
the original
on 9 April 2016
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
"Indians"
.
- ^
"What happened to Native American tribes that once existed in North Texas? Curious Texas investigates"
.
Dallas News
. 25 December 2020
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
Murray, Brandon (24 November 2021).
"Tales from the Dallas History Archives: Honoring Native American Heritage Month"
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
"Snow: Dallas/Fort Worth's Top-20 Largest Snowfalls on Record"
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
"DFW Climate Narrative"
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Counties by Regional Councils of Governments"
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
"www.NCTCOG.org"
. Archived from
the original
on 17 May 2008
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
"Counties"
. Archived from
the original
on 2008-11-20
. Retrieved
2008-05-20
.
- ^
Texoma Council of Governments
- ^
Dallas Business Journal 2016
- ^
"City of Wichita CAFR"
(PDF)
. Retrieved
26 March
2023
.
- ^
"Sherman-Denison Employers"
. Archived from
the original
on 2015-06-11
. Retrieved
2016-06-02
.