Allen, Texas

History

The Allen area was previously home to the Caddo, Comanche, and other indigenous peoples. The first immigrants from the United States and Europe arrived in the early 1840s. The town was established by the Houston and Central Texas Railroad and named in 1872 for Ebenezer Allen, a state politician and railroad promoter. The railroad allowed sale of crops across the country before they rotted, causing a shift from the previous cattle-based agriculture. On February 22, 1878, a gang led by Sam Bass committed in Allen what is said to be Texas's first train robbery.

From 1908 through 1948, Allen was a stop along the Texas Traction Company's interurban line from Denison to Dallas. Allen was a small town of a few hundred residents when it was incorporated in 1953. Since this time, it has grown dramatically due to the construction of U.S. Route 75, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and the development of nearby Dallas and Plano.

Geography

According to the City of Allen, the city has a total area of 27.1 square miles (70 km²). None of the area is covered with water except the small ponds scattered throughout the city.

Climate

Allen is part of the Humid Subtropical region, with hot dry summers and mild cold and rainy winters.

Demographics

As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 84,246 people. The racial makeup of the city was 64.9% White, 8.4% African American, 0.5% Native American, 13.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.9% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.2% of the population.

There were 14,205 households out of which 55.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.2% were non-families. 11.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 1.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.07 and the average family size was 3.35.

In the city, the population was spread out with 34.9% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 40.7% from 25 to 44, 16.2% from 45 to 64, and 2.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city in 2007 was $93,392, and the median income for a family was $100,736.

Local government

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $160.9 million in Revenues, $105.6 million in expenditures, $654.8 million in total assets, $125.6 million in total liabilities, and $42.5 million in cash and investments.

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:

The city of Allen is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.

Colleges

Allen hosts a campus of Collin College, which is located inside Allen High School.

Public schools

The Allen Independent School District has 17 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 1 freshman center, 1 Alternative Education Center, and 1 high school (Allen High School). Allen ISD serves almost all of Allen.

Small portions of the Allen city limits extend into Lovejoy, McKinney, and Plano ISDs. In the fall of 2006, new 9th grade high school students in the Lovejoy ISD boundaries began attending the newly opened Lovejoy High School. The school became a full 4-year high school in the 2009-10 school year.

Allen High School's football team has won the 5A Div 1 state championship on multiple occasions. They defeated Fort Bend Hightower 21–14, winning the 2008 Championship. Allen High School became State Champions again in 2012 winning 35-21 against Lamar High School at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. They repeated as state champions in 2013, defeating Pearland High School by a score of 63-28 and capping their first 16-0 record in school history. Eagle Stadium opened on August 31, 2012 at a cost of $60 million.

The Allen Eagle Escadrille, Allen High School's marching band with more than 750 members, participated in the 1994 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, the 1995 and 1999 Texas Gubernatorial Parades, the 1997 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, and marched in the 117th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on January 2, 2006 and 2016. The Allen Escadrille was a recipient of the Sudler Shield Award by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation in 2004.

Economy

In 1992, Allen citizens approved the creation of the Allen Economic Development Corporation, which is funded by a 0.5% sales tax. According to the City's 2014 Facts & Figures, the top employers in the city are:

Sports

In October 2004, the City of Allen purchased Chase Oaks Golf Club in Plano, Texas, adjacent to the southern city limits of the City of Allen. Chase Oaks, since renamed The Courses at Watters Creek, is a public golf course, and residents are entitled to discounted fees.

A multi-purpose arena, the 7,500-seat Allen Event Center, was completed in November 2009. It is home to the ECHL's Allen Americans, the Texas Revolution who play in the Champions Indoor Football league, and the Dallas Sidekicks of the Major Arena Soccer League.

Notable people