Flower Mound, Texas

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Flower Mound, Texas
Town
Nickname(s): 
The Mound, Flo Mo
Location of Flower Mound in Denton County, Texas
Location of Flower Mound in Denton County, Texas
CountryUnited States United States
StateTexas Texas
CountiesDenton, Tarrant
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • Town CouncilMayor Jody A. Smith
Steve Dixon
Al Filidoro
Mike Wallace
Jean M. Levenick
Tom Hayden
 • Town ManagerHarlan Jefferson
Area
 • Town112.3 km2 (43.4 sq mi)
 • Land105.9 km2 (69 sq mi)
 • Water6.5 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Elevation
184 m (604 ft)
Population
 (2000)
 • Town50,702
 • Density479.0/km2 (1,241/sq mi)
 • Metro
5,161,544
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (Central)
ZIP codes
75022, 75027, 75028
Area code972
FIPS code48-26232Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1335983Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.flower-mound.com

Flower Mound is a town in Denton and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Its population was 50,702 at the 2000 census, and the U.S. Census Bureau 2007 population estimate was 68,337.[1] The town derives its name from the prominent 12.5-acre mound located in the southern portion of the town 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.[2] Though surrounded by commercial and residential development, the mound is privately owned so as to be protected from further development.

Flower Mound has a suburban mid-size city 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".

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 town.

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.[3]

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.[4] In 2000-2002, Flower Mound was ranked 9th among the 100 fastest growing cities in United States with a population greater than 50,000.[5] 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.[6] 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,[7] and the current administration places less emphasis on preservation as opposed to growing the tax base.

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 2008 was ranked 10th.[8]

Geography

Flower Mound is located at 33°01′54″N 97°04′44″W / 33.031741°N 97.078818°W / 33.031741; -97.078818 (33.031741, -97.078818).Template:GR 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 town 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 town. FM 2499 runs north to south and furnishes access to State Highway 121 and Interstate 635 just north of DFW Airport.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1970 1,685—    
1980 4,402+161.2%
1990 15,527+252.7%
2000 50,702+226.5%
Est. 2007 68,337+34.8%
Sources: 1970-2000[9]; 2007[10]

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household was $105,812, and the median income for a family was $112,555.[11] 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.

Government

Local Government

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $88.4 million in Revenues, $82.9 million in expenditures, $429.0 million in total assets, $153.1 million in total liabilities, and $37.5 million in cash and investments. [12]

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is: [13]

City Department Director
Town Manager Harlan Jefferson
Assistant Town Manager / CFO Chuck Springer
Director of Accounting and Budget Tammy Wilson, CPA
Assistant Town Manager Kent Collins
Executive Director Community Relations Tracy Knierim
Town Secretary Paula Paschal
Police Chief Kenneth Brooker
Fire Chief Eric Metzger
Executive Director Community Services Bart Stevenson
Executive Director Development Services Doug Powell

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 town 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 both within town limits and further out in D/FW, including Liberty Christian School, Coram Deo Academy, Explorations Preparatory School, and The Highlands School, serve students from who seek private or religious education.

Economy

Flower Mound recognizes two areas of current economic development, the Lakeside Business District and the Denton Creek District. Over $25 million has been spent to provide the two business districts with transportation thoroughfares and other public improvements.[14] Due to this spending and the town's proximity to the DFW Airport and major highways, many businesses have recently moved some local operations to the town, including Home Depot, Stacy's Furniture, Best Buy's service center, and Stryker Corporation.[15] In 2007, FUNimation Entertainment signed a 10-year lease to move its headquarters to the Lakeside Business District in Flower Mound from nearby North Richland Hills[16]; the company, best known for its anime Dragon Ball series was valued at over $100 million when it was acquired by Navarre Corporation in 2005.[17]

According to the city's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, [18] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Lewisville Independent School District 1,699
2 Town of Flower Mound 507
3 Stryker Communications 276
4 Best Buy Distribution and Service Center 230
5 HD Supply 165
6 Tom Thumb 160
7 Ivie & Associates 131
8 Kroger 122
9 FUNimation Entertainment 120
10 J. C. Penney 88


Approximately 960 businesses are located in Flower Mound as of 2007[15], with Lewisville Independent School District easily the largest employer, at nearly 1,700 employees. The Town itself employs the second-most number of employees, at over 400, and 21 other businesses each employ at least 50 people.[15]

75% of Flower Mound's labor pool is in its labor force, of whom 95% are employed. Thirty percent of the employed are engaged in management, business, and financial duties, twenty-eight percent in sales and office duites, and twenty-five percent in professional and related occupations.[15] Most people living in the town work in the wider metroplex.

Flower Mound currently continues to expand as many new businesses transfer to the new Highland Village outdoor shopping centre. Besides the shopping off of FM 407, there are two malls located roughly 10–15 minutes away from Flower Mound. Grapevine Mills houses the Rainforest Cafe, the skatepark, the AMC 30, and an assortment of shops. The other mall, Vista Ridge, is home to many of the main department stores and also an assortment of shops.

References

  1. ^ "Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Texas, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007" (Excel Spreadsheet). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  2. ^ "The Best Places to Live". D Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  3. ^ Hobson, Archie, ed., The Cambridge Gazeteer of the United States and Canada (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995) p.217
  4. ^ "Flower Mound SmartGrowth Management Plan" (PDF). Town of Flower Mound. Retrieved 2007-02-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ "Top 100 Fastest Growing Cities from 2000 to 2002 (pop. 50,000+)". City-data.com. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  6. ^ "Flower Mound SmartGrowth Management Plan" (PDF). Town of Flower Mound. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  7. ^ "Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound". Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  8. ^ "Ranking the suburbs". D Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  9. ^ "History of Flower Mound, Texas". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  10. ^ "Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Texas, Listed Alphabetically: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007" (Excel Spreadsheet). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  11. ^ Flower Mound 2007 Income Estimates
  12. ^ Town of Flower mound CAFR Retrieved 2009-07-20
  13. ^ Town of Flower mound CAFR Retrieved 2009-07-20
  14. ^ "Properties". Town of Flower Mound Properties. Retrieved 2008-06-20. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |work= at position 21 (help)
  15. ^ a b c d "Employment". Town of Flower Mound Demographics. Retrieved 2008-06-20. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |work= at position 21 (help) Cite error: The named reference "employment" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  16. ^ "Funimation moving headquarters to Flower Mound". Fort-Worth Star Telegram. 2007-06-07. Retrieved 2007-06-07.
  17. ^ "FUNimation Entertainment scripts HQ move" (PDF). Dallas Business Journal. 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  18. ^ Town of Flower mound CAFR Retrieved 2009-07-20

External links

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