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Dallas County, Texas

Coordinates: 32°46′N 96°47′W / 32.77°N 96.78°W / 32.77; -96.78
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Dallas County
County
Map of Texas highlighting Dallas County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 32°46′N 96°47′W / 32.77°N 96.78°W / 32.77; -96.78
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedMarch 30, 1846
Named forGeorge Mifflin Dallas
SeatDallas
Area
 • Total908 sq mi (2,353 km2)
 • Land880 sq mi (2,278 km2)
 • Water29 sq mi (75 km2)  3.19%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2007)
2,366,511
 • Density2,690.6/sq mi (1,038.85/km2)
Websitewww.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 2007, the county had an estimated population of 2,366,511 and is now the ninth most populous county in the United States.

Its county seat is DallasTemplate:GR, 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.

Geography

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) of it is land and 29 square miles (75 km2) of it (3.19%) is water.

Major Highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical populations
CensusPop.Note%±
18502,743—
18608,665215.9%
187013,81459.4%
188033,488142.4%
189067,042100.2%
190082,72623.4%
1910135,74864.1%
1920210,55155.1%
1930325,69154.7%
1940398,56422.4%
1950614,79954.3%
1960951,52754.8%
19701,327,32139.5%
19801,556,39017.3%
19901,852,81019.0%
20002,218,89919.8%
2007 (est.)2,366,511

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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 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.

Government

Like all Counties in Texas, 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."[1]

The total 2010 fiscal year budget is approximately $871 million USD[2].

Currently (February 2010), the County Commissioners Court consists of[3]

Politics

Presidential Election Results 1960-2008
Year Democrat Republican
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 control is partly due to the city of Dallas, which has become a stronghold of that party.

In the United States House of Representatives, districts 3, 5, 24, 26, 30 and 32 are entirely within the county and all are represented by the Republicans, with the exception of one district being Democrat. In order of district number they are Sam Johnson, Jeb Hensarling, Kenny Marchant, Michael C. Burgess, Eddie Johnson, Pete Sessions.[4]

Cities and towns

†Denotes a municipality whose physical boundaries extend beyond Dallas County

Historical communities

Education

The following school districts serve Dallas County:

Transportation

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.

Corrections

Dallas County Jail, 111 West Commerce Street

Dallas County operates several jail facilities. They include:[6]

  • 111 West Commerce Street (Dallas)
    • North Tower Jail
    • South Tower Jail - also known as the "Suzanne Kays Tower"
    • West Tower Jail
  • Government Center Jail - 600 Commerce Street (Dallas)
  • Decker Detention Center - 899 North Stemmons Freeway (Dallas)
  • (formerly) Suzanne Kays Jail - 521 North Industrial Boulevard (Dallas) - population integrated into the South Tower; demolished to clear way for the Trinity River Project[7]

Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Hutchins Unit state jail for men in an unincorporated area adjacent to Hutchins.[8] Corrections Corporation of America operates the Dawson Unit, a co-gender state jail in Downtown Dallas, under contract.[9]

Federal Correctional Institution, Seagoville is located in Seagoville.

Also See

Dallas County District Attorney

References

  1. ^ http://www.dallascounty.org/
  2. ^ http://www.dallascounty.org/department/budget/documents/FY2010ApprovedBudgetDetail.pdf
  3. ^ http://www.dallascounty.org/department/districtclerk/forms/COMBINED_MASTER_FINAL_OFFICIALS_20100201.pdf
  4. ^ http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe
  5. ^ Trinity Mills, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. By Matthew Hayes Nall. Retrieved on 31 March 2007.
  6. ^ "Jail Information." Dallas County Sheriff's Office. Accessed September 14, 2008.
  7. ^ Suzanne Kays Jail to be Torn Down - Dallas Morning News CRIME Blog
  8. ^ "HUTCHINS (HJ)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 14, 2008.
  9. ^ "DAWSON (JD)." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Accessed September 14, 2008.

32°46′N 96°47′W / 32.77°N 96.78°W / 32.77; -96.78

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