North Texas

This article is about the region of Texas. For the university in Denton, see University of North Texas. For the soccer team, see North Texas SC.

North Texas is a term used primarily by residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex^[7][8] to refer to a geographic area of Texas, generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, west of Paris, and north of Waco.^[9] Definitions of the region don't typically include the sparsely populated Panhandle of Texas, which is the northernmost region of Texas bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east.^[10][11]

North Texas
Region
From top, left to right: Downtown Dallas, Downtown Fort Worth, Denison Commercial Historic District
North Texas counties in red
Country	United States
State	Texas
Largest city	Dallas
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,584,519[1][2][3][4][5][6]

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 northern rural counties along the Red River of the South border.^[12]

History

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

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 and summer, 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.

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, 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 and early summer months. 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

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]

Collin Dallas Denton Ellis Erath Hood Hunt

Johnson Kaufman Navarro Palo Pinto Parker Rockwall

Somervell Tarrant Wise

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".

Nortex Regional Planning Commission:[18][20] Archer Baylor Clay Cottle Foard Hardeman Jack Montague Wichita Wilbarger Young

Texoma Council of Governments:[18][21] Cooke Fannin Grayson

Additionally, some other Texas counties contiguous with those named above are sometimes included in the general meaning of "North Texas".

Major cities

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

Addison Aledo Alma Alvarado Alvord Angus Anna Annetta Annetta North Annetta South Archer City Argyle Aubrey Aurora Azle Bailey Balch Springs Bardwell Barry Bartonville Bedford Bellevue Bells Benbrook Blooming Grove Blue Mound Blue Ridge Bonham Bowie Boyd Brazos Bend Breckenridge Briaroaks Bridgeport Bryson Burkburnett Burleson Byers Caddo Mills Callisburg Campbell Cashion Community Cedar Hill Celeste Celina Chico Chillicothe Cleburne Cockrell Hill Colleyville

Collinsville Commerce Cool Copper Canyon Combine Coppell Corinth Corral City Corsicana Cottonwood Coyote Flats Crandall Cresson Cross Roads Cross Timber Crowell Crowley Dalworthington Gardens Dawson Decatur Dean DeCordova Denison DeSoto Dish Dodd City Dorchester Double Oak Dublin Duncanville Eagle Mountain Ector Edgecliff Village Elizabethtown Emhouse Ennis Euless Eureka Everman Fairview Farmers Branch Farmersville Fate Ferris Forest Hill Forney Frost Gainesville Garrett Glen Rose

Glenn Heights Godley Goodlow Gordon Graford Graham Granbury Grandview Grapevine Greenville Gunter Hackberry Haltom City Haslet Hawk Cove Heath Hebron Henrietta Hickory Creek Highland Park Highland Village Holliday Honey Grove Howe Hudson Oaks Hurst Hutchins Iowa Park Italy Jacksboro Jolly Josephine Joshua Justin Kaufman Keene Keller Kemp Kennedale Kerens Knollwood Krugerville Ladonia Lancaster Lake Bridgeport Lake Dallas Lake Worth Lakeside Lakeside City Lakewood Village

Lavon Leonard Lincoln Park Lindsay Lipan Little Elm Lone Oak Lowry Crossing Lucas Mabank Mansfield Maypearl Megargel McLendon-Chisholm Melissa Meridian Midlothian Mildred Milford Millsap Mineral Wells Mingus Mobile City Muenster Murphy Mustang Navarro Nevada New Fairview New Hope Newark Newcastle Neylandville Nocona Northlake North Richland Hills Oak Grove Oak Leaf Oak Point Oak Ridge (Cooke County) Oak Ridge (Kaufman County) Oak Valley Olney Ovilla Paducah Palmer Pantego Paradise

Parker Pecan Hill Pelican Bay Petrolia Pilot Point Pleasant Valley Ponder Post Oak Bend City Pottsboro Powell Princeton Prosper Providence Village Quanah Quinlan Ravenna Red Oak Retreat Rhome Reno Rice Richland Richland Hills Rio Vista River Oaks Roanoke Rockwall Rowlett Royse City Runaway Bay Sachse Sadler Saginaw Sanctuary Sanger Sansom Park Savoy Seagoville Scotland Scurry Seymour Shady Shores Sherman Southlake Southmayd Springtown St. Jo St. Paul Stephenville

Strawn Sunnyvale Talty Terrell The Colony Tioga Tolar Tom Bean Trenton Trophy Club Union Valley University Park Valley View Van Alstyne Venus Vernon Waxahachie Watauga Weatherford West Tawakoni Westlake Westover Hills Westworth Village Whitesboro White Settlement Whitewright Wilmer Windom Windthorst Wolfe City Wylie

Statistical areas

In the North Texas region there is one combined statistical area, three metropolitan areas, and seven micropolitan areas.

Dallas–Fort Worth TX-OK combined statistical area

Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)

Metropolitan divisions in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington MSA:

  Dallas–Plano–Irving

  Fort Worth–Arlington–Grapevine

• 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)

• Athens (Henderson County) (In East Texas)
• Bonham (Fannin County)
• Corsicana (Navarro County)
• Durant, OK (Bryan County, Oklahoma) (In Oklahoma)
• Gainesville (Cooke County)
• Granbury (Hood County)
• Mineral Wells (Palo Pinto County)

Wichita Falls area

Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)

• Wichita Falls (Archer, Clay, Wichita counties)

Micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs)

• Vernon (Wilbarger County)

Other

Micropolitan statistical Areas (μSAs)

• Stephenville (Erath County)

Economy

Top employers

Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex^[22]

Company	No. of employees locally	Type of business
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.	34,000	Retail
American Airlines	27,000	Commercial airline
Texas Health Resources	22,296	Health care
Dallas Independent School District	19,740	Education
Baylor Health Care System	16,500	Health care

Wichita Falls metropolitan area^[23]

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Sheppard Air Force Base	12,272
2	Wichita Falls Independent School District	2,059
3	North Texas State Hospital	1,974
4	United Regional Health Care System	1,778
5	City of Wichita Falls	1,477
6	Midwestern State University	1,284
7	James V. Allred Unit	971
8	Cryovac	732
9	Work Services Corporation	730
10	Howmet Castings	704

Sherman–Denison metropolitan area^[24]

#	Employer	# of Employees
1	Tyson Foods	1,400
2	Texoma Health Systems	1,375
3	Texas Instruments	1,200
4	Cigna	1,000
5	Wilson N Jones Health Systems	1,000

Colleges and universities

Public universities

School	Enrollment	Location	Mascot	Athletic affiliation (conference)	University system
East Texas A&M University	10,966	Commerce	Lions	NCAA Division I FCS (Southland)	Texas A&M University System
The University of North Texas	46,940	Denton	Mean Green	NCAA Division I FBS (American)	University of North Texas System
University of Texas at Arlington	40,990	Arlington	Mavericks	NCAA Division I (WAC) Non–Football	University of Texas System
University of Texas at Dallas	30,885	Richardson	Comets	NCAA Division III (American Southwest) Non–Football	University of Texas System
Texas Woman's University	15,472	Denton	Pioneers	NCAA Division II (Lone Star) Women's sports only	Independent
Tarleton State University	14,092	Stephenville	Texans	NCAA Division I FCS (WAC)	Texas A&M University System
Midwestern State University	6,102	Wichita Falls	Mustangs	NCAA Division II (Lone Star)	Independent
University of North Texas at Dallas	3,513	Dallas	Trailblazers	NAIA (Sooner) Non–Football	University of North Texas System

Private universities

School	Enrollment	Location	Mascot	Athletic affiliation (conference)
Southern Methodist University	11,643	University Park	Mustangs	NCAA Division I FBS (American)
Texas Christian University	10,323	Fort Worth	Horned Frogs	NCAA Division I FBS (Big 12)
Dallas Baptist University	5,445	Dallas	Patriots	NCAA Division II (Lone Star) Non–Football, compete in the Missouri Valley Conference at the Division I level for baseball
Texas Wesleyan University	3,378	Fort Worth	Rams	NAIA (Sooner)
University of Dallas	2,576	Irving	Crusaders	NCAA Division III (SCAC) Non–Football, compete in Texas Rugby Union at the Division II level for Rugby
Southwestern Assemblies of God University	2,012	Waxahachie	Lions	NAIA NCCAA (Sooner)
Austin College	1,224	Sherman	Roos	NCAA Division III (SCAC) Compete in the Southern Athletic Association for football
Paul Quinn College	600	Dallas	Tigers	NAIA (Red River) Non–Football

Sports

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

Club	Sport	Founded	League	Venue
Dallas Cowboys	Football	1960	NFL	AT&T Stadium
Texas Rangers	Baseball	1972^	MLB	Globe Life Field
Dallas Mavericks	Basketball	1980	NBA	American Airlines Center
Dallas Stars	Hockey	1993^	NHL	American Airlines Center
FC Dallas	Soccer	1996	MLS	Toyota Stadium
Dallas Wings	Basketball	2015^	WNBA	College Park Center

^- Indicates year team relocated to the area

Other professional teams

Club	Sport	Founded	League	Venue
Allen Americans	Hockey	2009	ECHL	Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Dallas Jackals	Rugby union	2022	Major League Rugby	Choctaw Stadium
Dallas Sidekicks	Indoor soccer	2012	Major Arena Soccer League	Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Frisco Fighters	Indoor football	2021	Indoor Football League	Comerica Center
Frisco RoughRiders	Baseball	2003^	Double-A Central	Dr Pepper Ballpark
Fort Worth Vaqueros FC	Soccer	2014	National Premier Soccer League	Farrington Field
Panther City Lacrosse Club	Lacrosse	2021	National Lacrosse League	Dickies Arena
Texas Legends	Basketball	2010^	NBA G League	Comerica Center

^- Indicates year team relocated to the area

Division I college teams

School	City	Mascot	Conference
University of Texas at Arlington	Arlington	Mavericks	Sun Belt Conference
University of North Texas	Denton	Mean Green	Conference USA
Southern Methodist University	University Park	Mustangs	American Athletic Conference
Texas Christian University	Fort Worth	Horned Frogs	Big 12 Conference
Texas A&M University–Commerce	Commerce	Lions	Southland Conference
Dallas Baptist University	Dallas	Patriots	Missouri Valley Conference (baseball only)

The headquarters for both the Big 12 and Conference USA are located in Irving, and the Southland Conference headquarters are in Frisco.

Transportation

Commercial airports

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

• Dallas Love Field
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
• Wichita Falls Municipal Airport

Public transit

Dallas Area Rapid Transit

• Dallas Area Rapid Transit
• Denton County Transportation Authority
• Falls Ride
• Trinity Metro
• TAPS
• STAR Transit

Major highways

Interstates

Interstate 20

Interstate 35E

• 
  • 
• 
• 
  • 
  • 
  • 
• 
• 
  • 

U.S. Routes

U.S. Route 75

U.S. Route 82

U.S. Route 287

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Tollways

Dallas North Tollway

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

See also

• List of geographical regions in Texas