Wylie, Texas
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with the unincorporated area of Wylie, Texas
just outside Abilene, Texas
.
Wylie is a city in Collin
, Dallas
, and Rockwall
Counties in the U.S. state
of Texas
, and a suburb
of Dallas
. At the 2000 Census, the population was 15,132; 2004 estimates pegged it at 25,850. Once solely located in Collin County
, Wylie now extends into neighboring Dallas and Rockwall counties. Both Lake Lavon
and Lake Ray Hubbard
are within easy reach of the city. Since the 2000 census the population has grown 109.3%, making Wylie number 8 on the list of fastest growing cities in the nation. Current population is now listed at 32,696.
In 1890, Wylie had a population of 239, and the first one-room school house was built. In the next decade, the population tripled.
That same year Wylie had given itself its name, established a post office branch and incorporated; choosing an alderman form of government. Two years later, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway reached the town. The two railroads and the rich agricultural region of the Blackland Prairies contributed to the town's growth. Wylie had a population of 400 in 1890 and 773 in 1900. Before 1920 the community had over thirty-five businesses, including two banks, a school, and a weekly newspaper.
Unlike many rural Texas communities, Wylie grew during the Great Depression years; reaching 914 residents by 1940. In part this was a result of increased dairy farming to meet the demands of nearby Dallas. Following World War II, the population increase continued.
Onions were the town's cash crop
in the 30's and 40's. “Wide Awake Wylie” became the city’s nickname in the late 40’s and 50’s; a result of late night get-togethers of its citizens and businesses that stayed open until midnight on some evenings.
The construction of Lake Lavon five miles north of town, designed to provide water for towns in four counties, and the selection of Wylie to house the offices of the North Texas Municipal Water District pushed the population to 1,804 in 1960.
In the 1990s, Wylie saw two disasters: On May 9, 1993 (Mother's Day) a tornado
ravaged downtown Wylie. In December 1998, two fires destroyed and damaged several businesses. After that, the downtown area was renovated, while preserving the many century-old buildings that remained standing.
In the 21st century Wylie has been a city of fast growth, as many new retail and other businesses opened and subdivisions were built in the area. It has been ranked the 8th fastest growing city in the nation.
of 2000, there were 15,132 people, 5,085 households, and 4,108 families residing in the city. The population density
was 781.2 people per square mile (301.6/km2). There were 5,326 housing units at an average density of 275.0 per square mile (106.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.45% White, 2.07% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.30% from other races
, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.44% of the population.
There were 5,085 households out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $58,393, and the median income for a family was $62,903. Males had a median income of $44,239 versus $31,084 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,987. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2006 census estimate, the North Texas Central Council of Governments has placed the city's population at 33,000. Most recent estimates show the population approaching 39,000.
. A minuscule portion in Collin County is served by Princeton Independent School District
. The Dallas County portion is served by Garland Independent School District
. The Rockwall County portion is served by Rockwall Independent School District
.
Kansas City Southern provides freight rail services (its line roughly parallels State Highway 78) and operates an intermodal facility in the city.
and Lake Ray Hubbard
. The well-known Southfork Ranch
, popularized by the TV show "Dallas." is located just northwest of Wylie in nearby Parker
.
Wylie, Taylor County, Texas
Wylie is an unincorporated community in Taylor County, Texas, United States. The once predominantly rural area has developed into a suburban bedroom community in recent years as the city of Abilene has expanded southward...
just outside Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
.
Wylie is a city in Collin
Collin County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 491,675 people, 181,970 households, and 132,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 580 people per square mile . There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile...
, Dallas
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census 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 . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
, and Rockwall
Rockwall County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,080 people, 14,530 households, and 11,972 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 15,351 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile...
Counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. At the 2000 Census, the population was 15,132; 2004 estimates pegged it at 25,850. Once solely located in Collin County
Collin County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 491,675 people, 181,970 households, and 132,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 580 people per square mile . There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile...
, Wylie now extends into neighboring Dallas and Rockwall counties. Both Lake Lavon
Lake Lavon
Lake Lavon is a reservoir located in North Texas on the East Fork of the Trinity River in Collin County near Wylie. It is off of State Highway 78. Lake Lavon's dominant fish species are the largemouth bass, white bass, blue catfish, and crappie....
and Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard, formerly Forney Lake, is a reservoir located in Dallas, Texas in the counties of Dallas, Kaufman, Collin, and Rockwall County, Texas, just north of Forney, Texas, built on the East Fork Trinity River and impounded by the Rockwall-Forney Dam.It measures 22,745 acres in size with...
are within easy reach of the city. Since the 2000 census the population has grown 109.3%, making Wylie number 8 on the list of fastest growing cities in the nation. Current population is now listed at 32,696.
History of Wylie
The City of Wylie was incorporated in 1887 along the rights-of-way of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway. It was named for Colonel W.D. Wylie, a Santa Fe Railroad official and Civil War veteran.In 1890, Wylie had a population of 239, and the first one-room school house was built. In the next decade, the population tripled.
That same year Wylie had given itself its name, established a post office branch and incorporated; choosing an alderman form of government. Two years later, the St. Louis Southwestern Railway reached the town. The two railroads and the rich agricultural region of the Blackland Prairies contributed to the town's growth. Wylie had a population of 400 in 1890 and 773 in 1900. Before 1920 the community had over thirty-five businesses, including two banks, a school, and a weekly newspaper.
Unlike many rural Texas communities, Wylie grew during the Great Depression years; reaching 914 residents by 1940. In part this was a result of increased dairy farming to meet the demands of nearby Dallas. Following World War II, the population increase continued.
Onions were the town's cash crop
Cash crop
In agriculture, a cash crop is a crop which is grown for profit.The term is used to differentiate from subsistence crops, which are those fed to the producer's own livestock or grown as food for the producer's family...
in the 30's and 40's. “Wide Awake Wylie” became the city’s nickname in the late 40’s and 50’s; a result of late night get-togethers of its citizens and businesses that stayed open until midnight on some evenings.
The construction of Lake Lavon five miles north of town, designed to provide water for towns in four counties, and the selection of Wylie to house the offices of the North Texas Municipal Water District pushed the population to 1,804 in 1960.
In the 1990s, Wylie saw two disasters: On May 9, 1993 (Mother's Day) a tornado
Tornado
A tornado is a violent, dangerous, rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. They are often referred to as a twister or a cyclone, although the word cyclone is used in meteorology in a wider...
ravaged downtown Wylie. In December 1998, two fires destroyed and damaged several businesses. After that, the downtown area was renovated, while preserving the many century-old buildings that remained standing.
In the 21st century Wylie has been a city of fast growth, as many new retail and other businesses opened and subdivisions were built in the area. It has been ranked the 8th fastest growing city in the nation.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,132 people, 5,085 households, and 4,108 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 781.2 people per square mile (301.6/km2). There were 5,326 housing units at an average density of 275.0 per square mile (106.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.45% White, 2.07% African American, 0.70% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 4.30% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.44% of the population.
There were 5,085 households out of which 50.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.2% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 37.6% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $58,393, and the median income for a family was $62,903. Males had a median income of $44,239 versus $31,084 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $22,987. About 2.4% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
As of the 2006 census estimate, the North Texas Central Council of Governments has placed the city's population at 33,000. Most recent estimates show the population approaching 39,000.
Local government
Wylie has a council-manager form of government, composed of a Mayor and seven council members (elected at large) along with an appointed City Manager. The city has operated under a city charter (home rule) since 1985 when voters approved the measure in a referendum. Wylie has received recognition for its Fire and police Departments in recent years.Education
Most of the Collin County portion of Wylie is served by Wylie Independent School DistrictWylie Independent School District (Collin County, Texas)
Wylie Independent School District is a school district based in Wylie, Texas, United States and covers much of south central Collin County.Wylie ISD serves most of the city of Wylie, including the city of St. Paul, a portion of the city of Murphy, and the Collin County portion of the city of...
. A minuscule portion in Collin County is served by Princeton Independent School District
Princeton Independent School District
Princeton Independent School District is a rural public school district based in Princeton, Texas . The district covers , serving not only the city of Princeton but also the surrounding communities of Culleoka, Lowry Crossing, Branch, Climax and the west side of Lake Lavon.The district's motto...
. The Dallas County portion is served by Garland Independent School District
Garland Independent School District
Garland Independent School District is a public school district with its headquarters in the Harris Hill Administration Building in Garland, Texas ....
. The Rockwall County portion is served by Rockwall Independent School District
Rockwall Independent School District
Rockwall Independent School District is a public school district based in Rockwall, Texas .In addition to Rockwall, the district serves the cities of Heath, McLendon-Chisholm, Mobile City, most of Fate, and small portions of Rowlett, Wylie, and Dallas in Rockwall County...
.
Transportation
Wylie is served by the following highways that run through the city:
State Highway 78State Highway 78 (Texas)State Highway 78 or SH 78 is a state highway that follows surface roads in a predominantly southwest-to-northeast direction in the Dallas before traveling north-northeast to the Oklahoma State border....
Farm to Market 544
Farm to Market 1378Farm to Market Road 1378Farm to Market Road 1378 is a state-maintained roadway located in southern Collin County, Texas.- Route description :FM 1378 begins at an intersection with SH 5 south of McKinney, southeastward approximately 14.0 miles via Forest Grove and Lucas to FM 544 west of Wylie. New description;...- Farm to Market 2514
- Farm to Market 3412Farm to Market Road 3412Farm to Market Road 3412, or FM 3412, is a highway in Texas. It runs about from FM 1378 northwest of Wylie to FM 2514 near downtown Wylie. Road wholly within the city limits of Wylie. Was changed to UR 3412 in 1995 by Texas Department of Transportation and is currently being widened to multiple...
Kansas City Southern provides freight rail services (its line roughly parallels State Highway 78) and operates an intermodal facility in the city.
Local attractions
Wylie is located near both Lake LavonLake Lavon
Lake Lavon is a reservoir located in North Texas on the East Fork of the Trinity River in Collin County near Wylie. It is off of State Highway 78. Lake Lavon's dominant fish species are the largemouth bass, white bass, blue catfish, and crappie....
and Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard, formerly Forney Lake, is a reservoir located in Dallas, Texas in the counties of Dallas, Kaufman, Collin, and Rockwall County, Texas, just north of Forney, Texas, built on the East Fork Trinity River and impounded by the Rockwall-Forney Dam.It measures 22,745 acres in size with...
. The well-known Southfork Ranch
Southfork Ranch
Southfork Ranch is a conference and event center located near Plano, Texas; it contains the Ewing Mansion, which was the setting for the 1978 - 1991 television series Dallas. The ranch is located at 3700 Hogge Drive in Parker, Texas.-History:...
, popularized by the TV show "Dallas." is located just northwest of Wylie in nearby Parker
Parker, Texas
Parker is a city in Collin County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,379 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Parker is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land...
.
Notable people
- Rick GreenRick Green (Texas politician)Richard Arlin Green, known as Rick Green , is an attorney and politician from Dripping Springs in Hays County, Texas, who is a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives...
, former member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits... - Nikita Whitlock Wake Forest Demon Deacons footballWake Forest Demon Deacons footballThe Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest plays its home football games at BB&T Field....
player - Monica Jones, The first African American Homecoming Queen of Wylie High School (Wylie, Texas) , C/O 1989 - she was the first junior to win the spot over two senior nominations. She has one daughter , Destinee Evans C/O 2011