North Texas

North Texas (also commonly called North Central Texas, Northeastern Texas, and Nortex) is a term used primarily by residents of Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas to describe much of the northern portion of the U.S. state of Texas. Residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex generally consider North Texas to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, west of Paris, and north of Waco. A more precise term for this region would be the northern part of the central portion of Texas. It does not include the Panhandle of Texas, which expands further north than the region previously described, nor does it include most of the region near the northern border of Texas.

Map of North Texas

Today 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 rural counties along the northern border.[1] During the early years of the Civil War, there were many Unionists in the rural counties, as there were few slaveholders. Many of the largest cities in North Texas outside Dallas and Fort Worth still follow a rural Southern way of life, especially in dialect, mannerisms, religion, and cuisine.

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, 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. Dusty conditions are infrequent, occurring mostly with westerly winds. Dust storm frequency and intensity depend on soil conditions in eastern New Mexico, west Texas, and the Texas Panhandle.

Winters are 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 2011. Periods of extreme cold that occasionally occur are short-lived, so that even in January mild weather occurs frequently.

The highest temperatures of summer are associated with fair skies, westerly winds and low 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. 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.[2]

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):[3][4]

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."

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

Major cities

City Population (2015) State Rank U.S. Rank

Dallas
1,300,092 3 9

Fort Worth
833,319 5 16

Arlington
388,125 7 50

Plano
264,537 9 69

Garland
236,897 12 91

Irving
236,607 13 93

Grand Prairie
187,809 15 127

McKinney
162,898 17 155

Frisco
154,407 18 162

Mesquite
144,788 20 181

Carrollton
133,168 23 197

Denton
131,044 26 202

Richardson
110,815 32 255

Wichita Falls
104,710 35 285

Lewisville
104,039 36 288

Allen
98,143 40

Flower Mound
71,253 50

Other cities and towns

Statistical areas

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

Dallas–Fort Worth TX-OK Combined Statistical Area

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)

Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs)

Wichita Falls area

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs)

Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs)

Other

Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs)

Economy

Top employers

[7] Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex

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

[8] Wichita Falls Metropolitan Area

# 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

[9] Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Area

# 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

University of Texas at Arlington
39,714 Arlington Mavericks NCAA Division I
(Sun Belt)
Non–Football
University of Texas System

University of North Texas
37,979 Denton Mean Green NCAA Division I FBS
(C–USA)
University of North Texas System

University of Texas at Dallas
26,793 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
13,049 Stephenville Texans NCAA Division II
(Lone Star)
Texas A&M University System

Texas A&M University–Commerce
12,385 Commerce Lions NCAA Division II
(Lone Star)
Texas A&M University System

Midwestern State University
6,080 Wichita Falls Mustangs NCAA Division II
(Lone Star)
Independent

University of North Texas at Dallas
3,030 Dallas Trailblazers No Athletics
(N/A)
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

Transportation

Commercial airports

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

Public transit

Dallas Area Rapid Transit

Interstates

Interstate 20
Interstate 35E

U.S. Routes

U.S. Route 75
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 287

Tollways

Dallas North Tollway

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 Allen Event Center
Dallas Sidekicks Indoor soccer 2012 Major Arena Soccer League Allen Event Center
Frisco RoughRiders Baseball 2003^ Texas League Dr Pepper Ballpark
Fort Worth Cats Baseball 2001 ULB LaGrave Field
Fort Worth Vaqueros Soccer 2014 NPSL LaGrave Field
Grand Prairie AirHogs Baseball 2007 AAIPBL QuikTrip Park
Texas Legends Basketball 2010^ NBA G League Dr Pepper Arena
Texas Revolution Indoor football 2011^ Champions Indoor Football Allen Event Center
Texas Wild Tennis 2013^ World Team Tennis Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas

^- Indicates year team relocated to the area

Division I college athletics

School City Mascot Conference

University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington Mavericks Sun Belt Conference

University of North Texas
Denton Eagles Conference USA

Southern Methodist University
University Park Mustangs American Athletic Conference

Texas Christian University
Fort Worth Horned Frogs Big 12 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.

See also

References

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