Flower Mound, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Flower Mound, Texas
settlement_type = Town

---

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Flower Mound in Denton County, Texas
nickname = The Mound, Flo Mo
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Denton, Tarrant, Dallas
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Jody Smith
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
area_total_km2 = 112.3
area_total_sq_mi = 43.4
area_land_km2 = 105.9
area_land_sq_mi =69
area_water_km2 = 6.5
area_water_sq_mi = 2.5
elevation_m = 184
elevation_ft = 604
latd = 33 |latm = 1 |lats = 54 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 4 |longs = 44 |longEW = W
population_as_of = 2000
population_metro = 5,161,544
population_total = 50,702
population_density_km2 = 479.0
timezone = Central
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = Central
utc_offset_DST = -5
latitude = 33°1'54" N
longitude = 97°4'44" W
website = http://www.flower-mound.com
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 75022, 75027, 75028
area_code = 972
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-26232GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1335983GR|3
footnotes =

Flower Mound is a town in Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 50,702 at the 2000 census, although the U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate was 63,526. [cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&_name=Flower+Mound&_state=04000US48&_county=Flower+Mound&_cityTown=Flower+Mound&_zip=&_sse=on&_lang=en&pctxt=fph|title=2005 population estimate for Flower Mound|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=2007-02-20] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=7155F7796F354F21B1183937D847D6DF&tier=4&id=9B237214B5644E9391A92F31BCF65C0B|title=The Best Places to Live|publisher=D Magazine|accessdate=2008-03-18] Though surrounded by commercial and residential development, the mound is privately owned so as to be protected from further development.

Flower Mound has a small-town 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. [Hobson, Archie, ed., "The Cambridge Gazeteer of the United States and Canada" (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1995) p.217]

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. [cite web|url=http://www.flower-mound.com/smart/smartgrowth.pdf|title=Flower Mound SmartGrowth Management Plan|publisher=Town of Flower Mound|accessdate=2007-02-29] In 2000-2002, Flower Mound was ranked 9th among the 100 fastest growing cities in United States with a population greater than 50,000. [cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/top32.html|title=Top 100 Fastest Growing Cities from 2000 to 2002 (pop. 50,000+)|publisher=City-data.com|accessdate=2007-02-20] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.flower-mound.com/smart/smartgrowth.pdf|title=Flower Mound SmartGrowth Management Plan|publisher=Town of Flower Mound|accessdate=2007-02-20] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.voters-united.com/|title=Voters United to Preserve Flower Mound|accessdate=2007-02-20]

"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. [cite web|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=7155F7796F354F21B1183937D847D6DF&tier=4&id=F9A0614721F14009BD26F8042AFC5FCE|title=Ranking the suburbs|publisher=D Magazine|accessdate=2008-03-18]

Geography

Flower Mound is located at coor dms|33|1|54|N|97|4|44|W|city (33.031741, -97.078818).GR|1 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 populations
type = USA
align = right
footnote = Sources:
[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/FF/hgf4.html History of Flower Mound, Texas] . Handbook of Texas Online.
cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|title=American FactFinder
1970 |1685
1980 |4402
1990 |15527
2000 |50702
Est. 2006 |68337

As of the censusGR|2 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 convert|3000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on. 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.

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.

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. [cite web |url=http://www.flower-mound.com/econdev/properties.html |title=Properties |accessdate=2008-06-20 |work=Town of Flower Mound Properties|date= ] 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, and Stryker Corporation.cite web |url=http://www.flower-mound.com/econdev/employment.html |title=Employment |accessdate=2008-06-20 |work=Town of Flower Mound Demographics |date= ] In 2007, FUNimation Entertainment signed a 10-year lease to move its headquarters to the Lakeside Business District; 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. [cite news |url=http://www.flower-mound.com/econdev/articles/FUNimationEntertainmentscriptsHQmove.pdf |publisher=Dallas Business Journal |title=FUNimation Entertainment scripts HQ move |date=2007-06-08 |accessdate=2008-06-20 ]

Approximately 960 businesses are located in Flower Mound as of 2007b] , 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.c]

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.d]

References

External links

* [http://www.Flower-Mound.com Official Flower Mound Town Website]
* [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/FF/hgf4.html Flower Mound] at the Handbook of Texas Online
* [http://flowermoundchamber.com/ Flower Mound Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.crosstimbersgazette.com The Cross Timbers Gazette Newspaper serving Flower Mound]
* [http://www.lewisvilleflowermound.com/ Lewisville - Flower Mound info site]