Irving, situated in Dallas County, is a municipality within the Mid-Cities area of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It serves as a close suburb of Dallas.
On May 8, 2020, a poultry plant located in the city and operated by Brakebush Bros. Inc, a company based in Westfield, Wisconsin, disclosed that 40 of its employees had contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic that started in 2019 and continued into 2020.
The United States Census Bureau reports that the city boasts a total area of 67.7 square miles, comprising 67.2 square miles of land and 0.4 square miles (0.65%) of water.
Irving encompasses the expansive Las Colinas planned community, a diverse development spanning over 12,000 acres. This thriving area is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and the vibrant Las Colinas Entertainment District. Additionally, it includes a portion of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
July typically experiences the highest average temperature, while the year 1980 witnessed the highest recorded temperature of 112 °F. Conversely, January tends to be the coolest month on average, with the lowest recorded temperature of −8 °F occurring in the year 1899.
During the 2010 census, the city had a population of 216,290 individuals, with 82,538 households and 51,594 families. The population density was calculated to be 3,218.6 people per square mile. Additionally, there were 91,128 housing units available, with an average density of 1,356 per square mile.
In Irving, the Asian Indians make up the biggest ethnic group among Asian Americans. Since 2009, the Indians have primarily chosen to live close to technology companies, specifically in the western part of Irving near Texas State Highway 114 To accommodate the growing Indian population, there has been an increase in the construction of compact condominiums and rental properties in western Irving.
Irving is home to numerous major companies, such as Nexstar Media Group, Aeroxchange, Caliber Home Loans, Nautilus Hyosung America, Inc., Chuck E. Cheese, Cicis, Commercial Metals, Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle), Gruma, H.D. Vest, Kimberly-Clark, La Quinta Inns and Suites, Michaels Stores, 7-Eleven, Southern Star Concrete, Inc., Stellar, Zale Corporation, Fluor Corporation, Flowserve, NCH Corporation, ITW Polymers Sealants North America, Celanese Corporation, Vistra Energy and its subsidiary TXU Energy, McKesson, LXI Enterprise Storage. In June 2022, Caterpillar Inc, a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, announced its plan to relocate its headquarters to Irving.
The city-owned Irving Arts Center serves as a hub for the arts, accommodating 10 arts organizations that are based there. These resident organizations offer cultural programs and chances for community members to engage in the artistic process. People from the community can get involved on stage as musicians, actors, and artists, or behind the scenes as planners, technicians, directors, and other roles. It’s worth noting that the Irving Arts Center is affiliated with the Smithsonian.
The city of Irving plays host to the main administrative offices of two prominent college athletics conferences: the Big 12 Conference and American Athletic Conference.
Texas Stadium, once the dwelling place of the Dallas Cowboys, could be found in Irving. On April 11, 2010, the stadium was torn down. For more than three decades, Irving was also the location of the Cowboys’ training facility. From 1971 to 2008, the Dallas Cowboys represented
the National Football League in Irving at Texas Stadium, and from 1985 to 2016, the team held its main offices in the Valley Ranch neighborhood of Irving.
In the lead-up to the November 2008 elections, Irving enforced a ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in stores, making it the largest dry suburb in North Texas by population. Despite previous failed attempts in 2004 and 2006, with 63% and 52% of voters opposing the measure respectively, the ban was finally lifted in 2008 following heavy financial backing from retailers and a narrow vote in favor of the measure. Supporters of changing Irving’s liquor laws saw the interest in the 2008 United States Presidential Election as an opportunity to tip the scales in their favor.
Most of Irving is covered by the Irving Independent School District (IISD), but there are other areas that are served by different school districts such as the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD), Coppell Independent School District (CISD), and Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District.
Irving Independent School District (IISD) encompasses several high schools, including Irving High School, MacArthur High School, Nimitz High School, and Jack E. Singley Academy, which was previously known as The Academy of Irving ISD. Additionally, Ranchview High School in Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District (CFBISD) and Coppell High School in Coppell Independent School District (CISD) are also part of the district.
Cistercian Preparatory School, a prestigious university-preparatory institution for boys, grades 5-12, calls Irving home. Additionally, Irving is home to The Highlands School, a top-notch university-preparatory school serving students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
Irving’s highway system features several major routes that crisscross the city. The Airport Freeway, also known as SH 183, runs east-west through the city center, while the LBJ Freeway, or I-635, traverses the northern part of the city in the same direction. Additionally, the John Carpenter Freeway, SH 114, and the President George Bush Turnpike form a diagonal crossing, with SH 114 running northwest-to-southeast and the Bush turnpike running southwest-to-northeast. The Las Colinas area is situated near the junction of SH 114 and the Bush turnpike.
Prominent Individuals
* Larry D. Alexander: artist and writer
* Akin Ayodele: professional football player
* Frank Beard: drummer for ZZ Top
* Jim Beaver: actor and writer
* Brian Bosworth: professional football player
* Demarcus Faggins: professional football player
* David Garza: musician
* Paul Hill: Director of Mission Operations at NASA
* Michael Huff: professional football player
* Gary Lakes: opera singer
* Les Lancaster: professional baseball player
* Peter MacNicol: actor
* Taylor Mays: American NFL football player
* Gus Malzahn: former Auburn University football coach
* Mike Norvell: Florida State University football head coach
* Lee Harvey Oswald: assassin of President John F. Kennedy
* Play-N-Skillz: record production duo
* Matt Rinaldi: attorney, Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, and Irving resident
* Yaser Abdel Said: Egyptian fugitive on the FBI Ten Most Wanted List, wanted for the murder of his two teenage daughters
* Gwyn Shea: former Texas secretary of state and member of the Texas House of Representatives
* Odyssey Sims: professional basketball player
* Trevor Story: professional baseball player
* Tyson Thompson: professional football player
* Rex Tillerson: CEO of Exxon Mobil and 69th United States Secretary of State
* Beth Van Duyne: Congresswoman from Texas’ 24th congressional district, former mayor of Irving, Texas, and former HUD official
* Jeremy Wariner: 400m sprinter, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and five-time world champion
* Kerry Wood: professional baseball player