Located on the shores of Lake Ray Hubbard, Rowlett is a thriving city in both Dallas and Rockwall counties in Texas. As an eastern suburb of Dallas, it boasts a prime position in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and has undergone significant growth in recent years, with a surge of upscale development projects totaling nearly $1.5 billion.
The name Rowlett originates from Rowlett Creek, a significant tributary of the east fork of the Trinity River, which flows into Lake Ray Hubbard. The creek was named after Daniel Rowlett, who relocated from Kentucky to Bonham, Texas, in 1835, and had a waterway running through his property.
On the night of December 26, 2015, a fierce storm unleashed a devastating EF4 tornado that carved a 13-mile path of destruction from Garland, Texas, into the southeastern part of Rowlett, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. The twister wreaked havoc on homes, businesses, and vehicles, reducing many to rubble and leaving hundreds in ruins. The city’s water tower was also severely damaged in the storm’s fury.
The iconic water tower on Martha Lane, which had stood tall since its construction in 1980, was unfortunately demolished on February 8, 2017, following extensive damage it sustained from a powerful EF4 tornado that hit the area on December 26, 2015.
Rowlett can be found at the coordinates 32°54′25″N 96°32′51″W, which translates to 32.907020° north latitude and 96.547415° west longitude.
The city covers an area of 20.0 square miles, with 19.9 square miles being land and 0.08 square miles, or 0.34%, consisting of water, as reported by the United States Census Bureau.
According to the 2020 US census, the city had a population of 62,535 individuals, with 21,62818,181 families living there.
Rowlett in Dallas County is within the Garland Independent School District, while the part of Rowlett in Rockwall County belongs to the Rockwall Independent School District.
Within the city limits of Rowlett, the following schools are situated: Back, Stephens, Dorsey, Giddens-Steadham, Herfurth, Keeley, Pearson, Rowlett, Cullins-Lakepoint, and Liberty Grove Elementary Schools, as well as Coyle and Schrade Middle Schools, and Rowlett High School.
Garland Independent School District offers a free choice program that enables students to attend any school within the district. However, if a school is already at capacity with students who are zoned for that school, students who selected that school as their first choice but are not zoned for it, will not be able to attend. In this case, the student will be enrolled in their second or third choice school, unless the only available school is the one they are zoned for. It’s important to note that the district does not provide bus transportation for students who choose to attend a school outside of their zoned area. Additionally, students who live within two miles of their chosen school are not eligible for bus service. It’s worth mentioning that not all students in Rowlett are zoned for Rowlett High School, and a significant number are zoned for Sachse High School in Sachse. Moreover, Rockwall ISD residents are zoned for Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School, Williams Middle School, and Rockwall High School.
Dallas County residents are designated to attend Dallas College, previously known as the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD), while residents of Rockwall County are designated to attend Collin College.
DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) operates transportation services that connect Dallas and surrounding areas, including Rowlett. The Downtown Rowlett Station, located on the Blue Line, provides convenient access to the city’s public transit system. Additionally, several major highways run through Rowlett, including President George Bush Turnpike, Interstate 30, and Texas State Highway 66, also known as Lakeview Pkwy.