Denton is a thriving urban center located in the heart of Texas, serving as the county seat of Denton County. Ranking 20th in population among cities in the Lone Star State and 177th nationwide, it boasts a vibrant community as part of the 12th-largest metropolitan area in the Dallas–Fort Worth region.
The region saw its first white settlers arriving in the mid-1800s under William S. Peters, who secured a land grant from the Texas Congress and designated it as Peters Colony. Following the establishment of settlements in the southeastern portion of the county in 1843, the Texas Legislature officially created Denton County in 1846.
In the year 1866, Denton officially became a city.
The trio of cities, Denton, Dallas, and Fort Worth, converge to form the famed “Golden Triangle of North Texas,” with Denton situated on the northern fringe of this sprawling metropolitan region.
Denton experiences a humid subtropical climate, with sweltering summers and mild winters. The city falls within USDA hardiness zone 8a and has recorded an all-time high temperature of 113 °F (45 °C) in 1954.
In 2020, there were 139,869 people in the population.
As stated in the city’s 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the leading employers in Denton were:
The University of North Texas employs the most people in Denton, with a workforce of 4,614 individuals. Following closely behind is the Denton Independent School District, which has 4,417 employees. Peterbilt Motors comes in third, with 3,075 workers, while Texas Woman’s University and Denton County (in Denton) round out the top five, with 1,875 and 1,803 employees, respectively. The City of Denton has a workforce of 1,757, and the Denton State Supported Living Center employs 1,700 people. Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton and Medical City Denton both have around 1,000 employees each, while Sally Beauty Holding, Inc. has 950 workers.
Denton hosts a variety of yearly artistic and cultural events that are enjoyed by both locals and visitors. One such event the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo, which has been running since 1928 and celebrates the cowboy heritage of Texas.
The Denton Municipal Airport has been the venue for the Denton Airshow every year since 1998. The airshow features thrilling aerial displays and showcases various aircraft; it drew in a crowd of over 10,000 spectators in 2012.
The annual Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, supported by the city, draws in more than 200,000 attendees annually who come for the live music, food, handmade items, and leisure activities at Civic Center Park.
Located at the heart of Denton, the Denton Square is a significant center for both culture and politics in the city. Surrounding the square are Oak, Hickory, Locust, and Elm Streets. Dominating the square is the Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square, housing local government facilities and a museum that highlights the history and culture of the region.
Denton Municipal Utilities manages various services such as water, wastewater, electricity, drainage, and solid waste for the city. Denton Municipal Electric (DME), the city’s electric utility established in 1905, started offering 40% of its energy from renewable sources in 2009. The City of Denton Water Utilities Department meets the city’s water needs, while Atmos Energy supplies natural gas to Denton.
Following the redistricting efforts in 2021, Denton County’s political boundaries have been newly defined and substantially altered. Come 2023, the majority of Denton will fall within the 13th Congressional district, while the southwest parts of the city will be situated in the 26th Congressional district.
In Denton, the terms for city council members and the mayor are two years, which differs from neighboring cities that have three-year terms. Elections for the three at-large seats, places 5 and 6, and the mayor take place in even-numbered years, while elections for the four district council members occur in odd-numbered years.
The city’s public primary and secondary education is primarily served by Denton Independent School District (DISD), which encompasses four comprehensive high schools, two alternative high schools, and several elementary and middle schools. However, some areas of the city fall under the jurisdiction of neighboring school districts, including Argyle, Krum, Ponder, and Sanger, each with their own comprehensive high schools.
The residents of Denton have access to three different branches of the Denton Public Library, including the Emily Fowler Central Library, North Branch Library, and South Branch Library, which provide a wide range of resources and services for the community.
The Denton Record-Chronicle has served as the official newspaper for Denton since 1899.
In Denton, there are two main hospitals – Medical City Denton and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton. They are both comprehensive hospitals but have different bed capacities, with Medical City Denton having 208 beds and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton having 255 beds. Both hospitals have over 800 employees and are authorized to provide emergency services.
Interstate 35 splits into two branches, I-35E and I-35W, in Hillsboro, south of the Metroplex. I-35E and I-35W travel north through Dallas and Fort Worth, respectively, before merging again near the University of North Texas campus in Denton’s southwest region. This reunified Interstate 35 continues its journey north towards Oklahoma. Loop 288 runs partially around Denton, passing through the city’s northern limits and eastern side. Highways 77 and 377 pass through the historic town square, while Highway 380 connects Denton to Frisco, McKinney, and Decatur. Denton Enterprise Airport, located 3 miles west of Denton’s central business district, serves as a hub for various cargo and charter operators, as well as two flight schools. In 2008, a new terminal was opened, but it does not currently offer scheduled commuter service.
Denton, Texas, has been home to a diverse array of notable individuals throughout history. Political figures and activists, such as Amber Briggle and Bob Castleberry, have made significant contributions to the community. The arts have also been well-represented, with notable figures like Michael Lee Aday (Meat Loaf), Aaron Aryanpur, Memphis May Fire, Shirley Cothran, Herschel Evans, Phyllis George, Andrew Savage, Sarah Jaffe, Ralph Kirshbaum, Jason Lee, Xander Mobus, Ray Peterson, Robert Ray “Rocky” Shahan, Ann Sheridan, Sly Stone, Mike Wiebe, and Tommy Taylor calling Denton home at some point in their lives.
Notable sports figures from Denton include Mario Bennett, a former NBA player, Jim Chamblee, a former MLB player, Brandon Erwin, a racing driver, Carl Garrett, an NFL player, Abner Haynes, a former NFL player, Austin Jackson, an MLB player, Corey Knebel, an MLB player, and Jarvis Moss, an NFL player.
Charles ‘Tex’ Watson, a member of the Manson Family who was involved in murders, was born in Farmersville, Texas and later relocated to Denton.