DeSoto, located in Dallas County, Texas, is a suburban city of Dallas and one of the municipalities in the Best Southwest area alongside Cedar Hill, Duncanville, and Lancaster.

The region was initially inhabited in 1847, establishing it as one of the most ancient settlements in North Texas.

DeSoto’s coordinates are 32°35′57″N 96°51′32″W (32.599286, −96.858828).

The city covers a land area of 21.6 square miles (56 square kilometers), as stated by the United States Census Bureau.

According to the 2020 US census, the city was home to 56,145 individuals, 19,041 households, and 13,093 families.

DeSoto operates as a home-rule city utilizing a council–manager system of governance. In this model, oversight of the city’s daily operations is overseen by a city manager chosen by the city council. This individual acts as the primary administrative officer for the city, as outlined in the city charter, responsible for implementing laws and managing the city’s affairs.

The city’s governing body is composed of the mayor and six council members, each serving a three-year term with a maximum of two terms. The mayor acts as a representative for the entire city, while the six council members are responsible for representing the interests of their respective districts. All members are elected by the city’s residents through a citywide vote.

The majority of DeSoto is served by the DeSoto Independent School District, which encompasses 12 schools, including seven elementary schools, three middle schools, a high school, and a freshman campus. Approximately 8,000 students attend these schools, which share a mascot of the eagle. A small section of the city falls under the jurisdiction of the Duncanville Independent School District, while another small area is part of the Dallas Independent School District.

Residents of Dallas County are assigned to attend Dallas College, which was previously known as Dallas County Community College.

Numerous private and religious schools can be found in or close to the city.

The Focus Daily News is a daily newspaper that serves DeSoto and the surrounding Dallas County area. Publishers Newspapers is the owner of the publication, which was established in 1987. With a daily circulation of 28,065 and a Sunday circulation of 36,297 as of 2012, the newspaper has become a trusted source of local news and information for the community.

Primary highways
I-35E/US-77

DeSoto Heliport is co-owned by the city of DeSoto, Texas Department of Transportation, and DeSoto Economic Development Corporation. SKY Helicopters manages the heliport’s operations.