On April 13, 1921, a devastating F4 tornado hit Melissa, resulting in the loss of 13 lives and numerous injuries. The twister ripped the roof off the brick schoolhouse, miraculously sparing the children inside. However, the storm’s fury was unrelenting, leaving destruction in its wake: all churches, three cotton gins, every business establishment except a bank, the post office, and the Houston and Texas Central railway station were reduced to rubble. The Waldon Hotel was lifted by the powerful winds, rotated 180 degrees, and crashed into the school building.Collin County, Texas, United States is home to the city of Melissa.

On April 13, 1921, a devastating F4 tornado hit Melissa, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The storm claimed 13 lives and caused numerous injuries. While the brick school building was severely damaged, with its roof torn off, the children inside fortunately escaped serious harm. However, the town’s churches, cotton gins, businesses, post office, and Houston and Texas Central railway station were not spared, all being destroyed or severely damaged. The Waldon Hotel was even lifted by the powerful winds, rotated 180 degrees, and crashed into the school building.

Eight years after, in August 8, 192 numerous buildings that had been The population decreased from 500 in 1925 to 285 in 1949.

Melissa is situated in the north-central area of Collin County, with State Highway 5 running through the city center, State Highway 121 through the east, and the U.S. Route 75 freeway through the west. US 75 and Highway 121 come together in the southwest part of Melissa and continue southwest for 6 miles to reach McKinney, which serves as the seat of Collin County. Dallas is located 40 miles southwest of Melissa, while Denison lies 37 miles to the north via US 75.

In the city, there were 13,901 individuals, 3,058 households, and 2,824 families living according to the 2020 United States census data.

The Melissa Independent School District is the educational provider for the city. In 2004, both McKinney ISD and Anna ISD declined to continue teaching high school classes for Melissa ISD. Melissa High School celebrated its first graduation in 2007, with a class of 46 students. Harry McKillop Elementary School started operating in the fall of 2008, accommodating students from Pre-K to third grade. The former Melissa Ridge Elementary School site was transformed into Melissa Ridge Intermediate School, catering to fourth and fifth graders, and Melissa Middle School, which accommodates sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. In 2015, Melissa Middle School was recognized as “A School to Watch,” earning a top spot among schools in Texas. In 2019, Melissa Schools reorganized the campus assignments, resulting in Melissa Ridge Education Center for pre-k through kindergarten, Harry McKillop Elementary School for grades 1–5, North Creek Elementary School for grades 1–5, Melissa Middle School for grades 6–8, and Melissa High School for traditional grades 9–12.