Red Oak, a city located in Ellis County, Texas, is a part of the metropolitan area the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

In the years preceding its official naming in 1849, the area now known as Red Oak was referred to as Possum Trot, owing to the presence of a sizable possum population. In 1949, the town of Red Oak was formally incorporated as part of Ellis County.

Red Oak can be found at the northern border of Ellis County, situated at coordinates 32°31′32″N 96°48′22″W. Nearby towns include Glenn Heights to the northwest, Lancaster to the north southeast, Waxahachie to the south, and Oak Leaf to the west. It is positioned 18 miles (29 km) south of downtown Dallas, accessible via Interstate 35E with two exits within Red Oak.

Red Oak encompasses an area of 15.0 square miles (38.8 km2), consisting entirely of land, as reported by the United States Census Bureau.

Red Oak experiences a subtropical climate with sweltering summers and mild winters, classified as “Cfa” under the Köppen Climate Classification system.

According to the 2020 census, the city was home to 14,222 individuals, 4,098 households, and 3,293 families.

The educational needs of Red Oak’s residents are met by the Red Oak Independent School District, which includes Shields Elementary, Eastridge Elementary, Red Oak Elementary, Wooden Elementary, Russell P Schupmann Elementary, Red Oak Middle School, and Red Oak High School.

Life School, a public charter school, also manages the Red Oak campus serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Red Oak is home to a satellite campus of Texas State Technical College.

Primary roadways
Highway 35E/United States Route 77

The Ferris Red Oak Muni Heliport is co-owned by the cities of Red Oak and Ferris.

Here are some notable individuals with ties to Red Oak, Texas:
* Michelle Carter, who won gold in the women’s shot put at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
* Pinky Higgins, a prominent figure in baseball who played and managed in the major leagues.
* Sarah Jaffe, a singer-songwriter known for her emotive and introspective music.
* Louise Ritter, a gold medalist in the women’s high jump at the 1988 Summer Olympics, who attended Red Oak High School.
* Nikki Stringfield, the guitarist for the American heavy metal band The Iron Maiden.
* Demi Burnett, a contestant on season 23 of the popular reality TV show The Bachelor.