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Mesquite, Texas

Mesquite is a city in the U.S. state of Texas, located in Dallas County with portions extending into Kaufman County. The population was 150,108 at the 2020 census, and making it the 21st-most populous city in Texas. Mesquite is positioned at the crossroads of four major highways (Interstates 30, 635, 20, and U.S. Route 80), making locations such as downtown Dallas, Lake Ray Hubbard, Dallas Love Field, and DFW International Airport accessible.

According to legislative action, the city is the "Rodeo Capital of Texas". In 2016, Mesquite received a Playful City USA designation for the fourth year in a row. The city has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for over 25 years. The city of Mesquite holds the 10th-longest reign in all of Texas.

Unique to suburbs of Dallas and Fort Worth, the city of Mesquite is served by its own local airport, Mesquite Metro Airport. Companies and institutions with a major presence in the city are the United Parcel Service, Sears, AT&T, Charter Spectrum, Eastfield College, Ashley Furniture, and FedEx.

History

Before settlement

Centuries before American settlers moved into the area, Mesquite was an open prairie land and a key trading ground for indigenous peoples. The Ionies were a western tribe located close to present-day Fort Worth. The Tawakonies were in present-day Dallas. Finally, the Caddo were the native farmers of the Mesquite land. From 1680 to 1790, after harvest was over, these three tribes held an annual tournament and trading fair.

Settlement

The city of Mesquite was founded on March 14, 1878, on land along the Texas & Pacific Railway, which ran from Dallas to Shreveport, Louisiana. The locals then named the town after Mesquite Creek. The city was officially incorporated on December 3, 1887, after electing Mayor J.E. Russell.

In the city's earliest years, it was known for many outlaws residing in the area. A prominent outlaw was Sam Bass, historically known for his train robberies in Texas. In 1878, he robbed a train in downtown Mesquite, escaping with only $152. Bass missed the $30,000 hidden by the express agent in the unused pot belly stove. The Mesquiter, established in 1882 by R.S. Kimbrough, was Dallas County's longest-running newspaper.

Development

Mesquite prospered through the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a farming community, growing cotton, hay, corn, and sugarbeets, and using the railroad to ship raw goods. The town remained predominantly agrarian until after World War II, when the suburban boom took root in Mesquite.

In 1946, the Mesquite Rodeo was founded by Charlie Columbus McNally, and was one of the only rodeos that had a permanent location. By the mid-1980s, the events were being broadcast by ESPN.

In 1959, Big Town Mall opened as the first air-conditioned shopping mall in the United States. Portions of the Talking Heads movie 'True Stories' were filmed at this mall. The mall was demolished in the summer of 2006, and FedEx opened a logistics center on the property in 2017.

By 1970, the LBJ Freeway (I-635) was constructed, connecting Mesquite to its neighbors, Garland to the north and Balch Springs to the south. Also, in 1971, Town East Mall was constructed. The mall was used by director Ron Howard to film portions of the movie Cotton Candy in 1978. It can also be seen in drive-by footage in the Talking Heads movie 'True Stories', by Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. The mall's associated traffic and shops would continue to grow the town.

In 1986, the Mesquite Arena opened its doors as the new home for the Mesquite ProRodeo. By 1998, the facility was expanded to include a convention center, exhibition hall, and a Hampton Inn and Suites.

By the 1990 census, the city had grown to 101,484 people, up from 1,696 residents in 1950.

In 2011, Mesquite passed a law allowing beer and wine sales in the city. The measure had been considered several times for many years, but was always blocked by strong protest against the proposed sales. It was one of the few cities without beer and wine sales in eastern Dallas County before the law came into effect.

In June 2015, the Mesquite Arts Center added a Freedom Park exhibit, in memorial of September 11. The park displays a 15-foot (4.6 m) beam that was recovered from the remains of Ground Zero. The Mesquite Fire Department received the beam in 2011.

Geography

Mesquite is located in eastern Dallas County at 32°46′00″N 96°35′57″W (32.7667955, –96.5991593), with a portion extending east into Kaufman County. The city is bordered to the west by Dallas, to the north by Garland, to the northeast by Sunnyvale, to the south by Seagoville and Dallas, and to the southwest by Balch Springs.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.293 square miles (127.67 km²), of which, 49.102 square miles (127.17 km²) is land and 0.191 square miles (0.49 km²) is water. Mesquite is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metroplex, in which one quarter of all Texans live.

Neighborhoods

Climate

As a part of the DFW area, Mesquite has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa) characteristic of the Southern Plains of the United States. It is also continental, characterized by a relatively wide annual temperature range. Located at the lower end of Tornado Alley, Mesquite and the rest of Dallas–Fort Worth are prone to extreme weather.

On average, the warmest month is July. The highest recorded temperature in Mesquite was 112 °F (44 °C) in 1980. The average coolest month is January. The lowest recorded temperature was 1 °F (−17 °C) in 1989. May is the average wettest month.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 150,108 people, 50,123 households, and 36,989 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,096.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,195.4/km²). There were 52,615 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 33.5% White, 25.1% African American, 1.4% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 19.9% from some other races and 17.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 44.1% of the population. 28.0% of residents were under the age of 18, 7.4% were under 5 years of age, and 11.4% were 65 and older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 139,824 people, 48,586 households, and 34,641 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,038.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,173.1/km²). There were 51,952 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 59.0% White, 21.8% African American, 0.8% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 11.9% from some other races and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.6% of the population.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 124,523 people, 43,926 households, and 32,900 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,107.3/km² (2,868.1/mi²). There were 46,245 housing units at an average density of 411.2/km² (1,065.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.54% White, 13.32% African American, 0.60% Native American, 3.75% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.43% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.66% of the population.

There were 43,926 households out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.27.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 33.9% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,424, and the median income for a family was $56,357. Males had a median income of $37,756 versus $29,905 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,890. About 5.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

According to information gathered by Sperling's BestPlaces, 62.7% claim religious affiliation. Christianity is the most prevalent religion in Mesquite. The largest Christian body in the city is the Catholic Church, served by the Diocese of Dallas (19.6%), followed by Baptists (13.2%), Methodists (4.8%), Pentecostals (3.1%), Presbyterians (1.6%), Episcopalians (1.0%), Latter-Day Saints (1.0%), Lutherans (0.7%), and 12.4% from another Christian faith including the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern-rite Catholic churches. Mesquite is a center for Indian Christians from the Indian state of Kerala. Their settlement, one of the earliest of the Indian Americans in the DFW area, was influenced by proximity to Dallas-based hospitals such as Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and Parkland Hospital, as well as having initial low income and difficulties moving to mostly white northern suburbs. The second-largest religion in Mesquite is Islam (3.6%) followed by Judaism (0.7%), and eastern faiths including Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism (0.9%).

Economy

Much of Mesquite's economy is tied to the city of Dallas with the exception of local businesses. The largest national corporations operating in Mesquite are United Parcel Service, Sears, AT&T, Spectrum, Ashley Furniture, FedEx, OfficeMax, and GameStop.

Top Employers

According to the City's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the largest employers in the city are:

Arts and culture

In 2016, the Mesquite Public Library System was presented with a 2016 Achievement of Library Excellence Award by the Texas Municipal Library Directors Association. Of the 548 public library systems in Texas, the Mesquite Public Library was one of only 43 libraries to earn this prestigious honor. The Mesquite Public Library System consists of two branches to serve the community. Both branches offer traditional and non-traditional programs.

Parks and recreation

The city houses 76 parks and four recreation centers. The city has been designated a Playful City USA four years running and opened its Heritage Trail system in 2015. The hike and bike trail system consists of 4.25 miles of concrete trails and sidewalks, three trailheads, and other improvements that connect residents from their homes to the Mesquite Golf Club, schools, recreation centers, sports fields, shopping, and more.

Mesquite Golf Club

Mesquite Golf Club is a 154-acre (62 ha), 18-hole golf course for both novice and expert golfers. Operated by the City of Mesquite, the course is open seven days a week and features a pro shop and driving range.

Mesquite Arts Center

The 36,700-square-foot (3,410 m²) municipal arts facility houses a 494-seat music performance hall, black box theater, rehearsal hall, galleries, and support space. The facility serves as the cultural center for the community and is home to the Mesquite Community Theatre, Mesquite Community Band and the Mesquite Symphony Orchestra.

Government

The city council of Mesquite consists of a mayor and six council members, with Daniel Alemán Jr. serving as mayor and Cliff Keheley as city manager.

The council members of Mesquite's city council are listed below.

Politics

Education

Mesquite Independent School District provides primary and secondary (K–12) education to most areas of Mesquite. A small portion of Mesquite is served by Dallas Independent School District. While another small area in Kaufman County is within the Forney Independent School District, the section has no residents. Mesquite also serves an area of Balch Springs.

In addition to 33 public elementary schools and ten public middle schools, Mesquite is served by five high schools: Mesquite High School, North Mesquite High School, West Mesquite High School, Poteet High School, and John Horn High School. The private Dallas Christian School is located in the city limits.

Colleges and universities

The Texas Legislature defines all of Dallas County (including the vast majority of Mesquite) as being in the Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College or DCCCD) district. The portion in Kaufman County is within the Trinity Valley Community College district. Eastfield College provides undergraduate degrees and continuing-education credits as part of Dallas College.

Higher education also is provided by two other institutions. Columbia College-Mesquite Campus is located on the Eastfield College campus. It is a private, nonprofit institution that was founded in Columbia, Missouri, in 1851. It provides bachelor's and master's degree programs.

Media

Mesquite shares the same television and radio market with Dallas. The Mesquite Independent School District operates KEOM, a high-school sports and classic-hits radio station. The city's newspaper community primarily subscribes to The Dallas Morning News, Al Dia, and other Dallas-based newspapers. The Dallas Morning News has a section dedicated to local news in Mesquite. Star Local News distributes the Mesquite News newspaper.

Transportation

Mesquite is served by a publicly owned and operated airport, Mesquite Metro Airport. The airport includes a 6,000-foot (1,800 m) lighted runway with ILS. General aviation accounts for about 75% of daily operations, while commercial aviation accounts for the rest. Mesquite Metro Airport is popular among transient aircraft due to its location near Dallas and favorable fuel prices.

Two other nearby airports, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field, provide regular commercial passenger service to the region. Dallas Love Field is around 15 miles (24 km) from Mesquite; DFW Airport is roughly 30 miles (48 km) from Mesquite.

Mesquite is not a member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit, but on April 12, 2011, the DART Board changed its policy to permit DART to contract with nonmember cities for services, such as passenger rail and express service. The city and DART staffs have developed a coordinated plan to have a weekday commuter service in operation between the Hanby Stadium visitor parking lot and the DART's Green Line Lawnview Station. This route opened March 12, 2012. The city also has an optional public transportation service where citizens can schedule specific pickup and drop off times and locations within Mesquite through the STAR Transit service.

Union Pacific Railroad operates an intermodal facility for its freight rail service as part of the Skyline Industrial Park. The recent expansion of this intermodal facility won a Silver award in the Industrial Paving Category by the American Concrete Pavement Association.

Highways

Interstate 20 is a major east–west interstate serving the south side of Mesquite passing through rural and residential areas including the Lawson area. I-20 connects with Balch Springs to the west and Terrell to the east.
Interstate 30 is a major east–west interstate that passes through the north side of Mesquite. I-30 connects with Dallas, Arlington, and Fort Worth to the west; Garland, Lake Ray Hubbard, and Rockwall to the east.
Interstate 635 (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway) is an auxiliary interstate serving as a partial loop around Dallas and its suburbs. I-635 bisects the city of Mesquite and serves as the main freeway through the city as most of the local businesses and attractions (including Town East Mall and Mesquite Championship Rodeo) are built near or around I-635. The interstate connects with Garland to the north and Balch Springs to the south. I-635 also connects Mesquite with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
U.S. Highway 80 is an east–west freeway passing through north Mesquite. US 80 connects with Sunnyvale, Forney, and Terrell to the east. To the west of Mesquite, the highway merges onto I-30.
Texas Highway 352 (Military Parkway/Scyene Road) is an east–west highway passing through both west Mesquite and downtown Mesquite. In the downtown area, it is known locally as Main Street on the westbound section and Davis Street on the eastbound section.
Belt Line Road also passes through Mesquite and serves as a major road. Belt Line Road serves as an outer loop around the Dallas suburbs.
Planning stages and environmental studies are being conducted to expand President George Bush Turnpike to connect from its current terminus at I-30 in Garland to I-20. The new segment of the toll road would pass through Sunnyvale and Mesquite in route to I-20 and would complete the loop around Dallas County.

Notable people

Dave Abruzzese, ex-drummer for Pearl Jam
Quincy Acy, professional basketball player for Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks
Melissa Archer, actress on One Life to Live
Todd Boatwright, television news anchor
Craig Wayne Boyd, winner of season seven of NBC's The Voice
Tarell Brown, professional football player for New England Patriots, played for San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, and for Texas Longhorns 2005 National Championship team; graduate of North Mesquite High School
Trevone Boykin, quarterback for Texas Christian University and NFL's Seattle Seahawks
Joe Bowden, former professional football player for Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans, and Dallas Cowboys
John D. Carmack, game programmer and co-founder of id Software Lead programmer of the id computer games Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, Quake, their sequels and the Commander Keen series of games, former CTO of Oculus VR, currently running his AGI startup, Keen Technologies
Ray Cunningham, former professional baseball player for St. Louis Cardinals
Alyssa Edwards, drag performer and dance instructor; competed on season five of RuPaul's Drag Race and season two RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars
Terry Fator, singer and ventriloquist, winner of America's Got Talent in 2007
Taylor Gabriel, professional football player for Chicago Bears
Don Gay, eight-time PRCA world champion bullrider
Todd Graham, college football coach; head coach at Hawaii
Jerry Hall, actress and model, former wife of Mick Jagger and mother of four of his children
Jason Jennings, Major League Baseball player for Colorado Rockies, Texas Rangers
Micah Xavier Johnson, former soldier of United States Army Reserves and perpetrator of 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers
Ty Jordan, football player
Vivian Le, figure skater
Taylor Lipsett, gold medalist in sled hockey at 2010 Winter Paralympic Games in Vancouver; he led Team USA in goals, with 5 goals in 5 games, and added 2 assists for a total of 7 points
Sean Lowe, MLB player for Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Kansas City Royals
Damien Magnifico, MLB player for Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers
Taylor Parks, actress and singer, best known as Little Inez in 2007 film Hairspray
Sonny Strait, voice actor, ADR director, comic book/anime writer and illustrator (Dragon Ball Z)
Greg Vaughan, actor on General Hospital
Chuck Weber, racing driver