Arlington, Texas

Arlington is a city located in Tarrant County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 332,969, which makes it the seventh largest city in Texas.

The city is home to the Texas Rangers, Ameriquest Field in Arlington, the theme park Six Flags Over Texas, future home to the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium, is an anchor city of the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex with an estimated population of 347,607 [1] and is approximately 12 miles east of Fort Worth and 20 miles west of Dallas. It is coterminous with Kennedale, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and Fort Worth.

Geography

Arlington is located at 32°42'18" North, 97°7'22" West (32.705033, -97.122839)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 256.5 km² (99.0 mi²). 248.2 km² (95.8 mi²) of it is land and 8.3 km² (3.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.24% water.

History

The city was founded in 1875 and is named after Arlington, Virginia. After the arrival of the railroad in 1876, it grew as a cotton-ginning and farming center, and incorporated in 1884. Large-scale industrialization began in 1954 with the arrival of a General Motors assembly plant. Automotive and aerospace development gave the city one of the nation’s greatest population growth rates between 1950 and 1990.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 332,969 people, 124,686 households, and 85,035 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,341.7/km² (3,475.0/mi²). There are 130,628 housing units at an average density of 526.4/km² (1,363.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 67.69% White, 13.73% Black or African American, 0.55% Native American, 6.01% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 8.94% from other races, and 2.94% from two or more races. 18.27% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 124,686 households out of which 38.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% are married couples living together, 11.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% are non-families. 24.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 3.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.65 and the average family size is 3.20.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $47,622, and the median income for a family is $56,080. Males have a median income of $38,612 versus $29,339 for females. The per capita income for the city is $22,445. 9.9% of the population and 7.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.3% of those under the age of 18 and 6.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Schools and Colleges

The Arlington Independent School District (AISD) runs most of the city's public schools. AISD's six high schools are Arlington, James Bowie, Sam Houston, Mirabeau B. Lamar, James Martin, and Juan Seguin, all of which are rated population level 5A (highest) by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). The Mansfield Independent School District serves the southern portion of Arlington.

Arlington is home to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), the Southeast Campus of Tarrant County College, and Arlington Baptist College.

The University of Texas at Arlington is the 3rd largest component of the University of Texas System, the university has a current enrollment of 25,297 students as of Fall 2004, and is perceved as a valuable asset to the city of Arlington, and its economy.

Transportation

Arlington is the largest city in the United States without a public transportation system.[2]