Euless, Texas

Euless also known as "Tree City USA"^[3] is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States, and a suburb of Fort Worth. Euless is part of the Mid-Cities between Dallas and Fort Worth. The population was 51,226 in a 2005 census estimate.

Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which serves the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, is inside the city limits of Euless.

History

Euless is named after Elisha Adam Euless, a native of Tennessee who moved to Texas in 1867 and later bought 170 acres of land on the current intersection of North Main St. and West Euless Boulevard.^[4] Elisha started a Cotton Gin and a community center on his property, and quickly became a prominent figure among other settlers. The community developed around the land Elisha owned and decided to name the city "Euless," in honor of a successful businessman and farmer.

Geography

Euless is located at 32°50′54″N 97°5′30″W / 32.84833°N 97.09167°W (32.848253, -97.091782).^[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.3 square miles (42.1 km²), all of it land.

Map of Euless

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 46,005 people, 19,218 households, and 11,626 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,828.3 people per square mile (1,091.7/km²). There were 20,136 housing units at an average density of 1,237.9/sq mi (477.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.52% White, 6.49% African American, 0.64% Native American, 7.15% Asian, 1.86% Pacific Islander, 5.38% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.31% of the population. Euless has one of the largest populations of Tongans in North America.^[6]

There were 19,218 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.05. 1.26% of Euless households are same sex couples, giving Euless the ninth highest percentage of same sex couples among cities in Texas with over 50 same sex couples.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 39.7% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 5.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $49,582, and the median income for a family was $54,697. Males had a median income of $39,169 versus $32,370 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,764. About 5.7% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Local Government

According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $82.7 million in Revenues, $73.7 million in expenditures, $239.5 million in total assets, $76.8 million in total liabilities, and $54.7 million in cash and investments.^[7]

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:^[7]

Arbor Daze

Arbor Daze is a celebration of trees. It is usually held on the last weekend of April from Saturday to Sunday. The location of Arbor Daze is in the municipal complex. During Arbor Daze there is a business tent, an art tent and 2 concert stages. There is also a kids tent called Kidz Zone. parking is available anywhere in the municipal complex or a the nearby church, First Baptist Euless.^[8]

The Arbor Daze festival has received over 47 awards and recognitions for excellent programs and publications, making it one of the most decorated festivals in Texas.^[9]

Education

Most of Euless is served by the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. Together with most of Hurst and Bedford, this area forms one of the largest recognized suburban school districts in the state.^{[citation needed]}

Euless has eight elementary schools, two junior high school, one high school. Some residents of the city of Euless attend schools in the Grapevine - Colleyville Independent School District such as Bear Creek Elementary, Heritage Middle School, and Colleyville Heritage High School. Together in HEBISD there are 19 elementary schools, five junior high schools, and two high schools.

On December 10, 2005, Euless's Trinity High School won the 5A Division 1 state football championship. The team has achieved national notoriety for its pre-game and post-game ritual dance, the New Zealand Māori Ka Mate haka, started by several players of Tongan descent.^[10]

On December 22, 2007 the Trinity Trojans Football Team won the 5A Division 1 state championship again by defeating Converse Judson 13•10.

On December 16, 2009 the Trinity Trojans Football Team won the 5A Division 1 state championship again by defeating Austin Westlake Chaps 41 - 38.

Economy

According to the City's 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,^[7] the top employers in the city are:

Notable residents

This list may include past and current residents of the community

• James T. Draper, Jr.: Baptist minister and denominational figure, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Euless
• Diane Henry: Model and contestant on Big Brother 5^[11]
• Sarah Shahi: Actress on The L Word^[12]
• Janine Turner: Actress who starred on Northern Exposure was raised (but not born) in Euless.^[13]

Euless City Council as of December 2009

Mayor: Mary Lib Saleh

Place 1: Tim Stinneford

Place 2: Leon Hogg

Place 3: Linda Martin

Place 4: Donna Mickan

Place 5: Glenn Porterfield

Place 6: Perry Bynum

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^ http://www.citytowninfo.com/places/texas/euless
4. ^ http://www.euless.org/history/
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. ^ A Tongan War Dance Enlivens Football In Euless, Texas - WSJ.com
7. ^ ^{a b c} City of Euless CAFR Retrieved 2009-08-17
8. ^ Euless Today spring/ summer 2010
9. ^ http://www.eulesstx.gov/pacs/
10. ^ "Laura Bush: We got the Haka in Texas too". 2008-06-10. http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4579451a12.html. Retrieved 2008-06-10. "Interview of the First Lady by Jonathan Karl, ABC News". 2008-06-09. http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080609006293&newsLang=en. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
11. ^ Diane Henry at the Internet Movie Database; URL accessed 2006-06-07
12. ^ Sarah Shahi at the Internet Movie Database; URL accessed 2006-06-07
13. ^ Brumburgh, Gary. "Biography for Janine Turner". Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005508/bio. Retrieved 2006-06-07.

Tim Singletary, successful high stakes real estate financier and graduate of Trinity High School, 1981.

External links

• City of Euless website
• EulessOnline.com - Online Community for people that live, work & play in Euless, TX
• EulessOnline.com - Facebook Fan Page
• HEB Chamber of Commerce
• Historic Photos of Euless, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
• More demographic data
• The webcomic Something Positive comments on Euless
• I live or work in Euless, Texas! Facebook Group
• Story about haka at Trinity High School, from The World radio program
• Arbor Daze website

Categories: Cities in Texas | Dallas • Fort Worth Metroplex | Tarrant County, Texas