McKinney

As of the 2010 census McKinney had a population of 131,117. The median age was 33. The racial composition of the population was 74.8% White, 10.5% Black, 0.7% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 3.1% reporting two or more races. About 18.6% of residents were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 28,186 households, 45.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.2% were not families; 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city, the population was distributed as 30.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $63,366, and for a family was $72,133. Males had a median income of $50,663 versus $32,074 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,185. About 4.9% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Population growth and foreign-born population

Between 1970 and 1990, McKinney experienced moderate population growth, from 15,193 in the 1970 census, to 21,283 in the 1990 census. Since then, McKinney’s rate of increase has been much more dramatic. In the 2000 census, McKinney had grown to 54,369 and to 131,117 in the 2010 census.

As of the 2000 U.S. Census, 64% of the foreign-born residents of McKinney originated from Mexico. As of 2009, 70% of McKinney’s total population born outside of the United States had arrived to the U.S. in the 1990s.

Colleges

McKinney is the home of the Central Park Campus of Collin College near the city’s center at US 75 and US 380, which opened in 1985 as the initial campus for the community college district. The Collin Higher Education Center campus of Collin College opened in southern McKinney in 2010 and offers select bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs in partnership with Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Woman’s University, The University of Texas at Dallas, and the University of North Texas.

Public school districts

McKinney is served primarily by the McKinney Independent School District, however significant parts of the western side of the city are part of nearby Frisco Independent School District and Prosper Independent School District. Other smaller areas along the outer edges of the city are zoned to Celina Independent School District, Allen Independent School District, Melissa Independent School District, and Lovejoy Independent School District.

Public high schools

McKinney Boyd High School

High schools include McKinney High School, McKinney North High School, McKinney Boyd High School, and Serenity High School.

In the Newsweek ranking of schools throughout the nation for 2006, McKinney High School was ranked 191, out of 1000 schools on the list, while McKinney North High School was ranked 237. The original article incorrectly stated results for McKinney’s two high schools, but Newsweek updated its lists by June 2, 2007. In the 2008 rankings, McKinney High School was ranked 642 out of 1300 and McKinney North High School was ranked 771.

In The Dallas Morning News, McKinney North High School was ranked #4 in state and #3 in area for football.

Public elementary and middle schools

Middle schools include Dowell Middle School, Evans Middle School, Faubion Middle School, Scott Johnson Middle School, and Cockrill Middle School.

Elementary schools include Bennett Elementary, Burks Elementary, Caldwell Elementary, Eddins Elementary, Finch Elementary, Glen Oaks Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Malvern Elementary, McNeil Elementary, Minshew Elementary, Slaughter Elementary, Valley Creek Elementary, Vega Elementary, Walker Elementary, Webb Elementary, Wilmeth Elementary, Wolford Elementary, Press Elementary, and McGowen Elementary.

Valley Creek, McNeil, Eddins, Wolford, Reuben Johnson, Walker, Press, and Glen Oaks elementary schools were included in a list of “Best Public Schools in Texas” by Texas Monthly magazine in 2006.

Private schools

There are three private schools in the city that serve all grades from K-12; McKinney Christian Academy, Cornerstone Christian Academy, and North Texas Christian Academy.

On March 24, 1849, William Davis, who owned 3,000 acres (12 km2) where McKinney now stands, donated 120 acres (0.49 km2) for the townsite. Ten years later, McKinney incorporated, and in 1913, the town adopted the commission form of government.

For the first 125 years of its history, McKinney served as the principal commercial center for the county. The county seat provided farmers with flour, corn, and cotton mills, cotton gins, a cotton compress, and a cottonseed oil mill, as well as banks, churches, schools, newspapers, and from the 1880s, an opera house. Businesses also came to include a textile mill, an ice company, a large dairy, and a garment-manufacturing company. The population grew from 35 in 1848 to 4,714 in 1912. By 1953, McKinney had a population of more than 10,000 and 355 businesses. The town continued to serve as an agribusiness center for the county until the late 1960s.

By 1970, McKinney was surpassed in size by Plano. McKinney experienced moderate population growth, from 15,193 in the 1970 census, to 21,283 in the 1990 census. By the mid-1980s, the town had become a commuter center for residents who worked in Plano and Dallas. In 1985, it had a population of just over 16,000 and supported 254 businesses. Since then, McKinney’s rate of increase has been much more dramatic. In the 2000 census, McKinney had grown to 54,369 with 2,005 businesses and in the 2010 census the population had more than doubled to 131,117 residents. The Census Bureau’s most recent estimated population for McKinney (July 1, 2015) is 162,898.

Both the city and the county were named for Collin McKinney, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and a congressman for the Red River district of the Republic of Texas. He was the author of a bill establishing counties in the northern part of the state.

Chestnut Square Historic Village

Chestnut Square brings history to life with Living History Days, Farmer’s Market, Prairie Adventure Camps, the annual Ice Cream Crank Off, Ghost Walk and the Holiday Tour of Homes. Visit the Chestnut Square website or call 972-562-8790 for tour and rental information.

Finch Park

Finch Park is located about 1.2 miles from Historic Downtown McKinney. Located at 301 West Standifer Street, this park offers bathroom facilities, two lighted tennis courts, two basketball courts and a sand volleyball court.

Follow the Frogs

Picture this…a leisurely stroll, an intimate lunch or dinner date, a live performance at MPAC or maybe a shopping venture like no other. Now, sprinkle in some history, our rich heritage and some artistic “ribbiting” characters and you have stumbled upon something quite remarkable.

Meet our friendly frogs, many of which have a name and a special story. You can find them hopping in store fronts throughout Historic Downtown McKinney. Why frogs, you ask? Why not? They are hip, they hop and they add something quirky to the already-unique venue that is McKinney. Enjoy the photo gallery of our frogs, and next time you visit, be sure to say hello to our web-footed friends.

Geocaching

Geocaching is a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using a smartphone or GPS and can then share their experiences online. There are many geocaching opportunities in Historic Downtown McKinney. McKinney’s Stormwater department’s Finding Geo program offers six geocaches in Historic Downtown. Visit www.geocaching.com to get started.

Heard-Craig Center for the Arts

The Heard-Craig House, built in 1900, is one of the most beautifully preserved historic homes in North Texas. The home, surrounded by Victorian gardens, still contains original furnishings, art collections and Heard family memorabilia. The Center also includes Heard-Craig Hall reception and performance hall and the Carriage House. Visit www.heardcraig.org or call 972-569-6909 for tours, events and rental information.

Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, isn’t exactly in Downtown McKinney, but it’s not far. This McKinney jewel is the result of Bessie Heard’s vision for the future, her commitment to the community and to North Texas. Founded in 1967, the Heard consists of a 289-acre wildlife sanctuary and a natural science museum for the primary purpose of educating children about nature. The Heard exists to bring nature and people together to discover, enjoy, experience, restore and preserve our priceless environment. In keeping with Miss Heard’s vision, the Heard’s purpose is threefold: education, conservation and preservation. Through education, particularly for young people, the Heard emphasizes an appreciation of nature and its conservation. To learn more visit the Heard Museum website.

Historic Building Tour

Take a high-tech journey throughout the Historic Commercial District to find out more about some of your favorite landmarks. Look for the signs.

McKinney enjoys one of the oldest, most authentic and thriving historic downtowns in Texas. Once the center of all commercial and social activity for Collin County, our 165-year-old city continues to serve as a viable retail, dining, entertainment and business center. Check out the Historic Building Tour web page for more information.

Roy & Helen Hall Memorial Library

The Roy and Helen Hall Memorial Library, located at 101 East Hunt St. in downtown McKinney, offers a collection of more than 150,000 items. This library houses extensive fiction, nonfiction, reference and children’s materials. In addition, it also offers the Helen Gibbard Hall Genealogy and Local History Area and a Spanish language collection. Visit the Library Calendar for events, workshops and classes.

Walking Tours

Explore McKinney’s historic downtown on foot to see where the last hanging in McKinney occurred or who committed the final crime tried in the historic courthouse. You can also wander into the historic to see some of the beautifully restored homes. Choose from three options or choose all three!