Rowlett, Texas
Rowlett Municipal Building
Rowlett Municipal Building
Location in Dallas County and the state of Texas
Location in Dallas County and the state of Texas
U.S. Census Map
U.S. Census Map
Coordinates: 32°54′25″N 96°32′51″W / 32.90694°N 96.54750°W / 32.90694; -96.54750
Country United States
State Texas
CountiesDallas, Rockwall
Government
  TypeCouncil-Manager, Home Rule
  City CouncilMayor
Blake Margolis
City Council Members
Vacant, Place 1
Jeff Winget, Place 2
Elise Bowers, Place 3
Mike Britton, Place 4
Michael Schupp, Place 5
Deb Shinder, Place 6
  City ManagerDavid Hall
Area
  Total20.82 sq mi (53.91 km2)
  Land20.75 sq mi (53.73 km2)
  Water0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation505 ft (154 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total73,270
  Density3,246.04/sq mi (1,253.33/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
75030, 75088, 75089
Area codes214, 469, 945, 972
FIPS code48-63572[3]
GNIS feature ID1345719[2]
WebsiteCity website

Rowlett (/rˈlɛt/,[4] traditionally /ˈrlɪt/[5][6]) is a city in Dallas and Rockwall counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and an eastern suburb of Dallas. The total population estimate is 73,270 in 2021.[7][8] It is a growing, upscale community with nearly $1.5 billion in development in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, located on Lake Ray Hubbard.

History

Rowlett derives its name from Rowlett Creek, which flows into Lake Ray Hubbard and is a major tributary of the east fork of the Trinity River. The creek in turn was named for a waterway running through the property of Daniel Rowlett who moved from Kentucky to Bonham, Texas, in 1835.[9] Daniel, who was a member of the Smoot-Rowlett political family, had no direct dealings with the town that now bears his name.

The first post office opened on April 5, 1880, and it was called "Morris" after Postmaster Austin Morris.

The town was later renamed "Rowlett". The Dallas and Greenville Railway passed through the town in 1886, connecting Dallas with Greenville, Texas, and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. Shortly after its opening, the line was formally sold to the MKT.[10]

In 1921, the town was a stop on the Bankhead Highway.

The town incorporated in 1952 when its population was 250. In the 1960s, the town languished as Interstate 30 bypassed Rowlett.[11]

The town has had a building boom since the completion of Lake Ray Hubbard in 1971 – growing to 1,600 by 1973; 10,573 by 1989; 23,260 by 1990; and 44,503 by 2000.

Rowlett gained international notoriety in 1996 when local resident Darlie Routier was convicted of murdering her children as they slept.

In 2003, the town made an unsuccessful formal proposal to get the Dallas Cowboys to move to a 1,000-acre (4.0 km2) "5-Point Park" on the banks of Lake Ray Hubbard when the lease for Texas Stadium expires.[12]

In 2013, the Rowlett City Council was challenged by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Metroplex Atheists regarding opening prayer invocations at city hall meetings.[13] In a court case in May 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed a previous court ruling (Marsh v. Chambers) upholding the tradition of opening legislative sessions with sectarian prayer and additionally ruled in favor of a town's right to have invocations given by the predominant religion within its borders as long as it did not discriminate or coerce participation. (Town of Greece v. Galloway)[14] Atheist proponents then asked the Rowlett City Council to be included in giving invocations. They were denied based on the Supreme Court ruling and city policy stating the invocation should be given by members of the community's locally established religious congregations."[15]

On the evening of December 26, 2015, a violent storm produced a deadly EF4 tornado that tore a 13-mile path from the neighboring city of Garland, Texas, through the southeast portion of Rowlett, severely damaging or destroying hundreds of homes and vehicles along with several businesses and a city water tower.[16]

On February 8, 2017, the historic water tower on Martha Lane built in 1980 was demolished two years after it suffered damage from the EF4 tornado on December 26, 2015.[17]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the City of Rowlett is rated number 8 of the fastest growing cities in the United States with 5.1% growth from July 2017 to July 2018.[8]

In 2019, the City of Rowlett gained regional recognition when Sapphire Bay Development, LLC and the City published plans to construct a master planned community in the middle of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The 116-acre development will be Texas' first resort destination anchored by a man-made lagoon, offering guests a luxurious stay along its shore at the 500 room Sapphire Bay Resort, operated and managed by Destination Hotels by Hyatt. The project will also feature a surf village and a water park, 1,500+ residential units, 1.7 million square feet of mixed-use restaurant, retail, entertainment, office and hospitality space, 20+ acres of parks and trails, a 1,000 slip marina.[18]

Geography

Rowlett is located at 32°54′25″N 96°32′51″W / 32.90694°N 96.54750°W / 32.90694; -96.54750 (32.907020, –96.547415).[19]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.0 square miles (51.7 km2), of which 19.9 square miles (51.5 km2) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.34%, is water.[20]

Climate data for Rowlett, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 56
(13)
60
(16)
66
(19)
75
(24)
82
(28)
90
(32)
94
(34)
95
(35)
88
(31)
79
(26)
67
(19)
57
(14)
76
(24)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34
(1)
39
(4)
46
(8)
54
(12)
64
(18)
71
(22)
74
(23)
74
(23)
66
(19)
55
(13)
46
(8)
36
(2)
55
(13)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.45
(62)
3.09
(78)
3.67
(93)
3.44
(87)
5.17
(131)
4.47
(114)
2.02
(51)
1.85
(47)
3.17
(81)
4.55
(116)
3.55
(90)
3.22
(82)
40.65
(1,032)
Source: [21]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19601,015
19702,243121.0%
19807,522235.4%
199023,260209.2%
200044,50391.3%
201056,19926.3%
202062,53511.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
Rowlett racial composition as of 2020[23]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 30,294 48.44%
Black or African American (NH) 10,871 17.38%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 245 0.39%
Asian (NH) 4,964 7.94%
Pacific Islander (NH) 33 0.05%
Some Other Race (NH) 237 0.38%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 2,634 4.21%
Hispanic or Latino 13,257 21.2%
Total 62,535

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 62,535 people, 21,628 households, and 18,181 families residing in the city.[23]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The Dallas County portion of Rowlett is served by the Garland Independent School District, while the Rockwall County portion is a part of the Rockwall Independent School District.

Back, Stephens, Dorsey, Giddens-Steadham, Herfurth, Keeley, Pearson, Rowlett, Cullins-Lakepoint and Liberty Grove Elementary Schools, Coyle and Schrade Middle Schools, and Rowlett High School are located within the city boundaries of Rowlett.

Garland ISD has a free choice program that allows for a student to attend any school within the district. If a school is already full with students that are zoned for that school then students who are not zoned for that school, but chose the school on their choice of school form, will not be able to attend. The student will then be enrolled in their second or third choice school unless only the school they are zoned for is available. If students choose to attend a school located outside of where they are zoned the GISD is unable to provide a school bus service. Students living within two miles of their school can not receive bus service either. Not all students in Rowlett are zoned for Rowlett HS. A considerable portion are zoned for Sachse High School in the city of Sachse. Rockwall ISD residents are zoned to Cullins-Lake Pointe Elementary School, Williams Middle School and Rockwall High School.

Colleges and universities

Residents in Dallas County are zoned to Dallas College (formerly the Dallas County Community College District or DCCCD). Residents in Rockwall County are zoned to Collin College.[26]

Transportation

DART has transit that runs to and from Dallas. Rowlett is served by the Downtown Rowlett Station on the Blue Line.[27] Automobile routes include President George Bush Turnpike, Interstate 30, and Texas State Highway 66 (Lakeview Pkwy).

References

  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rowlett, Texas
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "City of Rowlett has filed suit against Bayside developer". The Dallas Morning News. January 4, 2019. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  5. "Texas Almanac Pronunciation Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  6. Borta, Karen (July 24, 2015). "Welcome To Texas: Unusual Pronunciation". CBS DFW. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  7. Margolis, Robert (June 30, 2021). "2021 Population Estimates - North Central Texas Council of Governments". North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Bureau, US Census. "Fastest-Growing Cities Primarily in the South and West". The United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  9. "TSHA | Rowlett, Daniel". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  10. Texas Handbook Online History of Dallas and Greenville Railway
  11. Official Rowlett history
  12. City of Rowlett Press Release November 7, 2003
  13. "Atheists Challenge Rowlett City Council Prayer Policy Before Meetings".
  14. "Harvard Law Review, Town of Greece v. Galloway". Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  15. "Atheists Protest At Rowlett City Hall". September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  16. "Eight dead after Saturday night North Texas tornado outbreak". WAGA. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  17. "Water tower in Rowlett demolished Monday".
  18. "About". Sapphire Bay. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  19. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  20. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Rowlett city, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
  21. "Monthly Averages for Rowlett, TX (75088)". Weather.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  22. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  23. 1 2 "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  24. https://www.census.gov/
  25. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  26. Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.175. COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.176. DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  27. Downtown Rowlett Station
  1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[24][25]
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