This new feature aims to share the stories of the municipalities across the North Texas region. If you’d like to be included in the Meet our Municipalities blog, please email Kimberly Walton at kimberly@ntc-dfw.org for more information.
The Collin County city of McKinney was established in 1848 and incorporated a year late in 1849. McKinney has been one of the fastest growing cities in our region for several years and is home to 162,000 people.
WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF YOUR CITY?
McKinney has a unique, rich and diverse spirit in part because of the history that shaped it. Original residents were pioneers who settled as a result of being offered free land. The population grew slowly at first but construction of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1872, stimulated a time of unprecedented growth. In 1848, the Texas legislature established McKinney as the County Seat of Collin County. Over the next 50 years, cotton became the major source of revenue, with McKinney boasting four mills by 1876. The first textile mill (one of only two west of the Mississippi) opened in 1910. High yields of corn, wheat and oats stimulated growth of the grain processing industry with facilities still in use today. McKinney’s booming economy meant better infrastructure and larger homes for many citizens. Many of the city’s most impressive historic homes were built in the 1890s. By 1885 McKinney had newspapers, banks, flour mills, an opera house, churches and 2,000 residents. From these seeds grew the McKinney we know today – a town that enjoys a diverse and thriving economy, excellent quality of life and leadership and citizens dedicated to working together for a successful and sustainable future.
WHAT IS YOUR CITY’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY? McKinney offers the perfect mix for successful business enterprise: a highly educated workforce, availability of land; convenient location to the DFW area; competitive incentives and a nationally acclaimed quality of life. Local companies range from Global Fortune 500 companies to homegrown startups. Through efforts of the city and its partners such as the McKinney Economic Development Corporation, more than 150 projects totaling more than $1.4 billion in economic growth for the city have been completed since 1993.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR CITY? McKinney is dedicated to maintaining our “unique by nature” identity, which includes a mix of hometown charm, big city convenience and economic vitality. The past is often lost in the face of progress, but McKinney has prospered because of thoughtful efforts to preserve its roots. McKinney’s commitment is seen in its well-preserved historic downtown, support for a dynamic business community, extensive educational opportunities, providing safe and sustainable neighborhoods and wide-ranging amenities to help ensure an exceptional place to build a life, locate a business or spend a weekend get-a-way.
DID YOU KNOW …? McKinney is home to the premier general aviation business airport in the region – McKinney National Airport, and its Fixed Base Operator, McKinney Air Center. Since 2014, the FBO has ranked in the top 10 in the Pilots’ Choice Awards and the Pete and Nancy Huff Air Traffic Control Tower has ranked #1 in the country. The tower was also awarded the 2015 Facility of the Year by Robinson Aviation (RVA) Inc. McKinney National Airport is a key driver in McKinney’s sustainability and business development.
HOW CAN WE FOLLOW YOUR CITY’S NEWS ON FACEBOOK AND/OR TWITTER? Please visit facebook.com/mckinneytx or twitter.com/cityofmckinney.
Comments