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Rowlett, Texas

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"Rowlett" redirects here. For other uses, see Rowlett (disambiguation).

Rowlett, Texas
City
Rowlett Municipal Building
Rowlett Municipal Building
Location of Rowlett in Dallas County, Texas
Location of Rowlett in Dallas County, Texas
U.S. Census Map
U.S. Census Map
Coordinates: 32°54′10″N 96°32′40″W / 32.90278°N 96.54444°W / 32.90278; -96.54444
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesDallas, Rockwall
Founded1840s
Incorporated1952
Government
[1]
 • TypeCouncil-Manager, Home Rule
Area
[2]
 • Total
20.819 sq mi (53.921 km2)
 • Land20.748 sq mi (53.736 km2)
 • Water0.071 sq mi (0.184 km2)
Elevation
[3]
459 ft (140 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total
62,535
 • Estimate 
(2023)[5]
66,813
 • RankUS: 573rd
TX: 59th
 • Density3,220/sq mi (1,243/km2)
Time zoneUTC–6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
75030, 75088, 75089
Area code(s)214, 469, 972, and 945
FIPS code48-63572
GNIS feature ID2411007[3]
Sales tax8.25%[6]
Websiterowletttx.gov

Rowlett (/raʊˈlɛt/,[7] traditionally /ˈraʊlɪt/[8][9]) is a city in Dallas and Rockwall Counties in Texas, United States, and an eastern suburb of Dallas. It is a growing, upscale community with nearly $1.5 billion in development in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, located on Lake Ray Hubbard.

The population was 62,535 at the 2020 census,[4] and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 66,813.[5]

History

[edit]

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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12]

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.[13]

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.[14] 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)[15] 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."[16]

On the evening of December 26, 2015, a violent storm produced a deadly EF4 tornado that tore a 13-mile path from the neighboring cities of Sunnyvale, Texas and 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.[17]

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.[18]

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.[19]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.819 square miles (53.92 km2), of which, 20.748 square miles (53.74 km2) is land and 0.071 square miles (0.18 km2), or 1.84%, is water.[2]

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: [20]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19601,015—
19702,243121.0%
19807,522235.4%
199023,260209.2%
200044,50391.3%
201056,19926.3%
202062,53511.3%
2023 (est.)66,813[5]6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
Texas Almanac: 1850-2000[22][23]
2020 Census[4]

2020 census

[edit]
Rowlett city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[24] Pop 2010[25] Pop 2020[26] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 34,417 34,556 30,294 77.34% 61.49% 48.44%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,959 7,397 10,871 8.90% 13.16% 17.38%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 164 228 245 0.37% 0.41% 0.39%
Asian (NH) 1,473 3,649 4,964 3.31% 6.49% 7.94%
Pacific Islander (NH) 24 14 33 0.05% 0.02% 0.05%
Some other race alone (NH) 53 84 237 0.12% 0.15% 0.38%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 514 986 2,634 1.15% 1.75% 4.21%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3,899 9,285 13,257 8.76% 16.52% 21.20%
Total 44,503 56,199 62,535 100.0% 100.0% 100.00%

As of the 2020 census, there were 62,535 people, 21,494 households, and 16,976 families residing in the city.[27] The population density was 3,014.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,163.9/km2). There were 22,371 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 53.1% White, 17.7% African American, 0.8% Native American, 8.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 6.7% from some other races and 13.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.2% of the population.[28] 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.1% were under 5 years of age, and 11.7% were 65 and older.

Education

[edit]

Primary and secondary schools

[edit]

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 cannot 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

[edit]

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.[29]

Transportation

[edit]

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

Tallest buildings

[edit]
Rank Name Height
ft (m) 		Floors Year Notes
1 Surfside Apartments at Sapphire Bay 67 (20) 5 2024 Tallest building in Rowlett, under construction but the final height has been Reached.
2 The View at Sapphire Bay 55 (16) 5 2024 Currently the second tallest building in Rowlett. Under construction but final height has been reached.
3 Terra Largo Apartments 50 (15) 5 2018 Tallest building outside of the sapphire bay development and 3rd tallest building in rowlett.
4 Rowlett Office Tower 48 (14) 4 2009 The tallest office building and 4th tallest building in Rowlett.
5 Rowlett station apartments 45 (13) 4 2023 4th tallest building in Rowlett.
6 Home2 Suites by Hilton Rowlett Rockwall Marina 42 (12) 4 2021 The tallest hotel in Rowlett and 5th tallest building in Rowlett.
7 Village of Rowlett 38 (11) 3 2018 tallest building in Downtown Rowlett and 6th tallest building in Rowlett.
8 Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Lake Pointe 36 (10) 3 1987 The tallest hospital in Rowlett, the 7th tallest building in Rowlett.

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Contact City of Rowlett Councilmembers". City of Rowlett, Texas. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "2023 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Rowlett, Texas
  4. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "City and Town Population Totals: 2020–2023". United States Census Bureau. July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  6. ^ "Rowlett (TX) sales tax rate". Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Texas Almanac Pronunciation Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  9. ^ Borta, Karen (July 24, 2015). "Welcome To Texas: Unusual Pronunciation". CBS DFW. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  10. ^ "TSHA | Rowlett, Daniel". www.tshaonline.org. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Texas Handbook Online History of Dallas and Greenville Railway
  12. ^ "History of Rowlett". City of Rowlett, Texas. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  13. ^ City of Rowlett Press Release November 7, 2003
  14. ^ "Atheists Challenge Rowlett City Council Prayer Policy Before Meetings". March 18, 2013.
  15. ^ "Harvard Law Review, Town of Greece v. Galloway". November 10, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  16. ^ "Atheists Protest At Rowlett City Hall". CBS News. September 16, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2017.
  17. ^ "Eight dead after Saturday night North Texas tornado outbreak". WAGA. December 28, 2015. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
  18. ^ "Water tower in Rowlett demolished Monday". February 6, 2017.
  19. ^ "About". Sapphire Bay. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Monthly Averages for Rowlett, TX (75088)". Weather.com. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  21. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  22. ^ Texas Almanac. "Texas Almanac: City Population History from 1850–2000" (PDF). Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Texas Almanac. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  24. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Rowlett city, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rowlett city, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Rowlett city, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "How many people live in Rowlett city, Texas". USA Today. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  29. ^ Texas Education Code: Sec. 130.175. COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.176. DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.
  30. ^ Downtown Rowlett Station
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