Denton

Denton is known for its friendly, small-town feel, and is home to the University of North Texas (UNT). Updated 2 years ago
Photo of Denton, TX

Come visit Denton's historic square

Photo of the northwest corner of Denton's historic square. Photo by Monica Bourgeau on Unsplash.
Denton County, Texas

Denton County, Texas

The Denton County Courts Building in Denton County, Texas. Photograph by Mick Watson.
City of Denton, Texas

City of Denton, Texas

Welcome Sign, City of Denton, Texas. Photograph by Hu Nhu.
Product photo
Promotion: Nearby Map of Denton County

Denton, the county seat of Denton County, is on Interstate Highway 35 where it forks to become 35E to Dallas and 35W to Fort Worth near the center of the county. Less than forty miles north of the cities, Denton has become closely associated with the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The city was not an early settlement. It was founded in 1857 in order to become the county seat, because residents wanted one located near the center of the county. Hiram Cisco, William Woodruff, and William Loving donated 100 acres as the site for the town, which, like the county, was named in honor of John B. Denton. A commission composed of Otis G. Welch, sometimes known as the "Father of Denton," county surveyor Charles C. Lacy, and Joseph A. Carroll laid out the city. Although it was established in 1857 and a courthouse was built on the north side of the square, Denton was not incorporated until 1866. The charter provided for election of a mayor and five aldermen. J. B. Sawyer was elected the first mayor.

In its early years Denton grew slowly from 361 persons, thirty-two of whom were Black, in 1870, to 1,194 in 1880. But in the decade of the 1880s the city experienced its largest percentage growth in any decade up to the 1980s. The population more than doubled, to 2,558 in 1890, as the Texas and Pacific Railway from Sherman to Fort Worth and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas to Dallas, both completed in 1881, gave the city a rail outlet. The Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe, built in 1887 across western Denton County through Valley View, Krum, and Sanger, missed Denton and was not connected to it until about seventy years later. Since Denton had only north-south rail connections, the town did not develop as a manufacturing and wholesale center.

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E. Dale Odom | © TSHA

Handbook of Texas Logo

Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Great Texas Land Rush logo
Adoption Status:
This place has been adopted and will not be available until July 2, 2024
Adopted by:
Alan Berggren
Dedication Message:
I just wanted to a adopt a town.

Belongs to

Denton is part of or belongs to the following places:

Date of Origin

1857 (166 years ago)

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Denton is classified as a Town

Associated Names

  • (Pinckneyville)

Location

Latitude: 33.20519790
Longitude: -97.14575900

External Websites

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

Yes

Population Count, 2021 View more »

148,146

Place Type Population (Year/Source) Currently Exists
College or University Yes
College or University Yes

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