Collin_County,_Texas

Collin County, Texas

Collin County is a suburban county located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county has been experiencing explosive growth in recent years. In 2000, its population was 491,675; in 2007 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 730,690. Its seat is McKinney. The county and its seat are both named in honor of Collin McKinney, one of the five men who drafted the Texas Declaration of Independence and the oldest of the 59 men who signed it.

Collin County is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. A small portion of the city of Dallas is located in the county. Other important cities in the county include Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Richardson, and Wylie.

Collin County is the richest county in Texas and the 23rd wealthiest county in the country.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 886 square miles (2,294 km²), of which, 848 square miles (2,195 km²) of it is land and 38 square miles (99 km²) of it (4.32%) is water.

Major highways

State Highway 5

State Highway 78

State Highway 289

‎ State Highway 121

Adjacent counties

Grayson County (north)
Fannin County (northeast)
Hunt County (east)
Rockwall County (southeast)
Dallas County (south)
Denton County (west)

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 491,675 people, 181,970 households, and 132,292 families residing in the county. The population density was 580 people per square mile (224/km²). There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile (89/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.39% White, 4.79% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 6.92% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 4.26% from other races, and 2.11% from two or more races. 10.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to U.S. Census figures released in 2005, Collin County's demographics had changed significantly from just five years prior. The updated racial makeup figures for the county are as follows: 69% White, 6.7% African American, 9.5% Asian, and 12.8% Hispanic.

There were 181,970 households out of which 40.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.10% were married couples living together, 7.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county, the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 37.90% from 25 to 44, 20.70% from 45 to 64, and 5.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 99.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $70,835, and the median income for a family was $81,856. Males had a median income of $57,392 versus $36,604 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,345. About 3.30% of families and 4.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over. Based on per capita income, Collin County is the richest county in Texas, and one of the wealthiest in the United States.

Politics

Presidential Election Results
Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2004	71.2% 174,435	28.1% 68,935	0.7% 1,784
2000	73.1% 128,179	24.4% 42,884	2.7% 4,357
1996	63.0% 83,750	28.5% 37,854	8.5% 11,321
1992	47.0% 60,514	19.0% 24,508	34.0% 43,811
1988	74.3% 67,776	25.1% 22,934	0.6% 520
1984	81.6% 61,095	18.2% 13,604	0.2% 139
1980	67.9% 36,559	28.2% 15,187	3.9% 2,115
1976	60.0% 21,608	39.0% 14,039	1.0% 353
1972	78.0% 17,667	21.1% 4,783	0.8% 187
1968	39.9% 6,494	36.4% 5,918	23.7% 3,850
1964	29.8% 3,341	70.0% 7,833	0.2% 19
1960	42.2% 3,865	57.1% 5,229	0.7% 64

Collin County is a Republican-stronghold in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win in the county was Lyndon Johnson in 1964. As the northern Dallas suburbs spilled into Collin County in the late 1960s and early 1970s its politics immediately swung to the Republican Party.

In the House of Representatives, the southwestern part of Collin County is represented in Texas's 3rd congressional district and the rest of the county is represented in the Texas's 4th congressional district. Both districts are held by Republicans, the 3rd by Sam Johnson, and the 4th by Ralph Hall, who only recently switched to the Republican Party.