The City of Allen

Allen, just 24 miles north of downtown Dallas, is experiencing its all-time fastest rate of growth for residential and business development, with its population growing by 12% a year. The current population is 64,663, and by 2010 it is expected to exceed 80,000. This will make Allen the fastest growing city in North Texas during the next 10 years.

The average home price in Allen is $186,600; apartment rent in the 10 apartment complexes ranges from $535 to $1250. The median Allen household income is about $94,664.

Allen ISD, with an enrollment of about 10,000, has a commitment to excellence in education, and its 14 schools offer many innovative programs to Allen students, such as award-winning Internet program. For higher education, the Central Park Campus of the Collin County Community College District is only a few miles away in McKinney, and a new CCCCD facility for admissions and advising has been opened recently in Allen.

For sports, Allen offers a public golf course, tennis, swimming, and other team sports. For fishing, boating, and water sports, area lakes are within close driving distance. Allen has 24 developed public parks.

History

The City of Allen celebrated its 50^th year of incorporation in 2003. And, while this makes Allen a relatively young city, centuries of history lie within its borders.

Prior to the arrival of the European and American immigrants into the Allen area, Caddo and Comanche Indian tribes inhabited the region. The Indian tribes migrated westward as the early settlers entered the area and were eventually removed to the India territory to the north of the Red River. One of the last known conflicts between the early settlers and the Indians took place in 1844 along Rowlett Creek, near the current railroad crossing.

Immigrants of European descent began arriving into the Allen area in the early 1940's. Land grants were given by the Republic of Texas as an inducement for settlers to come to the frontier, and one of those grants was Peter's Colony, which covered much of north central Texas including sections of Allen.

The growth that took place in the 1840's and 1850's came to a halt with the start of the Civil War. Collin County overwhelmingly voted against secession. Many of the area settlers who were from the border states such as Kentucky and Tennessee did not consider secession a viable alternative. However, Texas had voted to secede. The Allen area was directly affected by the Civil War because of its natural surroundings. The abundantly flowing springs along Mustang Branch were a sufficient distance east of the known stage routes to make the surrounding thickets in the area a tempting hideout for renegades.

As the Civil War drew to a close, agricultural focus was on cattle since crops would rot before they would reach their destination. Before the railroad, steers were driven to markets in the north along the Shawnee Trail, which is currently Preston Road. After the war, the Houston, Texas and Central was able to construct a rail line from Dallas to Denison. Upon completion, it eliminated the need for the stage line that ran from McKinney to Dallas in a route that follows the existing Greenville Avenue. The railroad needed a water supply for their steam engines and, in 1874, purchased land, currently located at Allen Station Park, to create a lagoon to store water. The water was conveyed to a storage tank that was located along the track. The stone dam and the pillars for the tank are still visible today.

Theodore Kosse, and engineer for the railroad, platted the town of Allen in 1876. The town was named for Ebenezer Allen, the last Secretary of State for the Republic of Texas and later an Attorney General for the State of Texas.

In 1876, the town's first post office was opened, and as Allen prospered, it began to attract outlaws. Sam Bass and his gang committed the first successful train robbery in Texas on Friday night, February 21, 1878. The Texas Rangers pursued the gang to Round Rock, where Bass was killed.

By 1884, Allen had a population estimated at 350 people, three churches, a school, a chair factory, and a flour mill. As Allen grew, a lack of roads and automobiles caused a need for a mass transit system. The Texas Traction Company built an electric "interurban" line through Allen in 1908, which because a valuable community resource. This system increased the mobility of mail and passengers to other cities. The Interurban closed on December 31, 1948 and the original station still stands along Butler Drive.

The City of Allen was incorporated in 1953 and Virgil Watson was elected the first mayor. One of his first accomplishments was the acquisition of a privately-owned water system using an artesian well. New water mains and fire hydrants were installed. Steps were taken to install a sewer system, allowing residents to convert from septic tanks and outhouses to indoor plumbing.

In the 1950's the State Highway Department indicated it would build a new highway from Dallas to Denison if local towns could obtain the necessary right-of-way. One of Allen's first City Council members, Oscar Lynge spearheaded this successful effort. When US 75 was constructed in 1960, it provided a critical link to the City of Dallas.

The relocation of high technology companies to the North Dallas and Richardson areas in the 1960's drastically increased employment opportunities for Allen's citizens, and the population rose to 8,324 in 1980.

Allen's first Comprehensive Plan was approved in 1985. A highly successful bond program further equipped the town with an infrastructure that encouraged growth.

The 1990 telecommunications boom pushed another population explosion in Allen and the surrounding area. While the 1990 census indicated a population of 19,198, at the end of 2003, the population total was 64,663.

More Information

Allen City Television (ACTV-15) has produced an excellent documentary, "A Short History of Allen, Texas" covering the history of the City and surrounding area. They are currently testing several video-on-demand programs over the internet, and this video is available at http://www.cityofallen.org/city6/history-vod.htm.

The City was incorporated on June 20th, 1953, and was granted Home Rule Status on January 20th, 1979. The city government is a Council/Manager form.