McKinney, TX

Located on the northeastern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, McKinney is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. The town's population has grown from 21,283 in 1990 to more than 115,000 today. Construction in recent years has focused on sustainable buildings, with McKinney being home to the first sustainable school in Texas. Two experimental Wal-Mart buildings in McKinney feature solar panels, facilities to harvest rainwater, and wind turbines.

McKinney serves as the county seat for Collin County, and its historic downtown square features many restored buildings from the past century. New retail growth has accompanied the population increase of the last two decades, making McKinney a vibrant mix of classic and modern architectural styles.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

McKinney has developed a diverse business base, mixing retail with office and manufacturing. Employers include:

• Raytheon
• Blockbuster
• Lattimore Materials
• Encore Wire
• McKinney Medical Center
• United American Insurance
• Timber Blind Manufacturing
• Orthofix
• Simpson Strong-Tie.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Because of the population boom in recent decades, McKinney has a wide variety of housing options. Real estate in McKinney is reasonably priced, with the median cost of homes and condominiums falling below the national average. For neighborhoods without a homeowner's association, the city council enacted the PRIDE (Promoting Resident Involvement, Development, and Enthusiasm) program to facilitate communication between city government and neighborhood residents.

The older part of McKinney is in a area bordered by West Virginia Street, N. McDonald St., W. University Dr., and Highway 75, and features a large historic district with many old homes. The center of the historic downtown is the old Collin County Courthouse, now the McKinney Performing Arts Center, a live performance venue. Downtown is the scene for many annual street events, such as a Mardi Gras dog parade and Halloween trick-or-treating.

McKinney is home to four high schools and the Central Park Campus of Collin College on W. University Drive. The campus has undergone an expansion project and includes a new parking garage, clock tower, and library facilities.

GETTING AROUND

The Collin County Regional Airport is a travel hub for corporate clients such as Texas Instruments, McKinney Aerospace, and North Dallas Aviation. The airport has more than 450 full-time employees.

Most people in McKinney travel by car, and the area is serviced by three major roads: SH 121, US 75, and US 380. There are plans to use existing rail lines for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) trains to access the city in the future.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The original Collin County Courthouse was converted into the McKinney Performing Arts Center in 2006. Located at the center of the downtown square, this 420-seat theater hosts plays, musical performances, and lectures throughout the year. The building also houses an auditorium, an art gallery, classrooms, and executive suites.

Chestnut Square Historic Village is comprised of ten buildings that represent life from 1850 to 1930. Throughout the year, the village presents Living History Days. These events offer a glimpse into the past with costumed reenactments, stagecoach rides, and demonstrations of period cooking. The Village also hosts a farmers' market during the summer.

The Heard-Craig Center for the Arts hosts performances by the McKinney Youth Theatre and the McKinney Musical Arts Society. A free Music in the Garden concert series is offered in the spring, and guests bring blankets or lawn chairs to enjoy the outdoor concerts.

The North Texas History Center is located in the former post office building and displays historical objects and photographs that date back to the Civil War. It is affiliated with the Farm Museum at Myers Park.

BEST BETS

• The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary has a three-fold purpose: education, conservation, and preservation. To meet these goals, The Heard has a variety of programs, including field trip tours, Scouting activities, summer camps, and science programs for preschoolers and homeschooled children. Features of the park include nature trails, a ropes course, a native plant garden, and a Living Lab. The wildlife sanctuary contains five different habitats.
• Myers Park and Event Center features a gazebo and reception hall, an indoor arena and show barn used for livestock and dog shows, and campsites. The Farm Museum showcases farming techniques and equipment used through the years.

SHOPPING

The historic buildings in the downtown square offer a wide variety of shopping options, including specialty shops, antique dealers, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries that showcase the work of local artists.

Third Monday Trade Days, the largest and longest-running open-air flea market in North Texas, occur on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday prior to the third Monday of each month. Over 300 vendors have booths offering everything from art and collectibles to small pets. Ethnic foods can be sampled at any number of food booths. The event runs year-round, and traffic to the site is typically heavy.

Other shopping venues include El Dorado Plaza and Craig Crossing.

FAMILY FUN

McKinney offers various opportunities for outdoor fun:

• Golfing is available at one of the many courses in McKinney, including Oak Hollow Golf Course, the Golf Club at McKinney, Hank Haney Golf Ranch, and Heritage Ranch and Golf Country.
• The Towne Lake recreational area features a pond with swan paddleboats, miles of walking trails, playgrounds for kids, and picnic pavilions for hosting events.
• Craig Ranch is a sports complex of soccer and baseball fields. The Ballfields stadium is home to the McKinney Marshals and the McKinney Blue Thunder teams and hosts the Mickey Mantle baseball tournament. The Cooper Aerobics Center is also located at Craig Ranch.