North Texas

{{short description|Geographic region of the U.S. state of Texas}} {{about|the region of Texas|the university in Denton|University of North Texas|the soccer team|North Texas SC}} {{Infobox settlement | name = North Texas | official_name = | native_name =  | native_name_lang =  | other_name = | settlement_type = Region | image_skyline = {{multiple image |total_width=290px |perrow=1/1/1 |border=infobox | image1 = Xvixionx 29 April 2006 Dallas Skyline.jpg |image2 = Fort Worth Skyline cropped.jpg | image3 = DenisonTexas1.jpg }} | image_caption = From top, left to right: Downtown Dallas, Downtown Fort Worth, Denison Commercial Historic District | image_flag = | image_seal = | image_shield =  | image_map = North Texas map.png | map_caption = North Texas counties in red | pushpin_map = | coordinates =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Texas}} | subdivision_type2 = Largest city | subdivision_name2 = {{flag|Dallas}} | established_title =  | established_date = | leader_party = | leader_title = | leader_name =  | area_total_km2 =  | area_total_sq_mi =  | area_land_km2 = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_sq_mi =  | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | elevation_max_m = | elevation_max_ft = | elevation_min_m = | elevation_min_ft =  | population_footnotes =  | population_total = 8584519<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hoodcountytexas,erathcountytexas,dentoncountytexas,elliscountytexas,collincountytexas,dallascountytexas/POP060210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hood County, Texas; Erath County, Texas; Denton County, Texas; Ellis County, Texas; Collin County, Texas; Dallas County, Texas|publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/parkercountytexas,palopintocountytexas,navarrocountytexas,kaufmancountytexas,johnsoncountytexas,huntcountytexas/POP060210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Parker County, Texas; Palo Pinto County, Texas; Navarro County, Texas; Kaufman County, Texas; Johnson County, Texas; Hunt County, Texas|publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/baylorcountytexas,archercountytexas,wisecountytexas,tarrantcountytexas,somervellcountytexas,rockwallcountytexas/POP060210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Baylor County, Texas; Archer County, Texas; Wise County, Texas; Tarrant County, Texas; Somervell County, Texas; Rockwall County, Texas|publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/montaguecountytexas,jackcountytexas,hardemancountytexas,foardcountytexas,cottlecountytexas,claycountytexas/POP010210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Montague County, Texas; Jack County, Texas; Hardeman County, Texas; Foard County, Texas; Cottle County, Texas; Clay County, Texas|publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/graysoncountytexas,fannincountytexas,cookecountytexas,youngcountytexas,wilbargercountytexas,wichitacountytexas/POP060210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:Grayson County, Texas; Fannin County, Texas; Cooke County, Texas; Young County, Texas; Wilbarger County, Texas; Wichita County, Texas|publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/taylorcountytexas,jonescountytexas,haskellcountytexas,knoxcountytexas,hamiltoncountytexas/POP060210|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Taylor County, Texas; Jones County, Texas; Haskell County, Texas; Knox County, Texas; Hamilton County, Texas|publisher=Census.gov |date= |accessdate=2022-07-20}}</ref> | population_as_of = 2020 | population_density_km2 =  | population_density_sq_mi =  | timezone1 = | utc_offset1 = | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code_type =  | area_code =  | website =  }}

'''North Texas''' is a term used primarily by residents of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Texas Facts and Figures from the North Texas Commission |url=https://www.ntc-dfw.org/north-texas-1 |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=NTC-DFW |language=en |quote=It is a 9,000-square-mile, 13-county region that is home to 7.5 million people. North Texas is made up of 150 cities – including Dallas and Fort Worth – with 15 of those cities boasting a population of more than 100,000.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TSHA {{!}} Grayson County |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/grayson-county |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=www.tshaonline.org |quote=Grayson County, in north central Texas, is bordered by the Red River and by Fannin, Collin, Denton, and Cooke counties. The county seat, Sherman, which lies approximately sixty-five miles north of Dallas, is part of the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.}}</ref> to refer to a geographic area of Texas, generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, west of Paris, and north of Waco.<ref>{{Cite web |title=North Central Texas Council of Governments |url=https://txregionalcouncil.org/regional-council/north-central-texas-council-of-governments/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=Texas Association of Regional Councils |language=en-US}}</ref> Definitions of the region typically do not include the sparsely populated Panhandle of Texas, which is the northernmost region of Texas bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Counties in the North Central Texas Region of Texas - US Travel Notes |url=https://travelnotes.org/ustravel/texas/north-central-texas.htm |access-date=2022-06-02 |website=travelnotes.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why Grayson County? {{!}} North Texas Regional Airport |url=http://northtexasregionalairport.com/about-grayson-county/ |access-date=2022-06-02 |language=en-US}}</ref>

North Texas is centered upon the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the largest metropolitan area in Texas and the Southern United States. People in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas sometimes use the terms ''Metroplex'', ''DFW'', and ''North Texas'' interchangeably. However, North Texas refers to a much larger area that includes many northern rural counties along the Red River of the South border.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.w5jck.com/maps/map_of_north_texas_counties.html|title=W5JCK Map of North-Central Texas Counties|accessdate=26 March 2023|archive-date=9 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409215509/http://www.w5jck.com/maps/map_of_north_texas_counties.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History== Indigenous tribes in North Texas included the Caddo, Tawakoni, Wichita, Kickapoo, and Comanche.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.collincountyhistory.com/indians.html | title=Indians }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/curious-texas/2020/09/09/what-happened-to-native-american-tribes-that-once-existed-in-north-texas-curious-texas-investigates/|title=What happened to Native American tribes that once existed in North Texas? Curious Texas investigates|date=25 December 2020|website=Dallas News|accessdate=26 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2021/11/tales-from-the-dallas-history-archives-honoring-native-american-heritage-month/|title=Tales from the Dallas History Archives: Honoring Native American Heritage Month|first=Brandon|last=Murray|date=24 November 2021|accessdate=26 March 2023}}</ref> With European colonization, Mexican independence, and Texan independence and annexation to the United States, many of these tribes experienced demographic decline through relocation, slavery, etc. Since European colonization and the independence movements, the North Texas area was settled and most notably developed the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth.

==Climate== The North Texas climate is subtropical with hot summers. It is also continental, characterized by a wide annual temperature range. Average annual precipitation also varies considerably, ranging from less than 28 to more than 48 inches (700–1200 mm). Severe storms are frequent in the spring and summer, as the area lies in the southern section of "tornado alley".

South is the prevailing wind direction, and southerly winds are frequently high and persist for several days. Strong northerly winds often occur during the passage of cold fronts.

Winters can be mild, but northers occur about three times each month, and often are accompanied by sudden drops in temperature. In Dallas, a record-setting 12.8 inches of snow fell in February 2010. Periods of extreme cold that occasionally occur are short-lived, so that even in January mild weather occurs frequently.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iweathernet.com/dfw-weather-records/top-20-snowstorms-dfw|title=Snow: Dallas/Fort Worth's Top-20 Largest Snowfalls on Record|accessdate=26 March 2023}}</ref>

The highest temperatures of summer are associated with fair skies, and moderate to high humidities. Characteristically, hot spells in summer are broken into three- to five-day periods by thunderstorm activity. There are only a few nights each summer when the low temperature exceeds 80 °F (27 °C). Summer daytime temperatures frequently exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Air conditioners are recommended for maximum comfort indoors and while traveling via automobile.

Throughout the year, rainfall occurs more frequently during the night. Usually, periods of rainy weather last for only a day or two, and are followed by several days with fair skies. A large part of the annual precipitation results from thunderstorm activity, with occasional heavy rainfall over brief periods of time. Thunderstorms occur throughout the year, but are most frequent in the spring and early summer months. Hail falls on about two or three days a year, ordinarily with only slight and scattered damage. Windstorms occurring during thunderstorm activity are sometimes destructive. Snowfall is uncommon.

The average length of the warm season (freeze-free period) is about 249 days. The average last occurrence of 32 °F (0 °C) or below is mid March and the average first occurrence of 32 °F or below is in late November.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weather.gov/fwd/dnarrative | title=DFW Climate Narrative }}</ref>

==Counties== Although the terms "Northeastern Texas" or "North Texas" are not official state designations, the Texas State Data Center and Office of the State Demographer lists the following counties as belonging to the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG):<ref name=autogenerated1>{{Cite web|url=http://txsdc.utsa.edu/tpepp/cog_list.php|title=Counties by Regional Councils of Governments|accessdate=26 March 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nctcog.org/regional_map.asp|title=www.NCTCOG.org|accessdate=26 March 2023|archive-date=17 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517162602/http://www.nctcog.org/regional_map.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{col-begin|width=40%}} {{col-break}} *Collin *Dallas *Denton *Ellis *Erath *Hood *Hunt {{col-break}} *Johnson *Kaufman *Navarro *Palo Pinto *Parker *Rockwall {{col-break}} *Somervell *Tarrant *Wise {{col-end}}

The Texas State Demographer also lists the following regional county groupings, some or all of which are often included in the informal meaning of the terms "North Texas" or "North Central Texas".

{{col-begin|width=50%}} {{col-break}} Nortex Regional Planning Commission:<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nortexrpc.org/sp/counties/main.htm |title=Counties |access-date=2008-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120082540/http://www.nortexrpc.org/sp/counties/main.htm |archive-date=2008-11-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Archer *Baylor *Clay *Cottle *Foard *Hardeman *Jack *Montague *Wichita *Wilbarger *Young

{{col-break}} Texoma Council of Governments:<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref>[http://www.texoma.cog.tx.us/ Texoma Council of Governments]</ref> *Cooke *Fannin *Grayson {{col-end}}

Additionally, some other Texas counties contiguous with those named above are sometimes included in the general meaning of "North Texas".

==Major cities== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0;" ! City ! Population (2023) ! State rank ! U.S. rank |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Dallas | 1,259,404 | 3 | 9 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120x120px Fort Worth | 1,029,221 | 4 | 11 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Arlington | 405,995 | 7 | 49 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Plano |291,450 | 9 | 69 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Garland | 235,293 | 12 | 91 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Irving | 248,931 | 13 | 93 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Grand Prairie | 199,395 | 15 | 127 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px McKinney | 214,302 | 17 | 155 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Frisco | 227,528 | 18 | 162 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" |120px Mesquite | 143,792 | 20 | 181 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Carrollton | 132,935 | 23 | 197 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Denton | 160,564 | 26 | 202 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Richardson | 113,613 | 32 | 255 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Wichita Falls | 103,687 | 35 | 285 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Lewisville | 114,170 | 36 | 288 |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Allen | 109,411 | 40 | |- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | 120px Flower Mound | 79,102 | 50 | |- |}

==Other cities and towns== {{col-begin|width=40%}} {{col-break}} *Addison *Aledo *Alma *Alvarado *Alvord *Angus *Anna *Annetta *Annetta North *Annetta South *Archer City *Argyle *Aubrey *Aurora *Azle *Bailey *Balch Springs *Bardwell *Barry *Bartonville *Bedford *Bellevue *Bells *Benbrook *Blooming Grove *Blue Mound *Blue Ridge *Bonham *Bowie *Boyd *Brazos Bend *Breckenridge *Briaroaks *Bridgeport *Bryson *Burkburnett *Burleson *Byers *Caddo Mills *Callisburg *Campbell *Cashion Community *Cedar Hill *Celeste *Celina *Chico *Chillicothe *Cleburne *Cockrell Hill *Colleyville {{col-break}} *Collinsville *Commerce *Cool *Copper Canyon *Combine *Coppell *Corinth *Corral City *Corsicana *Cottonwood *Coyote Flats *Crandall *Cresson *Cross Roads *Cross Timber *Crowell *Crowley *Dalworthington Gardens *Dawson *Decatur *Dean *DeCordova *Denison *DeSoto *Dish *Dodd City *Dorchester *Double Oak *Dublin *Duncanville *Eagle Mountain *Ector *Edgecliff Village *Elizabethtown *Emhouse *Ennis *Euless *Eureka *Everman *Fairview *Farmers Branch *Farmersville *Fate *Ferris *Forest Hill *Forney *Frost *Gainesville *Garrett *Glen Rose {{col-break}} *Glenn Heights *Godley *Goodlow *Gordon *Graford *Graham *Granbury *Grandview *Grapevine *Greenville *Gunter *Hackberry *Haltom City *Haslet *Hawk Cove *Heath *Hebron *Henrietta *Hickory Creek *Highland Park *Highland Village *Holliday *Honey Grove *Howe *Hudson Oaks *Hurst *Hutchins *Iowa Park *Italy *Jacksboro *Jolly *Josephine *Joshua *Justin *Kaufman *Keene *Keller *Kemp *Kennedale *Kerens *Knollwood *Krugerville *Ladonia *Lancaster *Lake Bridgeport *Lake Dallas *Lake Worth *Lakeside *Lakeside City *Lakewood Village {{col-break}} *Lavon *Leonard *Lincoln Park *Lindsay *Lipan *Little Elm *Lone Oak *Lowry Crossing *Lucas *Mabank *Mansfield *Maypearl *Megargel *McLendon-Chisholm *Melissa *Meridian *Midlothian *Mildred *Milford *Millsap *Mineral Wells *Mingus *Mobile City *Muenster *Murphy *Mustang *Navarro *Nevada *New Fairview *New Hope *Newark *Newcastle *Neylandville *Nocona *Northlake *North Richland Hills *Oak Grove *Oak Leaf *Oak Point *Oak Ridge (Cooke County) *Oak Ridge (Kaufman County) *Oak Valley *Olney *Ovilla *Paducah *Palmer *Pantego *Paradise {{col-break}} *Parker *Pecan Hill *Pelican Bay *Petrolia *Pilot Point *Pleasant Valley *Ponder *Post Oak Bend City *Pottsboro *Powell *Princeton *Prosper *Providence Village *Quanah *Quinlan *Ravenna *Red Oak *Retreat *Rhome *Reno *Rice *Richland *Richland Hills *Rio Vista *River Oaks *Roanoke *Rockwall *Rowlett *Royse City *Runaway Bay *Sachse *Sadler *Saginaw *Sanctuary *Sanger *Sansom Park *Savoy *Seagoville *Scotland *Scurry *Seymour *Shady Shores *Sherman *Southlake *Southmayd *Springtown *St. Jo *St. Paul *Stephenville {{col-break}} *Strawn *Sunnyvale *Talty *Terrell *The Colony *Tioga *Tolar *Tom Bean *Trenton *Trophy Club *Union Valley *University Park *Valley View *Van Alstyne *Venus *Vernon *Waxahachie *Watauga *Weatherford *West Tawakoni *Westlake *Westover Hills *Westworth Village *Whitesboro *White Settlement *Whitewright *Wilmer *Windom *Windthorst *Wolfe City *Wylie {{col-end}}

==Statistical areas== In the North Texas region there is one combined statistical area, three metropolitan areas, and seven micropolitan areas.

===Dallas–Fort Worth TX-OK combined statistical area===

'''Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)''' thumb|Metropolitan divisions in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington MSA: {{Legend|#FF0000|Dallas–Plano–Irving}} {{Legend|#0000FF|Fort Worth–Arlington–Grapevine}} * Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington is the only MSA in Texas subdivided into metropolitan divisions: **Dallas–Plano–Irving (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman, and Rockwall counties) **Fort Worth–Arlington–Grapevine (Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, and Wise counties) * Sherman–Denison (Grayson County)

'''Micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs)''' * Athens (Henderson County) (In East Texas) * Bonham (Fannin County) * Corsicana (Navarro County) * Durant, OK (Bryan County, Oklahoma) (In Oklahoma) * Gainesville (Cooke County) * Granbury (Hood County) * Mineral Wells (Palo Pinto County)

===Wichita Falls area===

'''Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)''' * Wichita Falls (Archer, Clay, Wichita counties) '''Micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs)''' * Vernon (Wilbarger County)

===Other===

'''Micropolitan statistical Areas (μSAs)''' * Stephenville (Erath County)

== Economy ==

===Top employers=== '''Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex'''<ref>[http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/subscriber-only/2016/07/15/largest-employers.html Dallas Business Journal 2016]</ref> {| class="wikitable" ! Company ! No. of employees locally ! Type of business |- | Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | 34,000 | Retail |- | American Airlines | 27,000 | Commercial airline |- | Texas Health Resources | 22,296 | Health care |- | Dallas Independent School District | 19,740 | Education |- | Baylor Health Care System | 16,500 | Health care |} '''Wichita Falls metropolitan area'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tx-wichitafalls.civicplus.com/documents/2/17/18/9-30-11%20CAFR_201203281434446836.pdf|title=City of Wichita CAFR|accessdate=26 March 2023|archive-date=10 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810051133/http://tx-wichitafalls.civicplus.com/documents/2/17/18/9-30-11%20CAFR_201203281434446836.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! # ! Employer ! # of Employees |- |1 | Sheppard Air Force Base |12,272 |- |2 | Wichita Falls Independent School District |2,059 |- |3 | North Texas State Hospital |1,974 |- |4 | United Regional Health Care System |1,778 |- |5 | City of Wichita Falls |1,477 |- |6 | Midwestern State University |1,284 |- |7 | James V. Allred Unit |971 |- |8 | Cryovac |732 |- |9 | Work Services Corporation |730 |- |10 | Howmet Castings |704 |} '''Sherman–Denison metropolitan area'''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.denisontx.org/community/Employers |title=Sherman-Denison Employers |access-date=2016-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611161823/http://www.denisontx.org/community/Employers |archive-date=2015-06-11 |url-status=dead }}</ref> {|class="wikitable" |- ! # ! Employer ! # of Employees |- |1 |Tyson Foods |1,400 |- |2 |Texoma Health Systems |1,375 |- |3 |Texas Instruments |1,200 |- |4 |Cigna |1,000 |- |5 |Wilson N Jones Health Systems |1,000 |- |}

==Colleges and universities== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |+Public universities |- !School !Enrollment !Location !Mascot !Athletic affiliation (conference) !University system |- | 120px East Texas A&M University | 10,966 | Commerce | Lions | NCAA Division I FCS (Southland) | Texas A&M University System |- | 120px The University of North Texas | 46,940 | Denton | Mean Green | NCAA Division I FBS (American) | University of North Texas System |- | 120px University of Texas at Arlington | 40,990 | Arlington, Fort Worth | Mavericks | NCAA Division I (WAC) ''Non–Football'' | University of Texas System |- | 120px University of Texas at Dallas | 30,885 | Richardson | Comets | NCAA Division III (American Southwest) ''Non–Football'' | University of Texas System |- | 120px Texas Woman's University | 15,472 | Denton | Pioneers | NCAA Division II (Lone Star) ''Women's sports only'' | Independent |- | 120px Tarleton State University | 14,092 | Stephenville, Fort Worth | Texans | NCAA Division I FCS (WAC) | Texas A&M University System |- | 120px Midwestern State University | 6,102 | Wichita Falls | Mustangs | NCAA Division II (Lone Star) | Texas Tech University System |- | 120px University of North Texas at Dallas | 3,513 | Dallas | Trailblazers | NAIA (Sooner) ''Non–Football'' | University of North Texas System |} {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |+Private universities |- !School !Enrollment !Location !Mascot !Athletic affiliation (conference) |- | 120px Southern Methodist University | 11,643 | University Park | Mustangs | NCAA Division I FBS (American) |- | Texas Christian University | 10,323 | Fort Worth | Horned Frogs | NCAA Division I FBS (Big 12) |- | 120px Dallas Baptist University | 5,445 | Dallas | Patriots | NCAA Division II (Lone Star) ''Non–Football, compete in the Missouri Valley Conference at the Division I level for baseball'' |- | 120px Texas Wesleyan University | 3,378 | Fort Worth | Rams | NAIA (Sooner) |- | 120px University of Dallas | 2,576 | Irving | [http://www.udallasathletics.com/landing/index Crusaders] | NCAA Division III (SCAC) ''Non–Football, compete in Texas Rugby Union at the Division II level for Rugby'' |- | 120px Southwestern Assemblies of God University | 2,012 | Waxahachie | Lions | NAIA NCCAA (Sooner) |- | 120px Austin College | 1,224 | Sherman | Roos | NCAA Division III (SCAC) ''Compete in the Southern Athletic Association for football'' |- | 120px Paul Quinn College | 600 | Dallas | Tigers | NAIA (Red River) ''Non–Football''

==Sports== The North Texas region has teams from the four major professional sports leagues. Major professional sports first came to the area in 1960, when the Dallas Cowboys began competing in the National Football League and the Dallas Texans began competing in the American Football League. (The Texans later relocated to Kansas City and became the Chiefs). In 1972, Major League Baseball's Washington Senators moved to Arlington to become the Texas Rangers, named after the statewide law enforcement agency. The National Basketball Association expanded into North Texas in 1980 when the Dallas Mavericks were added to the league. The fourth sport was added in 1993 when the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League moved to Dallas, becoming the Dallas Stars.

The Major League Soccer team FC Dallas is based in Frisco, and the Dallas Wings of the WNBA plays in Arlington. The area is also home to many minor league professional teams and four colleges that compete in NCAA Division I athletics.

===Major professional sports teams=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Club ! Sport ! Founded ! League ! Venue |- | 120px Dallas Cowboys | Football | 1960 | NFL | AT&T Stadium |- | 120px Texas Rangers | Baseball | 1972^ | MLB | Globe Life Field |- | 120px Dallas Mavericks | Basketball | 1980 | NBA | American Airlines Center |- | 120px Dallas Stars | Hockey | 1993^ | NHL | American Airlines Center |- | 120px FC Dallas | Soccer | 1996 | MLS | Toyota Stadium |- | 120px Dallas Wings | Basketball | 2015^ | WNBA | College Park Center |} ^- Indicates year team relocated to the area

===Other professional teams=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Club ! Sport ! Founded ! League ! Venue |- | Allen Americans | Hockey | 2009 | ECHL | Credit Union of Texas Event Center |- | Dallas Jackals | Rugby union | 2022 | Major League Rugby | Choctaw Stadium |- | Dallas Sidekicks | Indoor soccer | 2012 | Major Arena Soccer League | Credit Union of Texas Event Center |- | Frisco Fighters | Indoor football | 2021 | Indoor Football League | Comerica Center |- | Frisco RoughRiders | Baseball | 2003^ | Texas League | Riders Field |- | Fort Worth Vaqueros FC | Soccer | 2014 | National Premier Soccer League | W.O. Barnes Stadium |- | Texas Legends | Basketball | 2010^ | NBA G League | Comerica Center |} ^- Indicates year team relocated to the area

===Division I college teams=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! School ! City ! Mascot ! Conference |- | 120px University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | Mavericks | Sun Belt Conference |- | 120px University of North Texas | Denton | Mean Green | Conference USA |- | 120px Southern Methodist University | University Park | Mustangs | American Athletic Conference |- | 120px Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | Horned Frogs | Big 12 Conference |- |120px Texas A&M University–Commerce |Commerce |Lions |Southland Conference |- | 120px Dallas Baptist University | Dallas | Patriots | Missouri Valley Conference (baseball only) |} The headquarters for both the Big 12 and Conference USA are located in Irving, and the Southland Conference headquarters are in Frisco.

==Transportation== ===Commercial airports=== thumb|Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport *Dallas Love Field *Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport *Wichita Falls Municipal Airport

===Public transit=== thumb|Dallas Area Rapid Transit *Dallas Area Rapid Transit *Denton County Transportation Authority *[http://www.wichitafallstx.gov/339/Falls-Ride---Public-Transportation Falls Ride] *Trinity Metro *[http://tapsbus.com/ TAPS] *STAR Transit

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Regions of Texas