Irving, Texas
Encyclopedia
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state
of Texas
within Dallas County
. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated by the U.S. Census Bureau and colloquially referred to as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Irving contains the Las Colinas
area, which was one of the first master-planned developments in the United States and once the largest mixed-use development in the Southwest with a land area of more than 12000 acre (4,856 ha). Las Colinas includes the Mustangs at Las Colinas
, which is the largest equestrian sculpture in the world. A 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) tract in Las Colinas is home to the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
, completed in January 2011.
The Dallas Cowboys
played at the now-demolished Texas Stadium
in Irving from 1971 to 2008. The city plans to build an extensive mixed-use project that spans State Highway 114 on the site. The lead developer is Forest City Enterprises
, which is rehabilitating the old Mercantile complex
in downtown Dallas into a Rockefeller Center
-style mixed-use project.
Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which serves the cities of Dallas
and Fort Worth
, is inside the city limits of Irving.
was a favorite of Netta Barcus Brown, and consequently the name of the townsite, Irving, was chosen. Irving originally began in 1889 as an area called Gorbit, and in 1894 the name changed to Kit. Irving was incorporated April 14, 1914, with Otis Brown as the first mayor.
By the late nineteenth century the Irving area was the site of churches, two cotton gin
s, a blacksmith
shop and a general store. The Irving district public school system dates back to the 1909 establishment of Kit and Lively schools. Population growth was slow and sometimes halting, with only 357 residents in 1925, but a significant increase began in the 1930s.
By the early 1960s the city had a population of approximately 45,000. A number of manufacturing
plants operated in Irving, along with transportation, retail
and financial
businesses. The University of Dallas
in Irving opened in 1956, and Texas Stadium
was completed in 1971 as the home field of the Dallas Cowboys
.
Delta Air Lines Flight 191
crashed in Irving on August 2, 1985.
Irving's population reached 155,037 in 1990 and the 2010 Census counted 216,290 residents. Former Irving City Council member Mayor Herbert Gears was elected to a three-year term in June, 2005 and re-elected in May, 2008 defeating Roland Jeter and Rigo Reza.
Joseph Rice recorded the history of Irving in his 1989 book, Irving: A Texas Odyssey (Northridge, California: Windsor Publications ISBN 978-0897813006). Rice explored Irving's past and culture in his treatment of the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 67.7 square miles (175.3 km²), of which, 67.2 square miles (174 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.65%) is water.
Irving is considered to be part of the humid subtropical region.
of 2000, there were 191,615 people, 76,241 households, and 46,202 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,850.2 people per square mile (1,100.4/km²). There were 80,293 housing units at an average density of 1,194.3 per square mile (461.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.2% White, 10.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 8.24% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 13.4% from other races
, and 3.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.2% of the population.
There were 76,241 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 39.4% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,956, and the median income for a family was $50,172. Males had a median income of $35,852 versus $30,420 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $23,419. About 8.0% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
In 2009 Irving had a city council that was entirely at-large. While Irving has a large population of racial minorities, the entire city council and the mayor's office, was entirely non-Hispanic White. Manny Benavidez, a resident of Irving, filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court in November 2007, saying that the voting system was not in compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act. On July 15, 2009, a federal judge ruled that Irving is required to create a new electoral system so that racial minority representatives may be voted into office. In 2010 elections, which included one at-large seat and two district-seats, three new council members were elected, replacing two incumbents and adding a newly created seat. Among the three new council members were two minority council members.
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $344.9 million in Revenues, $301.4 million in expenditures, $1,222 million in total assets, $490 million in total liabilities, and $339.9 million in cash and investments.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
operates post offices in Irving. The Irving Main Post Office is located at 2701 West Irving Boulevard.
Other post offices in the city include Downtown Irving, Carl Range, Central Irving, Las Colinas, and Valley Ranch.
Several large businesses have headquarters in Irving, including Archon Group, Chuck E. Cheese's
, Commercial Metals
, ExxonMobil
, Gruma
,, Hostess Brands, Kimberly-Clark
, La Quinta Inns and Suites, Michaels Stores
, Omni Hotels, Southern Star Concrete, Inc.
, Xero Hour, Zale Corporation
, Fluor Corporation, NCH Corporation
,, Schnee-Morehead Inc , and LXI Enterprise Storage.. Freedom Airlines
, a regional airline and Mesa Air Group
subsidiary, is headquartered in Irving. The city is also home to the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America
.
and NEC Corporation of America
are located in Irving.
The American headquarters of Research In Motion
(manufacturer of the BlackBerry
Smartphone) is located in Irving.
(IISD). Other portions are served by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
(CFBISD), and Coppell Independent School District
(CISD).
The major high schools serving the Irving area are:
In 2001, 1,000 of CFBISD's 25,000 students resided in the City of Irving.
Uplift Education
, a charter school operator, has its administrative offices in Irving. Uplift has several charter school campuses in Irving, including Infinity Preparatory (K-1, 6), and North Hills Preparatory (K-12).
The Quest School, a K-9 Honors Academy
school, is in Irving.
Winfree Academy Public Charter School is also located in Irving.
, a university-preparatory school
for boys, grades 5 through 12. Irving is also home to The Highlands School
, a university-preparatory school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Two Catholic Pre-K through 8th grade schools, St. Luke's and Holy Family of Nazareth, are also located in Irving. Irving also is home to the Islamic School of Irving (ISI)(Pre-K to 12)
and North Lake College
, a campus of the Dallas County Community College District
. Both University of Phoenix
and DeVry University
have a campus in Irving, as well.
, the former home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys
. The stadium was demolished on April 11, 2010. Irving Independent School District
(IISD) high schools play football
and other sports at Irving Schools Stadium. Irving sponsors a citywide high-school age ice hockey
team, the Irving Wolfpack of the D/FW Junior Varsity GOLD league. Also, in the spring, the Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas
hosts the HP Byron Nelson Championship, an annual PGA Tour
event.
crosses the northern edge of the city in the same direction. John Carpenter Freeway, SH 114, and the President George Bush Turnpike
create an X running northwest-to-southeast and southwest-to-northeast respectively. The Las Colinas area is centered near the intersection of 114 and the Bush turnpike.
Irving is one of 13 member-cities of the Dallas region's transit agency, Dallas Area Rapid Transit
(DART). Currently, Irving is served by numerous bus routes and has two stops along the Trinity Railway Express route. In addition, DART is constructing the through Irving and Las Colinas to DFW Airport. This will connect northern Irving with Dallas through rail in addition to existing bus routes.
The Las Colinas Urban Center is served by the Las Colinas APT System
, a people mover connecting businesses and entertainment areas.
Tony Romo, professional football player
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
within Dallas County
Dallas County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,218,899 people, 807,621 households, and 533,837 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,523 people per square mile . There were 854,119 housing units at an average density of 971/sq mi...
. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated by the U.S. Census Bureau and colloquially referred to as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
Irving contains the Las Colinas
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is an upscale, developed area in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas.Due to its central location between Dallas and Fort Worth and its proximity to DFW Airport, Las Colinas has been a viable place in the Metroplex for corporate and business relocation.As a planned community, it has many...
area, which was one of the first master-planned developments in the United States and once the largest mixed-use development in the Southwest with a land area of more than 12000 acre (4,856 ha). Las Colinas includes the Mustangs at Las Colinas
Mustangs at Las Colinas
Mustangs at Las Colinas is a bronze sculpture by Robert Glen, that decorates Williams Square in Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. It is said to be the largest equestrian sculpture in the world....
, which is the largest equestrian sculpture in the world. A 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) tract in Las Colinas is home to the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
Opened in January 2011, the Irving Convention Center is a facility located on a tract in Las Colinas Urban Center in Irving, Texas. The convention center and the adjoining mixed use entertainment district are bordered on the west by Highway 114, on the east by Las Colinas Boulevard, on the north...
, completed in January 2011.
The Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
played at the now-demolished Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
in Irving from 1971 to 2008. The city plans to build an extensive mixed-use project that spans State Highway 114 on the site. The lead developer is Forest City Enterprises
Forest City Enterprises
Forest City Enterprises is a $9-billion diversified real estate management and development company based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Its portfolio includes interests in retail centers, apartment communities, office buildings and mixed-use projects in the U.S...
, which is rehabilitating the old Mercantile complex
Mercantile National Bank Building
The Mercantile National Bank Building is the former home of the Mercantile National Bank, later MCorp Bank, located at 1700 Main Street in downtown Dallas, Texas . It is a contributing structure in the Main Street District. The design of the skyscraper features Moderne styling from the Art Deco...
in downtown Dallas into a Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering between 48th and 51st streets in New York City, United States. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National...
-style mixed-use project.
Part of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, which serves the cities of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, is inside the city limits of Irving.
History
Irving was founded in 1903 by J.O. "Otto" Schulze and Otis Brown. It is believed that literary author Washington IrvingWashington Irving
Washington Irving was an American author, essayist, biographer and historian of the early 19th century. He was best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works...
was a favorite of Netta Barcus Brown, and consequently the name of the townsite, Irving, was chosen. Irving originally began in 1889 as an area called Gorbit, and in 1894 the name changed to Kit. Irving was incorporated April 14, 1914, with Otis Brown as the first mayor.
By the late nineteenth century the Irving area was the site of churches, two cotton gin
Cotton gin
A cotton gin is a machine that quickly and easily separates cotton fibers from their seeds, a job formerly performed painstakingly by hand...
s, a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop and a general store. The Irving district public school system dates back to the 1909 establishment of Kit and Lively schools. Population growth was slow and sometimes halting, with only 357 residents in 1925, but a significant increase began in the 1930s.
By the early 1960s the city had a population of approximately 45,000. A number of manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
plants operated in Irving, along with transportation, retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
and financial
FINANCIAL
FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
businesses. The University of Dallas
University of Dallas
The University of Dallas is a private, independent Catholic regional university located in Irving, Texas, established in 1956, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. According to U.S...
in Irving opened in 1956, and Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
was completed in 1971 as the home field of the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
.
Delta Air Lines Flight 191
Delta Air Lines Flight 191
Delta Air Lines Flight 191 was an airline service from Fort Lauderdale, Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, bound for Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, by way of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport...
crashed in Irving on August 2, 1985.
Irving's population reached 155,037 in 1990 and the 2010 Census counted 216,290 residents. Former Irving City Council member Mayor Herbert Gears was elected to a three-year term in June, 2005 and re-elected in May, 2008 defeating Roland Jeter and Rigo Reza.
Joseph Rice recorded the history of Irving in his 1989 book, Irving: A Texas Odyssey (Northridge, California: Windsor Publications ISBN 978-0897813006). Rice explored Irving's past and culture in his treatment of the city.
Geography
Irving is located at 32°50′50"N 96°57′59"W (32.847128, -96.966255).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 67.7 square miles (175.3 km²), of which, 67.2 square miles (174 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (0.65%) is water.
Climate
- On average, the warmest month is July.
- The highest recorded temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) in 1980.
- The average coolest month is January.
- The lowest recorded temperature was 1 °F (-17 °C) in 1989.
- May is the average wettest month.
Irving is considered to be part of the humid subtropical region.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 191,615 people, 76,241 households, and 46,202 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,850.2 people per square mile (1,100.4/km²). There were 80,293 housing units at an average density of 1,194.3 per square mile (461.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.2% White, 10.2% African American, 0.7% Native American, 8.24% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 13.4% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.2% of the population.
There were 76,241 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.19.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 39.4% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,956, and the median income for a family was $50,172. Males had a median income of $35,852 versus $30,420 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $23,419. About 8.0% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
Prior to the November 2008 elections, Irving banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in stores, making it the largest in population dry suburb in North Texas. In 2004 the pro-alcohol measure failed with 63% of voters opposing the measure. In 2006, 52% voted against the measure. On the third attempt, with heavy monetary backing by retailers, voters narrowly voted in favor of the measure in 2008. People in favor of changing Irving's liquor laws saw the interest in the 2008 United States Presidential Election as a catalyst for changing the laws in their favor.In 2009 Irving had a city council that was entirely at-large. While Irving has a large population of racial minorities, the entire city council and the mayor's office, was entirely non-Hispanic White. Manny Benavidez, a resident of Irving, filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court in November 2007, saying that the voting system was not in compliance with the 1965 Voting Rights Act. On July 15, 2009, a federal judge ruled that Irving is required to create a new electoral system so that racial minority representatives may be voted into office. In 2010 elections, which included one at-large seat and two district-seats, three new council members were elected, replacing two incumbents and adding a newly created seat. Among the three new council members were two minority council members.
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $344.9 million in Revenues, $301.4 million in expenditures, $1,222 million in total assets, $490 million in total liabilities, and $339.9 million in cash and investments.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| City Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Tommy Gonzalez |
| Animal Services | Fred Sanderson |
| Capital Improvement Program | Casey Tate |
| City Attorney | Charles Anderson |
| City Secretary, Acting | Shanae Jennings |
| Code Enforcement, Acting | Chris Hooper |
| Community Services | Paul Gooch |
| Corporate Communications | Laurie Kunke |
| Financial Services | Max Duplant, Chief Financial Officer |
| Fire Chief | Mario Molina |
| Housing and Human Services | Chris Hooper |
| Irving Arts Board | Richard Huff |
| Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau | Maura Gast |
| Library | Chris Dobson |
| Municipal Court | Wayne Lambert |
| Parks and Recreation | Ray Cerda |
| Performance | Lynda Johnson, Chief Performance Officer |
| Police Chief | Larry Boyd |
| Public Works | Ramiro Lopez |
| Real Estate and Development | Teresa Adrian |
| Solid Waste Services | Brenda Haney |
| Strategic Services | Bradley Perrier |
| Transportation and Transportation | Dan Vedral |
| Water Utilities | Todd Reck |
Federal representation
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates post offices in Irving. The Irving Main Post Office is located at 2701 West Irving Boulevard.
Other post offices in the city include Downtown Irving, Carl Range, Central Irving, Las Colinas, and Valley Ranch.
Economy
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citigroup Citigroup Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate... , Inc. |
5,000 |
| 2 | Citi Financial | 4,000 |
| 3 | Verizon | 3,000 |
| 4 | Citicorp Credit Services Citigroup Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate... |
2,684 |
| 5 | Allstate Allstate The Allstate Corporation is the second-largest personal lines insurer in the United States and the largest that is publicly held. The company also has personal lines insurance operations in Canada. Allstate was founded in 1931 as part of Sears, Roebuck and Co., and was spun off in 1993... |
2,000 |
| 6 | Central Freight Lines | 2,000 |
| 7 | YRC Worldwide YRC Worldwide YRC Worldwide Inc. is the holding company for a portfolio of brands including YRC, YRC Reimer, New Penn, USF Holland and USF Reddaway. YRC Worldwide has a comprehensive network in North America with local, regional, national and international capabilities... |
1,941 |
| 8 | Microsoft Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions... |
1,200 |
| 9 | Baylor Medical Center at Irving | 1,165 |
| 10 | Archon Group | 1,000 |
Several large businesses have headquarters in Irving, including Archon Group, Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's
Chuck E. Cheese's is a chain of family entertainment centers. Chuck E...
, Commercial Metals
Commercial Metals Company
Commercial Metals Company , based in Irving, Texas, is a United States based steel and metal manufacturer founded in 1915. It owns four steel minimills in Texas, Alabama, South Carolina and Arkansas, one copper minimill in Virginia, fabricators, and recyclers in the United States and CMC...
, ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation or ExxonMobil, is an American multinational oil and gas corporation. It is a direct descendant of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil company, and was formed on November 30, 1999, by the merger of Exxon and Mobil. Its headquarters are in Irving, Texas...
, Gruma
Gruma
Gruma is the largest manufacturer of corn flour and tortillas in the world. Its brand names include Mission , Maseca, and Guerrero. Founded in 1949 as "Molinos Azteca, S.A.", the company is now based in Monterrey, Mexico and has subsidiaries in the United States, China, England, Central America,...
,, Hostess Brands, Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation is an American corporation that produces mostly paper-based consumer products. Kimberly-Clark brand name products include "Kleenex" facial tissue, "Kotex" feminine hygiene products, "Cottonelle", Scott and Andrex toilet paper, Wypall utility wipes, "KimWipes"...
, La Quinta Inns and Suites, Michaels Stores
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
, Omni Hotels, Southern Star Concrete, Inc.
Southern Star Concrete, Inc.
Southern Star Concrete, Inc. or simply Southern Star is a concrete supply business headquartered in Irving, Texas. Southern Star is owned by Cementos Argos S.A., the largest cement producer in Colombia, South America...
, Xero Hour, Zale Corporation
Zale Corporation
The Zale Corporation is, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, a leading specialty retailer of jewelry in North America. The Zale Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 1993...
, Fluor Corporation, NCH Corporation
NCH Corporation
NCH Corporation is a major international marketer of maintenance products, and one of the largest companies in the world to sell such products through direct marketing. NCH's products include specialty chemicals, fasteners, welding supplies, pet products, and plumbing parts...
,, Schnee-Morehead Inc , and LXI Enterprise Storage.. Freedom Airlines
Freedom Airlines
Freedom Airlines, Inc. was an American FAA Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number FDKA087K issued on April 1, 2002. The Nevada Corporation is headquartered in Irving, Texas and is a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group...
, a regional airline and Mesa Air Group
Mesa Air Group
Mesa Air Group, Inc. is a Nevada Corporation commercial aviation holding company with headquarters in Suite 100 at 410 North 44th Street in the Camelback East area of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The company operates one regional airline subsidiary: Mesa Airlines, and five supporting...
subsidiary, is headquartered in Irving. The city is also home to the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
.
Subsidiaries of foreign companies
The headquarters of Nokia AmericaNokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
and NEC Corporation of America
NEC Corporation of America
NEC Corporation of America is the principal subsidiary of the multinational IT company NEC in the United States.NEC Corporation of America was formed on 1 July 2006, from the combined operations of NEC America, NEC Solutions America and NEC USA.-History:...
are located in Irving.
The American headquarters of Research In Motion
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
(manufacturer of the BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
Smartphone) is located in Irving.
Public schools
Most of Irving is served by the Irving Independent School DistrictIrving Independent School District
Irving Independent School District is a school district based in Irving, Texas . The district, which covers , serves most of the city of Irving, except for Valley Ranch and a portion of Las Colinas. The district also serves small portions of Grand Prairie and Dallas.Irving ISD is made up of 81%...
(IISD). Other portions are served by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District
Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District is a school district based in Carrollton, Texas .The district covers most of the cities of Carrollton and Farmers Branch and parts of Addison, Coppell, Dallas, and Irving...
(CFBISD), and Coppell Independent School District
Coppell Independent School District
The Coppell Independent School District is a public school district based in Coppell, Texas .The district includes most of Coppell and small parts of Grapevine, Irving and Lewisville....
(CISD).
The major high schools serving the Irving area are:
- Irving High SchoolIrving High School (Irving, Texas)Irving High School is a public high school in Irving, Texas. It was the first high school established in the Irving Independent School District....
(IISD) - MacArthur High SchoolMacArthur High School (Irving, Texas)MacArthur High school is a public high school in Irving, Texas. It is named for the American General of the Army Douglas MacArthur.In 2009, the school was rated "Academically Acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency. In 2010, the school was rated "Academically Recognized" by the Texas Education...
(IISD) - Nimitz High SchoolNimitz High School (Irving, Texas)Chester W. Nimitz High School is a public high school in the Irving Independent School District, Irving, Texas. It was named for U.S. Navy Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Nimitz High School is one of four public high schools in the Irving Independent School District...
(IISD) - Jack E. Singley Academy (IISD) formerly The Academy of Irving ISD
- Ranchview High SchoolRanchview High SchoolRanchview High School is a secondary school located in Irving, Texas, United States.-Overview:Ranchview High School is a part of Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, although it is located in Valley Ranch within the city limits of Irving. Ranchview has a site which is located...
(CFBISD) - Coppell High SchoolCoppell High SchoolCoppell High School is a 5A high school located in Coppell, Texas . It is part of the Coppell Independent School District located in extreme northwest Dallas County...
(CISD)
In 2001, 1,000 of CFBISD's 25,000 students resided in the City of Irving.
Uplift Education
Uplift Education
Uplift Education is a charter school operator headquartered on the grounds of North Hills Preparatory School in Irving, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Schools:K-12* North Hills Preparatory * Peak Preparatory...
, a charter school operator, has its administrative offices in Irving. Uplift has several charter school campuses in Irving, including Infinity Preparatory (K-1, 6), and North Hills Preparatory (K-12).
The Quest School, a K-9 Honors Academy
Honors Academy
Honors Academy Charter School District is a group of state charter schools with its administrative offices in Farmers Branch, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.-Schools:6-12* Legacy Academy 9-12* Landmark School K-9...
school, is in Irving.
Winfree Academy Public Charter School is also located in Irving.
Private schools
Irving is home to Cistercian Preparatory SchoolCistercian Preparatory School
Cistercian Preparatory School is a Roman Catholic school for boys located in Irving, Texas, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Serving grades five through twelve , the school has a population of about 350 boys...
, a university-preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
for boys, grades 5 through 12. Irving is also home to The Highlands School
The Highlands School
The Highlands School is a private, Catholic college preparatory school in Irving, Texas ranging from grades PK–12. The school was founded in 1986 in the front room of a family's house in Highland Park, Dallas. In the last twenty years The Highlands School changed location twice, all the time...
, a university-preparatory school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Two Catholic Pre-K through 8th grade schools, St. Luke's and Holy Family of Nazareth, are also located in Irving. Irving also is home to the Islamic School of Irving (ISI)(Pre-K to 12)
Colleges and universities
The city is the site of the University of DallasUniversity of Dallas
The University of Dallas is a private, independent Catholic regional university located in Irving, Texas, established in 1956, which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. According to U.S...
and North Lake College
North Lake College
North Lake College is a community college that is part of the Dallas County Community College District and is located in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas between Macarthur Boulevard and Walnut Hill Lane...
, a campus of the Dallas County Community College District
Dallas County Community College District
The Dallas County Community College District is a network of seven community colleges in Dallas County, Texas . It is headquartered at 1601 South Lamar in Dallas....
. Both University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix
The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
and DeVry University
DeVry University
DeVry University and DeVry Institute of Technology are divisions of DeVry Inc , a proprietary, for-profit higher education organization that is also the parent organization for Keller Graduate School of Management, Ross University, American University of the Caribbean, Apollo College, Western...
have a campus in Irving, as well.
Sports
Irving was the home of Texas StadiumTexas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
, the former home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. The stadium was demolished on April 11, 2010. Irving Independent School District
Irving Independent School District
Irving Independent School District is a school district based in Irving, Texas . The district, which covers , serves most of the city of Irving, except for Valley Ranch and a portion of Las Colinas. The district also serves small portions of Grand Prairie and Dallas.Irving ISD is made up of 81%...
(IISD) high schools play football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and other sports at Irving Schools Stadium. Irving sponsors a citywide high-school age ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team, the Irving Wolfpack of the D/FW Junior Varsity GOLD league. Also, in the spring, the Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas
Las Colinas
Las Colinas is an upscale, developed area in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas.Due to its central location between Dallas and Fort Worth and its proximity to DFW Airport, Las Colinas has been a viable place in the Metroplex for corporate and business relocation.As a planned community, it has many...
hosts the HP Byron Nelson Championship, an annual PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
event.
Transportation
Irving is traversed by numerous highways. The Airport Freeway, SH 183, runs east-west in the center of the city, while LBJ Freeway or I-635Interstate 635 (Texas)
Interstate 635 or the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway is a partial loop around Dallas, Texas between Interstate 20 in Balch Springs, Texas and State Highway 121 at the north entrance of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport in Grapevine, Texas. The route is long...
crosses the northern edge of the city in the same direction. John Carpenter Freeway, SH 114, and the President George Bush Turnpike
President George Bush Turnpike
The President George Bush Turnpike is a 45.1-mile toll road running generally east–west through the northern suburbs of Dallas, Texas, United States. It is named for George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States...
create an X running northwest-to-southeast and southwest-to-northeast respectively. The Las Colinas area is centered near the intersection of 114 and the Bush turnpike.
Irving is one of 13 member-cities of the Dallas region's transit agency, Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
(DART). Currently, Irving is served by numerous bus routes and has two stops along the Trinity Railway Express route. In addition, DART is constructing the through Irving and Las Colinas to DFW Airport. This will connect northern Irving with Dallas through rail in addition to existing bus routes.
The Las Colinas Urban Center is served by the Las Colinas APT System
Las Colinas APT System
The Las Colinas Area Personal Transit System is a people mover system that serves the Las Colinas area of Irving, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. The system has four passenger stations and a maintenance & control center, and is run by two cars, one for each route...
, a people mover connecting businesses and entertainment areas.
Notable current and former residents
- Larry D. AlexanderLarry D. AlexanderLarry Dell Alexander is an American artist, Christian author and teacher from Dermott, Arkansas in Chicot County. Alexander is best known for his creations of colorful and black & white "pen and ink" drawings in his "crosshatching" technique, and, his personal rendition of a "Clinton Family...
,Artist/Writer - Frank BeardFrank Beard (musician)Frank Lee Beard is the drummer in the rock band ZZ Top. Beard was formerly with the bands The Cellar Dwellars, who originally were a three-piece band, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, and American Blues before starting to play and record with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill as ZZ Top.Beard was born in...
, drummer for musical group ZZ TopZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969... - Jim BeaverJim BeaverJames Norman "Jim" Beaver, Jr. is an American stage, film, and television actor, playwright, screenwriter, and film historian...
, actor/writer - Peter MacNicolPeter MacNicolPeter MacNicol is an American actor. He may be best known in films for his roles of Janosz Poha in Ghostbusters II, Stingo in Sophie's Choice, Thomas Renfield in Dracula: Dead and Loving It and David Langley in Bean...
, actor - Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
, accused assassin of U.S. President John F. KennedyJohn F. KennedyJohn Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.... - James DickensJames DickensJames McCulloch York Dickens has been a British Labour politician. He was Member of Parliament for the marginal constituency of Lewisham West from 1966 to 1970.He was a member of the Tribune Group of left-wing MPs. His seat was gained by the Conservative candidate John Gummer.After leaving...
, politician - Brian BosworthBrian BosworthBrian Keith "The Boz" Bosworth, is a former American football linebacker. He played college football for the University of Oklahoma...
, professional football player - Kerry WoodKerry WoodKerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
, professional baseball player - Akin AyodeleAkin AyodeleAkinola James "Akin" Ayodele is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, professional football player - Tyson ThompsonTyson ThompsonTyson Calvin Thompson is a gridiron football running back who is currently a member of the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League. He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at San Jose State.-Early years:Thompson played high school...
, professional football player - Demarcus FagginsDemarcus FagginsDeMarcus Faggins is an American football cornerback for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
, professional football player - Michael HuffMichael HuffMichael Wayne Huff II. is an American Football Free Safety for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He played collegiately as a CB/S for The University of Texas Longhorns.-High school career:...
, professional football player - Gentleman Chris Adams, English-born pro wrestler
- Jeremy WarinerJeremy WarinerJeremy Mathew Wariner is an American track athlete specializing in the 400 meters. He has won four Olympic medals and six World Championships medals...
, 400m Olympic sprinter - David GarzaDavíd GarzaDavíd Garza is an Austin-based, American singer-songwriter who infuses rock and pop with a Latin feel and whose vocal style draws comparisons to Freddie Mercury, Jeff Buckley, Donovan and Robert Plant.-Biography:...
, musician - Les LancasterLes LancasterLester Lancaster , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987–1993 and is currently the manager of the Sioux City Explorers....
, Professional baseball - Brijesh PatelBrijesh PatelBrijesh Patel grew up in Bangalore is an Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national cricket team as a right-handed batsman from 1974 until 1979....
, Writer - Gwyn SheaGwyn SheaGwyn Clarkston Shea is a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from suburban Irving in Dallas County, Texas, who served from 1983-1993...
, former Texas secretary of stateSecretary of State of TexasThe Secretary of State of Texas is one of six state officials designated by the Texas Constitution to form the executive department of that U.S. state...
(2002–2003) and a member of the Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
(1983–1993)
Tony Romo, professional football player