Rockwall, Texas
Encyclopedia
Rockwall is a city in Rockwall County
, Texas
, United States, and a suburb of Dallas
. It is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
. The population was 37,490 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Rockwall County
. Rockwall County
is the second wealthiest county in the state of Texas in terms of median income. The majority of its residents enjoy a relatively high standard of living
. The name Rockwall is derived from a naturally jointed geological formation, which has the appearance of an artificial wall.
Indians. Creek
Indians moved to the area in early 19th century. The origin of Rockwall also is related to the selection of its name. In 1851, as the first Anglo-American settlers moved to the area, they started to dig wells. During the digging, they found large underground rock walls that were initially believed to be manmade. Later study of the wall-like features by geologists and archaeologists found them to be jointed, natural sandstone dikes that had intruded Cretaceous
marl
. The town was established April 17, 1854 and named after these natural rock walls. While originally part of Kaufman County, in 1873, Rockwall County was formed with Rockwall being the county seat. The current mayor is David Sweet.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which, 22.3 square miles (57.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.
Rockwall is on the east shore of Lake Ray Hubbard
. It is on State Highways 205 & 740, north of Interstate 30
.
The highest point in Rockwall is at 591 ft. at the First Baptist Church.
of 2000, there were 17,976 people, 6,605 households, and 5,158 families residing in the city. The population density
was 806.9 people per square mile (311.5/km²). There were 7,089 housing units at an average density of 318.2 per square mile (122.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.35% White, 3.00% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races
, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.44% of the population.
There were 6,605 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% 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 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,411, and the median income for a family was $75,121. Males had a median income of $55,370 versus $35,139 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $29,843. About 3.2% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Though Rockwall County is the smallest county in Texas, it is also one of the top five fastest growing counties in the United States. As of the 2006 census by the North Texas Central Council of Governments, the city had a population of 29,500. In 2006, Rockwall County was the fastest growing county in the United States
by population.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
by Republican Bob Deuell
, District 2, and in the Texas House of Representatives
by Republican Jodie Anne Laubenberg, District 89.
and Kay Bailey Hutchison
; Rockwall is part of Texas' US Congressional 4th District, which is currently represented by Republican Ralph M. Hall.
.
There are two high schools in Rockwall. The older is Rockwall High School and the newer is Rockwall-Heath High School built in 2005.
itself. Texas A&M University-Commerce holds classes at the Center.
Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Airport serves general aviation flights.
ing.
Rockwall also offers 22 different Golf Courses http://www.rockwalltoday.com/community/rockwall_texas_golf_courses.php within 17 miles of the center of Rockwall.
Rockwall County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,080 people, 14,530 households, and 11,972 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 15,351 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile...
, 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...
, United States, and a suburb 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...
. It is part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex
The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. The area is divided into two metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area...
. The population was 37,490 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Rockwall County
Rockwall County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,080 people, 14,530 households, and 11,972 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 15,351 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile...
. Rockwall County
Rockwall County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,080 people, 14,530 households, and 11,972 families residing in the county. The population density was 334 people per square mile . There were 15,351 housing units at an average density of 119 per square mile...
is the second wealthiest county in the state of Texas in terms of median income. The majority of its residents enjoy a relatively high standard of living
Standard of living
Standard of living is generally measured by standards such as real income per person and poverty rate. Other measures such as access and quality of health care, income growth inequality and educational standards are also used. Examples are access to certain goods , or measures of health such as...
. The name Rockwall is derived from a naturally jointed geological formation, which has the appearance of an artificial wall.
History
The area of Rockwall was originally occupied by CaddoCaddo
The Caddo Nation is a confederacy of several Southeastern Native American tribes, who traditionally inhabited much of what is now East Texas, northern Louisiana and portions of southern Arkansas and Oklahoma. Today the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma is a cohesive tribe with its capital at Binger, Oklahoma...
Indians. Creek
Creek people
The Muscogee , also known as the Creek or Creeks, are a Native American people traditionally from the southeastern United States. Mvskoke is their name in traditional spelling. The modern Muscogee live primarily in Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida...
Indians moved to the area in early 19th century. The origin of Rockwall also is related to the selection of its name. In 1851, as the first Anglo-American settlers moved to the area, they started to dig wells. During the digging, they found large underground rock walls that were initially believed to be manmade. Later study of the wall-like features by geologists and archaeologists found them to be jointed, natural sandstone dikes that had intruded Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
. The town was established April 17, 1854 and named after these natural rock walls. While originally part of Kaufman County, in 1873, Rockwall County was formed with Rockwall being the county seat. The current mayor is David Sweet.
Geography
Rockwall is located at 32°55′12"N 96°27′35"W (32.920014, -96.459715).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 22.6 square miles (58.5 km²), of which, 22.3 square miles (57.8 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (1.63%) is water.
Rockwall is on the east shore of Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard
Lake Ray Hubbard, formerly Forney Lake, is a reservoir located in Dallas, Texas in the counties of Dallas, Kaufman, Collin, and Rockwall County, Texas, just north of Forney, Texas, built on the East Fork Trinity River and impounded by the Rockwall-Forney Dam.It measures 22,745 acres in size with...
. It is on State Highways 205 & 740, north of Interstate 30
Interstate 30
Interstate 30 is an Interstate Highway in the southern United States. I-30 runs from Interstate 20 west of Fort Worth, Texas, northeast via Dallas, Texas, and Texarkana, Texas, to Interstate 40 in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The route parallels U.S. Route 67 except for the portion west of...
.
The highest point in Rockwall is at 591 ft. at the First Baptist Church.
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 17,976 people, 6,605 households, and 5,158 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 806.9 people per square mile (311.5/km²). There were 7,089 housing units at an average density of 318.2 per square mile (122.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.35% White, 3.00% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.57% 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 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.44% of the population.
There were 6,605 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.9% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% 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 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $65,411, and the median income for a family was $75,121. Males had a median income of $55,370 versus $35,139 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 $29,843. About 3.2% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Though Rockwall County is the smallest county in Texas, it is also one of the top five fastest growing counties in the United States. As of the 2006 census by the North Texas Central Council of Governments, the city had a population of 29,500. In 2006, Rockwall County was the fastest growing county in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by population.
Economy
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, : the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rockwall Independent School District Rockwall Independent School District Rockwall Independent School District is a public school district based in Rockwall, Texas .In addition to Rockwall, the district serves the cities of Heath, McLendon-Chisholm, Mobile City, most of Fate, and small portions of Rowlett, Wylie, and Dallas in Rockwall County... |
1,667 |
| 2 | Texas Star Express | 484 |
| 3 | Wal-Mart Superstore Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
450 |
| 4 | Presbyterian Hospital | 419 |
| 5 | Rockwall County | 253 |
| 6 | City of Rockwall | 256 |
| 7 | Special Products | 205 |
| 8 | Target Corporation Target Corporation Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's... |
200 |
| 9 | Rockwall Nursing Home | 160 |
| 10 | Kohl's Department Store | 140 |
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city’s various funds had $36.6 million in Revenues, $57.2 million in expenditures, $32.3 million in total assets, $3.6 million in total liabilities, and $25.5 million in investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | |
| Interim City Manager | Rick Crowley |
| Director of Finance | Mary Smith, |
| Director of Administrative Services | Chery I Dunlop |
| Chief of Police | Mark Moeller |
| Fire Chief | Mark Poindexter |
| Director of Community Development | Robert LaCroix |
| City Engineer/Director of Public Works | Chuck Todd |
| Director of Building Inspections & Code Enforcement | Jeffrey Widmer |
| Director of Parks, Recreation and Rights-of-Way | Brad Griggs |
State government
Rockwall is represented in the Texas SenateTexas Senate
The Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
by Republican Bob Deuell
Bob Deuell
Bob Deuell, MD is a conservative Republican member of the Texas Senate, representing the 10 counties of Senate District 2 in Northeast Texas, since 2003. He was educated at George Mason University and the Medical College of Virginia in order to become a family physician...
, District 2, and in the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The 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...
by Republican Jodie Anne Laubenberg, District 89.
Federal government
At the Federal level, the two U.S. Senators from Texas are Republicans John CornynJohn Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
and Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Kathryn Ann Bailey Hutchison, known as Kay Bailey Hutchison , is the senior United States Senator from Texas.She is a member of the Republican Party. In 2001, she was named one of the thirty most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. The first woman to represent Texas in the U.S....
; Rockwall is part of Texas' US Congressional 4th District, which is currently represented by Republican Ralph M. Hall.
Public Schools
The city is served by the Rockwall Independent School DistrictRockwall Independent School District
Rockwall Independent School District is a public school district based in Rockwall, Texas .In addition to Rockwall, the district serves the cities of Heath, McLendon-Chisholm, Mobile City, most of Fate, and small portions of Rowlett, Wylie, and Dallas in Rockwall County...
.
There are two high schools in Rockwall. The older is Rockwall High School and the newer is Rockwall-Heath High School built in 2005.
Higher Education
The city is home to the Higher Education Center at Rockwall, which is part of the community college district, Collin College. The campus is the District's first campus outside of Collin CountyCollin County, Texas
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 . There were 194,892 housing units at an average density of 230 per square mile...
itself. Texas A&M University-Commerce holds classes at the Center.
Transportation
Rockwall is served by the following highways that run through the city:-
Interstate 30 -
U.S. Highway 67 (runs concurrent with Interstate 30) -
State Highway 66State Highway 66 (Texas)State Highway 66 or SH 66 is a state highway running from Garland to Greenville, roughly parallel to Interstate 30.-History:SH 66 was previously designated first in 1926 as a route from Bogata northeast through Clarksville toward the Oklahoma town of Idabel... -
State Highway 205 -
State Highway 276 - Farm to Market 552
-
Farm to Market 740
Ralph M. Hall Rockwall Airport serves general aviation flights.
Sports
Rockwall offers many different sports complexes as well as activities. For example, Lake Ray Hubbard has several boating marinas and is used for jet skiJet ski
Jet Ski is the brand name of a personal watercraft manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The name is sometimes mistakenly used by those unfamiliar with the personal watercraft industry to refer to any type of personal watercraft; however, the name is a valid trademark registered with the...
ing.
Rockwall also offers 22 different Golf Courses http://www.rockwalltoday.com/community/rockwall_texas_golf_courses.php within 17 miles of the center of Rockwall.
Notable residents
- Jason Castro - Top 12 contestant on American Idol (season 7)American Idol (season 7)The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
- Michael Castro - American Idol (season 8)American Idol (season 8)The eighth season of American Idol premiered on January 13, 2009, and concluded on May 20, 2009. Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson continued to judge the show's contestants, along with Ryan Seacrest as host. The season introduced Kara DioGuardi as the fourth judge on the Idol...
contestant; younger brother of Jason Castro. - Cliff HarrisCliff HarrisClifford Allen Harris is a former professional American football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League for ten seasons.-Professional career:...
- Accomplished professional football safety who played for the Dallas Cowboys. - Alex JonesAlex JonesAlex or Alexander Jones may refer to:*Alex Jones , U.S. radio host and filmmaker*Alex Jones , Major League Baseball pitcher from 1889 to 1903...
- Radio talk show host who grew up in Rockwall during the 1980s and early 1990s. - Mason MussoMason MussoMason Tyler Musso is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known for his part in Metro Station. He is the older brother of actors Mitchel and Marc Musso.-Early life:...
- Lead singer and guitarist in Metro StationMetro Station (band)Metro Station is an American pop rock band that formed in Los Angeles by Mason Musso and Trace Cyrus. In late 2006, the band signed a recording contract with Columbia/Red Ink. They are best known for their Top 10 Billboard hit single "Shake It" from their self-titled debut album... - Mitchel MussoMitchel MussoMitchel Tate Musso is an American actor, singer-songwriter and musician. Musso is best known for his three Disney Channel roles as Oliver Oken in the Disney Channel sitcom, Hannah Montana, Jeremy Johnson in the Disney Channel animated series Phineas and Ferb and his role as King Brady in the...
- Actor most notable for portraying character Oliver Oken in Hannah MontanaHannah MontanaHannah Montana is an American television series, which debuted on March 24, 2006 on the Disney Channel. The series focuses on a girl who lives a double life as an average teenage school girl named Miley Stewart by day and a famous pop singer named Hannah Montana by night, concealing her real... - Larry LeaLarry Lea-Early years:He attended and graduated from Dallas Baptist University where he met his first wife, Melva. He completed his graduate work at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. Larry and Melva married in 1972, and together they have 3 children. He became the youth pastor of...
- Former televangelist, ministry was based in Rockwall during the 1980s and early 1990s - Reginald Williams - Author of the best selling science fiction book "The Time Travelers Academy"