Denison, Texas

Denison is a city in Grayson County, Texas, United States. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Texas–Oklahoma border. The population was 22,682 at the 2010 census.[4] Denison is part of the Texoma region and is one of two principal cities in the Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area. Denison is the birthplace of US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Denison, Texas
City
Denison Commercial Historic District
Flag
Location of Denison, Texas
Coordinates: 33°44′59″N 96°33′27″W
Country United States
State Texas
CountyGrayson
Founded1872
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • City CouncilMayor Janet Gott
Obie Greenleaf
JC Doty
Michael Baecht (Mayor Pro Tem)
VACANT

Kris Spiegel
 • City ManagerJudson Rex
Area
[1]
 • City29.06 sq mi (75.27 km2)
 • Land28.61 sq mi (74.09 km2)
 • Water0.46 sq mi (1.18 km2)  1.94%
Elevation
728 ft (222 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • City22,682
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
25,529
 • Density892.44/sq mi (344.57/km2)
 • Urban
61,900[3] (US: 438th)
 • Urban density1,722.9/sq mi (665.2/km2)
 • Metro
120,877
 • Demonyms
Denisonite Denisonian
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
75020–75021
Area code903
FIPS code48-19900[4]
GNIS feature ID1379652[5]
Websitewww.cityofdenison.com

History

Denison was founded in 1872 in conjunction with the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad (MKT) or "Katy" depot.[6] It was named after the wealthy Katy vice president George Denison.[7] Because the town was established close to where the MKT crossed the Red River (both important conduits of transportation in the industrial era), it came to be an important commercial center in the 19th century American West. In 1875, Doc Holliday had offices in Denison.

Rusk Avenue looking north (postcard, c. 1911)

During the phylloxera epidemic of the mid-19th century, which destroyed the vast majority of wine grapes in Europe, Denison horticulturalist T.V. Munson pioneered methods in creating phylloxera-resistant vines, and earned induction into the French Legion of Honor, as well as sister city status for Denison and Cognac, France.[8]

In 1901 the first electric "Interurban" railway in Texas, the Denison and Sherman Railway, was completed between Denison and Sherman.[9]

In 1915, the Kentucky-based evangelist Mordecai Ham held a revival meeting in Denison, which resulted in 1,100 professions of faith in Jesus Christ.[10]

Denison played host to 20th century notables such as the Marx Brothers[11] and President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was born on October 14, 1890, in Denison.[12]

Geography

Denison is located in northeastern Grayson County, with the city limits extending north to the Red River, which forms the Oklahoma state line. It is bordered to the south by the city of Sherman; the city centers are 11 miles (18 km) apart.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Denison has a total area of 23.4 square miles (60.7 km2), of which 23.0 square miles (59.6 km2) are land and 0.46 square miles (1.2 km2), or 1.94%, are water.[4]

Denison Dam, which forms Lake Texoma on the Red River, is 5 miles (8 km) north of Denison. The city is in the center of the Texoma region, encompassing parts of Texas and Oklahoma.

Climate

Denison has a humid subtropical climate.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18803,975—
189010,958175.7%
190011,8077.7%
191013,63215.5%
192017,06525.2%
193013,850−18.8%
194015,58112.5%
195017,50412.3%
196022,74830.0%
197024,9239.6%
198023,884−4.2%
199021,505−10.0%
200022,7735.9%
201022,682−0.4%
2019 (est.)25,529[2]12.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2020 census
Denison racial composition[14]
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[lower-alpha 1]
Race Number Percentage
White (NH) 16,676 68.12%
Black or African American (NH) 2,003 8.18%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 471 1.92%
Asian (NH) 188 0.77%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.02%
Some Other Race (NH) 59 0.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,851 7.56%
Hispanic or Latino 3,225 13.17%
Total 24,479

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 24,479 people, 9,361 households, and 6,038 families residing in the city.

2000 census

At the census[17] of 2000, there were 22,773 people, 9,185 households, and 6,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,008.1 people per square mile (389.2/km2). There were 10,309 housing units at an average density of 456.3 per square mile (176.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.02% White, 8.62% African American, 1.67% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.19% from other races, and 2.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.23% of the population.

There were 9,185 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,474, and the median income for a family was $39,820. Males had a median income of $30,459 versus $21,451 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,685. About 11.9% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.8% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major employers
Texoma Medical Center in Denison

Major employers in Denison include:[18]

  • Denison Independent School District
  • Ruiz Foods
  • Texoma Medical Center
  • Cigna
  • Caterpillar
  • Wal-Mart Stores
  • Spectrum Brands
  • Anthem
  • ACS Manufacturing
  • Denison Industries
  • City of Denison
  • Grayson College
  • Dialogue Direct Contact Centers
  • National Government Services
  • Champion Cooler Corporation
  • SignWarehouse.com

Arts and culture
Birthplace of US President Dwight Eisenhower

The Grayson County Frontier Village in Denison contains 11 of the oldest homes in Grayson County that were moved here for preservation.[19]

Sports

Former minor league baseball teams include the Denison Katydids, Denison Blue Sox, Denison Champions, Denison Railroaders, and Sherman–Denison Twins.

Munson Stadium seats 5,262 people and is primarily used for football. It is the home field of Denison High School's football and soccer teams.[20] The Denison High School football team won the 1984 Texas Class 4A State Championship by beating Tomball 27–13 completing a perfect 16–0 record. They also made three straight appearances in the 1995, 1996, and 1997 Class 4A Division II State Championship games, losing each time to La Marque.[21] They are home to the longest high school football rivalry in Texas: the Battle of the Ax, against Sherman High School.[22]

Education
Administration building at Grayson College in Denison

Denison is served by the Denison Independent School District. Denison High School opened in 2014.

Grayson College is located in Denison. The school's T.V. Munson Viticulture and Enology Program preserves Denison's viticultural heritage.[8]

Media

Magazine
  • Texoma Living! Magazine[23]

Newspaper
  • The Herald Democrat

Radio stations
  • KMAD Mad Rock 102.5
  • KMKT Katy Country 93.1
  • KDOC HOT 107.3 FM

Television stations
  • KTEN – Channel 10 (NBC)
  • KTEN – DT Channel 10.2 (The Texoma CW)
  • KTEN – Channel 10.3 (ABC Texoma)
  • KXII – Channel 12 (CBS)
  • KXII – DT Channel 12.2 (My Texoma)
  • KXII – DT Channel 12.3 (Fox Texoma)

Infrastructure

Transportation

Denison is served by two U.S. Highways—U.S. 69 and U.S. 75 (Katy Memorial Expressway) and two State Highways—State Highway 91 and Spur 503 (Eisenhower Parkway). State Highway 91, known as Texoma Parkway, is one of the main commercial strips that connects Sherman and Denison. It also extends north to Lake Texoma.

General aviation service is provided by North Texas Regional Airport.

TAPS, a regional public transportation system, offers limited service for disabled passengers.

Health care

Denison is served by Texoma Medical Center.

Notable people
  • Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation[24]
  • Clora Bryant, jazz trumpeter
  • Joie Chitwood (1912–1988), race car driver and businessman
  • Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States; was born in Denison in 1890, and to date is the city's most notable resident. His birthplace was purchased by the city in 1946 (six years before he was elected President) and is now maintained as Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site. In addition, Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma is named in his honor.[25]
  • Booker Ervin, jazz musician who played tenor saxophone
  • Michael Haynes, NFL Hall of Fame player
  • Jim Hightower, former commissioner of Texas Department of Agriculture and a liberal commentator and author, born in Denison in 1943
  • John Hillerman, the actor who played Higgins on Tom Selleck's Magnum, P.I.
  • John Henry "Doc" Holliday, gunfighter, gambler and western legend, maintained a dental practice in Denison
  • Aaron Hunt and Reggie Hunt, brothers and professional football players in Canadian Football League
  • Viola Van Katwijk, composer and pianist
  • Thomas Volney Munson, horticulturalist
  • Clifford Noe, international conman and swindler[26][27]
  • Beatrice Pearson, actress
  • SoMo, singer
  • Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger, airline pilot[28]
  • Jordan Taylor, NFL wide receiver, Super Bowl 50 champion with the Denver Broncos.
  • Zeb Terry, Major League Baseball infielder
  • Fred Washington, NFL defensive tackle for Chicago Bears, 1990 NFL Draft Round 2, Pick 7
  • Harold Wertz, 1927–1999, "Bouncy" of Our Gang Comedies (1932–1933)

In 2013 Lake Texoma and the Hampton Inn and Suites Denison were featured on a travel show entitled The Official Best of Texas which aired on CBS and the Discovery Channel.[29]

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. Geography, US Census Bureau. "2010 Census Urban and Rural Classification and Urban Area Criteria". www.census.gov. Archived from the original on 2019-04-03. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Denison city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. DAVID, MINOR (12 June 2010). "DENISON, TX". www.tshaonline.org.
  7. "Introductory history of Denison Texas". Archived from the original on 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  8. "T.V. Munson Vidiculture Eunology Program". Archived from the original on 2007-02-21. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  9. A., RIEDER, ROBERT (12 June 2010). "ELECTRIC INTERURBAN RAILWAYS". www.tshaonline.org.
  10. Jerry Hopkins of East Texas Baptist University, "Evangelist Mordecai F. Ham's West Texas Meetings, 1903–1940", paper at East Texas Historical Association and West Texas Historical Association joint meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, February 26, 2010
  11. "the marx brothers - biography". www.leninimports.com.
  12. D'Este, Carlo (2003). Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life. New York: Macmillan. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-8050-5687-4.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  15. http://www.census.gov
  16. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  17. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  18. "Denison Development Alliance: Community Profile". www.denisontx.org. Archived from the original on 2015-06-11. Retrieved 2016-06-04.
  19. http://www.graysoncofrontiervillage.us
  20. "TexasBob.com - Munson Stadium - Denison, Texas". www.texasbob.com.
  21. UIL State Football Champions Archived February 12, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  22. "SISD: SHS Battle of the Ax". 11 January 2002. Archived from the original on 11 January 2002.
  23. "Search every page of every issue published by Texoma Living! Magazine from 2006 to 2010". Texoma Living! Online. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  24. Biography-Anoatubby.com Archived 2015-04-17 at the Wayback Machine
  25. "Eisenhower State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department". www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
  26. Denison High School - Class of 1947 The Denison Press May 23, 1947
  27. "1940 United States Census". FamilySearch.
  28. Rivera, Ray (2009-01-16). "In a Split Second, a Pilot Becomes a Hero Years in the Making". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  29. Website http://www.theofficialbestof.com
  1. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[15][16]
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