Introduction
The city of Plano is the ninth largest city of Texas (U.S), and a quickest-growing city of U.S. It stands on the State Highway 75, approximately 15 miles north of Dallas in central Collin County. Originally called Plano, the city inherited its name from the Spanish word for "plain," which was descriptive of the surrounding terrain. Situated at an elevation of 643 ft, the city was founded in 1846. Plano is now a booming financial and commercial center, with headquarters of numerous large national corporations. Plano is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area. This title is denominated by the U.S. Census, and is colloquially cited as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
The city was ruined by a fierce fire in 1881, followed by another calamitous fire in 1895 shattering many businesses of the age, reducing Plano to a tent city. This historic business district, with brick streets has presently gone through a revitalization project with brick sidewalks, turn of the century lamp posts, and plaza to enhance specialty shops, boutiques, galleries and restaurants. With the development of nearby Dallas, Plano sprang up from a mere 3,695 residents in 1960 to a thumping 72,331 in 1980. Plano overtook McKinney as the commercial, financial and education center for Collin County with an approximated 1,000 businesses by the mid 1980s. By 2000, U.S Government Census ciphered the population in Plano to be over 245,000.
Plano is now widely recognized as the "Balloon Capital of Texas" with hot-air balloon races scheduled the last weekend every September. A large arts and crafts fair is also held in conjugation with the balloon festival.
Fast Facts
- Location: Plano is the ninth largest city of Texas (U.S) and located at 33°3'1" North, 96°44'45" West, in the U.S. state of Texas within Collin County. Its Zip code is 75xxx and area codes are 972, 469, 214.
- Total area: According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 185.5 km˛ (71.6 mi˛). 185.4 km˛ (71.6 mi˛) of it is land and 0.2 km˛ (0.1 mi˛) of it is water. The total area is 0.08% water.
- Land area: 71.6 square miles.
- Population: As per information of 2000 census, the total population of the city is 245,000 with 80,875 households and 60,575 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,197.8/km˛ (3,102.4/mi˛). There are 86,078 housing units at an average density of 464.4/km˛ (1,202.8/mi˛).
- Housing Units: At an average population density of 1,197.8/km˛, there are 86,078 housing units. The average household size is 2.73 and the average family size is 3.18.
- Median house value: $162,300 (year 2000)
- Medium Household Income: The medium income for a household in the city is $78,722 and that of a family is $91,162. Moreover the medium income of male is $64.668 versus $39,617 for female. The per capita income of the city is $36,514. Of the total populations 4.6% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those are 65 and above are living below poverty line. In the year 2000, Plano was the highest income place with the population of 130,000 or more.
- Median household income: $78,722 (year 2000).
- Average annual rainfall and temperature: The average annual rainfall is 41.01 inches. The temperature in the winter months, the temperature ranges between (30-57) °F and summer temperature ranges between 69-94 °F approximately.