Established on the Shawnee Trail, now called Preston Street
(Hwy 289), Frisco has occupied a unique place in the history and growth of
North Texas, witnessing the passage of wagon trains bringing immigrants
south to Texas and cattle drives from Austin going to northern markets.
Originally a community of farmers north of the thriving town of Lebanon,
Frisco City was formed in 1902, when the St. Louis – San Francisco Rail Line
decided to set tracks through the rich agricultural land, where water was
plentiful. The town name was later shortened, and Frisco was incorporated in
1908.
Since its creation, Frisco was a retail and shipping point, beginning with a
number of cotton gins and grain elevators, and was the home of a Farmers
Co-operative Gin Association. By 1914 the town had grown to a population of
1,000 people and grew slowly through the 20th century. In 1960, the
population reached 1,184, and increased to 3,499 by 1980 as a result of the
growth of Dallas, Plano and Fort Worth. By 2000 there were 33,714 people,
and since the turn of the century the number of people living in the city of
Frisco has more than doubled to over 81,000. This phenomenal growth is
expected to continue and projections are for 140,000 people by the year
2010.
The railroad is still important to Frisco, but a more pressing requirement
is to provide good roads and highways. This is being done by city, county
and state agencies, with a determination to improve the transportation
system ahead of the increases in growth. By 2010, an estimated $61.2 million
is to be spent on highway, toll road, street and thoroughfare improvements
within the City of Frisco.
In this North Texas “boom town”, the residents of Frisco have a sense of
community well-being and preservation for the city’s heritage. The Heritage
Association, whose goal is to “research, preserve and share” the town’s rich
heritage, has been instrumental in the creation and planning of Heritage
Village Park and Museum, scheduled to open in 2006. Residents, government
officials and city planners are guided by a small town spirit as they look
forward enthusiastically to the future. To meet the needs for good
management, city planners have formulated “Frisco’s Comprehensive Plan”, a
guide for the City’s future growth that includes a Future Land Use Plan,
Thoroughfare Plan, Parks & Open Space Master Plan, and recommended goals and
objectives to carry out the Plan.
Our "city with the heart of a town” welcomes you with cultural, business and
recreational opportunities in safe, family-oriented neighborhoods, business
parks and retail centers. Arts, entertainment and recreation abound in
Frisco, with performing and fine arts organizations, Junior League
Championship hockey, Minor League baseball, Major League soccer, and
National Championship cyclist racing, among many others. Frisco offers
excellent shopping, with Stonebriar Centre - one of the premiere shopping
malls in the Southwest, the Centre at Preston Ridge - an outdoor shopping
center filled with excellent restaurants and specialty shops, and a 310,000
square foot IKEA store. With more than 4 million square feet of retail space
available, Frisco is becoming the major shopping destination of North Texas.
Frisco offers excellent programs and services, one of the lowest crime rates
in Collin and Denton Counties, an outstanding Parks and Recreation
Department, and an exceptional education environment, provided by the
Frisco, Lewisville, and Prosper Independent School Districts. Health care in
Frisco has also kept pace with growth, expanding superior facilities
throughout our city limits, while the medical community provides caring,
compassionate and professional attention in all medical disciplines.
|