Park Cities, Texas

Park Cities is a term commonly used in reference to two communities in Dallas County, Texas – the Town of Highland Park and the City of University Park. The two municipalities, which share a border with each other, are surrounded by the city of Dallas and thus jointly comprise an enclave.

As of the 2010 census, the Park Cities had a population of 31,632.^{[1] [2]}

The Park Cities are largely affluent and have some of the highest per capita incomes in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex as well as the state of Texas.

In 2000 the Robb Report presented a report which stated that the Park Cities ranked No. 9 in a list of communities with the highest quality living in the USA.^[3]

Demographics

• Total Population: 31,632
• Total Households: 11,590
• Total Families: 7,703
• Racial makeup:
  • 95.14% White
  • 1.84% Asian
  • 1.14% African American
  • 0.20% Native American
  • 0.02% Pacific Islander
  • 0.89% from other races
  • 0.77 from two or more races
  • 3.00% Hispanic or Latino of any race
• Per Capita Income: $80,211
• Median Household Income: $121,084
• Median Income (Males): In excess of $100,000
• Median Income (Females): $43,801

In terms of formal education, the Park Cities rank as Texas' first and second most educated communities. 82.8% of adults in University Park age 25 years or older possess an associate degree or higher, and 80.5% obtained a baccalaureate degree or higher. 76.6% of adults in Highland Park age 25 years or older possess an associate degree or higher, and 74.7% obtained a baccalaureate degree or higher.

Culture

In 1982 the Park Cities Historical Society, which is intended to preserve the community, was founded.^[4]

Education

The Highland Park Independent School District serves most of the Park Cities. A small portion of Highland Park (areas west of Roland Avenue) is zoned to the Dallas Independent School District.

University Park is home to Southern Methodist University.

Media

• The Dallas Morning News is the Dallas citywide newspaper.
• Park Cities News is the official community newspaper since 1938.

References

1. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Highland Park town, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
2. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): University Park city, Texas". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
3. Zethraus, Lee. "Living in style Park Cities No. 9 on magazine's list of affluent areas." The Dallas Morning News. March 22, 2000. Retrieved on December 9, 2011.
4. Thetford, Margaret Ann. "Park Cities Historical Society to mark governor's birthplace." The Dallas Morning News. December 7, 1989. Retrieved on December 9, 2011.

External links

• City of University Park - official site.
• Town of Highland Park - official site.
• Highland Park ISD
• Headlines about the Park Cities from The Dallas Morning News