Greenville, Texas


Greenville is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States, approximately northeast of Dallas. It is the county seat and largest city of Hunt County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 25,557, and in 2019 the estimated population was 28,827.
Greenville was named for Thomas J. Green, a significant contributor to the founding of the Texas Republic.

Geography

Greenville is located in North Texas at , in central Hunt County. Greenville is situated in the heart of the Texas blackland prairies, northeast of Dallas and about south of the Texas/Oklahoma border, on the eastern edge of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greenville has a total area of, of which are land and, or 2.46%, are water. The Cowleech Fork of the Sabine River flows through the northeast part of the city.

Climate

Greenville is considered to be a part of the humid subtropical region. Due to its location on the north Texas prairies the climate is typically humid with mild precipitation.

History

Greenville was founded in 1846. The city was named after Thomas J. Green, a significant contributor to the establishment of the Texas Republic. He later became a member of the Congress of the Texas Republic.
As the Civil War loomed, Greenville was divided over the issue of secession, as were several area towns and counties. Greenville attorney and State Senator Martin D. Hart was a prominent Unionist. He formed a company of men who fought for the Union in Arkansas, even as other Greenville residents fought for the Confederacy. The divided nature of Greenville and Hunt County is noted by a historical marker in "The SPOT" Park at 2800 Lee Street in downtown Greenville. In the post-Civil War era, Greenville's economy became partly dependent on cotton as the local economy entered a period of transition.
With a population of 12,384 in the 1920 census, the city was the 20th largest in Texas at the time.
In World War II, the Mexican Escuadrón 201 was stationed in Greenville while training at nearby Majors Field.
Greenville was notorious for a large sign, installed on July 7, 1921, over Lee Street, the main street in the downtown district, between the train station and the bus station in the 1920s to 1960s. The sign read: "Welcome to Greenville, The Blackest Land, The Whitest People." According to history teacher Paul E. Sturdevant of Greenville, the original intent behind "the whitest people" was to define "the citizens of Greenville as friendly, trustworthy and
helpful was sincere, and it was meant to include all citizens, regardless of race." In pre-civil rights America, the phrase "That's mighty white of you" meant that you were honest, not like suspect blacks. The sign thus acquired racial overtones, and the original sign was taken down and placed into storage on April 13, 1965, possibly at the urging of Texas Governor John Connally, who had made a visit to the town weeks before. In 1968, Greenville's Sybil Maddux had the sign reinstalled, with the wording modified to read "The Greatest People"; the original sign is in the collection of the Audie Murphy American Cotton Museum.
In 1957, Greenville annexed the small town of Peniel, which had been founded in 1899 as a Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene community centered around Texas Holiness University. The annexation was approved by the citizens of Peniel, which at the time had a population of about 157.
On May 12, 2011, a white buffalo was born near Greenville during a thunderstorm on the ranch of Arby Littlesoldier, who identified himself as a great-great grandson of Sitting Bull. A public naming ceremony and dedication was held on June 29, 2011, during which the male calf was officially given the title "Lightning Medicine Cloud". However, on August 21, 2012, Lightning Medicine Cloud died. The Sheriff's department declared it had died from a bacterial infection, but the owners disagree, claiming that the buffalo was allegedly skinned by an unknown party.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 23,960 people, 9,156 households, and 6,171 families residing in the city. The population density was 706.5 people per square mile. There were 9,977 housing units at an average density of 294.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 69.7% White, 18.9% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.6% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 8.2% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.65% of the population.
There were 9,156 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,606, and the median income for a family was $41,808. Males had a median income of $31,556 versus $22,373 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,231. About 11.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Greenville is served by Dallas/Fort Worth television stations on local cable and also regular programming.
KGVL is a radio station that serves the city of Greenville. KETR in Commerce also serves the city of Greenville due to the proximity of the two cities.
In addition to The Dallas Morning News, which serves the entire Dallas/Fort Worth area, Greenville is served by a local daily newspaper, the Herald-Banner.

Education

Primary and secondary education of Greenville is provided by Greenville ISD along with private institutions such as Greenville Christian School.
Postsecondary education is offered through Paris Junior College-Greenville Center. Texas A&M University-Commerce, a major university of over 12,000 students, is located northeast in the neighboring city of Commerce.

Government

Local government

According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city's various funds had $19.9 million in revenues, $21.7 million in expenditures, $10.1 million in total assets, $1.8 million in total liabilities, and $1.4 million in investments.
The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
DepartmentDirector
City ManagerSummer Spurlock
City AttorneyDaniel Ray
City SecretaryCarole Kuykendall
Police ChiefScott Smith
Fire ChiefJeremy Powell
Community Development DirectorSteve Methven
Main Street CoordinatorDoyle Dick
Finance DirectorTalia Willner
Human Resources DirectorSheri W. Wells
Public Works DirectorPress Tompkins
Library DirectorOlivia Griggs
Parks & Recreation DirectorBrett Quarles

Greenville is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to coordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.

State government

Greenville is represented in the Texas Senate by Republican Bob Hall, District 2, and in the Texas House of Representatives by Republican Dan Flynn, District 2.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Greenville District Parole Office in Greenville.

Federal government

At the federal level, the two senators from Texas are Republicans John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. Greenville is part of Texas' 4th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Republican John Ratcliffe.
The United States Postal Service operates the Greenville, Greenville Finance, and Rolling Hills post offices.

Economy

In early years, Hunt County was known as the cotton capital of the world. The world's largest inland cotton compress was located in Greenville until it was destroyed by fire in the mid-1900s.
Currently, the largest industry is L3 Mission Integration Division a major U.S. Defense contractor located at Majors Airport. This airport, created in 1942 and initially financed by the local Rotary club, was used as a training base for P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilots in World War II, and since then has served as a focal point for economic growth in Greenville.
Tourism is playing an increasing role in the local economy, with attractions such as Collin Street Bakery and Splash Kingdom Water Park located on Interstate 30, and the redeveloping historic downtown featuring Landon Winery and the restored vintage Texan Theater, which opened in 2014. Tourism promotion has been under the wing of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce / Convention and Visitors Bureau and the City of Greenville, which took over CVB duties in 2014. Greenville is also known for its saddle making industry.
According to the city's 2017-2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:
#Employer# of Employees
1L3 Mission Integration Division6,500
2Hunt Regional Medical Center1,100
3Greenville Independent School District800
4McKesson500
4Hunt County500
6Cytec Engineered Materials350
6Wal-Mart Supercenter350
8Masonite International300
8Weatherford International300
10Raytheon200

Entertainment includes the Kenneth Threadgill Concert series, which brings well-known Texas performers to the Municipal Auditorium stage in three concerts per year; the Greenville Entertainment Series, a subscription concert series featuring artists from a variety of musical genres; the Symphony Festival Series, which brings the world-famous Dallas Symphony Orchestra to Greenville for three concerts and an additional children's concert per year; and the Greenville Follies, a musical review showcasing local talent every other year. Local clubs with musical entertainment, live theater in nearby Commerce, local art shows, a movie theater and a bowling alley offer year-round entertainment.
Tourism draws include the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum, Collin Street Bakery and the historic downtown area which includes wineries, antique malls, public gardens, boutique shopping, and regular events at the 1,700 seat Greenville Municipal Auditorium. The vintage Texan Theater was slated for a grand re-opening in 2014. The Rally 'Round Greenville festival is held the third weekend each September and includes the Cotton Patch Challenge Bicycle Ride, an Art Show, Barbecue and Chili Cook-Off, Texas Music Weekend, Kids Alley, and more. Backstreet Bash is held in March to celebrate the revitalization of the historic Main Street Area.
Greenville is also home to the Hunt Regional Medical Center.

Transportation

Roads

Interstate 30

Commercial and residential developments line the interstate from Monty Stratton Parkway through Lamar Street. The frontage roads have recently been converted to one-way for safety due to increased traffic.

U.S. highways

Business U.S. 69 follows several local streets which serve the northern, downtown, and southern areas of the city. It starts and ends at U.S. 69. The local street names are Rees Street, Sockwell Street, Stonewall Street / Johnson Street, Park Street, and Moulton Street.

State highways

The nearest airports with passenger air service are Dallas Love Field and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Majors Airport is a municipal airport located in Greenville.

Public transportation

The Connection serves Greenville and all of Hunt County. The transit system operates Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. Reservations have to be made one day in advance. The charge is $2 if the passenger is traveling to a place within the same community or city, and $3 if the passenger is traveling from one city or community to another within Hunt County. The Connection will take Hunt County residents to Dallas, on a round-trip only basis: passengers are charged $34, and a minimum of three passengers is required.

Notable people