The population in 1980 was 2,574, an increase of 60.6% since 1970. In 1990, the population was 3,508, and the city's population in 2010 was 6,916. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,534 persons, 1,645 households and 1,220 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,441.9 people per square mile. There were 1,750 housing units at an average density of 556.5 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 89.08% White, 3.04% African American, 1.10% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 4.19% from other races, and 2.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.31% of the population. There were 1,645 households out of which 43.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.17. In the city, the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,380, and the median income for a family was $43,828. Males had a median income of $32,220 versus $22,662 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,840. About 5.2% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
History
Sanger was founded in 1886 as a stop on the Santa Fe Railroad. Cattle from the ranches of north Denton County were driven up the old cattle trails through Sanger to northern markets. The cattle industry of the prairies of north Denton County contributed to the founding of the town, and wheat growing contributed substantially to its economy, as did the production of oats, maize, millet and cotton. The Santa Fe named Sanger in honor of one of its customers, the Sanger family, who owned stores in Waco and Dallas. The F.M. Ready family was the first to settle in Sanger in October 1887, the same year as the first engine and caboose. Following the decline of the original rail line, the 1920 building of a state highway that connected Sanger and Dallas helped compensate for the declining rail business. Cattle and other livestock are raised around Sanger, and there are several horse farms for the breeding and training of registered stock. The oldest continual business was Wilson Lumber Company, founded by Andy Marshall Wilson in the 1890s. His son, T.C., expanded the business and was the longest serving city councilman and mayor in Sanger history. Wilson Lumber Company was finally sold by the family in 2001, becoming Denton County Building Supply.
Education
Public education in Sanger is run under the Sanger Independent School District, an independent government. The superintendent of the Sanger Public schools is Dr. Sandra McCoy-Jackson. There are eight different schools in Sanger, Texas. They are Sanger High School, Linda Tutt High School, Sanger Middle School, Sanger 6th Grade Campus, Clear Creek Intermediate School, Butterfield Elementary School, Chisholm Trail Elementary, and Tenderfoot Child Development Center. The new facilities in the Sanger Independent School district are one of the high schools and the new elementary school. The City of Sanger considers the school district a partner of the cities and they work very closely with one another. Sanger ISD has recently introduced a district wide initiative to integrate instructional technology with effective teaching practices. They currently have a 1:1 student technology lending program for grades 8-12 and have increased available technology in all grades across the district.
Recreation
Sanger is on the western side of Lake Ray Roberts, one of the newest lakes in Texas. There is also an airsoft facility named "D14 Airsoft" near Interstate 35.
