North Richland Hills, Texas

History

The community began when W.S. Peters agreed to bring 600 families into the area within a three-year period as part of a land grant. Families began arriving in the summer of 1848. In 1849, Tarrant County was established and named for General Edward H. Tarrant. The community of Birdville (adjacent to what is now the southwest boundary of North Richland Hills) was named the first county seat. The area remained a rural farming and ranching community for more than 100 years.

In 1952, Clarence Jones began to subdivide his 268 acre dairy farm into a suburban addition in the area that is now Cummings Drive. In 1953, the North Richland Hills Civic League sought to have the area annexed to Richland Hills, then voted to form their own city when annexation was denied. An election was held, and the 268 acre of the Jones Farm, with a population of 500, became officially incorporated as the City of North Richland Hills.

The first section of streets in North Richland Hills was named for the local families. The second section, which was added in 1954, was named for automobiles. There were 188 homes in the first part of the subdivision, which was restricted to brick and masonry construction.

By 1957, the North Richland Hills' boundary was within 2 mi of Smithfield, and by 1960, Smithfield had been annexed into North Richland Hills. In 1960, the population of North Richland Hills was beginning to rise at 8,662 residents, with that number more than doubling to 16,514 by 1970. The city's population continued to grow at a rapid pace, with the 1980 census at 30,592, and the 1990 census reflecting 45,895. In 2000, the population was at 55,635, and rise to 63,343 at the 2010 census. In 2020, the population was at 69,917.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 47.2 sqkm, of which 47.1 sqkm is land, and 0.1 sqkm, or 0.24%, is water.

(8 miles) (6 miles) (4 miles) (2 miles) (4 miles) (3 miles)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 2020 Census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 69,917 people, 27,200 households, and 18,919 families residing in the city.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,

Education

Children who live in North Richland Hills attend schools in the Birdville Independent School District. The northernmost part of the city is served by the Keller Independent School District. North Richland Hills has two public high schools: Richland High School and Birdville High School.

Private schools in North Richland Hills include: Fort Worth Christian School, St. John the Apostle Catholic School (of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth), North Park Christian Academy, and North Richland Hills Montessori.

The Tarrant County College Northeast Campus is located on the North Richland Hills and Hurst border at 828 Harwood Road.

Government

Local government

North Richland Hills operates under a charter adopted in 1964, which provides for a "Council-Manager" form of government. The council is composed of a Mayor and seven Council Members elected at large. The Council determines the overall goals and objectives for the city, establishes policies, and adopts the city's annual operating budget. The City Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of the city.

The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:

The city of North Richland Hills 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.

Public services

North Richland Hills Fire Department / Emergency Medical Services

The North Richland Hills Fire Department (NRHFD), also called the North Richland Hills Fire-Rescue (NRHFR), is a public health service geared towards combating uncontrolled fires. In addition to its role as a fire department, it acts like a traditional EMS service, and is dispatched to a wide range of medical emergencies unrelated to fires. To accomplish this mix of roles, all NRHFD staff are cross-trained as firefighters and paramedics; likewise, all vehicles that they employ carry advanced life support equipment. The department is recognized as a “Best Practices” department by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and holds an ISO rating of 1.

North Richland Hills Police Department

The North Richland Hills Police Department (NRHPD) works in partnership with residents to maintain a safe and peaceful community. The department's vision is to foster a community environment where the public has full faith and confidence in its police force, and where people feel safe and secure. Guided by a philosophy rooted in ethics, integrity, compassion, and accountability, NRHPD is committed to protecting life and property while respecting the rights of all citizens. Officers strive to lead by example, both professionally and within the community, while upholding the highest standards of service.

Along with its core policing duties, NRHPD operates a dispatch center and jail facility that also serves the neighboring cities of Richland Hills, Haltom City, and Watauga. The department is recognized by the Texas Police Chiefs Association's Best Practices Recognition Program, demonstrating its commitment to professionalism, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Notable people

• Mark Brooks, professional golfer and 1996 PGA Champion.
• Sandra Brown, novelist and bestselling author of romance, thriller, and suspense books.
• Trenton Clark, baseball player, drafted by Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft.
• Kambri Crews, author of Burn Down the Ground: A Memoir, in which North Richland Hills is featured.
• Clint Ford, actor, voice over artist, and writer.
• Logan Henderson, actor and singer, known for his role on Nickelodeon's show Big Time Rush.
• Mike Holloway, winner of Survivor: Worlds Apart, the 30th season of Survivor.
• Alex Lambert, a top-16 finalist during season 9 of singing competition show American Idol.
• Craig Lancaster, journalist and novelist
• Whitney Lynn, contemporary multi-media artist.
• Gary Morris, country music artist, actor.
• Betty Pariso, IFBB professional bodybuilder.
• Rashee Rice, wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs.

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. {{GNIS. 2411278
3. "Explore Census Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2006: Top 100 51-75". CNN.
5. (November 3, 2016). "Best Neighborhoods: How we ranked the top neighborhoods in Dallas–Fort Worth". Dallas News.
6. (2012). "NORTH TEXAS TOWNS RANKED. WHICH CAME OUT ON TOP? WHICH SANK TO THE BOTTOM? AND WHERE DOES YOUR COMMUNITY FALL ON THE LIST?". [[D Magazine]].
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): North Richland Hills city, Texas". [[United States Census Bureau]].
8. (December 15, 2022). "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". United States Census Bureau.
9. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing".
10. "Explore Census Data".
11. https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific. (August 2022)
12. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".
13. (May 1, 2024). "City of North Richland Hills 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report".
14. [http://www.nrhtx.com/] Retrieved May 1, 2024
15. "Why does a fire truck respond with the ambulance?".
16. "Emergency Medical Services".
17. "Best Practices".
18. The History of North Richland Hills by George N. Green
19. Rosiak, Todd. (June 8, 2015). "Brewers draft outfielder Trent Clark in first round". Jsonline.com.