The Colony, Texas

History

The Colony's name comes from the Peters Colony, whose headquarters was located within the modern boundaries of The Colony in the historical community of Stewartsville and the site of the Hedgcoxe War. The Colony is also the site of Bridges Settlement (established during the years of the Republic of Texas and the oldest community in Denton County), Stewarts Creek, Rector, Stoverville and Camey, also known as Camey Spur.

One of the oldest portions of The Colony is Bridges Cemetery, established in 1857 on land owned by the Bridges family. The cemetery gates are closed to the public except on certain dates.

The Colony did not exist until 1973, when home developers Fox and Jacobs purchased 3,000 acre around State Highway 121 and Farm to Market Road 423. Its name was chosen because they wanted their development to share a sense of kinship with Texas' early history. They planned the development to be a "dream city" consisting primarily of single-family homes grouped as a "colony". In 1973, Fox and Jacobs agreed with the city of Frisco to begin construction. In 1974, the first model homes were completed and the first families moved into their homes in October.

In 1977, the development was disannexed from the city of Frisco's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Colony was incorporated in January 1977 and became a home rule city in 1979. Residents chose the name "The Colony" and the name was ratified by the city council in May 1977. In 1987, The Colony voted to merge with the small lakeside community of Eastvale.

Geography

The Colony is located at (33.090874, –96.884659). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 41.7 sqkm, of which 36.3 sqkm is land and 5.4 sqkm, or 12.93%, is water.

The city is bordered on the west by Lewisville Lake and the city of Lewisville, on the north and east by Frisco, and on the south by the cities of Carrollton and Plano. Approximately 23 mi of shoreline on Lewisville Lake (including two peninsulas) are contained within the city's boundaries, thus providing the basis for the city's nickname "City by the Lake."

Demographics

According to the 2020 United States census, there were 44,534 people, 17,401 households, and 10,957 families residing in the city. In 2017, there were 41,388 people. The racial makeup of the city was 74.6% White, 11.2% African American, 5.3% Asian, 0.4% Native American, 5.1% from other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.2% of the population. In 2020, the racial and ethnic makeup was 53.2% non-Hispanic white, 9,73% African American, 0.37% Native American, 8.78% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.41% some other race, 4.92% multiracial, and 22.52% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Politics

The Colony is a home rule municipality with a council-manager form of government. It has a six-member council, with two members elected at large, as well as a city mayor. All meetings of the City Council are open to the public, and meetings are broadcast live on Time Warner Cable government access Channel 16, AT&T Uverse channel 99, as well as on the broadcast page of The Colony's website.

In November 2021, Richard Boyer ran unopposed to become mayor of The Colony, succeeding Joe McCourry who had been mayor of The Colony for 11 years.

Council members

The Colony has several Boards and Commissions, all of which list their current members, Term expiration dates, and meeting minutes on The Colony's website. Meetings usually have time setup in the agenda for Citizen input which can be submitted by email or presented in person at most board's meetings. Board applications are available on The Colony's website or at City Hall and a list of currently vacant positions can be found on the site as well.

Education

The Colony is located inside both the Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) and Little Elm Independent School District.

Lewisville ISD has built six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school inside the city limits. The elementary schools are Peters Colony Elementary, Camey Elementary, B.B. Owen Elementary, Stewart's Creek Elementary (retired 2020–2021), Ethridge Elementary, and Morningside Elementary. The two middle schools are Griffin Middle School and Lakeview Middle School.

Little Elm ISD built Prestwick STEM Academy in 2014, which serves K–8 in The Tribute subdivision, as well as Strike Middle school (opened Fall of 2020) which also serves the residents from The Tribute subdivision. Strike Middle School is named after former superintendent Dr. Lowell H. Strike who served the district for three years.

During a December 2020 meeting of the LISD Board, several changes were made, including rezoning the area and a closure of one of the elementary schools. Effective the end of the 2020–2021 school year, the LISD board voted to close Stewart's Creek Elementary. Many of the students affected by the rezoning will be attending the new school LISD is building to service the area opening for the 2021–2022 school year, dubbed by the LISD Board as Memorial Elementary – STEM Academy. There were three written-in names submitted by the community with no clear winner of the LISD Naming Survey: Sterling (The school's chosen descriptor of students), Cox (name of B.B. Owen Elementary's influential coach and teacher, and supporter of the annual Kids Chase by the Lake ), and Josey Lane (The street the school is on). LISD chose to name the school Memorial elementary instead of the submitted names because "...having a Memorial Elementary School will allow us to have the opportunity to memorialize, if you will, a number of important and influential people in the communities we serve.”

Owing to its original history as part of Frisco, The Colony is located inside the community college district of Collin College, unlike most other places in Denton County. However, since residents of The Colony do not pay taxes to said district they must pay out-of-county tuition rates to attend the college.

In May 2009, Griffin Middle School student and The Colony resident Eric Yang won the National Geographic Bee, beating out 54 other state competition champions to win a scholarship and travel package valued at more than $25,000.

The Colony High School is located just north of Texas State Highway 121 on Blair Oaks Drive.

Transportation

• Main lanes: Sam Rayburn Tollway
  • Service roads: State Highway 121
• Farm to Market Road 423

Notes

References

References

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2. {{GNIS. 2412058
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4. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
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6. "The Hedgcoxe War Historical Marker". Texas State Historical Commission.
7. Beckel, Donald J.. (2012). "Bridges to the Future". The Friends of The Colony Public Library, The Colony Public Library History Collection.
8. "Bridges Cemetery, Denton Co. Cemeteries of Tx".
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10. Walden, Ron. (May 3, 1985). "Oral history interview". The Colony Public Library History Collection.
11. (1975). "Untitled Fox & Jacobs new resident question and answer booklet". The Colony Public Library History Collection.
12. (August 6, 1998). "Man who helped shape The Colony to be in walk". [[Denton Record Chronicle]].
13. (May 11, 1985). "Oral history interview with Dave Fox, owner of Fox and Jacobs". The Colony Public Library History Collection.
14. (October 20, 1974). "1st Three Families Settle in F&J's Lake Colony". [[Dallas Morning News]].
15. (January 4, 1977). "Frisco City Council Regular Meeting, Item 7". Ordinance No. 421.
16. (January 16, 1977). "The Colony's voters decide to incorporate". Dallas Morning News.
17. "85(R) SR42: Senate Resolution No. 42". Texas Senate.
18. (January 22, 1979). "Minutes of The Board of Alderman". The City of The Colony, Texas.
19. (May 16, 1977). "Minutes of Regular Meeting (Board of Alderman)". The City of The Colony.
20. (2011-02-12). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
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26. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin".
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30. Roark, Chris. (January 9, 2021). "After 11 years as mayor, The Colony's McCourry says this will be his last term".
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33. Staff reports. (May 3, 2010). "Councilman named secretary of SFA board".
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41. "Zoning Regulations: What Does the Board of Adjustment Do?".
42. "Board of Adjustment {{!}} The Colony, TX".
43. "Capital Improvements Advisory {{!}} The Colony, TX".
44. "Community Image Advisory Board {{!}} The Colony, TX".
45. "Community Development Corporation Board {{!}} The Colony, TX".
46. "Economic Development Corporation {{!}} The Colony, TX".
47. "Hotel Development Corporation {{!}} The Colony, TX".
48. "Keep The Colony Beautiful Board {{!}} The Colony, TX".
49. "Library Board {{!}} The Colony, TX".
50. "Local Development Corporation {{!}} The Colony, TX".
51. "Planning & Zoning Commission {{!}} The Colony, TX".
52. "Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board #1 {{!}} The Colony, TX".
53. "Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone Board #2 {{!}} The Colony, TX".
54. "Technologies Board {{!}} The Colony, TX".
55. [http://www.leisd.ws/pages/leisd/Groups/K-8_STEM_Academy Prestwick STEM Academy homepage]
56. Slaten, Heather Goodwin. (February 15, 2019). "Little Elm ISD officials break ground on two new schools".
57. Roark, Chris. (January 13, 2021). "Lewisville ISD to retire Stewart's Creek Elementary, approves rezoning".
58. (April 8, 2021). "LISD STEM Academy at Memorial Elementary on its Way".
59. Roark, Chris. (September 2019). "The Colony honors longtime volunteer, B.B. Owen coach".
60. Roark, Chris. (February 10, 2021). "LISD names new elementary school".
61. [https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Sec. 130.175. COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.]