Red Oak, Texas

Red Oak is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The population was 10,769 at the 2010 census,<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref> up from 4,301 at the 2000 census. The North Central Texas Council of Governments projects that number to grow to 63,329 by the year 2030,<ref>NCTCOG - Research & Information Services - 2030 Demographic Forecast: Red Oak. (NCTCOG). Retrieved 22 March 2006.</ref> as it is on the verge of explosive suburban growth.

History

One of the first settlers to this area was James E. Patton and his family in 1844.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> They settled in what is now known as Ovilla, Texas, located about two miles from Red Oak.<ref name=":0" /> Before Red Oak was given its name in 1849, it was known as Possum Trot due to the animal that lived there.<ref name=":0" /> The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad reached Red Oak in 1884 and was completed in 1890,.<ref name=":0" /> providing service between Dallas and Waco.<ref name=":0" /> In 1949, Red Oak became an incorporated town of Ellis, County.<ref name=":0" /> In 2023, Google announced a 600 million dollar data center campus on a 375 acre land, right off Ovilla Road in Red Oak, making it the second data center to be built in Texas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Geography

File:Glen Rose Texas water tower.png

Water tower in Glenn Heights, on west side of I-35E

Red Oak is located along the northern edge of Ellis County. Adjacent cities include Glenn Heights to the northwest, Lancaster to the north, Ferris to the east, Pecan Hill to the southeast, Waxahachie to the south, and Oak Leaf to the west. It is Template:Convert south of downtown Dallas via Interstate 35E, which has two exits in Red Oak.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Oak has a total area of Template:Convert, all land.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Red Oak has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>Climate Summary for Red Oak, Texas</ref>

Demographics

<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Red Oak racial composition as of 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn

Race	Number	Percentage
White (NH)	5,433	38.2%
Black or African American (NH)	4,481	31.51%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	33	0.23%
Asian (NH)	130	0.91%
Pacific Islander (NH)	8	0.06%
Some Other Race (NH)	107	0.75%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	511	3.59%
Hispanic or Latino	3,519	24.74%
Total	14,222

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,222 people, 4,098 households, and 3,293 families residing in the city.

Education

File:Red Oak Intermediate School.jpg

Image of Red Oak Intermediate school from 2010, taken in Red Oak, Texas.

The majority of the city of Red Oak is served by the Red Oak Independent School District.<ref name=CensusSDMap2020Ellis>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> That district's schools include Shields Elementary, Eastridge Elementary, Red Oak Elementary, Wooden Elementary, Russell P Schupmann Elementary, Red Oak Middle School, and Red Oak High School.

The city extends into the Waxahachie Independent School District and the Ferris Independent School District.<ref name=CensusSDMap2020Ellis/> The former operates Waxahachie High School.

In addition Life School, a public charter school, operates the K–12 Red Oak campus.<ref name="Campuses">"Contact Us Template:Webarchive." Life School. Retrieved on September 2, 2011. "950 South I-35E Lancaster, TX 75146"</ref>

Texas State Technical College operates a branch campus in Red Oak.

Transportation

Major highways

• File:I-35E (TX).svgFile:US 77.svg Interstate 35E/U.S. Route 77

Air

The city of Red Oak jointly owns the Ferris Red Oak Muni Heliport together with the city of Ferris.<ref name="FAA">Template:FAA-airport. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 26 April 2018.</ref>

Notable people

• Demi Burnett, contestant on season 23 of The Bachelor
• Michelle Carter, gold medal winner in the women's shot put at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
• Pinky Higgins, Major League Baseball player and manager, born in Red Oak
• Sarah Jaffe, singer/songwriter
• Louise Ritter, gold medal winner in the women's high jump at the 1988 Summer Olympics<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Nikki Stringfield, guitarist for American heavy metal band The Iron Maiden

External links

• Red Oak official website
• Red Oak ISD
• Red Oak ISD Education Foundation
• Red Oak ISD Bands
• Handbook of Texas Online – Red Oak, TX