Editing Midlothian, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Midlothian, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| motto                    = "[[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex|DFW]]'s Southern Star"
| image_skyline            = Downtown Midlothian 1 Wiki (1 of 1).jpg
| imagesize                = 250px
| image_caption            = 
| image_flag               = Flag of Midlothian, Texas.svg
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| pushpin_map              = Texas
| pushpin_mapsize          = 250
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{Flagicon|Texas}}[[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Ellis County, Texas|Ellis]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title             = [[City Council]]
| leader_name              = [[Mayor]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 166.34
| area_land_km2            = 164.47
| area_water_km2           = 1.88
| area_total_sq_mi         = 64.23
| area_land_sq_mi          = 63.50
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.73
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 35125
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = −6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = −5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 781
| coordinates              = {{coord|32|30|25|N|97|00|25|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 76065
| area_code                = [[Area codes 214, 469 and 972|214, 469, 945, 972]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-48096<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2411097<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411097}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|midlothian.tx.us}}
| footnotes                = 
}}
'''Midlothian''' is a city in northwest [[Ellis County, Texas]], United States. The city is {{convert|25|mi}} southwest of [[Dallas]]. It is the hub for the [[cement]] industry in [[North Texas]], as it is the home to three separate cement production facilities, as well as a [[steel mill]]. The population of Midlothian grew by 121% between 2000 and 2010, to a population of 18,037.

==History==
[[File:Tonkawa chiefs.jpg|thumbnail|Tonkawa chiefs]]
[[File:Kickapoo, Babe Shkit, Chief and Delegate from Oklahoma - NARA - 523854.jpg|thumb|upright|Kickapoo Indian]]
[[Image:MidlothianSSSign20070127.jpg|thumb|Midlothian's current motto]]
[[Image:MidlothianSign20070127.jpg|thumb|Midlothian's old motto]]
In the early 1800s, settlements began to take place in the area that became Ellis County, but full colonization of this area was slow until 1846, when [[Sam Houston]] finalized peace treaties between several of the indigenous inhabitants of the region and the [[Republic of Texas]]. The earliest inhabitants of this area were the [[Tonkawa]] people, but other tribes also hunted in this area, including the [[Anadarko people|Anadarko]], [[Bidai]], [[Kickapoo people|Kickapoo]], and [[Waco tribe|Waco]] peoples.

The future Ellis County area of the young Republic of Texas was known as the [[Peters Colony]], named for a [[Louisville, Kentucky]]-based land grant company consisting of English and American investors. The young Republic empresario grant program encouraged settlements in North Texas in 1857. The few settlers who lived in this region trapped animals and sold their pelts, and traded goods with the natives. The majority of Ellis County's original settlers came from the southern half of the United States. They arrived with their cultural and educational traditions, their methods of farming and care for farm animals, and for a few, the people they had enslaved.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=History of Midlothian, Texas |url=https://goodlandtx.com/news/the-history-of-midlothian-tx/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Goodland Texas |language=en}}</ref>

Some of the earliest settlers of the area were the families of William Alden Hawkins and Larkin Newton, who moved to the area in 1848. For Hawkins to claim his {{convert|640|acre}} of land from the Peters Colony group, he was required to build a house on the property he chose along the mouth of [[Waxahachie Creek]] before July 1, 1848. The structure was built before the required deadline, and the land near the present-day [[Hawkins Springs|Hawkins Spring]] went to the Hawkins family. For Larkin Newton, who moved his wife Mary and their eight children from [[Missouri]], the same requirement was given. Larkin met the due date and became owner of his 640-acre claim. In 1903, William Alden Hawkins' grandson William Larkin Hawkins purchased land and built the [[William L and Emma Hawkins House]], now listed as a [[Recorded Texas Historic Landmark]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Founding Families {{!}} Midlothian, TX - Official Website |url=https://www.midlothian.tx.us/206/Founding-Families |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.midlothian.tx.us}}</ref>

Ellis County was officially established by the Texas Legislature on December 20, 1849, in a bill sponsored by General [[Edward H. Tarrant]], a popular [[Texas Ranger Division|Texas Ranger]] and Indian gunfighter during this period. Organized in February 1850, the county was carved out of [[Navarro County, Texas|Navarro County]] and likely named for [[Richard Ellis (Texas politician)|Richard Ellis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agrarian Economy {{!}} Midlothian, TX - Official Website |url=https://www.midlothian.tx.us/205/Agrarian-Economy |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=www.midlothian.tx.us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Texas State Historical |title=Ellis, Richard |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/ellis-richard |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en}}</ref>

In 1883, the name "Midlothian" was accepted by the local population. According to local legend, the area was named Midlothian when the Chicago, Texas, and Mexican Central railroads, which eventually connected [[Dallas]] and [[Cleburne, Texas|Cleburne]], arrived in the area and a homesick Scottish train engineer stated that the local countryside reminded him of [[Midlothian|his homeland]] in [[Scotland]], and the location served as the midpoint between Dallas and Cleburne, and between [[Ennis, Texas|Ennis]] and [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]. With the coming of the railroad, Midlothian grew and was incorporated in April 1888.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Texas State Historical |title=Midlothian, TX |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/midlothian-tx |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Texas State Historical Association |language=en}}</ref>

One of the oldest churches in the city, the First United Methodist Church, was built in 1902, followed by the First Presbyterian Church, constructed in 1913. The Midlothian Cemetery contains headstones dating back to the 1870s. The St Paul Cemetery also stands outside of the city.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Esberger |first=Karen Kay |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F6m1vwEACAAJ |title=Midlothian, Texas Through Time |date=2019 |publisher=Fonthill Media LLc |isbn=978-1-63500-088-7 |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==

Midlothian is located in northwestern Ellis County. Adjacent cities are [[Cedar Hill, Texas|Cedar Hill]] to the north, [[Grand Prairie, Texas|Grand Prairie]] to the northwest, [[Venus, Texas|Venus]] to the southwest, [[Waxahachie, Texas|Waxahachie]] to the southeast, and [[Ovilla, Texas|Ovilla]] to the northeast.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], in 2010 the city had a total area of {{convert|130.5|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|128.9|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}} are land and {{convert|1.7|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}}, or 1.28%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4848096| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Midlothian city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=March 28, 2016| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213053039/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4848096| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> Midlothian's extraterritorial jurisdiction includes another {{convert|33|sqmi|km2}}.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}}

=== Climate ===

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Midlothian has a [[humid subtropical climate]], ''Cfa'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=698514&cityname=Midlothian%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Midlothian, Texas]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 297
| 1900 = 832
| 1910 = 868
| 1920 = 1298
| 1930 = 1168
| 1940 = 1027
| 1950 = 1177
| 1960 = 1521
| 1970 = 2322
| 1980 = 3219
| 1990 = 5141
| 2000 = 7480
| 2010 = 18037
| 2020 = 35125
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 41352
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Midlothian racial composition as of 2020'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4848096&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White or European American]] (NH)
|24,189
|68.87%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|3,145
|8.95%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|182
|0.52%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|376
|1.07%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|24
|0.07%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|110
|0.31%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|1,455
|4.14%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|5,644
|16.07%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''35,125'''
|
|}
Per the [[2020 United States census]], there were 35,125 people, 10,462 households, and 8,817 families residing in the city.<ref name=":0" /> As of the 2010 census, the population density was {{convert|362.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, with a total population of 18,037 people.  The 6,138 housing units averaged 74.0 per square mile (28.6/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 88.5% White, 3.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 4.2% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 15.2% of the population. In 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup was 68.87% non-Hispanic white, 8.95% African American, 0.52% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.31% some other race, 4.14% multiracial, and 16.07% Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name=":0" />

==Government==
The city of Midlothian was incorporated in 1888, and on October 1, 1980, the city was granted a [[home-rule]] charter. Midlothian uses a council-manager form of government. The city council is composed of a mayor and six at-large council members elected by the citizenry.

==Economy==
Prior to 1929 and the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], a number of businesses flourished in the city. The two largest business enterprises centered around cotton and cattle-raising. The region was transformed in later years by the arrival of the cement industry. Midlothian became a prime area for cement quarrying due to the Austin Chalk Escarpment, a unique geological formation that runs north–south through the city. Three of the top-10 largest cement factories in the United States operate in the city: [[TXI]] (formerly Texas Industries), [[Holcim]], and [[Ash Grove Cement Company|Ash Grove]]. [[Gerdau]] [[Ameristeel]], formerly [[Chaparral Steel]], a large steel factory, is adjacent to TXI's cement plant.

A large industrial park, Railport, is located along [[U.S. Route 67 in Texas|U.S. 67]] on the southwestern side of the city. Railport is home to several distribution facilities including [[Target Corporation|Target]] and [[QuikTrip]].

The northern side of the city is host to MidTexas International Center's Auto Park, a large automobile distribution and processing center; and Texas Central Business Lines, a rail transload facility.

===Top employers===
According to Midlothian's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref>[https://www.midlothian.tx.us/DocumentCenter/View/16835/ACFR-FY-2022-2023-pdf City of Midlothian ACFR]</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|rowspan=2|1
| [[Gerdau]] 
|rowspan=2|1,250
|-
| [[Target Corporation|Target]]
|-
|rowspan=6|3
| Ash Grove Texas Cement
|rowspan=6|250
|-
| [[Holcim|Lafarge Holcim Texas]]
|-
| [[Martin Marietta Materials]]
|-
| QuikTrip Distribution
|-
| [[SunOpta|SunOpta Grains and Foods]]
|-
| Sunrider Manufacturing
|-
|rowspan=4|9
| Aurorium
|rowspan=4|100
|-
| Google Midlothian
|-
| MidTexas International Center
|-
| Vistra Energy
|-
|rowspan=1|10
|Big Hodge
|rowspan=1|14
|-
|rowspan=1|11
|LW Landscaping
|rowspan=1|11
|}

==Education==

=== Primary and secondary education ===

Primary and secondary education in the majority of the municipality is provided by the [[Midlothian Independent School District]] (MISD),<ref name=CensusSDMap2020Ellis>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48139_ellis/DC20SD_C48139.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ellis County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-26}}</ref> which encompasses an area around {{convert|112|sqmi}}. MISD conducts programs for kindergarten through grade 12 and employs roughly 850 employees. MISD has nine school campuses (six are elementary schools with grades K–5) with 461 teachers and an enrollment of 7,564 for the 2012–2013 school year. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16 to 1.

MISD students have historically excelled in a number of extracurricular activities. At [[Midlothian High School (Texas)|Midlothian High School]], called the "Panthers", students have been awarded numerous times in agricultural problem-solvers competitions, and high-quality music organizations. The Midlothian High School baseball, soccer, and softball teams are often seen in the 5A playoff bracket. A $14,000,000 multipurpose athletic stadium was constructed in 2006. The second high school is [[Midlothian Heritage High School]], as they compete in 4A for sports and extracurricular activities. They will be moved up to 5A for the 2022–2023 school year.

Midlothian had two National Merit finalists in 2006, 2007, and 2008.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}}

Some parts of the city extend into the [[Waxahachie Independent School District]],<ref name=CensusSDMap2020Ellis/> which operates [[Waxahachie High School]].

=== Higher education ===

Higher education opportunities are also readily available in Midlothian. On April 25, 2012, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approved the establishment of a multi-institutional teaching center (MITC) in Midlothian known as the Midlothian Higher Education Center (MHEC). As one of only nine MITCs in Texas, the MHEC is a partnership consisting of Navarro College-Midlothian, Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, and  University of North Texas-Dallas. The collaboration between the four institutions provides area students the ability to complete baccalaureate and graduate degree programs at Navarro College's Midlothian campus.

== Transportation ==
Midlothian is located at the junction of [[U.S. Highway 67]] and [[U.S. Route 287 in Texas|U.S. Highway 287]]. The city's location provides easy access to an important ground transportation network consisting of interstate highways, U.S. highways, and state highways that connects Dallas, Fort Worth, the rest of the Metroplex, and the state.

In May 2015, [[Padera Lake]], located three miles northwest of Midlothian, was full from torrential rains. Water overflowing and cracks in an earthen dam gave rise to concerns that failure was imminent. If the dam failed, U.S. Route 287 could have been flooded with up to 15&nbsp;ft of water, and some severe flooding in the northward-flowing direction towards [[Joe Pool Lake]]. Relief efforts included pumping water from behind the dam, and disaster was averted.<ref>{{cite news|title=Engineers hopeful Padera Lake dam will hold|date=May 27, 2015|url=http://www.fox4news.com/news/engineers-hopeful-padera-lake-dam-will-hold}}- Retrieved 2018-12-17</ref>

=== MidWay Regional Airport ===
Located {{convert|3|mi|0}} east of Midlothian is [[MidWay Regional Airport]] (JWY). Jointly operated by the cities of Midlothian and Waxahachie, MidWay Regional Airport is a {{convert|320|acre|adj=on}} corporate and general-aviation airport. It is a full-service [[fixed-base operator]] offering maintenance, repair, rental, sales, servicing, flight planning, computerized weather, UNICOM, RCO, and AWOS. The airport opened in October 1992 to serve a rapidly growing area. An expansion project completed in January 2012 included a major terminal renovation.

=== Eagles Nest Estates Airport ===
Located four miles northeast of Midlothian is Eagles Nest Estates Airport (T56). The airport is in the Eagles Nest Estates Airport Community neighborhood; while it is privately owned by the Eagles Nest Property Association, it is still open to the public. It has no ATC and it relies on pilot-to-pilot communication. The airport opened up in February 1985 and not much else is known about the airport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AirNav: T56 - Eagle's Nest Estates Airport |url=https://www.airnav.com/airport/T56 |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=www.airnav.com}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Yusuf Estes]], American Islamic preacher and chaplain
* [[Chris Kyle]], Navy SEAL sniper with the most confirmed kills of any American serviceman

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.midlothian.tx.us/ City of Midlothian official website]
* [http://midlothian-tx.org/ Midlothian Economic Development official website]

{{Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex}}
{{Ellis County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Ellis County, Texas]]