Editing Princeton, Texas

{{For|the ghost town in Newton County|Princeton, Newton County, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Princeton, Texas
|settlement_type          = [[Administrative divisions of Texas|City]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Princeton2022Oct11.jpg
|imagesize                = 275px
|image_caption            = Sunrise in Princeton, Texas
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Collin County Texas Incorporated Areas Princeton highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Princeton, Texas
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Collin County, Texas|Collin]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=Mayor & City Council |url=https://www.princetontx.gov/286/City-Council |publisher=City of Princeton, Texas |access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–Manager]]
|leader_title             = Honorable [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Eugene Escobar, Jr.
|leader_title1            = [[City manager]]
|leader_name1             = Michael Mashburn
|leader_title2            = [[Councillor|Councilmembers]]
|leader_name2             = Terrance Johnson<br>Cristina Todd<br>Bryan Washington<br>Ryan Gerfers<br>Steven Deffibaugh<br>Ben Long<br>Carolyn David-Graves
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1881
|established_title1       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date1        = May 1912
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 36.840
|area_land_km2            = 36.565
|area_water_km2           = 0.274
|area_total_sq_mi         = 14.224
|area_land_sq_mi          = 14.118
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.106
|area_water_percent       = 0.75
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 37019
|pop_est_as_of            = 2024
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2024"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 17027
|population_density_km2   = 1012.40
|population_density_sq_mi = 2622.11
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = –6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = –5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 179
|elevation_ft             = 587
|coordinates              = {{Coord|33.184474|-96.509393|region:US-TX_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 75407
|area_code                = [[Area codes 214, 469, 972, and 945|214, 469, 972, 945]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 48-59576
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 2411493<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411493}}</ref>
|blank_name_sec1          = [[Sales tax]]
|blank_info_sec1          = 8.25%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avalara.com/taxrates/en/state-rates/texas/cities/princeton.html|title=Princeton (TX) sales tax rate|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://princetontx.gov/|princetontx.gov}}
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Princeton''' is a city in [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]], Texas, United States. The population was 17,027 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Princeton_city,_Texas?g=160XX00US4859576 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 15, 2025 |language=en}}</ref> and was estimated to be 37,019 in 2024.<ref name="USCensusEst2024"/>

==History==
In the late 1870s T. B. Wilson and his brother George began farming near the site of future Princeton. In 1881 the [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad|Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company]] extended its line from [[Greenville, Texas|Greenville]] to [[McKinney, Texas|McKinney]], passing through land owned by the brothers. The name "Wilson's Switch" was commonly used to designate the area. When residents applied for a post office branch, however, they learned that the name Wilson was already being used. The community then submitted the name "Princeton" in honor of Prince Dowlin, a landowner and promoter of the town. This name was accepted, and a post office was established in 1888.<ref>{{cite web|last=Minor|first=David|title=Princeton, TX (Collin County)|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hgp14|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=February 21, 2013|date=June 15, 2010|archive-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016230952/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hgp14|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1940, a camp of 76 cabins was built west of Princeton to house up to 400 [[migrant worker]]s, who came to work during the onion and cotton seasons. In February 1945, the site became a [[prisoner-of-war camp]] for German [[prisoner of war|prisoners]] captured during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. The local farmers paid the POWs to work on their farms. This operation continued for eight months. Under a special bill, the German prisoners were contracted to work on the City Park located across from city hall. The park was built as a living memorial and shrine to those who served and died during World War II. The Community Park/WWII P.O.W. Camp is located at 500 West College Street.<ref>{{cite web|title=Community Park/WWII P.O.W. Camp|url=http://www.princetontx.gov/departments/parks-recreation/community-park/|publisher=Princeton, TX|access-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017075344/http://www.princetontx.gov/departments/parks-recreation/community-park/|archive-date=October 17, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Members of the Princeton Independent School District and the Princeton Lions Club have teamed up annually to hold the Princeton Onion Festival. It is a major festival for the town that began in 2005 and is expected to occur on the fourth Saturday of April each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Princeton ISD Onion Festival|url=http://www.princetonisd.net/onion-festival|archive-date=January 25, 2021|access-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125111335/https://www.princetonisd.net/onion-festival|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{maplink |frame=yes |frame-width=300 |frame-height=300 |frame-lat=33.18 |frame-long=-96.5 |type=point |coord={{coord|33.181111|-96.5}} |title= Princeton, Texas |marker-size= small |zoom=SWITCH:15,13,11 |switch=town centre, whole town, neighbouring towns}}

Princeton is located just east of the center of Collin County. It is bordered to the west by Lowry Crossing. U.S. Route 380 passes through Princeton, leading west {{convert|8|mi|km}} to McKinney, the county seat, and east {{convert|8|mi|km}} to Farmersville. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|14.224|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|14.118|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.106|sqmi}} (0.75%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Boundary history===
On June{{nbsp}}30, 2011, a Collin County District Court Judge issued a judgment ending a legal dispute over Princeton's southern boundary. The judgment ruled against the city, finding that the tract of land in question had not been annexed and was not lawfully within the city limits.<ref name=Beattie>{{cite web|last1=Beattie|first1=Chris|title=Judge rules against Princeton in land case|date=July 15, 2011 |url=http://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/news/judge-rules-against-princeton-in-land-case/article_96a375a6-2d5a-5e3f-a3b2-d97d8cbb2666.html|publisher=McKinney Courier-Gazette|access-date=August 23, 2014}}</ref> 
The case was filed on January{{nbsp}}12, 2010 and was titled: The State of Texas Ex Rel. Collin County, Texas vs. The City of Princeton, Texas, Case No. 401-00108-2010.

The State of Texas' Motion for Summary Judgment stated "that Princeton administration had 'unlawfully and improperly attempted to assert jurisdiction over a tract of land which the city never annexed and which is not lawfully within the corporate city limits,' according to Collin County court records.""<ref name="Beattie"/> "Tract Five, the property in question, is a strip of land that runs the length of the right of way of Farm to Market Road 982 from about a half mile south of U.S. Highway 380 to its intersection with FM Road 546."<ref name="Beattie"/> "The southern portion of this tract was incorporated as part of the city of Branch from August of 1971 through April of 1977."<ref name=Scotty>{{cite web|last1=Gammenthaler|first1=Robert|title=Caldwell wrong about annexation|date=May 2, 2008 |url=http://starlocalmedia.com/mckinneycouriergazette/voices/reader-s-blog/article_5885ce6a-1cd6-51e6-a936-a49602aef201.html|publisher=McKinney Courier-Gazette|access-date=October 13, 2014}}</ref> 
"After three months in which no response of any kind was received from the city (of Princeton) in regard to the matter, the (approximately 100) landowners concluded that the city (of Princeton) was ignoring (them) and decided in November (of 2006) to refer the matter to the Collin County District Attorney for possible legal action."<ref name="Scotty"/> The landowners "provided all of the documentation" (to the D.A.)...<ref name="Scotty"/>

"The state's [[quo warranto]] motion, filed in November 2010, claimed that Princeton was wrongfully exercising powers not authorized by any law<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code - Section 66.001 Grounds|url=http://law.onecle.com/texas/civil/66.001.html|website=onecle|access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref> or statute and that a judgment on the case could be made without a trial and instead based solely on Princeton city records."<ref name="Beattie" /> "Princeton officials first claimed the 5.5-mile strip of land as part of the city limits in 2003, but according to the state's motion, the 'contorted history of Tract Five and the City's current efforts to effectively annex by stealth began in 1971.'"<ref name="Beattie" /> "In January 1971, the city enacted Ordinance No. 104, through which Princeton attempted to annex certain right-of-ways surrounding the city by a process commonly referred to as 'strip annexation.'"<ref name="Beattie" /> "Princeton City Council passed a motion to annex five tracts, but in April of that year, the council passed another motion to eliminate Tract Five from the proposed annexations."<ref name="Beattie" /> "Texas Legislature subsequently prohibited 'strip annexation' through procedures mandated by Chapter 43 of the Texas Local Government Code."<ref name="Beattie" /> "All area maps, including one Princeton filed in 2000 with the U.S. Dept. of Justice, show that Tract Five did not belong to Princeton."<ref name="Beattie" /> "Included in the state's original filing on the case in 2010 is a corporate map of Branch that was legally filed in Collin County records in March 1975, showing that Branch owns (sic) the corner of FM 982 and FM 546 and part of the same land Princeton began claiming as its own in 2003."<ref name="Beattie" /> "Robert Davis, specially deputized District Attorney representing the state, said in the state's motion for summary judgment that 'in 2003, realizing that they were prohibited by law from engaging in the type of strip annexation which was accomplished by Ordinance No. 104, the City passed an ordinance which attempted to refute the fact

Using only Princeton's official city records, District Court Judge Ray Wheless ruled: "that Princeton's southern most corporate city limit officially extends to approximately 0.6 miles south of the intersection of F.M.{{nbsp}}Road{{nbsp}}982 with U.S. Highway 380 but does NOT include the 5.5-mile stretch to FM 546."<ref name="Beattie" /> "The order brings Princeton's south boundary back to where it stood for nearly 32 years."<ref name="Beattie" /> Princeton's City Council minutes from July{{nbsp}}11, 2011 state that "Councilmember Beauchamp made a motion to not appeal the Quo Warranto, Case No. 401-00108-2010. Councilmember Glass seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously." This decision was reported in ''The Princeton Herald'' on July{{nbsp}}14, 2011 by Jamie Engle under the title, "City manager terminated, no appeal in 982{{nbsp}}case."

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 500
|1930= 459
|1940= 564
|1950= 540
|1960= 594
|1970= 1105
|1980= 3408
|1990= 2321
|2000= 3477
|2010= 6807
|2020= 17027
|estyear=2024
|estimate=37019
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2024">{{cite web|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=www.census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 6,809 estimated households in Princeton with an average of 3.07 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $96,766. Approximately 5.3% of the city's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Princeton has an estimated 75.4% employment rate, with 28.3% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 90.9% holding a high school diploma.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Princeton city, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/princetoncitytexas/PST045224 |access-date=May 15, 2025 |website=www.census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (72.0%), Spanish (18.1%), Indo-European (3.5%), Asian and Pacific Islander (2.3%), and Other (4.1%).

The median age in the city was 32.9 years.

{| class="wikitable"
|+<big>Princeton, Texas – racial and ethnic composition</big><br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Princeton city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US4859576|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Princeton city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4859576&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Princeton city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4859576&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 2,980
| 4,526
| style='background: #ffffe6; |7,605
| 85.71%
| 66.49%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |44.66%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 32
| 411
| style='background: #ffffe6; |2,535
| 0.92%
| 6.04%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |14.89%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 33
| 33
| style='background: #ffffe6; |85
| 0.95%
| 0.48%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.50%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 10
| 74
| style='background: #ffffe6; |598
| 0.29%
| 1.09%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |3.51%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 0
| 2
| style='background: #ffffe6; |8
| 0.00%
| 0.03%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 0
| 5
| style='background: #ffffe6; |84
| 0.00%
| 0.07%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.49%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 43
| 107
| style='background: #ffffe6; |827
| 1.24%
| 1.57%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |4.86%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 379
| 1,649
| style='background: #ffffe6; |5,285
| 10.90%
| 24.23%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |31.04%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,477'''
|'''6,807'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''17,027'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2020 census===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 17,027 people, 5,294 households, and 4,282 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Princeton%20city,%20Texas%20p16&y=2020 |access-date=May 15, 2025 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1686.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 5,494 housing units at an average density of {{convert|543.96|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 52.19% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.33% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 3.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.09% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 11.63% from some other races and 16.01% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 31.04% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Princeton city, Texas |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/princeton-city-texas/160-4859576/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |publisher=USA Today}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 6,807 people, 2,288 households, and _ families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|920.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,533 housing units at an average density of {{convert|342.30|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.72% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 10.71% from some other races and 2.67% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 24.23% of the population.

==Government==
Princeton is Home Rule City.

The city is governed by City Council. The city also has Community Development Corporation and Economic Development Corporation.

===History of Government===
Historically, Princeton was a Type A General Law city,<ref>{{cite web|title=City of Princeton Annual Operating Budget Fiscal Year 2014-2015|url=http://www.princetontx.gov/download/finance/budgets/FY-14-15_ANNUAL_BUDGET.pdf|publisher=City of Princeton|accessdate=February 21, 2015|archive-date=December 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224072405/http://www.princetontx.gov/download/finance/budgets/FY-14-15_ANNUAL_BUDGET.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> but its council members have tried to get a Home Rule form of government passed four times: in November 2007,<ref name="HmRl #1">{{cite web|title=Election Summary Report Nov. 2007|url=http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2007/110607/November%206,%202007%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.htm|website=Collin Co. Archive|publisher=Collin County, TX|accessdate=February 25, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722052613/http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2007/110607/November%206,%202007%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> May 2008,<ref name="HmRl #2">{{cite web|title=Election Summary Report May 2008|url=http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2008/051008/May%2010,%202008%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.htm|website=Collin Co. Archive|publisher=Collin County, TX|accessdate=February 25, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722050530/http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2008/051008/May%2010,%202008%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> November 2008,<ref name="HmRl #3">{{cite web|title=Election Summary Report Nov. 2008|url=http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2008/110408/November%204,%202008%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.htm|website=Collin Co. Archive|publisher=Collin County, TX|accessdate=February 25, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722024713/http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2008/110408/November%204,%202008%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> and May 2014.<ref name="HmRl #4">{{cite web|title=Election Summary Report May 2014|url=http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2014/051014/May%2010,%202014%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.pdf|website=Collin Co. Archive|publisher=Collin County, TX|accessdate=February 25, 2015|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205434/http://www.collincountytx.gov/elections/election_results/Archive/2014/051014/May%2010,%202014%20Combined%20Election%20Day%20and%20Early%20Ballots%20-%20Accumulated%20Totals.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Princeton voters rejected Home Rule each time: 149 to 117 in November 2007,<ref name="HmRl #1" /> 239 to 165 in May 2008,<ref name="HmRl #2" /> 979 to 449 in November 2008,<ref name= "HmRl #3" /> and 260 to 151 in May 2014.<ref name="HmRl #4" /> Home Rule cities can tax property at a higher rate than General Law cities, because the tax rate ceiling of Home Rule cities is $2.50 per $100 valuation,<ref name="alpha">{{cite web|title=Alphabet Soup: Types of Texas Cities|url=http://www.tml.org/DocumentCenter/View/244/Types-of-Texas-Cities-PDF|publisher=Texas Municipal League|access-date=January 31, 2021|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929153740/https://www.tml.org/DocumentCenter/View/244/Types-of-Texas-Cities-PDF|url-status=live}}</ref> while the tax rate ceiling of General Law cities is $1.50 per $100 valuation.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Texas Constitution, Article 11. Municipal Corporations|url=http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.11.htm|website=Statutes|publisher=State of Texas|accessdate=October 13, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018055649/http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.11.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Home Rule cities can assess additional property taxes,<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Statute 302.001|url=http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/TX/3/A/302/A/302.001|accessdate=February 21, 2013|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222230053/http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/TX/3/A/302/A/302.001|url-status=live}}</ref> while a General Law city has "no inherent power to tax."<ref name="alpha" /> Besides additional property taxes, Home Rule cities are allowed to tax almost anything specified in its charter,<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Tax Code - Section 302.102 Tax Collection Power|url=http://law.onecle.com/texas/tax/302.102.html|publisher=onecle|accessdate=July 21, 2015|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722094927/http://law.onecle.com/texas/tax/302.102.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while General Law cities cannot, because they have no charter.

In January 2015, a year long transparency study of 113 area cities, counties, and school districts was completed by The Dallas Morning News.<ref name=DMN-1>{{cite web|title=How Transparent Is Your Community?|date=January 26, 2015 |url=http://www.foift.org/2015/01/26/dallas-morning-news-transparent-community/|accessdate=February 19, 2015|archive-date=August 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825051718/http://foift.org/2015/01/26/dallas-morning-news-transparent-community/|url-status=live}}</ref> Seven reporters sent out and tracked 565 open record requests for public information from 113 entities.<ref name="DMN-1" /> They asked for public information that was clearly allowed by law.<ref name="DMN-1" /> They also tested government websites to see if they were user-friendly for citizen inspection.<ref name="DMN-1" /> Grades ranged from A to F.<ref name=DMN-2>{{cite web|title=All Agencies Transparency 2015 Report Cart|url=http://labs.dallasnews.com/reportcard/transparency-2015/all/|publisher=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=February 19, 2015|archive-date=February 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219205828/http://labs.dallasnews.com/reportcard/transparency-2015/all/|url-status=live}}</ref> Princeton was among only three cities which earned an F.<ref name="DMN-2" /> By contrast, twenty-four neighboring cities earned an A.<ref name="DMN-2" /> If a government did poorly on this survey, it is a cause for citizen concern, because responding to open records requests is a basic function of government.<ref name=DMN-3>{{cite web|title=When open government isn't open|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20150123-editorial-when-open-government-isnt-open.ece|publisher=The Dallas Morning News|accessdate=February 21, 2015|archive-date=February 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221033557/http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/20150123-editorial-when-open-government-isnt-open.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> Cities were graded according to their responses.<ref name="DMN-3" /> The City of "Princeton was among the worst in the Transparency 2015 ratings. It ranked as bad in request best practices, bad in request compliance, good in web customer service and excellent in online meeting notice."<ref name="DMN-2" />

In 2017 and 2019, the Texas legislature passed two laws which ended forced annexation. The 2017 law applied only to sixteen Texas counties, but the 2019 law applies to all 254 Texas counties. In 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott said, "Residents from across the state that have expressed their concerns about feeling abused by the annexation process have had their voices heard. I’m proud to sign legislation ending forced annexation practices, which is nothing more than a form of taxation without representation, and I thank the legislature for their attention to this important issue during the special session." A restriction on this law was that it ended forced annexation only in Texas counties with more than 500,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Governor Greg Abbott Signs Legislation To Reform Municipal Annexation Process|url=https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-greg-abbott-signs-legislation-to-reform-municipal-annexation-proce|publisher=Office of the Texas Governor|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}</ref>

On May 24, 2019, a new law went into effect extending the 2017 law. This new law ended forced annexation in all 254 Texas counties, not just the sixteen counties with populations over 500,000. At the signing, Gov. Abbott said, "…Forced annexation is when cities annex property without the approval of the people and businesses that are affected. This means that cities can impose new regulations and higher taxes on Texans who purposefully choose to live outside of city limits. It’s a form of taxation without representation and it will not be tolerated in Texas…" <ref>{{cite web|title=Bill ending forced annexation becomes law|date=June 4, 2019 |url=https://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/news/local_news/bill-ending-forced-annexation-becomes-law/article_fcb8b541-5674-52ab-906f-1ee8edc7e7d0.html|publisher=Weatherford Democrat|accessdate=June 4, 2019}}</ref>

On November 8, 2022, Princeton brought the Home Rule issue before its voters for the fifth time since 2007. This time, most of the administrators, who had been in favor of a ten square mile land grab that violated Texas law during the years of 2003 to 2011, were no longer in office. More Princeton voters turned out for this election than ever before with a total of 4,065 votes cast. The final tally was put online by the Collin County Elections Office on November 18, 2022. Home Rule passed by a vote of 2,266 FOR (~56%) and 1,799 (~44%) AGAINST. The final tally can be found on the Collin County website under the title, "November 8, 2022 General and Special Election Combined Accumulated Totals.pdf (38 pages)." It is good that so many Princeton voters are paying attention to the decisions of their city government.

==Finances==
Standard and Poor’s updated the City’s bond rating in February 2021 to a "AA−" from a "AA".<ref>{{cite web|title=Annual Comprehensive Financial Report |url=https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/1963411/FY22_Princeton_ACFR.pdf|accessdate=May 19, 2023}}</ref> Fitch Ratings raised the City's 2020, 2021, and 2022 certificates of obligation (COs) and 2021 general obligation bonds to AA+<ref>{{cite web|title=News Flash • City of Princeton's Credit Rating Raised in Rar|url=https://princetontx.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=394|accessdate=July 23, 2024}}</ref>

===History of Finances===
A Fitch business report for Princeton, dated October 9, 2012<ref name=Fitch>{{cite web|title=Fitch Affirms Princeton, Texas GOs and COs at 'A-'; Outlook Negative|url=http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/6081893/fitch-affirms-princeton-texas-gos-and-cos-at-a-outlook-negative|publisher=iStock Analyst|accessdate=October 13, 2014|archive-date=November 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110135109/http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/6081893/fitch-affirms-princeton-texas-gos-and-cos-at-a-outlook-negative|url-status=live}}</ref> is titled: "Fitch Affirms Princeton, Texas GOs<ref name=GO>{{cite web|title=General Obligation Bond Definition|url=https://www.ventureline.com/accounting-glossary/G/general-obligation-bond-definition/|publisher=Venture Line|accessdate=October 13, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018154153/https://www.ventureline.com/accounting-glossary/G/general-obligation-bond-definition/|url-status=live}}</ref> and COs<ref>{{cite web|title=Certificate of Obligation Definition|url=https://www.ventureline.com/accounting-glossary/C/certificate-of-obligation-definition/|publisher=Venture Line|accessdate=October 13, 2014|archive-date=October 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018155611/https://www.ventureline.com/accounting-glossary/C/certificate-of-obligation-definition/|url-status=live}}</ref> at 'A−'; Outlook Negative."<ref name="Fitch" /> The key rating drivers for the negative outlook are Princeton's diminished reserves, increased tax rates, slowed tax base growth, above average debt, and the city's inability to replenish unrestricted general fund balances to levels that provide adequate operating flexibility and financial cushion.<ref name="Fitch" /> The negative outlook reflects the trend of operating deficits in recent years, culminating in a negative general fund balance at the close of fiscal 2011.<ref name="Fitch" /> The fiscal 2011 net deficit was $4.2 million.<ref name="Fitch" /> The fiscal 2013 budget includes an increased [[ad valorem tax]] rate to increase funding for maintenance and operations; increased water service rates are also included in the budget.<ref name="Fitch" /> Fitch notes the city's ad valorem tax rate is above average for Texas municipalities.<ref name="Fitch" /> Overall debt is above average at 5.2% of market value despite state support for overlapping school district debt and support for direct city debt by the utility system.<ref name="Fitch" /> GO<ref name="GO" /> debt amortization remains below average with 36.8% of principal scheduled for repayment within 10 years.<ref name="Fitch" /> A newer Fitch report, dated August 27, 2013, shows Princeton's business outlook improved from "Negative" to "Stable."

==Education==
The city is served by [[Princeton Independent School District]].

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Collin County, Texas}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]
[[Category:Cities in Collin County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Texas]]