Duncanville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Duncanville is a city in Dallas County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 (USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

). Duncanville's population was 36,081 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 42,500 in 2008. Duncanville is a suburb of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...

 and is part of the Best Southwest
Best Southwest, Dallas County, Texas
The Best Southwest is a term commonly applied to four Dallas suburbs – Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, and Lancaster – in southwestern Dallas County, Texas...

 area, which includes Duncanville, Cedar Hill
Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill is a city in Dallas and Ellis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located approximately sixteen miles southwest of downtown Dallas and is situated along the eastern shore of Joe Pool Lake and Cedar Hill State Park. The population was 32,093 at the 2000 census...

, DeSoto
DeSoto, Texas
DeSoto is a city in Dallas County, Texas . Over the past eleven years since the 2000 U.S. Census Report, the City of DeSoto has grown in population from 37,646 to 49,047....

, and Lancaster
Lancaster, Texas
Lancaster is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. The population was 25,894 at the 2000 census.Lancaster is a suburb of Dallas, Texas and is part of the Best Southwest area, which includes Lancaster, Cedar Hill, DeSoto, and Duncanville. Most of the city is in Dallas County. But a...

.

Geography

Duncanville is located at 32°38′47"N 96°54′41"W (32.646333, -96.911309).

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the city has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29.3 km²), all of it land.

History

Settlement of the area began in 1845, when Illinois resident Crawford Trees purchased several thousand acres south of Camp Dallas. In 1880 the Chicago, Texas and Mexican Central Railway reached the area and built Duncan Switch, named for a line foreman. Charles P. Nance, the community's first postmaster, renamed the settlement Duncanville in 1882. By the late 19th century Duncanville was home to a dry goods stores, a pharmacy, a domino parlor, and a school. Between 1904 and 1933 the population of Duncanville increased from 113 to more than 300.

During World War II, the Army Air Corp established a landing field for flight training on property near the present day intersection of Main and Wheatland roads.

Duncanville residents incorporated the city on Aug. 2, 1947. During the post war years, the military developed the Army’s old landing field into the Duncanville Air Force Station, which was the headquarters for the four Nike-Hercules missile
Nike-Hercules Missile
The MIM-14 Nike-Hercules , was a solid fuel propelled two-stage surface-to-air missile, used by US and NATO armed forces for high- and medium-altitude air defense...

 launch sites guarding Dallas/Fort Worth from Soviet bomber attack. It also housed the Air Force tracking radars for the region.

When the town's population reached 5,000 in 1962, citizens adopted a home-rule charter with council-manager city government. Sometimes regarded as a so-called "white flight" suburb in the 1960s and 1970s, the city is now known for its racial diversity. (See "Demographics") Its population increased from about 13,000 in 1970 to more than 31,000 in 1988.

Historic preservation

The Texas Historical Commission has designated the City of Duncanville as an official Main Street City.

Duncanville has a long-term commitment to recognizing its history. When the Duncanville Air Force Station was closed about 1970, the entire facility was turned over to the city. The WWII-era barracks and some other structures were initially repurposed for civic and community use. Over time the buildings were systematically demolished, obliterating all signs of the historic base. But the history of the facility lives on in a monument, which stands outside the Library and Community Center.

The “stone igloo,” a spring house originally located near the intersection of Center Street and Cedar Ridge Road, was preserved in a unique way. In the late 1960s or early 1970s it was demolished, thereby producing a supply of rocks that were used to build a replica of the structure at a nearby park and paving the way for the construction of a neighborhood retail center.

Various pieces of the city’s history are preserved at the Duncanville Historical Park, which is located on Wheatland Road in Armstrong Park on land that was once a part of the Duncanville Air Force Station. Historic buildings include the city’s first Music Room.

Tourism

With the completion of nearby Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake
Joe Pool Lake is a fresh water impoundment located in the southern part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in North Texas . The lake encompasses parts of Tarrant, Dallas and Ellis counties. The lake measures with a conservation storage capacity of...

 in the 1980s, Duncanville has increased in stature as a popular tourist destination. Overnight accommodations include several well-known chains, such as Motel 6
Motel 6
Motel 6 is a major chain of budget motels with more than 1,000 locations in the United States and Canada, and is the largest owned and operated hotel chain in North America. It is owned and operated by Accor Hotels.-History:...

, and Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is a chain of hotels trademarked by the Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Garden Inns are considered to be upscale mid-priced hotels that are designed for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel brand is similar to that of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, a key competitor...

. The city is home to a variety of local eateries and national restaurant chains, some of which have been in business for decades.

Famous residents

Chief Rick Stone - Chief of Police. United States Department of Justice "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" and the most highly decorated officer in Dallas Police Department history with multiple awards including the Medal of Valor
Medal of Valor
The Medal of Valor is the highest Israeli military decoration.The medal was established in 1970 by the Knesset in an act of law as a replacement for the Hero of Israel military decoration that was awarded during the War of Independence...

, lived in Duncanville for 16 years.

Singer Elliott Smith
Elliott Smith
Steven Paul "Elliott" Smith was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and resided for a significant portion of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity...

 moved to Duncanville after his parents divorced and stayed till 14 when he went to live with his father in Portland, Oregon.

Ex-pro football player "Mean" Joe Greene
Joe Greene (American football)
Charles Edward Greene, known as “Mean Joe” Greene, is a former all-pro American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Throughout the early 1970s he was the one of most dominant defensive players in the National Football League...

 lived in Duncanville during the height of his pro career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tamika Catchings
Tamika Catchings
Tamika Devonne Catchings is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever of the WNBA and Turkish team Galatasaray. She is a prolific scorer close to and far from the basket, as well as a capable rebounder, ball handler, and defender. After playing at Adlai E...

, WNBA all-star, graduated from Duncanville High School in 1997, having played on the women's basketball team that won the state championship. She is the only person to achieve a quintuple double.

Tim Urban
Tim Urban
Timothy Joseph "Tim" Urban is an American singer-songwriter from Duncanville, Texas, who was the seventh place finalist on the ninth season of American Idol. Urban's debut album and EP titled Heart of Me is due for a November 8, 2010, iTunes release. Hard copies of the EP are on sale on his...

, an acoustic, contemporary musician who began his music career in 2007, and gained fame for making it in to the top 7 on the ninth season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...

.

Tim DeLaughter
Tim DeLaughter
Tim DeLaughter , is a singer and songwriter. He has gained attention as a very energetic and engaging frontman for both Tripping Daisy and his current band, The Polyphonic Spree....

 (born 18 November 1965 in Dallas, Texas), is a singer and songwriter. He has gained attention as a very energetic
and engaging frontman for both Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy
Tripping Daisy was a neo psychedelic pop rock band that was formed in Dallas, Texas, USA by lead singer/guitarist Tim DeLaughter in 1990 along with Jeff Bouck , Wes Berggren and Mark Pirro .-History:...

 and his current band, The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree
The Polyphonic Spree is a choral symphonic pop rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by Tim DeLaughter. The band's sound relies on a variety of vocal and instrumental color by featuring a choir, flute, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums,...

.

The Current Texas State Attorney General, Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott
Gregory Wayne "Greg" Abbott is the Texas Attorney General, and is the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve in that role. Abbott was sworn in on December 2, 2002, following John Cornyn's election to the U.S. Senate...

 is a 1976 graduate of Duncanville High School.

Jerry Hill, Dallas Police Department (Retired) and a long time resident of Duncanville (1964- present) Lead the search detail that discovered Lee Harvey Oswald's sniper perch, and later that day was one of the arresting officers of Lee Harvey Oswald. Jerry is one of the very few people that was closely involved with the Kennedy assassination.

Government and infrastructure

A club that offered a "Naked Twister
Twister (game)
Twister is a game of physical skill produced by Hasbro Games. It is played on a large plastic mat that is spread on the floor or ground. The mat has four rows of large colored circles on it with a different color in each row: red, yellow, blue, and green. A spinner is attached to a square board...

" night inspired the city to pass a law banning "sex clubs" in residential areas in 2007.

The United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...

 operates the Duncanville Post Office.

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 36,083 people, 12,899 households, and 10,239 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 3,196.6 people per square mile (1,233.9/km²). There were 13,290 housing units at an average density of 1,177.4 per square mile (454.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.90% White, 24.76% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.99% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 6.83% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.30% of the population.

There were 12,896 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $51,654, and the median income for a family was $57,064. Males had a median income of $39,199 versus $30,145 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the city was $22,924. The Average Household Income for the city in 2008 is $82,500. About 3.9% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Duncanville is served by the Duncanville Independent School District
Duncanville Independent School District
Duncanville Independent School District is a school district based in Duncanville, Texas .Duncanville ISD serves most of the city of Duncanville and portions of DeSoto, Dallas, and Cedar Hill. Currently, the District is receiving a high number of Hispanics coming in, and a slightly decreasing...

.

The Duncanville ISD portion is zoned to Duncanville High School
Duncanville High School
Duncanville High School is a secondary school located in Duncanville, Texas, United States. The school is a part of the Duncanville Independent School District....

, which enrolls approximately 3,750 students annually. Duncanville High School currently enrolls over 4,000 students during the 2010-2011 school year. At about 900000 square feet (83,612.7 m²), the Duncanville High School campus is the largest in Texas, the second-largest in the nation, and the third largest in the world in terms of physical size. In total, 13 out of the 17 schools in the district are rated Exemplary or Recognized by the TEA Texas Education Agency
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is a branch of the state government of Texas in the United States responsible for public education. The agency is headquartered in the William B...

, and the district's ratings continue to outperform those of the surrouding districts (Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Lancaster, Dallas, Grand Prairie). They also outperform many of the school districts throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Area.

Reports of alleged paranormal phenomenon

Duncanville is mentioned in UFO reports posted on several Web sites. These reports of unidentified flying objects date back to the early 1950s and continue into the first decade of the 21st century.

One of the most important UFO incidents in Duncanville occurred on July 17, 1957, when an Air Force Boeing Stratojet reconnaissance jet (RB-47) was followed by an unidentified object for a distance of well over 700 miles (1,126.5 km) and for a time period of more than one hour. The jet was pursued while flying from Mississippi, through Louisiana and Texas and into Oklahoma. The object was detected visually by the flight crew, by crewmembers using radar and electronic surveillance equipment on the aircraft and by radar operators at the Duncanville Air Force Station. The incident is listed in Project Blue Book files, where investigators concluded that the UFO was actually an ordinary jet airliner. However, these official findings are widely disputed by critics and investigators, who claim that this well-reported, multi-channel, multiple-witness report makes RB-47 one of the most compelling documented cases supporting the reality of UFOs. (This UFO report also gets a brief mention in Wikipedia’s unidentified flying object
Unidentified flying object
A term originally coined by the military, an unidentified flying object is an unusual apparent anomaly in the sky that is not readily identifiable to the observer as any known object...

 article, where the sighting is described as “the well-known 1957 RB-47 surveillance aircraft case.” )

Other documented UFO cases associated with Duncanville include:
  • On April 4, 1952, two radar operators of the 147th AC&W Squadron at Duncanville Air Force Station tracked an unidentified object for one minute at an estimated 2160 mi/h.
  • On Jan. 6, 1953, the 147th AC&W Squadron in Duncanville received reports of an unidentified flying object northeast of Dallas, Texas. An arrowhead-shaped object was reported by some witnesses. At the same time, the AC&W unit at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, reported that they had picked up a target by radar 20 miles (32.2 km) southwest of Paris, Texas. This target was moving west at an estimated speed of 600 knots (1,175.9 km/h) at 7500 feet (2,286 m) in altitude.
  • On Oct. 23, 1994, witnesses reported three unidentified objects, each about the size of a commercial jet, flying single file at about 1000 feet (304.8 m) at high speed but making no noise. The objects suddenly aligned in a triangular formation and made a fast turn. Three F-18 was observed giving pursuit with afterburners. Later, a local television station broadcast news of a large explosion in the area, but no follow-up information was ever released.
  • On Oct. 2, 1999, four unidentified objects were observed moving silently at fast rates of speed during a period of about 35 minutes. The first object was large and triangle-shaped. It was followed by 8 to 10 dim, star-like objects in a V-shaped cluster that appeared solid. Another larger, star-like object followed. The final object resembled a satellite, but was moving at a much faster speed.
  • On April 1, 2004, witnesses reported an unidentified object, described as an egg-shaped red orb, traveling west at high speed.

External links

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