P lano, Texas is an exciting city located in the heart of Collin County, Texas. Plano has a population of 222,100 and is located only 17 minutes away from Dallas. Plano is truly a Texas sized city, and has a great economy with massive growth expansion reflecting this fact. The growth of the city and the nature of its spirit can be traced back to the first settlers who came to the area 150 years ago. Drawn to the area because of the rich fertile black soil, settlers persevered against steady attacks from area Indians throughout the mid 1800's. The Civil War and a catastrophic fire that destroyed the entire downtown business district were two challenging events that left a deep impact on Plano.

For much of the last century, the community relied on its agriculture base to thrive. When the U.S. population began its historic shift south and west in the 1970s, Plano welcomed newcomers with enthusiasm; this resulted in Plano being one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas and the U.S. Plano is home to more than 6,000 businesses, including a multitude of global corporate headquarters and technology-related companies. Companies based in Plano range in size from small home-based businesses to international conglomerates with more than 2,500 employees. Plano has two unique organizations for people who relocate to the area, The Newcomer’s Club and Newcomer Friends of Greater Plano, both groups have a mission to enrich the lives of new members of the community by having lunches, events and activities enabling them to make new friends and get acquainted with their neighbors.

From its detailed scenic views to its historic downtown, Plano was sculpted from the ground up. Plano has an abundance of houses in the area that are pleasantly affordable. You can choose from apartments and town homes of all sizes, single family starter homes to luxurious houses situated on a golf course community. The average household income is a healthy $78,000, while the average estimated house value is $162,300. These two numbers combined with a low unemployment rate, amounts to just the right equation contributing to an amazing quality of life.

One of the many draws of Plano, Texas is the shopping. Plano has more than 70 shopping centers, including two malls, an outlet mall and a historic central shopping district. One of the largest malls is called Metroplex at Collin Creek. It is truly a one-stop shopping experience You will enjoy beautiful two-level shopping with five major department stores including Dillard's and Foley's, and more than 160 specialty shops. There are also many other fine boutiques and specialty stores to find all things to meet you needs. If you are in the mood for food, Plano also has everything to tempt even the choosiest palate. You can opt for the normal tex-mex or barbeque fare, five star gourmet dining, or a quick sandwich on the go. With over 3,302 acres of public parks, Plano offers over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails. In addition, there are four recreation centers, three public golf courses, 79 public tennis courts-including a 21-court tennis center, three public swimming pools, 74 soccer/football fields and 49 baseball/softball fields. At Lake Lavon, just east of Plano, fishing, boating, camping and water sports can be enjoyed much of the year. One of the major recreational events of the year is the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival held in late September - a sight to remember.

With Dallas so close to Plano, you can also take advantage of the many sporting events with some of the local Dallas teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks. If you are a Nascar fan then you will enjoy the many races at Texas Motor Speedway. Needless to say, the Plano area is an outdoors, family friendly place.

The Plano Independent School District is comprised of 56 schools, and serves the educational needs of 45,133 students annually. It has also been recognized by the Texas Education Agency as one of eight state independent school districts with students who demonstrate mastery of higher-level cognitive skills. Twenty-one PISD schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence” by the U.S. Department of Education. There are also several excellent private schools in the area, which provide Kindergarten through High School curriculums. Plano is home to several community colleges, and is only 6 miles away from the University of Texas at Dallas for those wising to continue their education.

Plano has always been a city rich in culture and warm Southern hospitality it has steadily become one of the best places in the entire country in which to live, work, retire or raise a family. If you are thinking of moving into the area, or would like some more information about Plano, Texas please feel free to select a "free relocation package" today!