One of the most interesting aspects of life in North Texas is the diversity of its cities. Within a couple of hours, you can take a drive through cosmopolitan Dallas, the comparatively laid-back and historic, yet nevertheless progressive Fort Worth, and endless strip-mall suburbs like Lewisville, Coppell, Plano, Frisco and Allen. And then, there's McKinney, a suburb that marches to a different drummer.

In contrast to many Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex suburbs, which are relatively new with few historic relics and offer a predominance of chain restaurants, major retail outlets and movie theaters, McKinney, a mere 35 miles from Dallas, exudes an old Western town feel, not unlike Fort Worth, in a sense - although McKinney is much smaller and doesn't boast the same large-scale cultural venues as Fort Worth. With three historic districts and two residential districts, McKinney is slower-paced and quieter, a pleasant change of pace from the typical Metroplex suburb, the majority of which have experienced explosive growth in recent years. Much like its fellow North Texas suburbs, McKinney has witnessed economic prosperity during the late 20th century, and all forecasts call for continued growth. The high-tech sector, in particular, thrives here. Raytheon, manufacturer of radar systems for the United States Department of Defense, is McKinney's largest and perhaps most impactful employer, with approximately 3,000 employees. Other major employers in the area include Southwestern Bell, Dynamco, Medro Systems and DuPont Innografix. It's particularly interesting, then, to note the dramatic contrast between McKinney's economy -- based on such a progressive sector -- and old. The Historic Downtown Shopping District, centered around the Old Court House square, is a treat for anyone accustomed to shopping at large, modern retail outlets. Stroll through the Historic Downtown Shopping District any afternoon, and peruse antique shops, art galleries and tiny retail stores selling arts, crafts (including quilts, pottery and homemade candles) and other handmade collectibles and gifts. Downtown McKinney's restaurant choices are just as unique. Forgoing chains for mom-and-pops, the Shopping District's roster of eateries includes everything from authentic Southern soul food (red beans and rice, anyone?) to genuine Italian and Mexican cuisine.

The Downtown Square is a fitting location for the celebration of the city's history, and residents take advantage of every opportunity to recognize their city's past. The event currently marked on local's calendars, which is probably McKinney's most-loved annual festival, is "Dickens of a Christmas," a Victorian-era celebration that ceremonially ushers in the Christmas season. Local retailers participate in the festivities by donning themselves in Dickens-era costumes, and adorning their shops in decorations reminiscent of old-world London. The weekend following this event marks the annual Christmas Tour of Homes, presented by the Heritage Guild. The tour features several of McKinney's beautifully preserved Victorian homes, decorated for the holiday season and open to the public.

McKinney's other major annual event, Mayfair, also transports participants back in time, although the era of choice changes each year. Everyone gets into the spirit, including retailers, local musicians and artists. The Heritage Guild once again provides a tour of historic structures - this time through McKinney's Old Post Office Museum, the Old Collin County Jail, Old Court House and Chestnut Square, which features a block of restored homes dating back to the early 1900s.

The city's housing inventory is one of its most unique selling points. A significant percentage of McKinney's single-family homes are older, Victorian-style residences, an uncommon sight in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. A few homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Just a stone's throw away, however, you'll find an abundance of comparatively newer homes priced anywhere from the low $100,000s to $500,000 and up. Another point of distinction for McKinney is that this suburb still has available land on which to build, and in fact, many of its higher-priced homes sit on sizeable lots in such exclusive conclaves as Eldorado, perhaps the best-known of McKinney's residential subdivisions. Eldorado has formed its own community of sorts, complete with its own elementary school, bike trails, country club and championship golf course. Stonebridge Ranch has adopted a similar approach, although on a much larger scale. This unique development, situated on 6,300 acres, contains 37 different subdivisions encompassing homes priced anywhere from the lower $100,000s to more than $1 million. Two country clubs - Ranch Country Club and the Stonebridge Club - both feature outstanding golf courses. Perhaps the best-known amenity at Stonebridge is its sandy beach, which is clearly an anomaly in the prairie lands of North Texas. Located at the Stonebridge Beach and Tennis Club, this man-made beach has proven to be a big selling point for incoming families, and an even bigger topic of conversation. Stonebridge Ranch has been enormously successful in terms of home sales, emerging as one of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex's hottest local markets.

The multifamily housing market, too, has experienced significant growth throughout the past decade. McKinney, like most neighboring suburbs, has a large population of well-to-do professionals who are quite content to pay $700, $800 or more than $1,000 per month for apartments that boast all of the luxuries of single-family housing, but without the associated maintenance costs and responsibilities.

McKinney is a truly unique suburb in a region often accused of being devoid of historical offerings. Whether a fixer-upper, a nicely restored historic residence, a brand-new home or even a ranchette is your taste, you'll find it here - in a quiet community just 30 minutes from the heart of Dallas, and which preserves the best of small-town life while continuing to welcome progressive corporations for the interest of its future.

Published: November 27, 2000

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