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I was visiting family back east over the holidays and
saw a cousin of mine that I had not seen for a few
years. My first comment was, "My, how you've grown."
It gave me a reason to pause and reflect on the growth
of Plano. That thought came full circle the other day
when a friend told me that in the 80's he used to dove
hunt where I now live. As a 13 year resident of Plano, I
have witnessed a great deal of change. For residents
who have lived here even longer, the evolution of our
city must be amazing. When I think about that growth,
I am most impressed with the careful planning and
execution of the comprehensive plan, coupled with the
willingness to be flexible.
Although our growth has abated and our city is
maturing, there are still tremendous opportunities on
both the business and residential side. The City of
Plano's staff is 2000 employees strong, and it is led
by a city manager who continues to blaze trails in the
field of municipal governance. They are up to the task!
| How Much Has Plano Grown? |
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In 1900, our population was 1,304.
In 1950, our population crept to 2,163.
In 1980, our population grew to 72,331.
In 2000, our population exploded to over
220,000...the secret got out!
Last year, at one of the council meetings, we
celebrated our 250,00th resident.
Estimates are that by build-out we will be at around
270,000.
The word is out... Plano is a great
place to live!
What's even more impressive is that Plano's
population growth experience and the resulting
demographics make us the envy of many cities,
regionally and nationally.
Here are some of those statistics:
Ethnicity/Race
White - 65%
Asian - 16%
Hispanic - 12%
African American - 5%
Other - 2%
Education
60% of our population has attended some
college or has attained an associate, bachelors or
graduate/professional degree.
Household Income
$50K and over - 66%
$100K and over - 35%
Average Household Income - $97K
Median Household Income - $72K (Half-way
point of salary scale)
Poverty Level - under 6%
Family Facts
Married - 62% (people over the age of 15)
Households with children under 18 with 2 parents -
79%
Households that speak another language in addition
to English - 30%
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| What Does This All Mean? |
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We have a fantastic family centric community. Most of
our citizens are educated and have good jobs. And, by
and large, they can comfortably provide for their
families. Our racial mix suggests a true melting pot.
As our city faces maturation, its ability to remain a
great place to raise a family, work and play is
paramount for us on council to consider. It will require
visionary leadership and a willingness to view Plano
very differently than we have in the past. It will, at
times, require us to do what we have not done
before. That's not bad, simply different -- part of a
transition.
Today, Plano is a safe, vibrant city where all can enjoy
a wealth of educational, recreational and cultural
opportunities. "My, how you've grown!"
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| In Conclusion, I Would Like to Make Mention... |
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This past year, Tom Muelenbeck, Plano's city
manager for the past 19 years, was awarded the
Lifetime Achievement Award by the International City
Managers Association (ICMA). Recently, Tom won the
National Public Service Award presented by The
American Society of Public Administration (ASPA). It
looks like the rest of the country is realizing something
we already knew...Tom is one of the "BEST OF THE
BEST" Congratulations, Tom!
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