QUINLAN, TX

Quinlan is a rural city in the southern part of Hunt County, Texas, United States, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,394. It is west of Lake Tawakoni.

History

The city of Quinlan began about 1892 as a stop on the Texas Midland Railroad, which was owned by famed bond investor Hetty Green, called by the contemporary press "The Witch of Wall Street". The railroad was operated by her son, Edward H.R. Green. Texas Midland became a subsidiary of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, and the city which built up around a depot constructed here between the towns of Roberts and Greenville was named Quinlan in honor of George A. Quinlan, the general manager of the Houston & Texas Central railroad.

The Post Office opened in Quinlan in 1894, and by 1896 the city was incorporated. Harry Ford served as first Mayor. Quinlan soon became the center of a large agricultural area. Providing a railroad shipping point for growers of cotton and other crops. By the early 20th century the town boasted three cotton gins, numerous businesses and fraternal organizations, banks, schools, churches and homes.

Oil exploration and production overtook cotton farming as the area's economic base in the 1930s and 1940s, and the construction of Lake Tawakoni in the 1950s brought another economic boost to the community. (Texas Historical Commission)

Some of the earliest settlers were John M. Cook and R. K. Epperson, who moved their businesses from Roberts. The settlement received a post office in 1894, and by 1900 its population had reached 362. This growth, no doubt induced by the presence of the railroad, continued through the first quarter of the twentieth century. In 1904 463 persons lived in Quinlan. The number rose to 537 by 1910 and 600 by 1914, when Quinlan had twenty businesses, including a bank and a weekly newspaper. In 1925 this "retail trade center for southern Hunt, northern Kaufman and Van Zandt counties" had an elementary school, a high school, and 35 businesses, and managed a cotton harvest of some 5,000 bales. In 1933 Quinlan had 512 residents and thirty businesses; in 1952 the population of 599 supported 25 businesses; in 1964 the community had 621 persons and 22 businesses. After the mid-1960s Quinlan grew considerably, largely due to its proximity to Lake Tawakoni. Quinlan had a population of 900 in 1976 and 1,002 in 1988, when it had 51 businesses. In 1990 the population was 1,360.

Geography

Quinlan is in southern Hunt County. Texas State Highway 34 passes through the eastern side of the city, leading north to Greenville, the county seat, and southwest the same distance to Terrell. Highway 276 passes through Quinlan as its Main Street, leading east across Lake Tawakoni to Emory and west to Rockwall. Downtown Dallas is west of Quinlan.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Quinlan has an area of , all of it land.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,414 people, 675 households, and 447 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,370 people, 558 households, and 364 families residing in the city. Population density was 1,098.0 people per square mile (423.2/km²). There were 617 housing units at an average density of 494.5 per square mile (190.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.04% White, 0.66% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 2.34% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.18% of the population.

There were 558 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The city's median household income is $78,472, and the median family income was $66,635. Males had a median income of $54,688 versus $41,190 for females. The per capita income for the city was $36,122. About 8.3% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Quinlan has a full-sized Walmart Supercenter and a full-sized Brookshires grocery store, along with other shops and stores including Fix & Feed, Giddy Up and Go Coffee Shop, Jazzys taps N Toes, Lotus & Vine and Southern Rhea’s Boutique. The city also has a number of fast food chains and other restaurants like Ain’t Just Pie Too, Whataburger, Dairy Queen, McDonalds, Sonic, Jalapeños, Burger King, Taco Bell.

Education

The city is served by Quinlan Independent School District.

Infrastructure

Health Care

Hunt Regional Medical Center operates a family practice physician's office in Quinlan and a full service medical emergency center. There are multiple dental offices in Quinlan.

Transportation

Public transit is provided by The Connection, which serves Quinlan and all of Hunt County. The service operates Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm. Reservations have to be made one day in advance. The charge is $2 ($4 round trip) if the passenger is traveling to a place within the same community or city, and $3 ($6 round trip) if the passenger is traveling from one city or community to another within Hunt County. The Connection will take Hunt County residents to Dallas as a round trip only. Passengers are charged $34, and a minimum of three passengers is also required.

Notable people