Getting to Know McKinney: McKinney may have started as a small town, but it has flourished into a booming city of over 160,000 residents. According to Money Magazine, McKinney was the Number 1 place to live in America in 2014. McKinney is known as an elegant place to live with stylish homes and stunning landscapes. There is a variety of real estate options with home prices ranging from the mid-$100s to more than $1 million. McKinney Independent School District is constantly growing and has over 24,000 students over 28 campuses.
McKinney ISD serves much of McKinney, but some areas may also be served by
Frisco,
Prosper, and
Allen Independent School Districts.
Entertainment: If you’re looking for the perfect place to shop,
McKinney’s Downtown Historic district has something for everyone. Whether you are looking for antiques, apparel, art or a specialty item, you’ll find it all in downtown McKinney. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by one of the great dining spots to enjoy outdoor seating and the beauty of downtown McKinney. McKinney also has other fantastic shopping centers, such as Cameron Crossing, Craig Crossing, Eldorado Plaza and McKinney Towne Crossing.
For a taste of nature, the Heard Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to observe and learn about the beauty in nature. This 289-acre wildlife sanctuary and a natural science museum’s vision is to bring people and nature together to discover, experience, restore and preserve our environment.
McKinney’s Oktoberfest is a great way to celebrate friendship and unity for North Texans. After relocating to McKinney from Germany in 2000, the Wieland family thought there was no better way to meet new friends and neighbors than to host an Oktoberfest at their home. What started as neighborhood event grew from 40 neighbors to around 50,000 attendees. The event offers authentic German music, food and drink, traditional costumes, dancing and children’s activities all while honoring the cultural contributions of Texas’ German immigrants.
Historical: McKinney and
Collin County owe their namesake to an important Texas pioneer. Collin McKinney was a land surveyor who helped draft and sign the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico in 1836. Collin County’s first county seat was in a town called Buckner, but the Texas Legislature decided the county seat needed to be within three miles of the geographic center of the county. As a result, two new locations were put to a vote: McKinney and a location near modern day Fairview. McKinney won the vote, and the Texas Legislature named the new county seat after Collin McKinney. McKinney was incorporated in 1849. In 1872, The Houston and Texas Central Railroad was completed, and as a result, the economic development of McKinney boomed for the next 50 years. While McKinney continued to adapt and evolve as the years passed, McKinney’s Historic Downtown district has maintained its old-town charm. With a farmer’s market, more than 1,000 historical buildings, charming mom and pop shops and local eats, McKinney’s Historic District will continue to thrive for decades to come.