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McKinney, Texas

"Unique by Nature"

Named the #1 place to live in America by Money Magazine, McKinney rocketed from a sleepy courthouse town to one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation without losing its historic square.

Founded 1848 | Population 242,534 | Peak 242,534 (2024) | County Collin County

Top 10 Most Important Events for McKinney, Texas

2014 Named #1 Best Place to Live: Money Magazine ranked McKinney as the best place to live in America, citing its schools, affordability, job growth, and quality of life. The designation accelerated growth.

2000 Population Explosion: McKinney grew from 21,000 in 1990 to over 54,000 by 2000, beginning a trajectory that would see it surpass 240,000 within three decades.

1848 County Seat Established: McKinney was founded as the seat of Collin County, named after Collin McKinney, one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.

2020 Historic Downtown Preservation: Even as McKinney grew by over 1,000%, its historic courthouse square was preserved and revitalized with restaurants, shops, and events.

2015 McKinney Pool Party Incident: A viral video of a police officer's aggressive response to Black teenagers at a pool party sparked national debate about race and policing in suburban America.

1913 Collin County Courthouse: The Neoclassical courthouse became the centerpiece of McKinney's town square, a landmark that anchors the community to this day.

2010 Craig Ranch Development: The master-planned Craig Ranch community brought TPC golf, corporate offices, and upscale housing, defining McKinney's modern growth.

1870 Cotton and Railroad Economy: The Houston and Texas Central Railway reached McKinney, connecting the cotton-farming community to broader markets.

2018 Independent School District Excellence: McKinney ISD consistently ranked among the best in Texas, continuing to drive family relocation.

1950 Small Town Texas: McKinney remained a quiet town of about 10,000 for most of the 20th century, centered on its courthouse square.

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Population Over Time

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Complete Historical Timeline

1848 Government

McKinney established as Collin County seat

1870 Transport

Railroad reaches McKinney

1913 Architecture

Collin County Courthouse completed

1950 Government

Population around 10,000

1990 Government

Population still 21,000

2000 Government

Population reaches 54,000

2010 Government

Population reaches 131,000; Craig Ranch develops

2014 Government

Named #1 Best Place to Live by Money Magazine

2015 Civil Rights

Pool party incident sparks national debate

2020 Architecture

Historic square preserved amid growth

2024 Government

Population surpasses 242,000

Did You Know?

McKinney grew from 21,000 people in 1990 to over 242,000 in 2024 — a growth rate of over 1,000% in just 34 years.

Despite explosive growth, McKinney preserved its historic courthouse square, which is now a thriving destination for dining, shopping, and community events.

Collin McKinney, the city's namesake, was the oldest signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence at age 80.