Fast-growing. Family-oriented. Education-focused. The city of Allen is part of the "north Dallas expansion" which has erupted along with the likes of Frisco, McKinney, and Plano. The town was actually founded in 1870 as a railroad stop for the Houston and Texas Railroad, and was named after former Texas attorney general and railroad promoter Ebenezer Allen. Part of Allen's current claim to fame is that, in the 1990s, it was the filming location for the children's television shows, Barney & Friends and Wishbone.
The allure of Allen is the tight-knit community and the wide open spaces. Being a far north Dallas suburb, Allen has a small town appeal with easy, big-city access. Located just north of Plano, residents can hop onto Central Expressway (I-75) and find some serious shopping at Collin Creek Mall and the Galleria. Additionally, the city's key location just north of the Telecom Corridor has helped attract top technology and telecommunications companies and their employees to the area. Allen's rapidly expanding population currently sits at 76,500.
Allen's city parks and recreation system includes five community parks, 19 neighborhood parks, several greenbelt areas, sports complexes, and The Edge at Allen Station Park. Located at the south end of Allen Station Park, this innovative complex features a concrete skate park, two roller hockey rinks, a BMX track, and youth center. This skate park is now the largest outdoor facility of its kind in the state of Texas.
Homeowners associations are prevalent in this new-ish community and host family-oriented events, block parties, and picnics. Neighborhoods are relatively new and traditional one- and two-story brick homes make up the housing footprint of the city. In 2000, the average home was valued at $142,400, and the average household income was $78,924.
The Allen Independent School District serves this rapidly growing city with student enrollment at just over 15,000 in grades K-12. Students in this district attend one of 13 elementary schools, three middle schools, one freshman center, and one high school. In 2006, eight Allen campuses were rated as Exemplary, seven earned a Recognized rating, and two were rated as Academically Acceptable under the new accountability standards set by the Texas Education Agency.
In August 2008, the average home sales price for a single family home or condo in Allen, TX was $238,690. While this data is collected from the MLS and deemed reliable, it is not guaranteed.
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