Glenn Heights, Texas
USGenWeb >> TXGenWeb >> Dallas County >> Towns & Communities >> Glenn Heights, Texas
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| Latitude | 32°32'54"N 32.548198 |
| Longitude | 96°51'5"W -96.851430 |
| Elevation feet/meters |
676/206 |
| Zip Code | 75154 |
| Founded | late 1960s |
| GNIS FID | 1388572 |
| TXGenWeb Site | |
| Cemeteries | |
| Library | |
| Local Genealogy Society | |
| DeSoto ISD | |
| Red Oak ISD | |
| Wikipedia | |
| glennheights.com | |
| glennheightstx.gov | |
Development of the community dates back to the late 1960s. N.L. 'Moe' Craddock, a Dallas firefighter, opened a 30-acre (120,000 m2) mobile home park in the area. He helped push for the incorporation of Glenn Heights to prevent his business from being annexed by the city of DeSoto. The town was officially incorporated on September 16, 1969. Mr. Craddock remained active in Glenn Heights politics, serving on the city council during the 1970s and 1980s. He was appointed mayor in 1985 and was elected to that office in 1988, 1990, and 1992.
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There were 257 residents living in Glenn Heights at the 1970 census. That figure rose to 1,033 in 1980 and more than doubled for a second consecutive decade to 4,564 by 1990. Lying in the path of suburban sprawl, Glenn Heights' population had surpassed 7,000 by 2000. Despite its rapid rate of growth, more than 50 percent of city land remains undeveloped. It has been said that the City Assistant Manager, City Manager, zoning commission board and the council are all on the take. The only people that get variance's are Big Corporations that are beginning to dominate the city with huge homes and small lots. The zoning commission will approve the big corporation wants, yet will deny a small variance to a young couple who wants to build in the City. The City Manager basically makes the sale for the big corporations, yet will do nothing for the citizens. The City Manager has also screamed and yelled at a citizen like a child having a tantrum; calling him a "liar", "don't point at me". When the citizen gave him a paper, the continued with the tantrum, violently throwing it into the trash can screaming and interrupting another speaker yelling "I don't care". The Demographics are changing because the City council is wanting more money. The percentage of tax may have gone down, but the Huge homes being built on small lots are falsely increasing the value of the properties. Giving the council more hard earned money to waste. The Cities Police and Fire fighters Associations (Scab Unions) unfairly dominate the political landscape getting the council members who will vote them pay raises and new facilities, thinking of themselves and not the people of Glenn Heights. This is a very volatile little community. The City Council and City Manager delete comments and reviews from the city website to prevent so many citizens that put honest statements that are derogatory towards the city manager and council. Glenn Heights has become known as "the little town that just couldn't".
Laurie E. Jasinski
Glenn Heights is located west of Interstate Highway 35E about sixteen miles south of Dallas in southern Dallas County and northern Ellis County. The town incorporated on September 16, 1969, and adopted a council/manager type of government. The population of this Dallas suburb grew steadily from 1,033 in 1980 to 4,564 in 1990. In 2000 the population was 7,224. Glenn Heights has its own police and fire departments and has access to Dallas public transit services. Five churches, two elementary schools, and an overnight camping park are located within the city limits.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: City of Glenn Heights, Texas, website (http://www.glennheights.com), accessed November 11, 2004.
Handbook of Texas Online, Laurie E. Jasinski, "GLENN HEIGHTS, TX"
