Real Frisco

Ten Years of Frisco

With a new decade beginning, many residents will look back and reflect on all of the changes that have been made to the city of Frisco in the last ten  years. New stores and shops have opened, along with brand new neighborhoods and schools that have been built. Frisco has been tagged as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. Those that have been in Frisco since long before the cities’ growth began may still look around and think “How in the world did we get this big?”

Highway 121 was a one lane road that stretched from 75 Central to I-35, and the drive up and down this highway only provided a scenic view of farmland and fields of trees. Growing up in Carrollton, the only way to Lewisville, the Colony, or McKinney was by way of 121, so as a kid, I traveled that road often.

Back in the early 1980’s, my dad used to drive the family out to a woodsy field. We would have a picnic and spend the day out in this fielded area, exploring and taking in all of the nature that a woodsy field would provide. I was only four or five years old at the time so my memories are few, but they are still very vivid. I can remember my dad, who was twenty-seven at the time, saying “I’m going to buy this land one day...“ He successfully went into politics and publishing instead.

About a year ago, my dad and I were talking and reflecting on some of my childhood memories and I remembered this woodsy area. I asked him where exactly we were driving when we’d go out to the fields; he laughed and responded “The exact same spot where Stonebriar Mall was built... maybe I should have bought that land after all”

In 1991, Frisco had approximately 3,000 residents. By the year 2,000, Frisco had grown to 34,000... Then Stonebriar Mall was built. At that point, Frisco went from having one High School, a paint store, a pawn shop, and a dodge dealership to the huge big box shopping mecca that it is today. Frisco now has over 65 restaurants, eight 7-11’s, four professional sports teams, three Super Targets, three Super Wal-marts, three Lowe’s, two Home Depots, and one very big, very successful mall.

Mayor Maso has said that the city is not even 50% built out as of yet. We can expect more fabulous restaurants and shops to continue to be built. It seems to me, that here in Frisco, there is always something new and exciting being built, and there is always something fun to do.

No one seems to know exactly how or why the city exploded like it did ten years ago. Much of the reason could be the enormous amount of cheap land and the extension of the Dallas North Tollway; but that is merely speculation.

Frisco is now home to over 107,000 residents according to the latest census. In the past 10 years, Frisco has added 73,000 residents, making the average 7,300 per year!

Frisco ISD has added over 35 schools in the last decade, and plan to add an additional 6 schools per year as the city continues to grow. The growth of the school district in itself is the fastest growing district in the nation by percentage.

Some say that Frisco has lost that small town feel, but I tend to disagree. Having been involved in the city and the chamber I have experienced the tightness that comes with getting involved. It provides a sense of pride and ownership. Frisco may be a town of 107,000 people, but if you drive down Main Street, you can still feel the history and heritage that gives Frisco that soft small town feeling.

I often tell people that Frisco is the perfect city. Everything you could possibly ever need or want is within 10 square miles... give or take a few.  I very rarely go south of 121.... If it’s not in Frisco, then I don’t need it.           

What are some of your Frisco Memories over the past decade? Please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. I’d love to share your memories with our readers. If you have pictures that you’d like to have posted along with your memories, please send those as well.

Best Wishes in the New Year!

Sincerely,

Kristin Kuck

Publisher

RealFrisco.com