Red Oak is a city in Ellis County,

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

, United States. It is part of the

Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, officially designated Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is the most populous metropolitan statistical area in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States, ...

. The population was 10,769 at the 2010 census, up from 4,301 at the 2000 census. The North Central Texas Council of Governments projects that number to grow to 63,329 by the year 2030, as it is on the verge of explosive suburban growth.

History

One of the first settlers to this area was James E. Patton and his family in 1844. They settled in what is now known as Ovilla, Texas, located about two miles from Red Oak. Before Red Oak was given its name in 1849, it was known as Possum Trot due to the animal that lived there. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad reached Red Oak in 1884 and was completed in 1890,. providing service between Dallas and Waco. In 1949, Red Oak became an incorporated town of Ellis, County. In 2023, Google announced a 600 million dollar data center campus on a 375 acre land, right off Ovilla Road in Red Oak, making it the second data center to be built in Texas.

Geography

Red Oak is located along the northern edge of Ellis County. Adjacent cities include Glenn Heights to the northwest, Lancaster to the north, Ferris to the east, Pecan Hill to the southeast, Waxahachie to the south, and Oak Leaf to the west. It is south of downtown

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

via Interstate 35E, which has two exits in Red Oak. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, Red Oak has a total area of , all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Red Oak has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,222 people, 4,098 households, and 3,293 families residing in the city.

Education

The majority of the city of Red Oak is served by the Red Oak Independent School District.
Text list
/ref> That district's schools include Shields Elementary, Eastridge Elementary, Red Oak Elementary, Wooden Elementary, Russell P Schupmann Elementary, Red Oak Middle School, and Red Oak High School. The city extends into the Waxahachie Independent School District and the

Ferris Independent School District Ferris Independent School District is a public school district based in Ferris, Texas ( US). The district in Ellis County includes that county's part of Ellis and sections of Red Oak, Waxahachie, and the Bristol census-designated place. In ...

. The former operates Waxahachie High School. In addition Life School, a public charter school, operates the K–12 Red Oak campus.Contact Us
." Life School. Retrieved on September 2, 2011. "950 South I-35E Lancaster, TX 75146" Texas State Technical College operates a branch campus in Red Oak.

Transportation

Major highways

* Interstate 35E/

U.S. Route 77 U.S. Route 77 (US 77) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway which extends for in the central United States. As of 2005, Its southern terminus is in Brownsville, Texas, at Veteran's International Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico borde ...

Air

The city of Red Oak jointly owns the Ferris Red Oak Muni Heliport together with the city of Ferris.. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 26 April 2018.

Notable people

* Demi Burnett, contestant on season 23 of The Bachelor * Michelle Carter, gold medal winner in the women's shot put at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro * Pinky Higgins, Major League Baseball player and manager, born in Red Oak * Sarah Jaffe, singer/songwriter * Louise Ritter, gold medal winner in the women's high jump at the 1988 Summer Olympics * Nikki Stringfield, guitarist for American heavy metal band The Iron Maiden

Geographic location

References

External links

Red Oak official website

Red Oak ISD

Red Oak ISD Education Foundation

Red Oak ISD Bands

Handbook of Texas Online – Red Oak, TX
{{authority control Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex Cities in Ellis County, Texas Cities in Texas