The City of Grand Prairie, Texas, offers relaxation, family fun, friendly neighbors and a smart place to live and do business. With its 2023 population at 204,973(NCTCOG) Grand Prairie is the 16th largest city in Texas.
Generally speaking, our residents are 30 something, dual income homeowners. In Grand Prairie, families who have lived here for generations welcome newcomers who come to Grand Prairie for the same reasons the natives don't leave—location and hometown atmosphere.
2024 State of the City
View 2022-2023 Annual Report(PDF,6MB)
Development Assets
Central Location
Grand Prairie, Texas, is centrally located in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community stretches 26 miles long by about eight miles at its widest point. The city covers about 81 square miles (100 square miles including extraterritorial jurisdiction) and has an estimated population of 197,590.
Near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Interstate Highways
The city's northern border lies 5 to 10 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The eastern boundary is 12 miles west of downtown Dallas and the western 15 miles east of Fort Worth. Passing east and west through Grand Prairie and linking the city with major markets are Interstate 30, a strong entertainment and business corridor, and Interstate 20, developing as a significant retail and corporate location.
Site of One of Largest Industrial Districts
Because of its central location and proximity to air and highway transportation infrastructure, Grand Prairie also is a well-established distribution center. Much of the Great Southwest Industrial District's approximately 80-million square feet lies in Grand Prairie. Quick access to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, large local markets of Dallas and Fort Worth, rail and interstate highways continue to attract new construction of warehouse, distribution and manufacturing buildings.
Land Availability, Recreational Amenities
Recent industrial, hotel and multifamily development has taken up large tracts in the north Great Southwest Industrial District, yet additional land remains there, nearby and southward. The southernmost section of the city, amid hill country-like vistas around Joe Pool Lake, is attracting high-end residential housing and plans for resort development.
More Information: Grand Prairie Economic Development Home Page
Residential and Commercial Development
2022
New Single-Family Building Permits Issued: 322
New Commercial/Industrial Square Feet: 2.5 million
Demographics
| Demographics (2023) | |
|---|---|
| Population | 204,392 |
| Households | 67,746 |
| Average Household Size | 3.01 |
| Median Age | 33.1 |
| Median Household Income | $74,275 |
| Land Area | 81 square miles |
| Race and Ethnicity | |
|---|---|
| 27.4% | White Alone |
| 25.4% | Black Alone |
| 1.2% | American Indian Alone |
| 8.0% | Asian Alone |
| 0.1% | Pacific Islander Alone |
| 19.7% | Some Other Race Alone |
| 18.1% | Two or More Races |
| 45.4% | Hispanic Origin (Any Race) |
Sources: for Population, Households, Grand Prairie Planning and North Central Texas Council of Governments. All other, Census 2020
Employers
Top Employers (2023)
| Company | Jobs | Business Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control HQ | 5000 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences |
| Grand Prairie Independent School District | 3800 | Public Schools |
| Poly-America Inc. | 2000 | Unsupported Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing |
| City of Grand Prairie | 1700 | Public Administration |
| Flex-N-Gate | 1200 | Auto Accessory Manufacturing |
| Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. | 1200 | Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing |
| Lear Seating | 1105 | Manufacturer of automotive seating and related components |
| Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie | 950 | Racetracks |
| Forterra Pipe & Products, Inc. | 950 | Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
| K & N Filters | 800 | Trademark High Performance Automotive Filters |
| Republic National Distributing | 800 | Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Wholesalers |
| Bell Textron | 700 | Helicopter Aircraft Manufacturing |
| Arnold Transportation Services | 650 | General Freight Trucking |
| Airbus Helicopter | 600 | Aircraft Manufacturing |
| Safran Helicopters | 530 | Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing |
| Wal-Mart | 500 | Warehouse Clubs and Superstores |
| Mission Foods | 500 | Food Manufacturing |
| General Motors LOC Center | 500 | Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services |
| Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice | 500 | Public Administration |
| Pitney Bowes Presort Services | 450 | Business Support Services |
| SAIA Motor Freight Line Inc. | 426 | General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload |
| Office Depot Procurement Center | 370 | Stationary and Office Supplies Wholesalers |
| CarParts.com | 360 | Online Provider of Aftermarket Automotive Parts |
| Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services, Regional Offices | 356 | Administration of Human Resource Programs |
| Hello Fresh | 350 | Grocery Stores |
| Printpack Inc. | 350 | Unsupported Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet Manufacturing |
| Standard Utility Construction, Inc. | 350 | Construction |
| IKEA | 300 | Home Furnishing Stores |
| Wal-Mart Super Center | 300 | Retail and Grocery Stores |
| MSI Express | 300 | All Other Food Manufacturing |
Healthcare
A variety of healthcare services are available in Grand Prairie and the immediate area. A variety of physicians, surgeons, dentists, orthodontists, optometrists and ophthalmologists have offices in Grand Prairie. The Dallas-Fort Worth area offers more than 65 hospitals, with specialties ranging from asthma to pulmonary rehabilitation, pediatrics to geriatrics, sports medical to psychiatry, cancer to cardiovascular surgery.
Libraries
Grand Prairie has a main public library, 901 Conover Drive, as well as two branch libraries, Betty Warmack Branch on 760 Bardin Road and Tony Shotwell Branch inside Tony Shotwell Life Center at 2750 Graham St.
2022
- Digital Collection: 55,877
- Physical Collection: 141,882
- Library Cardholders: 78,393
- Number of Visits: 239,847
- Check Outs: 430,846
- Program Attendance: 50,128
Municipal Employees
2022
- Police/Fire Civil Service: 521
- General: 865
- Seasonal/Part-Time: 271
Operating Budget
| 2022-2023 Operating Budget | |
|---|---|
| General Fund | $172,000,000 |
| Enterprise Funds | $154,000,000 |
| Other Funds | $108,000,000 |
| TOTAL | $470,000,000 |
Parks, Arts and Recreation
With more than 5,000 acres of parks, well-established and new neighborhoods and lively, competitive athletic programs, Grand Prairie makes businesses and residents feel right at home.
The Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department was named best in the nation in 2017 when it was awarded the National Recreation and Park Association's Gold Medal in the Class II division for cities of population between 150,001 and 400,000.
Fifty-eight parks include a senior center, the Ruthe Jackson Conference Center, five recreation centers, a dog park, five public swimming pools (including one indoor pool), two beaches on Joe Pool Lake, a campground, five softball and baseball complexes, 32 tennis courts and 18 soccer fields (four lighted adult, six lighted youth), and hiking and biking trails.
With a ¼ cent sales tax devoted to park improvements, a $125 million, 20-year Parks Master Plan will improve every park in Grand Prairie and add valuable new park land on an ongoing basis.
EpicCentral
EpicCentral is a 172-acre park site located off George W. Bush Tollway (Highway 161). Reflecting innovation and community investment, EpicCentral is home to Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, The Summit recreation center for adults ages 50 , The Epic “reimagined recreation center” for all ages, Grand Prairie's Public Safety Building, and future home of PlayGrand Adventures all-inclusive playground. Amenities include five lakes, a grand lawn, boardwalk, and pad sites for future retail opportunities.
Golf
In addition to private golf courses and a country club, the city's two public top-ranked golf courses offer outstanding golf at a great price. The city’s Tangle Ridge Golf Course features bentgrass greens in a Hill Country atmosphere, and Prairie Lakes Golf Course offers one of the best golf values in the area with the largest practice putting green in Texas.
Lake Parks
One of the newest lakes in Texas, Joe Pool Lake, is set among the rolling hills of south Grand Prairie. Fishing, boating, swimming and skiing are popular here. The lake’s Lynn Creek Park features boat ramps, picnic sites, beaches, volleyball, a playground, restrooms and loads of natural beauty. The lake parks offer visitors a grand experience – clean beaches, shaded trails and ideal camping. And now you can camp in style at Loyd Park in a fully stocked camping cabin. Loyd Park offers cabins, wooded camp sites, trails, showers and restrooms. On the north shore, just off Lake Ridge Parkway, Lynn Creek Marina features boat slips, rentals, boat ramps and fishing supplies for the angler. Adjacent to the marina, the Oasis – a floating restaurant – overlooks the waters of the lake and serves up delicious fare and beverages.
More Information: Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department
Tax Rates
Property Tax Rates
The combined FY 2023-24 property tax rate of all taxing jurisdictions in the City of Grand Prairie varies because the city's boundaries overlap with six school districts and three counties.
The two predominant taxing areas in Grand Prairie are Dallas County/Grand Prairie Independent School District and Tarrant County/Arlington Independent School District.
| Property Tax Rates (2023) Per $100 Assessed Property Value | |
|---|---|
| City of Grand Prairie | $0.66000 |
| Grand Prairie ISD | $1.095050 |
| Arlington ISD | $1.115600 |
| Cedar Hill ISD | $1.132600 |
| Mansfield ISD | $1.149200 |
| Dallas County | $0.215718 |
| Tarrant County | $0.194500 |
Average Annual City Property Tax Paid on a $237,000 Home with Homestead Exemption: $1,330
Dallas County*
Tarrant County*
| Jurisdiction | Tax rate | Jurisdiction | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Grand Prairie | $.66000 | City of Grand Prairie | $.66000 |
| Dallas County | $.215718 | Tarrant County | $.194500 |
| Parkland Hospital | $.219500 | Tarrant County Hospital | $.194500 |
| Dallas County Community College | $.110028 | Tarrant County College | $.1121700 |
| Grand Prairie ISD | $1.095050 | Arlington ISD | $1.115600 |
| Cedar Hill ISD | $1.132600 | Mansfield ISD | $1.149200 |
*Visit the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD)website and theTarrant Appraisal District (TAD)website for more information on calculating your property taxes.
Sales Tax
The combined local and state sales tax is 8.25 percent (6.25 percent state, 2 percent city - effective April 1, 2002). Sales tax is collected on rentals, sales, use of tangible property and services.
It is not collected on grocery, prescription medicine, property consumed in manufacturing and processing.
| Retail Tax Rates (2022) | |
|---|---|
| City | 1.000% |
| EPIC and EPIC Waters | 0.250% |
| Street Maintenance and Repair | 0.250% |
| Park Improvements | 0.250% |
| Crime Control and Prevention District | 0.250% |
| State | 6.250% |
| TOTAL Sales Tax | 8.250% |
| 13% Hotel Occupancy Tax | |
|---|---|
| City | 7% |
| State | 6% |
Schools
The majority of Grand Prairie kids attend schools in the Grand Prairie Independent School District. GPISD is a 58-square-mile district serving more than 29,000 students within the Dallas County portion of Grand Prairie. The district boasts 43 campuses:
- 2 Early Education Schools (Prekindergarten)
- 22 Elementary Schools
- 7 Middle Schools
- 4 High Schools
- 2 Early College High Schools
- 3 Grades 6-12 Campuses
- 1 Disciplinary Alternative Education School
- 1 Charter School Partnership
The district employs more than 4,198 staff members and offers a variety of services and programs designed to help students radiate success.
Students who reside in Tarrant County and Grand Prairie attend Arlington Independent School District, which has 50 elementary, 12 junior high and six high schools. Of these, six elementary schools are actually in Grand Prairie.
Small portions of town lie in other school districts such as Cedar Hill ISD, Irving ISD, Mansfield ISD and Midlothian ISD. To attend a GPISD school, kindergarten children must be five years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year. Special early childhood programs are available for children ages 3-5 who are handicapped or developmentally delayed, and for infants from birth to age two who are blind or deaf.
School District Websites:
Texas Education Agency: Ratings and demographics
- Accountability Data: Attendance, college admissions
- Academic Excellence Indicator System Reports
Taxpayers
Top Taxpayers (2023)
| CH AZ Wildlife 4 6 LP | $237,342,170; | |
| Lockheed Martin Corp | $168,715,165 | |
| WMCI DALLAS V LLC | $142,095,043 | |
| DUKE SECURED FINANCING 2009 | $142,050,000 | |
| PROLOGIS LP | $123,730,000 | |
| ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY | $113,145,281 | |
| POLY AMERICA LP | $101,309,539 | |
| BELL TEXTRON INC | $72,254,706 | |
| BVFV GRAND PRAIRIE LLC | $70,211,680 | |
| FRBH SILVERBROOK LLC | $68,734,049 |
Tourism
Remember how it was to be a kid? Life was an adventure, and you were always shooting for new things to do. Grand Prairie offers a variety of attractions that encourage visitors to experience life as an adventure.
Tourists can play the horses at Lone Star Park, experience water fun year-round at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, rummage through the 161-acre flea market at Traders Village, come face to face with lifelike figures at Louis Tussauds Palace of Wax, explore fascinating oddities from around the world at Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, dance in the aisles at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie concerts, swing with abandon at Tangle Ridge and Prairie Lakes golf courses, and, to cap it all off, play on the beaches and camp under the stars at the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake. And coming in 2023 will be Major League Cricket playing in what will be a redevelopment of the AirHogs Stadium.
Grand Prairie is a playground for children of any age.
More Information: Grand Prairie Tourism
Transportation
Infrastructure
The following major arterial roads run through Grand Prairie:
- George W. Bush Tollway / State Highway 161 (North-South)
- State Highway 360 (North-South)
- Interstate I-20 (East-West)
- Interstate I-30 (East-West)
Airport
The Grand Prairie Municipal Airport has a 4,000-foot-long, 75-foot-wide lighted, concrete runway, repair service and cargo handling, a helipad, and support facilities for training, private aviation and business flying activities. In 2021 there were 83,093 takeoffs/landings.
Grand Connection Transit
The city's "Grand Connection" transit system serves those who are at least 60 years of age or have a physical or mental disability.
- Grand Connection Bus Passengers (2021): 38,012
VIA Grand Prairie
The City of Grand Prairie launched an on-demand, shared transportation service on April 12, 2022. The service is a minibus-like vehicle that picks up and drops off passengers at their desired locations. Passengers can choose from a few different ride options, and a driver will be sent their way.
Visit VIA Grand Prairie
Universities and Jr. Colleges
Higher Education
Fifteen universities are within 50 miles of Grand Prairie (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board). The universities, among them University of Texas campuses (Arlington and Dallas), offer programs from engineering to business and degrees from bachelor's to medical doctorates.
In addition to their degree programs, many of these colleges and universities offer business consulting, employee training specific to a company's skill demands, community health care services, economic and land development research, computer and information services and library facilities open to the community.
Public and Private Universities in Dallas-Fort Worth
| University | City | ~Miles from central Grand Prairie |
|---|---|---|
| University of Texas at Arlington | Arlington | 7 |
| University of Texas at Dallas | Richardson | 25 |
| Texas Woman's University | Denton | 50 |
| University of North Texas | Denton | 50 |
| University of North Texas Health Science Center | Fort Worth | 21 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas | 15 |
| Dallas Baptist University | Dallas | 5 |
| Amberton University | Garland | 25 |
| Paul Quinn College | Dallas | 18 |
| Southern Methodist University | Dallas | 16 |
| Texas Christian University | Fort Worth | 20 |
| Texas Wesleyan University | Fort Worth | 17 |
| University of Dallas | Irving | 10 |
| The College of St. Thomas More | Fort Worth | 20 |
| University of North Texas at Dallas | Dallas | 19 |
| Total |
Source: Texas Coordinating Board
Public Universities
- University of Texas at Arlington
- University of Texas at Dallas
- Texas Woman's University - Denton and Dallas
- University of North Texas/Denton
- University of North Texas Health Science Center/Fort Worth
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center/Dallas
Private Universities
- Baylor College of Dentistry/Dallas
- Dallas Baptist University
- Southern Methodist University/Dallas
- Texas Christian University/Fort Worth
- Texas Wesleyan University/Fort Worth
- University of Dallas/Irving
Community Colleges
Twelve community colleges in Dallas and Tarrant counties are within 25 miles of Grand Prairie - the nearest of them Mountain View in Dallas, North Lake in Irving, Cedar Valley in Lancaster, the Southeast campus of Tarrant County College in Arlington, and El Centro in Dallas (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board).
In addition to their degree programs, many of these colleges and universities offer business consulting, employee training specific to a company's skill demands, community health care services, economic and land development research, computer and information services and library facilities open to the community.
Dallas County Community College District offers business-focused programs for companies, such as ISO 9000 certification, customer service/call center training and small business startup advising. A similar program is offered in Tarrant County through the Tarrant County College Small Business Development Center.
Public Community Colleges in Dallas-Fort Worth
| University | City | ~ Miles* from central Grand Prairie |
|---|---|---|
| Brookhaven College | Farmers Branch | 20 |
| Cedar Valley College | Lancaster | 19 |
| Eastfield College | Mesquite | 23 |
| El Centro College | Dallas | 14 |
| Mountain View College | Dallas | 7 |
| Tarrant County College - Northeast Campus | Hurst | 15 |
| North Lake College | Irving | 10 |
| Tarrant County College - Northwest Campus | Fort Worth | 25 |
| Richland College | Dallas | 25 |
| Tarrant County College - South Campus | Fort Worth | 18 |
| Tarrant County College - Southeast Campus | Arlington | 7 |
| Tarrant County College - Trinity River Campus | Fort Worth | 21 |
| Total |
* Approximate miles
Source:Texas Coordinating Board
Community College Websites
Utilities
Contact Information for Utilities
Gas Utility (Atmos Energy): 1-800-460-3030
Electricity: powertochoose.com 1-866-797-4839
Water Service: 972-237-8200
AT&Tl: 800-464-7928
Cable (Spectrum): 1-888-892-2253
Republic: 817-261-8812
Utilities (2022)
- Water Production (average gallons/day): 25 million
- Fire Hydrants: 7,650
- Miles of Water Lines: 860
- Miles of Collection Line: 630
- Customer Accounts 50,013
