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 We are a unique blend of new leading edge urban mixed with traditional rural… a great quality of life with a business/technology friendly environment… a little bit country and a little bit cosmopolitan… making Collin County an enviable something-for-anyone home in the heart of North Texas.We aren't just the Metroplex's country cousin anymore. In just a few years, we have grown into a destination county for individuals, families and corporations alike. So it's no surprise that Collin County continues to grow at one of the nation's fastest rates, welcoming almost 100 new residents every day. Our population topped 790,000 in 2009, punctuating a stunning growth spurt of more than 61 percent since the last census in 2000. Eight of the 10 fastest-growing cities in North Texas are in Collin County, with rates averaging more than 250 percent. But population growth is just one indicator of why Collin County is a jewel in the Texas crown.  We're Working The education level of the Collin County workforce is almost twice as high as state and U.S. averages. Almost half of our workers 25 and older possessing Bachelor's or advanced degrees. There were 104,000 more jobs in the civilian labor force here in 2006 than in 2000, far outpacing the county's 42-percent population growth spurt for the same period. The most current (September 2010) estimated unemployment rate here, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, is 7.2%, compared to 7.9% for Texas and 9.2% nationwide. We're Thriving Almost every Collin County industry grew by double-digit percentages from 2000-2006. Service jobs grew by almost 90 percent in those seven years. Two out of the 24 Fortune 500 companies choosing the Metroplex for their headquarters are located in Collin County, along with other major corporate headquarters. We're Close Our residents' mean work commute time is only 28 minutes.And though 80% of Collin residents drive alone to work, public transportation use has more than doubled in the last eight years. People here also work at home at a much higher rate than the state average. And to maintain reasonable get-around times, Collin County's vital road and highway projects continue to keep pace with our fast growth. We're Prepared  Collin County is receiving $1.5 billion from Highway 121 (Sam Rayburn Tollway) toll revenues to start new road expansion projects on Highway 121; this vital east-west project will stretch 25.9 miles through Collin, Dallas and Denton counties and should be completed in January 2012. Meanwhile, Dallas North Tollway expansion continues to push northward along the western county line. Voters here also approved a $235.6 million transportation bond package in November 2007 to support street and highway improvements throughout the county. And our Road & Bridge workers have been paving about 50 miles of our rural roads each year in a multi-year project to finish out all 475 miles of county roadways. We're Prospering The average value of a Collin County home today is $233,591.  With a newly adopted five percent homestead exemption and a tax rate decrease in 2008 and 2010 (we haven't raised our county tax rate in 17 years), that means our average homeowner will pay about $540 in 2011 county taxes. These relatively reasonable housing costs continue to attract new residents from all over the nation, and contribute to our high occupancy rates. Per capita income ($35,285) in this part of North Texas is $10,000 a year higher than the U.S. norm, while our median family income outpaces the national rate by almost $30,000, at $88,180. On the flip side of the economic coin, only four percent of Collin families are considered living at or under the poverty level, less than half the national average and three times lower than the Texas average. It's estimated that less than two percent of our families received public cash assistance in 2006. We're Smart When Forbes magazine rated our nation's public school districts in July 2007,Collin County rated second in the nation when it came to getting the most educational bang for the taxpayers' buck. And while total school enrollment has grown as the general population has grown, the biggest growth here (2000-2006) came from college student (undergraduate and graduate) enrollments, which climbed by almost 47% in the seven-year period. These students made up about one quarter of all enrolled students in the county, which  emphasizes the fact that employers here have a highly educated labor pool.We're Blessed Add all this up, and include great communities, fine recreation, entertainment, and retail, deep ties to our ranching and farming heritage, a rich sense of history, and a friendly small town heart, and you've got Collin County… first in growth, second to none.
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About Collin County
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