Irving

by The Linguist

 

Irving, Texas

Irving is a city located primarily in Dallas County, Texas, with a small portion extending into Tarrant County. According to the 2020 census, Irving has a population of 240,373 residents, making it the 13th most populous city in Texas.

History

Irving was established in 1903 by J.O. “Otto” Schulze and Otis Brown. It was named after author Washington Irving, known for works like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” The city was incorporated in 1914 and elected Herbert Cornelius as its first mayor.

In the 1950s, Irving became home to Dallas County’s first commercial airport. The subsequent development of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in the 1970s catalyzed major growth in Irving. In the late 20th century, the city diversified its economy by attracting companies in technology, insurance, and finance.

Today, Irving is known for its racial diversity and cultural blend. According to 2019 census data, over 48% of residents are Hispanic/Latino, 29% are white non-Hispanic, 14% are Black/African American, and 10% are Asian.

Economy and Major Employers

Irving has a robust and varied business community. Some of the top employers headquartered in Irving include:

  • ExxonMobil – Energy, 619 Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039, (972) 940-6000
  • Microsoft – Technology, 7000 State Highway 161, Irving, TX 75039, (469) 665-6000
  • Fluor Corporation – Engineering/Construction, 6700 Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039, (469) 398-7000
  • Verizon – Telecommunications, 2325 E Grauwyler Rd #3, Irving, TX 75061, (800) 392-8903
  • Zale Corporation – Retail Jewelry, 901 W. Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX 75038, (972) 580-4000
  • Omron Healthcare – Healthcare Products, 1925 W. Field Court, Suite 300, Lake Forest, IL 60045, (847) 680-6200

The city has over 11,000 small businesses across various industries like dining, retail, services, and more. For additional economic details, visit the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce at 5201 N. O’Connor Blvd, Ste. 200, Irving, TX 75039, (972) 580-8100.

Landmarks and Attractions

Some of Irving’s notable destinations include:

Toyota Music Factory

The Toyota Music Factory is an entertainment complex with restaurants, shops, and the 8,000-seat Pavilion concert venue located at 300 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

While mainly in neighboring cities, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport occupies a large portion of Irving as well. As the largest airport in Texas, DFW serves over 75 million passengers annually.

Mustangs of Las Colinas

This iconic mustang sculpture by Robert Glen is located at 32.838306, -96.931514 in Williams Square. It has become a symbol of Irving and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Irving Arts Center

The Irving Arts Center at 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75062, (972) 252-7558 is the hub for visual and performing arts, with two theaters, a gallery, classrooms, and sculpture garden.

Levy Event Plaza

Levy Event Plaza at 501 W. Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039 hosts concerts, festivals, markets, and other community events throughout the year.

Local Government

Irving has a Council-Manager form of government. The city council is comprised of the Mayor and eight council members representing four districts. Irving’s current Mayor is Rick Stopfer.

The Irving City Hall is located at 825 W. Irving Blvd, Irving, TX 75060, (972) 721-2600, where residents can access city departments and services.

Visit the City of Irving website for more municipal information.

Public Services

Irving Public Library

The Irving Public Library serves the community through multiple branch locations:

  • Central Library – 801 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX 75060, (972) 721-2606
  • East Branch Library – 440 S. Nursery Road, Irving, TX 75060, (972) 721-2628
  • Heritage Senior Center – 200 Jefferson Street, Irving, TX 75060, (972) 721-2501
  • Mustangs Library – 901 W. Las Colinas Blvd., Irving, TX 75039, (972) 721-2619
  • North Branch Library – 2700 Wisteria St., Irving, TX 75062, (972) 721-2458
  • South Branch Library – 601 Schulze Drive, Irving, TX 75060, (972) 721-2621
  • Valley Ranch Library – 401 Cimarron Trail, Irving, TX 75063, (972) 721-4691
  • West Branch Library – 444 Cimarron Trail, Irving, TX 75063, (972) 721-2629

Irving Police Department

The Irving Police Department provides law enforcement from its HQ at 305 N. O’Connor Rd., Irving, TX 75061, (972) 273-1010, with 300+ sworn officers and 100+ support staff.

Irving Fire Department

The Irving Fire Department operates 15 stations across the city, responding to over 35,000 emergency calls annually. They provide fire safety education through community programs.

Transportation

Public transportation options in Irving include:

DART

Irving is connected to the wider Dallas metro area by Dallas Area Rapid Transit bus and light rail services. There are multiple DART stations located within the city.

DFW Airport Terminal Link

The DFW Airport Terminal Link offers direct bus transportation between downtown Irving and DFW Airport terminals.

Education

Primary and secondary education in Irving is managed by these school districts:

Irving Independent School District

The main district serving most of Irving is Irving ISD, headquartered at 2621 W Airport Fwy, Irving, TX 75062, (972) 600-5000. It operates 37 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, 4 high schools, and specialized campuses.

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD

Portions of Irving fall within the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD boundaries. Their HQ is at 1445 N. Perry Rd., Carrollton, TX 75006, (972) 968-6100.

Coppell ISD

The easternmost part of Irving is served by Coppell ISD, headquartered at 200 S. Denton Tap Rd., Coppell, TX 75019, (972) 462-7000.

Higher Education

Irving is home to these colleges and universities:

University of Dallas

A private Catholic university located at 1845 E Northgate Dr, Irving, TX 75062, (972) 721-5000.

North Lake College

Part of Dallas County Community College District, located at 5001 N MacArthur Blvd, Irving, TX 75038, (972) 273-3000.

DeVry University

A career-focused school with a campus at 4800 Regent Blvd #200, Irving, TX 75063, (972) 929-6777.

Sports and Recreation

Irving Tennis Center

The city-run Irving Tennis Center has 19 lighted courts, a pro shop, lessons, and leagues at 3401 S. Story Rd., Irving TX 75061, (972) 721-2501.

Irving YMCA

The Irving Family YMCA provides health, fitness, sports, and community programming from its center at 220 W. Irving Blvd, Irving, TX 75060, (972) 256-8263.

Irving Blackhawks Baseball

Irving’s minor league baseball team, the Irving Blackhawks, plays in the Texas Collegiate League at 8000 Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039. See irvingblackhawks.com for schedule and tickets.

Annual Events

Popular annual events in Irving include:

  • Irving Marathon
  • Irving FD Blues & BBQ Festival
  • July 4th Sympony Concert & Fireworks
  • Oktoberfest
  • Holiday Parade

See the full calendar at Irving Events.

Facebook

Follow local happenings on the City of Irving Facebook page.

Map of Irving

Irving is located primarily in Dallas County, Texas. Here is a Google Map showing Irving’s location:

Notable Locations

GPS coordinates for some Irving landmarks:

  • Toyota Music Factory: 32.83887, -96.94968
  • Irving Convention Center: 32.814828, -96.935677
  • Bear Creek Golf Club: 32.880482, -96.993579

Street addresses for those locations:

  • Toyota Music Factory – 300 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039
  • Irving Convention Center – 500 W Las Colinas Blvd, Irving, TX 75039
  • Bear Creek Golf Club – 3550 Bear Creek Ct, Irving, TX 75061

Conclusion

In summary, Irving is a diverse Dallas County city with a population over 240,000. As outlined in this guide, it has a vibrant economy, distinctive attractions, robust city services, highly-ranked schools, and an active arts and events calendar. Whether living, working, or visiting, Irving provides something for everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.