About Allen
Allen is located in north central Texas, approximately 25 miles north of downtown Dallas, and is one of the 10 largest cities in Collin County.
Allen Awards and Recognitions
- City of Allen ranks 9th in its population category for use of innovative technology (Digital Cities Survey, 2023)
- ACTV earns YouTube Silver Creator Award for exceeding 100,000 subscribers (YouTube, 2023) - View all ACTV awards and honors
- Allen is the 6th best place to buy a house in the nation (WalletHub, 2023)
- Purchasing Department earns Achievement of Excellence in Procurement for the 23rd consecutive year (National Procurement Institute, Inc., 2023)
Demographics
Includes data from Fiscal Year 2021-2022
| Demographic | Data |
|---|---|
| Population | 109,039 |
| Median age | 35.5 |
| Median household income | $112,603 |
| Median home value | $367,861 |
| Total single-family units | 30,945 |
| Allen ISD enrollment | 21,738 |
| Adults with a high school diploma | 96.6% |
| Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher | 59% |
| Registered voters | 68,732 |
History
Caddo and Comanche tribes lived in the region before immigrants of European descent came to Allen in the 1840s. The original township of Allen was located along the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. It was named for Ebenezer Allen, a former attorney general of Texas and one of the promoters of the railroad. The first train robbery in Texas took place in Allen on February 22, 1878 by Sam Bass and his associates.
In 1907 the Texas Traction Company purchased land on the west side of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad track to build the Interurban line. A devastating fire destroyed most of the business district between the Interurban tracks and the railroad in 1915. The Interurban closed in 1948 and the population of Allen declined to 400 in 1950.
Allen was officially incorporated in 1953. US 75 was built in 1960, launching decades of continuous growth.
Government structure
City of Allen operates under a council-manager form of government as approved by voters in 1979 through adoption of the Allen City Charter. The Allen City Council, which consists of the mayor and six councilmembers, is elected citywide by Allen voters and not by district.
The mayor and councilmembers serve three-year, staggered terms of office. These members appoint representatives to numerous citizen-led boards and commissions to advise the council on major issues. Councilmembers also appoint a City Manager to serve as the City’s chief administrative officer.
History resources