BEST SOUTHWEST, DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS

The 'Best Southwest' is a term commonly applied to four Dallas suburbs – Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, and Lancaster – in southwestern Dallas County, Texas (USA). As of the 2000 census, the area had a population of 131,714 (though a 2007 North Central Texas Council of Governments estimate placed the population at 164,600).^[1]
The term "Best Southwest" was first used when the Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville, and Lancaster chambers of commerce formed a partnership to improve cooperation between the cities.^[2]
The four municipalities, which are similar in population and form one of the most demographically diverse regions in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, frequently work together on local events and projects.

Contents

Major Highways

Demographics

Population growth history

Education

Colleges and Universities

Public schools

See also

References

External links

Major Highways

★ Interstate 20

★ Interstate 35E

★ U.S. Highway 67

★ Belt Line Road (FM 1382)

Demographics

Best Southwest area demographics based on 2000 census data.^[3]

Total Population	131,714
Households	45,535
Families	36,331

'Racial Makeup'

White	69,367	52.66%
African American	50,589	38.41%
Asian	1,937	1.47%
Native American	521	0.40%
Pacific Islander	74	0.06%
Some other race	6,699	5.09%
Two or more races	2,527	1.92%
Hispanic/Latino (of any race)	15,095	11.46%

'Economic Characteristics'

Median Income (Household)	$53,293
Median Income (Family)	$58,991
Median Income (Males)	$38,953
Median Income (Females)	$31,546
Per Capita Income	$22,674

Population growth history

City	1970	1980	1990	2000	2007 est.
Cedar Hill	2,610	6,849	19,988	32,093	43,950
DeSoto	6,617	15,538	30,544	37,646	47,600
Duncanville	14,105	27,781	35,008	36,081	38,000
Lancaster	10,522	14,807	22,117	25,894	35,050
'Total'	'33,854'	'64,975'	'107,657'	'131,714'	'164,600'

Education

Colleges and Universities

★ Northwood University (Cedar Hill)

★ Cedar Valley College (Lancaster) - part of the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD)

Public schools

Four school districts serve most of the Best Southwest area:

★ 'Cedar Hill Independent School District' [2] (2005-2006 enrollment: 7,972)
:Cedar Hill ISD serves most of Cedar Hill as well as small portions of Grand Prairie and Ovilla. The district has 13 campuses (one High School, a Ninth Grade Center, two Middle Schools, three Intermediate Schools, and six Elementary Schools).

★ 'DeSoto Independent School District' [3] (2005-2006 enrollment: 8,409)
:DeSoto ISD covers most of DeSoto, the Dallas County portion of Glenn Heights and a small portion of Ovilla. The district has 11 campuses (one High School, a Freshman Campus, two Junior High Schools, two Intermediate Schools, and five Elementary Schools - four in DeSoto and 1 in Glenn Heights).

★ 'Duncanville Independent School District' [4] (2005-2006 enrollment: 12,327)
:The largest of the Best Southwest school districts, Duncanville ISD serves Duncanville, part of northwestern DeSoto, and a significant portion of southwest Dallas. The district has 16 campuses (one High School, three Middle Schools, three Intermediate Schools, and nine Elementary Schools - 6 in Duncanville and 3 in Dallas).

★ 'Lancaster Independent School District' [5] (2005-2006 enrollment: 5,822)
:A fast-growing district, Lancaster ISD covers most of Lancaster and a very small portion of Hutchins. The district has nine campuses (one High School, one Middle School, and seven Elementary Schools).
Other school districts that serve parts of the Best Southwest area include the Dallas Independent School District [6] (small portions of Lancaster and DeSoto) and the Midlothian Independent School District [7], which serves the small Ellis County portion of Cedar Hill.

See also

★ Cedar Hill State Park

★ Joe Pool Lake

★ Lancaster Airport

References

1. 2007 Population Estimates by City
2. [1] - Best Southwest Online.
3. American FactFinder - U.S. Census Bureau.

External links

;Best Southwest

★ Best Southwest Online

★ Village Profile: Best Southwest, TX

★ Today Newspapers Online - serving the Best Southwest and Grand Prairie

★ Best Southwest Focus News
;Cedar Hill

★ City of Cedar Hill

★ Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce

★ Cedar Hill Economic Development Corporation
;DeSoto

★ City of DeSoto

★ DeSoto Chamber of Commerce

★ DeSoto Economic Development Corporation
;Duncanville

★ City of Duncanville

★ Duncanville Chamber of Commerce
;Lancaster

★ City of Lancaster

★ Lancaster Chamber of Commerce

★ Lancaster Economic Development Corporation