Sherman–Denison Metropolitan Area

The Sherman–Denison metropolitan statistical area (MSA), as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Grayson – in North Texas, anchored by the cities of Sherman and Denison. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 120,877. The Sherman–Denison MSA is a component of the Dallas-Ft. Worth combined statistical area, which covers a 19-county area and had an estimated population of 8,057,796 as of July 1, 2009. It is also a major part of the Texoma region with proximity to both Lake Texoma and the Red River.

Communities

Places with 20,000 to 40,000 people

* Sherman (Principal city)
* Denison (Principal city)

Places with 2,500 to 5,000 people

* Whitesboro
* Howe
* Van Alstyne (partly in Collin County)

Places with 1,000 to 2,500 people

* Pottsboro
* Collinsville
*Whitewright (partly in Fannin County)
* Gunter
* Bells
* Tom Bean

Places with fewer than 1,000 people

* Southmayd
*Tioga
* Sadler
* Knollwood
* Dorchester

Unincorporated places

*Ambrose
* Gordonville
* Luella

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which are land and (4.7%) are covered by water.

Major highways

* U.S. Highway 69
* U.S. Highway 75
* U.S. Highway 82
* U.S. Highway 377
* State Highway 5
* State Highway 11
* State Highway 56
* State Highway 91
* State Highway 160
* State Highway 289
* Spur 503

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families were residing in the MSA. The population density was 118 people per square mile (46/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.20% White, 5.85% African American, 1.31% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 2.95% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. About 6.80% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. (see Grayson County, Texas)

Media

Magazine

* ''Grayson Magazine''

Newspaper

* '' The Herald Democrat''

Radio stations

* KLAK Adult Contemporary 97.5
* KMAD Mad Rock 102.5
* KMKT Katy Country 93.1
* KDOC Doc FM 107.3

Television stations

* KTEN Channel 10 - (NBC)
* KTEN DT Channel 10.2 - (The CW Texoma)
* KTEN DT Channel 10.3 - (ABC)
* KXII Channel 12 - (CBS)QF
* KXII DT Channel 12.2 (My Texoma)
* KXII DT Channel 12.3 (Fox Texoma)

Higher education

Also, Southeastern Oklahoma State University (SOSU) in Durant is within a 30-minute drive from the area. SOSU is the closest Public university to the area.

Top employers

Infrastructure

Health care

Transportation

A public bus transit called 'Taps' serves the Sherman-Denison Metroplex as well as the North Texas Region and even extends into part of Oklahoma. The company is a regional transit agency that serves the Texoma region. Two major routes run through the Sherman-Denison metroplex, one known as the Viking route because it is funded by Grayson County College and the other is known as the Roo Route and is funded by Austin College. In addition to this both Sherman and Denison each are served by a 24-hour cab service.

Airports

Attractions

Lake Texoma

Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, the 12th largest US Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) lake, and the largest in USACE Tulsa District. Lake Texoma is formed by Denison Dam on the Red River in Bryan County, Oklahoma, and Grayson County, Texas, about upstream from the mouth of the river. It is located at the confluence of the Red River and Washita Rivers. The damsite is approximately northwest of Denison, Texas, and southwest of Durant, Oklahoma. Lake Texoma is the most developed and most popular lake within the USACE Tulsa District, attracting approximately 6 million visitors a year.

Diverse recreational opportunities include two wildlife refuges, two state parks, fifty four USACE-managed parks, twelve marinas, twenty-six resorts, hundreds of campgrounds and a variety of excellent golf courses. Power boating, sailing, personal watercraft, water skiing and wind surfing are all popular. The lake has become a major sailing center based on its size, depth and miles of sailing shoreline.

During the spring break and Fourth of July holidays, many college students home for the holidays will gather in an area called " Fobb Bottom" on the Oklahoma side.

Lake Texoma is also home to the Lakefest Regatta, widely considered to be the first inland charity regatta in the United States. The event typically attracts up to 100 keelboats and more than 500 sailors each spring. Since its inception, Lakefest has raised more than $2 million in support of various children's charities in North Texas. The current beneficiary is the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of North Texas.

Former professional Funny Car race driver "Flash" Gordon Mineo organized many " Poker Run" events on Lake Texoma.

The lake was stocked with striped bass in the late 1960s, and has proven to be an excellent habitat for them. It is one of the seven U.S. inland lakes where the striped bass reproduce naturally, instead of being farmed and released into the waters. The "stripers" feed on large schools of shad, Oklahoma, celebrates the importance of striper fishing to the local area with the annual Kingston Striper Festival each September.

In 2004, a blue catfish was pulled from the lake that weighed 121.5 pounds (55.1 kg), temporarily setting a world weight record for rod-and-reel-caught catfish.
The fish was moved to a freshwater aquarium in Athens, Texas. More commonly, catfish in Lake Texoma weigh between 5 and 70 pounds (2 to 30 kg).

Historically, Texas and Oklahoma have not had a reciprocal fishing license agreement, which has posed a problem for anglers. Recent boundary resolutions have given Oklahoma jurisdiction over most of the fishing in Lake Texoma. An Oklahoma fishing license allows fishing most of the lake, up to within 400 yards (370 m) of Denison Dam. To fish the entire lake, a Lake Texoma fishing license is also available.

Many campgrounds, both public and private exist along the shores of Lake Texoma. Among these are Eisenhower State Park, named for President Dwight Eisenhower, who was born in nearby Denison, TX and Camp All Saints owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas.

Dwight D. Eisenhower birthplace

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in Denison, Texas on October 14, 1890, the first United States President to be born in Texas. The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site has been turned into a historical museum in Denison and is a very popular tourism site in the area.

Choctaw Casino Resort

The Choctaw Casino Resort is a casino and hotel complex located in Durant, Oklahoma roughly 20 minutes from Denison and 30 minutes from Sherman. The complex has of gaming floor, over 4,200 slot machines, a total of 776 hotel rooms, and is owned and operated by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The resort has two casinos and two hotels within the complex. The South Casino was completed in 2006 with of floor space, and the North Casino was completed in 2010 with Choctaw Casino Durant expansion will add 1,000 new jobs
/ref> more floor space. Choctaw Inn has 101 hotel rooms, and the newer Grand Tower has of floor space, 330 rooms and suites, and is 12 floors tall. The $360 million resort is the flagship of the Choctaw Nation gaming industry.

See also

* Texas census statistical areas

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sherman-Denison metropolitan area
Metropolitan areas of Texas