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From world-class shopping and delicious cuisine to exceptional entertainment venues and parks, Plano has it all. This city of approximately 300,000 residents just north of Dallas offers an ideal combination of housing, employment, acclaimed education facilities, and sporting and recreational facilities. Plano was recently designated the best place to live in the Western United States by CNN Money magazine. Between the growth of Dallas toward Plano and the success of Fortune 500 companies that call Plano home, the city has become one of the fastest-growing in the country. Today it is the largest city in Collin County and a nationally recognized center of business and enterprise. Prospective residents often seek out Plano homes due to the city’s highly respected public-school system. Plano is home to such major companies as Toyota Motor North America, JC Penney, Ericsson, Pizza Hut, Frito-Lay, USAA, PepsiCo, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, FedEx Office, and many others. Plano’s Legacy West is a city within a city and is the largest mixed-use destination in North Texas. The Downtown Plano Arts District is a vibrant community of urban living, performing arts, galleries, event venues, alongside boutique shops and unique restaurants. Downtown Plano has free outdoor concerts and movies, festivals for every season, easy access via a DART light-rail station, all set against a backdrop of historic buildings. There are more than 4,000 acres of parks in Plano, including the Arbor Hills Nature Preserve, known for its hike-and-bike trails and plentiful open space. The annual Plano Balloon Festival and the Plano International Festival are two of the city’s premiere cultural and entertainment events.