Melissa, Texas, located in north-central Collin County, has a rich history rooted in its agricultural past and connection to the railroad. Settlement in the area began in the 1840s, with a post office established in 1853 in the nearby Highland community. The town of Melissa truly took shape with the arrival of the Houston and Texas Central Railway in 1872, attracting residents from Highland and establishing itself as a commercial center. The origin of the town’s name is debated, with theories pointing to daughters of prominent railroad executives, Melissa Quinlan or Melissa Huntington. By 1886, Melissa boasted a flour mill and two cotton gins, shipping thousands of bales of cotton annually. The Texas Electric Railway, an interurban line linking Dallas and Denison, further boosted Melissa’s development in 1908, providing electric lights, a telephone exchange, and paved roads before 1920. However, the town faced significant setbacks with a deadly tornado in 1921, which killed thirteen people and destroyed many businesses and homes, followed by a fire in 1929 that consumed many rebuilt structures. Growth was further curtailed by the Great Depression and the draw of defense industry jobs in Dallas during WWII, causing the population to decline before slowly recovering in the latter half of the 20th century.
In the present day, Melissa is experiencing rapid growth and has transformed into a dynamic and diverse community. With a population estimated at over 23,000 in FY23 and projected to reach over 33,000 by 2025, Melissa is one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. It maintains a small-town feel while accommodating its expanding residential and commercial sectors. The city is strategically located along US-75, as well as State Highways 5 and 121, providing easy access to and from Dallas. Melissa is known for its highly-rated Melissa Independent School District, which is a 5A school district and continues to expand its facilities, including a new multi-million dollar football stadium. The city is also home to the Z-Plex, a nationally recognized sports facility featuring baseball, tennis, and soccer fields, attracting numerous visitors for tournaments. While some residents note a current limited selection of restaurants and shops, new retail developments, including an HEB and Kroger, are addressing this. Melissa strives to maintain its community spirit through local events and its commitment to planned development, although the rapid growth also presents challenges in infrastructure and historical preservation.
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Marie Sells Dallas 