Denton Texas

[kilgore trout]

Anyone claiming that Frisco is a better living location than Denton and then citing diversity as a reason immediately loses all credibility.

Frisco is the epitome of pretentious, white suburbia. It is pretty, but it is soulless. Sadly, in my experience, the city itself is a good representation of its population.

Denton, on the other hand, is much the opposite. Aside from some of the older buildings (square area) not much of Denton is what you'd call "pretty." But it has character. I grew up in Denton and now live in Austin - the pride for the community is pretty similar in both. It's not surprising that someone who thinks a lot of Frisco would not have enjoyed Denton - fakeness is pretty looked down upon. It's a genuine place, even to its detriment at times.

My biggest knock on Denton, as someone who grew up there and has moved away, is that there is almost zero industry growth. There are basically 4-5 major employers (I mean actual businesses, not people getting hired at home depot) in the town, and no one else seems interested in moving in. A few major companies looked around about 10 years back, but the city counsel at that time was back-asswards and really pushed Denton out of consideration.

What I found in Denton was a lot of people who had worked for the same company for 20+ years and had little chance/ambition of doing anything else. That thing kind of permeates the entire culture, and it gets a little scary. I think about 90% of my high school graduating class still lives there, and probably always will. That's not because of the great opportunities it provides, it's just because people there seem to be very complacent.

That said, I always found it to be an especially safe place. Most of the schools and neighborhoods are good (with 1 or 2 exceptions that typically correspond). It's a fine city to grow up in, I'd just make sure that if you have children you encourage them to broaden their horizons when it comes time for college.

j-

[jabbit]

proper post kilgore trout. i agree with you.

i think though that you can say the same think about austin in terms of industry growth and having only a select few of major employers.


granted its on a larger scale but still the same knock.

[flems]

Originally Posted by jabbit

proper post kilgore trout. i agree with you.

i think though that you can say the same think about austin in terms of industry growth and having only a select few of major employers.


granted its on a larger scale but still the same knock.

i agree with kilgore too -- it's laughable someone would claim denton doesn't have a fairly diverse ethnic population or a fairly harmonious one at that.

like the wiki entries suggest -- denton is a pretty progressive town, second only to austin.

as a 20 year resident that is a creative professional that freelances in dallas (lo, the drive is horrid)-- denton is sorely lacking industry growth -- it needs it so, so badly.

but jabbit, by comparison austin is quite fortunate in that area -- at least there are substantive jobs there folks can scramble to get. i'm just saying at least those jobs are there, even if it's damn near impossible to get them. in denton you can work for the universities, peterbilt, or sally beauty and that's close to being about it for quality income stuff.

and that makes no sense considering the large number of young creative and business professionals the town sees graduate and leave each year.

i think the City should up-end and refine its economic dev strategies and push its creative population -- it's what gives the town something other towns couldn't dream of having--originality, a bustling nightlife, and sense of place -- and that's what lots of young creative professionals want when they move to the austins, seattles, portlands . . .

one thing about kilgore's comment that people are complacent here-- that is endemic to many small towns and their folks. i, too forgo much (economically) to stay in this place i love. i found denton, moved there, moved away, and got back as quick as i could once i could make a decent living . . . in dallas.

p.s. for the rest of you -- denton is no d/fw suburb.

just had to make that point

[BattleBend]

Originally Posted by MyNameIsKyle

It's very easy to find faults with Denton ... Lot's of old areas, many rundown looking neighborhoods, some people hate that slight hippie/eccentric/liberal feel, the locals can be somewhat territorial, roads haven't kept up with population and can be confusing at times .... BUT, I love the town. As some have said, it is truly one of the few areas of DFW that has ownership of a distinctly "different" feel/character. Lots of live music bars/clubs, good mix of regular chain restaurants and privately owned places, UNT offers concerts, events, exhibits, the square is a nice well lit area to go park and walk to a restaurant/bar, and the real estate/rental is reasonable.

Denton does have its "questionable" areas, but who hasn't lived somewhere that has an area(s) like that? I grew up the definition of modern suburbia ie ... Flower Mound (the only 70k pop area I've ever been without questionable areas) and would take Denton 10 out of 10 times over it ... granted, I'm single and 25

Frisco is witihout questionable areas too and so what. people are all good looking, rich and rude as can be. I like charector and denton has it. I think i will be moving that direction soon....i don't like snobs!

[Grainraiser]

It's been 15 years since I have been to Denton and appears it has changed alot in that time. I always considered it a college town and always thought it was pretty diverse. I'm gonna have to take a day trip to Denton and check it out again.

[artsyguy]

People in Frisco are not rude. IMO.

UNT had some very rude people and classmates.

Originally Posted by BattleBend

Frisco is witihout questionable areas too and so what. people are all good looking, rich and rude as can be. I like charector and denton has it. I think i will be moving that direction soon....i don't like snobs!

[whitechocolate86]

Denton is a cool town...much to do here...and much more with the commute to Dallas/Fort Worth...I am biased, but Denton is much cooler than Frisco could ever hope to be...plenty of bars and clubs to have some drinks and see could music...unfortunately suburban sprawl is making it grow at a enormous rate...maybe, it's not a bad thing, but it seems that it is changing the town not for the better...I really don't know...I can't believe how much growth has happened on the side near argyle

[BattleBend]

Originally Posted by BattleBend

Frisco is witihout questionable areas too and so what. people are all good looking, rich and rude as can be. I like charector and denton has it. I think i will be moving that direction soon....i don't like snobs!

To make a general statement like that was not using my head but instead just being rude myself. A whole population of people cannot be rude and I know that. I also have placed more value in people since then....i am also trying to improve myself and wow, I really made a mistake. I am sorry to you and to the town i live in. I am proud to be there. I actually went through Denton after writing my statement and it was okay. Let’s move on to more about Denton because I am sure it has a vast amount to offer those who seek….

[DEE22]

Relocating from Illinois, job is in Denton, any suggestion for a good townhouse to rent in a great neighborhood?

[BattleBend]

Originally Posted by DEE22

Relocating from Illinois, job is in Denton, any suggestion for a good townhouse to rent in a great neighborhood?

If you don't mind commuting some, i would look at somewhere on 380. There are lots of nice places along 380 going east of Denton. I made fun of Frisco, tx once but I would love to live back in Frisco again. You will know why once you get moved and settled in.....anyway, I almost took a job in Denton before moving north and I was certainly willing to drive from Frisco to Denton but the job fell through. You might find a home for rent that is in your budget but Denton has lots of students there so that could be a good thing if you are in need of a roommate. If you don't mind driving 10 miles each way, rent a home in the area that looks like Disney Land. You will know what i am talking about when you drive down 380