Development of the community dates back to the late 1960s. N.L. 'Moe' Craddock, a Dallasfirefighter, opened a 30-acre (120,000 m2) mobile home park in the area. He helped push for the incorporation of Glenn Heights to prevent his business from being annexed by the city of DeSoto.[6] The town was officially incorporated on September 16, 1969.[7] Mr. Craddock remained active in Glenn Heights politics, serving on the city council during the 1970s and 1980s. He was appointed mayor in 1985 and was elected to that office in 1988, 1990, and 1992.[6]
There were 257 residents living in Glenn Heights at the 1970 census. That figure rose to 1,033 in 1980 and more than doubled for a second consecutive decade to 4,564 by 1990.[8] Lying in the path of suburban sprawl, Glenn Heights' population had surpassed 7,000 by 2000. Despite its rapid rate of growth, more than 50 percent of city land remains undeveloped.[9]
The Dallas County portion is zoned to Cockrell Hill Elementary School (grades Kindergarten through 2), Frank Moates Elementary School (grades 3-5),[17] Curtistene S. McCowan Middle School,[18]DeSoto High School Freshman Campus, and DeSoto High School.
The Ellis County portion is zoned to Donald T. Shields Elementary School, Red Oak Intermediate School, Red Oak Junior High School, and Red Oak High School.
All of Dallas County (its portion of Glenn Heights included) is in the service area of Dallas College (formerly Dallas County Community College). All of Ellis County (its portion of Glenn Heights included) is in the service area of Navarro College.[19]
Transportation
Glenn Heights is the only suburb (except for Cockrell Hill, which is technically an enclave and not a suburb) in the southern half of Dallas County that is a member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit; it has been since DART's inception in 1983. The Glenn Heights Park & Ride Center serves the city. None of DART's current commuter rail lines serve Glenn Heights, nor will any of its proposed extensions.
Notes
^Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[13][14]