About Grand Prairie, Texas

Two toddlers exploring colorful playground

The City of Grand Prairie, Texas, offers relaxation, family fun, friendly neighbors and a smart place to live and do business. With its 2023 population at 204,973 (NCTCOG) Grand Prairie is the 16th largest city in Texas.

Generally speaking, our residents are 30 something, dual income homeowners. In Grand Prairie, families who have lived here for generations welcome newcomers who come to Grand Prairie for the same reasons the natives don't leave—location and hometown atmosphere.

Development Assets

Map of Grand Prairie and DFW

Central Location

Grand Prairie, Texas, is centrally located in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community stretches 26 miles long by about eight miles at its widest point. The city covers about 81 square miles (100 square miles including extraterritorial jurisdiction) and has an estimated population of 197,590.

Near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Interstate Highways

The city's northern border lies 5 to 10 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The eastern boundary is 12 miles west of downtown Dallas and the western 15 miles east of Fort Worth. Passing east and west through Grand Prairie and linking the city with major markets are Interstate 30, a strong entertainment and business corridor, and Interstate 20, developing as a significant retail and corporate location.

Site of One of Largest Industrial Districts

Because of its central location and proximity to air and highway transportation infrastructure, Grand Prairie also is a well-established distribution center. Much of the Great Southwest Industrial District's approximately 80-million square feet lies in Grand Prairie. Quick access to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, large local markets of Dallas and Fort Worth, rail and interstate highways continue to attract new construction of warehouse, distribution and manufacturing buildings.

Land Availability, Recreational Amenities

Recent industrial, hotel and multifamily development has taken up large tracts in the north Great Southwest Industrial District, yet additional land remains there, nearby and southward. The southernmost section of the city, amid hill country-like vistas around Joe Pool Lake, is attracting high-end residential housing and plans for resort development.

More Information: Grand Prairie Economic Development Home Page

Residential and Commercial Development

2022

New Single-Family Building Permits Issued: 322

New Commercial/Industrial Square Feet: 2.5 million 

Demographics

Demographics (2023)
Population 204,392
Households 67,746
Average Household Size 3.01
Median Age 33.1
Median Household Income $74,275
Land Area 81 square miles
Race and Ethnicity
27.4% White Alone
25.4% Black Alone
1.2% American Indian Alone
8.0% Asian Alone
0.1% Pacific Islander Alone
19.7% Some Other Race Alone
18.1% Two or More Races
45.4% Hispanic Origin (Any Race)

Sources: for Population, Households, Grand Prairie Planning and North Central Texas Council of Governments. All other, Census 2020 

Employers

Top Employers (2023)

Company Jobs Business Activity
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control HQ 5000 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Grand Prairie Independent School District 3800 Public Schools
Poly-America Inc. 2000 Unsupported Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing
City of Grand Prairie 1700 Public Administration
Flex-N-Gate 1200 Auto Accessory Manufacturing
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. 1200 Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing
Lear Seating 1105 Manufacturer of automotive seating and related components
Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie 950 Racetracks
Forterra Pipe & Products, Inc. 950 Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
K & N Filters 800 Trademark High Performance Automotive Filters
Republic National Distributing 800 Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Wholesalers
Bell Textron
700 Helicopter Aircraft Manufacturing
Arnold Transportation Services
650 General Freight Trucking
Airbus Helicopter 600 Aircraft Manufacturing
Safran Helicopters 530 Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing 
Wal-Mart 500
Warehouse Clubs and Superstores
Mission Foods 500 Food Manufacturing
General Motors LOC Center 500 Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services
Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Department of Justice 500 Public Administration
Pitney Bowes Presort Services 450 Business Support Services
SAIA Motor Freight Line Inc. 426 General Freight Trucking, Long-Distance, Truckload
Office Depot Procurement Center 370  Stationary and Office Supplies Wholesalers
CarParts.com 360 Online Provider of Aftermarket Automotive Parts
Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services, Regional Offices 356 Administration of Human Resource Programs
Hello Fresh 350 Grocery Stores
Printpack Inc.  350 Unsupported Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet Manufacturing
Standard Utility Construction, Inc.  350 Construction 
IKEA  300  Home Furnishing Stores
Wal-Mart Super Center  300  Retail and Grocery Stores
MSI Express  300  All Other Food Manufacturing 

Healthcare

A variety of healthcare services are available in Grand Prairie and the immediate area. A variety of physicians, surgeons, dentists, orthodontists, optometrists and ophthalmologists have offices in Grand Prairie. The Dallas-Fort Worth area offers more than 65 hospitals, with specialties ranging from asthma to pulmonary rehabilitation, pediatrics to geriatrics, sports medical to psychiatry, cancer to cardiovascular surgery.

Libraries

Grand Prairie has a main public library, 901 Conover Drive, as well as two branch libraries, Betty Warmack Branch on 760 Bardin Road and Tony Shotwell Branch inside Tony Shotwell Life Center at 2750 Graham St.

2022

  • Digital Collection: 55,877
  • Physical Collection: 141,882
  • Library Cardholders: 78,393
  • Number of Visits: 239,847
  • Check Outs: 430,846
  • Program Attendance: 50,128

Municipal Employees

2022

  • Police/Fire Civil Service: 521
  • General: 865
  • Seasonal/Part-Time: 271

Operating Budget

2022-2023 Operating Budget
General Fund $172,000,000
Enterprise Funds $154,000,000
Other Funds $108,000,000
TOTAL $470,000,000

Parks, Arts and Recreation

With more than 5,000 acres of parks, well-established and new neighborhoods and lively, competitive athletic programs, Grand Prairie makes businesses and residents feel right at home.

The Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department was named best in the nation in 2017 when it was awarded the National Recreation and Park Association's Gold Medal in the Class II division for cities of population between 150,001 and 400,000.

Fifty-eight parks include a senior center, the Ruthe Jackson Conference Center, five recreation centers, a dog park, five public swimming pools (including one indoor pool), two beaches on Joe Pool Lake, a campground, five softball and baseball complexes, 32 tennis courts and 18 soccer fields (four lighted adult, six lighted youth), and hiking and biking trails.

With a ¼ cent sales tax devoted to park improvements, a $125 million, 20-year Parks Master Plan will improve every park in Grand Prairie and add valuable new park land on an ongoing basis.

EpicCentral

EpicCentral is a 172-acre park site located off George W. Bush Tollway (Highway 161). Reflecting innovation and community investment, EpicCentral is home to Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, The Summit recreation center for adults ages 50 , The Epic “reimagined recreation center” for all ages, Grand Prairie's Public Safety Building, and future home of PlayGrand Adventures all-inclusive playground. Amenities include five lakes, a grand lawn, boardwalk, and pad sites for future retail opportunities.

Visit EpicCentral.com

Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
Epic Waters and The Epic
The Epic

Golf

In addition to private golf courses and a country club, the city's two public top-ranked golf courses offer outstanding golf at a great price. The city’s Tangle Ridge Golf Course features bentgrass greens in a Hill Country atmosphere, and Prairie Lakes Golf Course offers one of the best golf values in the area with the largest practice putting green in Texas.

Prairie Lakes Golf Course

Lake Parks

One of the newest lakes in Texas, Joe Pool Lake, is set among the rolling hills of south Grand Prairie. Fishing, boating, swimming and skiing are popular here. The lake’s Lynn Creek Park features boat ramps, picnic sites, beaches, volleyball, a playground, restrooms and loads of natural beauty. The lake parks offer visitors a grand experience – clean beaches, shaded trails and ideal camping. And now you can camp in style at Loyd Park in a fully stocked camping cabin. Loyd Park offers cabins, wooded camp sites, trails, showers and restrooms. On the north shore, just off Lake Ridge Parkway, Lynn Creek Marina features boat slips, rentals, boat ramps and fishing supplies for the angler. Adjacent to the marina, the Oasis – a floating restaurant – overlooks the waters of the lake and serves up delicious fare and beverages.

Lynn Creek Park

More Information: Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department

Tax Rates

Property Tax Rates

The combined FY 2023-24 property tax rate of all taxing jurisdictions in the City of Grand Prairie varies because the city's boundaries overlap with six school districts and three counties.

The two predominant taxing areas in Grand Prairie are Dallas County/Grand Prairie Independent School District and Tarrant County/Arlington Independent School District.

Property Tax Rates (2023) Per $100 Assessed Property Value
City of Grand Prairie $0.66000
Grand Prairie ISD $1.095050
Arlington ISD $1.115600
Cedar Hill ISD $1.132600
Mansfield ISD $1.149200
Dallas County $0.215718
Tarrant County $0.194500

Average Annual City Property Tax Paid on a $237,000 Home with Homestead Exemption: $1,330

Dallas County*

Tarrant County*

Jurisdiction Tax rate Jurisdiction Tax rate
City of Grand Prairie $.66000 City of Grand Prairie $.66000
Dallas County $.215718 Tarrant County $.194500
Parkland Hospital $.219500 Tarrant County Hospital $.194500
Dallas County Community College $.110028 Tarrant County College $.1121700
Grand Prairie ISD $1.095050 Arlington ISD $1.115600
Cedar Hill ISD $1.132600 Mansfield ISD $1.149200

*Visit the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) website and the Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) website for more information on calculating your property taxes.

Sales Tax

The combined local and state sales tax is 8.25 percent (6.25 percent state, 2 percent city - effective April 1, 2002). Sales tax is collected on rentals, sales, use of tangible property and services.

It is not collected on grocery, prescription medicine, property consumed in manufacturing and processing.

Retail Tax Rates (2022)
City 1.000%
EPIC and EPIC Waters
0.250%
Street Maintenance and Repair
0.250%
Park Improvements 0.250%
Crime Control and Prevention District 0.250%
State 6.250%
TOTAL Sales Tax 8.250%

 

13% Hotel Occupancy Tax
City 7%
State 6%

Schools

The majority of Grand Prairie kids attend schools in the Grand Prairie Independent School District. GPISD is a 58-square-mile district serving more than 29,000 students within the Dallas County portion of Grand Prairie. The district boasts 43 campuses:

  • 2 Early Education Schools (Prekindergarten)
  • 22 Elementary Schools
  • 7 Middle Schools
  • 4 High Schools
  • 2 Early College High Schools
  • 3 Grades 6-12 Campuses
  • 1 Disciplinary Alternative Education School
  • 1 Charter School Partnership

The district employs more than 4,198 staff members and offers a variety of services and programs designed to help students radiate success.

Students who reside in Tarrant County and Grand Prairie attend Arlington Independent School District, which has 50 elementary, 12 junior high and six high schools. Of these, six elementary schools are actually in Grand Prairie.

Small portions of town lie in other school districts such as Cedar Hill ISD, Irving ISD, Mansfield ISD and Midlothian ISD. To attend a GPISD school, kindergarten children must be five years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year. Special early childhood programs are available for children ages 3-5 who are handicapped or developmentally delayed, and for infants from birth to age two who are blind or deaf.

School District Websites:

Texas Education Agency: Ratings and demographics

Taxpayers

Top Taxpayers (2023)

CH AZ Wildlife 4 6 LP        $237,342,170;
Lockheed Martin Corp   $168,715,165
WMCI DALLAS V LLC   $142,095,043
DUKE SECURED FINANCING 2009   $142,050,000
PROLOGIS LP   $123,730,000
ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY   $113,145,281
POLY AMERICA LP   $101,309,539
BELL TEXTRON INC   $72,254,706
BVFV GRAND PRAIRIE LLC   $70,211,680
FRBH SILVERBROOK LLC   $68,734,049

Tourism

Lone Star Park

Remember how it was to be a kid? Life was an adventure, and you were always shooting for new things to do. Grand Prairie offers a variety of attractions that encourage visitors to experience life as an adventure.

Tourists can play the horses at Lone Star Park, experience water fun year-round at Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark, rummage through the 161-acre flea market at Traders Village, come face to face with lifelike figures at Louis Tussauds Palace of Wax, explore fascinating oddities from around the world at Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, dance in the aisles at Texas Trust CU Theatre at Grand Prairie concerts, swing with abandon at Tangle Ridge and Prairie Lakes golf courses, and, to cap it all off, play on the beaches and camp under the stars at the 7,500-acre Joe Pool Lake. And coming in 2023 will be Major League Cricket playing in what will be a redevelopment of the AirHogs Stadium.

Grand Prairie is a playground for children of any age.

More Information: Grand Prairie Tourism

Transportation

Infrastructure

The following major arterial roads run through Grand Prairie:

  • George W. Bush Tollway / State Highway 161 (North-South)
  • State Highway 360 (North-South)
  • Interstate I-20 (East-West)
  • Interstate I-30 (East-West)

Airport

The Grand Prairie Municipal Airport has a 4,000-foot-long, 75-foot-wide lighted, concrete runway, repair service and cargo handling, a helipad, and support facilities for training, private aviation and business flying activities. In 2021 there were 83,093 takeoffs/landings.

airport-aerial-2.jpg  

Grand Connection Transit

The city's "Grand Connection" transit system serves those who are at least 60 years of age or have a physical or mental disability.

  • Grand Connection Bus Passengers (2021): 38,012

 

VIA Grand Prairie

The City of Grand Prairie launched an on-demand, shared transportation service on April 12, 2022. The service is a minibus-like vehicle that picks up and drops off passengers at their desired locations. Passengers can choose from a few different ride options, and a driver will be sent their way.

Visit VIA Grand Prairie

Universities and Jr. Colleges

Higher Education

Fifteen universities are within 50 miles of Grand Prairie (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board). The universities, among them University of Texas campuses (Arlington and Dallas), offer programs from engineering to business and degrees from bachelor's to medical doctorates.

In addition to their degree programs, many of these colleges and universities offer business consulting, employee training specific to a company's skill demands, community health care services, economic and land development research, computer and information services and library facilities open to the community.

Public and Private Universities in Dallas-Fort Worth

University City ~Miles from central
Grand Prairie
University of Texas at Arlington Arlington 7
University of Texas at Dallas Richardson 25
Texas Woman's University Denton 50
University of North Texas Denton 50
University of North Texas Health Science Center Fort Worth 21
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas 15
Dallas Baptist University Dallas 5
Amberton University Garland 25
Paul Quinn College Dallas 18
Southern Methodist University Dallas 16
Texas Christian University Fort Worth 20
Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth 17
University of Dallas Irving 10
The College of St. Thomas More Fort Worth 20
University of North Texas at Dallas Dallas 19
Total

Source: Texas Coordinating Board

Public Universities

Private Universities

Community Colleges

Twelve community colleges in Dallas and Tarrant counties are within 25 miles of Grand Prairie - the nearest of them Mountain View in Dallas, North Lake in Irving, Cedar Valley in Lancaster, the Southeast campus of Tarrant County College in Arlington, and El Centro in Dallas (Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board).

In addition to their degree programs, many of these colleges and universities offer business consulting, employee training specific to a company's skill demands, community health care services, economic and land development research, computer and information services and library facilities open to the community.

Dallas County Community College District offers business-focused programs for companies, such as ISO 9000 certification, customer service/call center training and small business startup advising. A similar program is offered in Tarrant County through the Tarrant County College Small Business Development Center.

Public Community Colleges in Dallas-Fort Worth

University City ~ Miles*
from central
Grand Prairie
Brookhaven College Farmers Branch 20
Cedar Valley College Lancaster 19
Eastfield College Mesquite 23
El Centro College Dallas 14
Mountain View College Dallas 7
Tarrant County College - Northeast Campus Hurst 15
North Lake College Irving 10
Tarrant County College - Northwest Campus Fort Worth 25
Richland College Dallas 25
Tarrant County College - South Campus Fort Worth 18
Tarrant County College - Southeast Campus Arlington 7
Tarrant County College - Trinity River Campus Fort Worth 21
Total

* Approximate miles
Source: Texas Coordinating Board

Community College Websites

Utilities

Contact Information for Utilities

Gas Utility (Atmos Energy): 1-800-460-3030

Electricity: powertochoose.com 1-866-797-4839

Water Service: 972-237-8200

AT&T: 800-464-7928

Cable (Spectrum): 1-888-892-2253

Republic: 817-261-8812

Utilities (2022)

  • Water Production (average gallons/day): 25 million
  • Fire Hydrants: 7,650
  • Miles of Water Lines: 860
  • Miles of Collection Line: 630
  • Customer Accounts 50,013