Farmers Branch, officially the City of Farmers Branch, is a city in Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is an inner-ring suburb of Dallas and is part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its population was 35,991 at the 2020 census.
History
In 1842, Thomas Keenan, Isaac B. Webb, and William Cochran received original land grants in the area. By 1843, a community called Mustang Branch had been established. Mr. Cochran later changed the name to Farmers Branch to reflect the area's rich soil and farmland. Farmers Branch was the first location of the Texan Land and Emigration Company (or Peters Colony) in 1845. This made the community one of the best-known places in Dallas County during the 1840s because of its advertising throughout Europe and the United States. Baptist minister William Bowles opened a blacksmith shop and gristmill in 1845. On May 5, 1845, Isaac B. Webb donated land for Webb's Chapel Methodist Church, the first formal place of worship in Dallas County. A school was established in the church one year later. Webb became the first postmaster at the Farmers Branch post office, which opened on January 5, 1848. It continued to function until its closure in 1866. The post office reopened in 1875.
The community was first thoroughly settled in the early 1850s. The murder of widower Andrew C. Wisdom by enslaved woman Jane Elkins occurred in Farmers Branch in 1852.Donna Gosbee, “Jane Elkins,” Human Rights Dallas Maps, accessed August 11, 2026, https://humanrightsdallasmaps.com/items/show/2.
To assure that railroads would eventually pass through Farmers Branch, prominent early settler Samuel Gilbert and others sold right-of-way through their land in 1874. Around three to four years later, the Dallas and Wichita Railway completed a track from Dallas—through Farmers Branch—to Lewisville. It was absorbed by the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad in 1881. The community had a population around 100 by 1890, with several businesses. The population had grown to 300 during the early 1900s. A brick school building was constructed in 1916. The number of people living in the community remained stable until after World War II.
Farmers Branch was incorporated as a city after an election was held on February 23, 1946. William F. (Bill) Dodson was elected as the city's first mayor. The implementation of city services began immediately after incorporation. In the 1950 census, Farmers Branch had a population of 915. In 1956, a home-rule charter was approved that adopted a council-manager form of government. The rapid growth of the city during the 1950s was made apparent in the 1960 census, which recorded a total of 13,441 residents, a 1,369% increase over the 1950 figure. Most of the new residents commuted to nearby Dallas for employment. The population topped 27,000 by 1970. A variety of manufacturers producing items such as steel products, concrete, asphalt, cosmetics, and food products was operating in the city. The number of residents declined to 24,863 in 1980 and 24,250 in 1990. The falling population was offset, however, by the wide variety of businesses located in the city. Farmers Branch is home to a large number of corporations that have attained frontage along Interstate 635, the Dallas North Tollway, and Interstate 35E. Its Dallas North Tollway segment is part of the Platinum Corridor, and its land along Interstate 635 is an extension of the lengthy Irving Prairie office park. By 2000, the city's population had grown to 27,508. and by 2020 the city's population had grown to 35,991.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.79 sq mi (30.54 km2) with only 0.08% (0.09 sq mi - 0.24 km2) covered by water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 35,991 people, 16,015 households, and 10,119 families residing in the city. The median age was 34.7 years, 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 12.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.6 males age 18 and over.
As of the 2020 census, 100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
As of the 2020 census, there were 14,932 households in Farmers Branch, of which 26.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.5% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
As of the 2020 census, there were 17,100 housing units, of which 12.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 17.5%.
+Farmers Branch racial composition as of 2020 (NH = Non-Hispanic)RaceNumberPercentageWhite (NH)12,95736.0%Black or African American (NH)2,9258.13%Native American or Alaska Native (NH)1040.29%Asian (NH)3,1328.7%Pacific Islander (NH)110.03%Some Other Race (NH)1800.5%Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)1,0082.8%Hispanic or Latino15,67443.55%Total35,991
Economy
According to the city's 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report the top employers in the city are:
# Employer # of Employees1TDIndustries1,5001Internal Revenue Service1,2002Feizy1,1703Anserteam LLC1,0014Trinity Industries1,0005Southwestern Health Resources9007o9 Solutions8308Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits6509Interstate Batteries52010Lidon Security Associates500
As of 2012, Farmers Branch had 3,500 companies. Celanese Corporation, Eyemart Express, I2 Technologies, OxyChem, and Varsity Brands have their headquarters in Farmers Branch. Maxim Integrated Products has an office in Farmers Branch."Economic Development ." City of Farmers Branch. Retrieved on September 30, 2012. All Smiles Dental Centers formerly had its headquarters in Farmers Branch."CORPORATE INTEGRITY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND ALL SMILES DENTAL CENTER, INC." (Archive) Office of the Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services. p. 23. Retrieved on September 22, 2012. "All Smiles: Michael S. J. Lozich, Esq. Chief Compliance Officer All Smiles Dental Centers 4901 LBJ Freeway, Suite 300 Dallas, Texas 75244""Sheet No. 23." (Zoning Map) (Archive) City of Farmers Branch. Retrieved on September 23, 2012. Excellence Health Inc. has an office in Farmers Branch that covers the Dallas life sciences cluster.
North Central Texas Council of Governments 2018 estimated total employment for the City of Farmers Branch is 78,393. The report is adjusted by the City of Farmers Branch finance department for businesses closed or moved prior to the reporting year.
Government
Politics
+ Farmers Branch city vote by party in presidential elections Year Democratic Republican Third Parties202455.42% 8,31942.41% 6,3662.17% 326202058.42% 8,58839.80% 5,8511.78% 261201649.56% 5,36445.52% 4,9274.92% 533201241.14% 3,83857.13% 5,3291.73% 161
Local government
According to the city's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city's various funds had $50.0 million in revenues, $64.5 million in expenditures, $33.8 million in total assets, $6.5 million in total liabilities, and $38.2 million in investments.City of Farmers Branch 2009 CAFR retrieved 2010-11-11
The structure of the management and co-ordination of city services is:City of Farmers Branch 2009 CAFR retrieved 2010-11-11
Department DirectorCity ManagerBen WilliamsonDeputy City ManagerJawaria TareenAssistant to the City ManagerVacantCity SecretaryStacy HendersonMunicipal JudgeTerry L. CarnesCommunicationsVacantCommunity ServicesVacantNeighborhood ServicesVacantPlanning & ZoningVacantEconomic Development & TourismVacantFinanceJay PatelHuman ResourcesJeffrey RossInnovation & TechnologyJoseph BrockManske LibraryVacantFire ChiefDaniel LatimerPolice ChiefKevin McCoyParks & RecreationRobert DiazPublic WorksVacantFleet & Facilities ManagementVacant
The city has its own police department.
Farmers Branch is a voluntary member of the North Central Texas Council of Governments association, the purpose of which is to co-ordinate individual and collective local governments and facilitate regional solutions, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and enable joint decisions.
Education
Public school districts
Residential areas in Farmers Branch are within two school districts. - Text list"Zoning Map ." City of Farmers Branch. Updated March 2013. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. The zoning map shows which areas are zoned for residential use, and only residential-zoned areas are considered in regards to which school zones serve the city."Existing Land Use ." City of Farmers Branch. Retrieved on July 14, 2016.
Most of Farmers Branch is a part of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Dave Blair Elementary School,"Home ." Dave Blair Elementary School. Retrieved on May 5, 2014. "14055 Heartside Dr. Farmers Branch, TX 75234" Farmers Branch Elementary School,"Farmers Branch Elementary Attendance Area." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. Janie Stark Elementary School,"Janie Stark Elementary Attendance Area ." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. and Nancy H. Strickland Intermediate School (3–5) are in Farmers Branch."Neil Ray McLaughlin Elementary School Attendance Area." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. Sections zoned to Strickland for grades 3–5 are zoned to Neil Ray McLaughlin Elementary School (K–2) in Carrollton"Nancy H. Strickland Intermediate School Attendance Area." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. Vivian C. Field Middle School is in Farmers Branch and serves almost all of the CFBISD portion."Vivian Field Middle School Attendance Area." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. R. L. Turner High School in Carrollton also serves almost all of CFBISD Farmers Branch."R.L. Turner High School Attendance Area ." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. Residential areas south of Interstate 635 and west of Interstate 35E are zoned to La Villita Elementary School, Barbara Bush Middle School and Ranchview High School in Irving."La Villita Elementary School Attendance Area." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016."Barbara Bush Middle School Attendance Area ." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016."Ranchview High School Attendance Area ." Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District. Retrieved on July 14, 2016. CFBISD's Early College High School, an alternative high school, is on the property of Brookhaven College.
Dallas Independent School District includes a small portion of Farmers Branch."City of Farmers Branch District Zoning Map" (Archive). City of Farmers Branch. Adopted February 24, 1969. Updated March 2013. Retrieved on April 30, 2014. One DISD elementary school, Chapel Hill Preparatory School, known as William L. Cabell Elementary School until its 2018 renaming, is in Farmers Branch. Its current name is a reference to the Chapel Hill community; it was renamed since the former namesake, Mayor of Dallas William Lewis Cabell, served in the Confederate States of America. Other residential portions of DISD Farmers Branch are served by Gooch Elementary. Residential areas in DISD are zoned to Marsh Middle School and W.T. White High School.