How a small Texas farm town transformed into a wealthy Dallas-Fort Worth suburban enclave

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Once a collection of rural settlements along the Cotton Belt Route, Colleyville has evolved into a prosperous suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. While its roots trace back to 19th-century farming, the city now serves as a residential hub defined by significant growth, conservative politics, and proximity to major international transit.

Colleyville, located in northeastern Tarrant County, was originally known as Bransford. The community took its current name in 1914 to honor Dr. Lilburn Howard Colley, a Union Army veteran and physician who had settled in the area in 1880. By the 2020 census, the city had grown to a population of 26,057. Today, the city is entirely urban, with 100% of its residents living in urban areas, and it maintains a council-manager form of government led by a mayor and six councilmembers.

The city’s development is closely tied to the broader Dallas-Fort Worth region. Its proximity to the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has been a primary driver of its significant population growth. Despite the presence of the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and the TEXRail commuter line, which runs through the city, Colleyville does not host a train station. This exclusion resulted from strong opposition from both residents and the city council, forcing commuters to rely on stations in neighboring North Richland Hills or Grapevine.

Colleyville is characterized by its high rate of homeownership, with 95.8% of occupied housing units being owner-occupied. The city’s financial health, as reported in its 2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, included $221.5 million in total assets and $42.4 million in revenues. Politically, the city is a conservative stronghold that votes overwhelmingly Republican. This environment is supported by a variety of local institutions, including the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District and the private Colleyville Covenant Christian Academy, which serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

The city also maintains a focus on recreation and infrastructure. While water covers only about 0.08% of its 13.1 square miles, the city offers outdoor amenities like the 3.4-mile segment of the Cotton Belt Trail and the Colleyville Nature Center. Transportation is managed through two major state highways, with Highway 26 serving as a central artery. In recent years, the city has also gained national attention, notably following a 2022 hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel, which the FBI investigated as an act of terrorism.

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