Region: Prairies and Lakes
Established in 1857, the seat of Denton County is named for John B. Denton,
pioneer lawyer, preacher and soldier. His grave is on the lawn at the historic
courthouse on the Square. The city and county are a blend of agricultural and
modern industries. Recreational activities include golf, hunting, canoeing,
kayaking and other water sports on the Trinity River.
Standing guard over this Main Street City is the stately Denton County
Courthouse-on-the-Square. Designed in 1895 and in continuous operation since
1896, it underwent a major restoration in 2004. With its massive limestone walls
and soaring clock tower, it's been called "the most picturesque pile of rocks in
North Texas." Around the courthouse square are a variety of antique shops,
restaurants and specialty stores.
North Texas is also known as "Horse Country USA," populated with more than
25,000 horses on 300 farms and ranches, many of which are breeding and training
facilities. Guided public tours are offered on the first Saturday of the month.
Call the Denton Convention & Visitors Bureau for tickets: 888/381-1818. www.horsecountrytours.com.
Cultural attractions center on several major annual festivals, the Center for
Visual Arts and two major state universities: The University of North Texas and
Texas Woman's University. UNT is the fourth-largest university in Texas, and
TWU, including the Dallas and Houston campuses, is the nation's largest
university primarily for women.
The North Texas Greenbelt is a 1,500-acre wilderness corridor area that
follows the Elm Fork of the Trinity River and features about 10 miles of trails
and waterways.
Shoppers find great treasures in shops within its award-winning downtown
district. Bed-and-breakfast accommodations also are available.