Denton Named a Great Mainstreet City

Denton, Texas is on the list for having one of America’s Greatest Mainstreets. Senior travelers find Denton 35 miles north of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in North Texas on I-35.

Denton is known for its active music life, the State Fair and Rodeo and the Arts and Jazz Festival that attract over 300,000 people to the city annually.  This area is traditionally referred to as the Golden Triangle.

The Main Street Program is a worldwide program to revitalize downtown areas. The Denton Main Street Program began in 1989 with over $36.5 million reinvested in the area since. Plus the first Courthouse restoration was completed in time for the Texas Sesquicentennial in 1986.

The overwhelmingly positive response to the Courthouse renovation confirmed to the merchants that there was a need for an organized downtown revitalization program. The  1896 courthouse is deemed one of the finest in Texas and was designed by one of the great Texas courthouse architects, Wesley Clark Dodson.

With its massive Texas limestone walls and soaring clock tower, it has been called “the most picturesque pile of rocks in North Texas.”  Around the courthouse are a variety of antique shops, restaurants, and specialty stores.

If you are “into historic bridges,” be sure to visit the famed Old Alton Bridge. With a population more than 118,000 not including a student population of more than 40,000, Denton is far from rolling up the sidewalks at night.

Senior Equestrians In The Middle Of Horse Country

The arrival of a railroad line in the city in 1881 spurred population, and the establishment of the Univ. of North Texas in 1890 and later Texas Woman’s Univ. in 1901 distinguished Denton from neighboring regions. The city was named after pioneer and Texas militia captain John B. Denton, a pioneer lawyer, preacher, and soldier.

Denton has lots of festivals and events throughout the calendar year, from Twilight Tunes to Dog Days of Summer and Cinco de Mayo. Denton is fast becoming one of the most popular places to visit in the Metroplex area. The Denton Jazz and Arts festival attracts senior visitors from around the country. The Denton Square, bordered by Oak, Hickory, Locust, and Elm Streets, is a cultural and primary hub of the city.

Senior equestrian lovers, you will be in North Texas Horse Country, one of the largest concentrations of horse farms in the United States. Plus you will find exciting museums, art galleries, performing arts centers and local heritage.

Visit Denton and plan on spending a couple of days to get the “True Texan Feeling.”  jeb