The Colony

History

The Colony's name comes from the Peters Colony, whose headquarters was located within the modern boundaries of The Colony in the historical community of Stewartsville and the site of the Hedgcoxe War. The Colony is also the site of Bridges Settlement (established during the years of the Republic of Texas and the oldest community in Denton County), Stewarts Creek, Rector, Stoverville and Camey, also known as Camey Spur. One of the oldest portions of The Colony is Bridges Cemetery, established in 1857 on land owned by the Bridges family. The cemetery gates are closed to the public except on certain dates. The Colony did not exist until 1973, when home developers Fox and Jacobs purchased around State Highway 121 and Farm to Market Road 423. Its name was chosen because they wanted their development to share a sense of kinship with Texas' early history. They planned the development to be a "dream city" consisting primarily of single-family homes grouped as a "colony". In 1973, Fox and Jacobs agreed with the city of Frisco to begin construction. In 1974, the first model homes were completed and the first families moved into their homes in October. In 1977, the development was disannexed from the city of Frisco's extraterritorial jurisdiction. The Colony was incorporated in January 1977 and became a home rule city in 1979. Residents chose the name "The Colony" and the name was ratified by the city council in May 1977. In 1987, The Colony voted to merge with the small lakeside community of Eastvale.

Geography

The Colony is located at (33.090874, –96.884659). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 12.93%, is water. The city is bordered on the west by Lewisville Lake and the city of Lewisville, on the north and east by Frisco, and on the south by the cities of Carrollton and Plano. Approximately of shoreline on Lewisville Lake (including two peninsulas) are contained within the city's boundaries, thus providing the basis for the city's nickname "City by the Lake."

Race & ethnicity