Your guide to Denton: Things to do, restaurants, parks and more

It might have the nickname “Little D,” but Denton can hold its own against its larger neighbors down south.

A historic county seat, Denton might also be the only true college town in D-FW with the University of North Texas and other institutions marking a significant presence in the city. Beyond UNT, Denton is also known for its active music and arts scene with annual events like the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, Denton Blues Festival and the Thin Line Fest.

Here’s your guide to Denton:

Population: 165,986
Median age: 30.9
Median income: $80,908
Unemployment rate: 4.2%

• One race, white: 53.8%
• One race, Black or African American: 12.3%
• One race, American Indian or Alaska Native: 0%
• One race, Asian: 4%
• One race, Native Hawaiian: 0%
• One race, some other race: 6.2%
• Two or more races: 22.9%
• Hispanic or Latino origin (of any race): 27.5%
• White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: 49.1%

For ages 18-24 (roughly 18.8% of the population)

• Less than high school degree or equivalent: 2.9%
• High school graduates (or equivalent): 17.5%
• Some college or associate’s: 64.4%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.1%

For ages 25+ (roughly 61.2%)

• High school graduates (or equivalent): 19.5%
• Bachelor’s degree: 27.6%
• Graduate or professional degree: 13.5%

63,538 units; 59,003 occupied (92.9%)

• 30,820 owner occupied
• 28,183 renter occupied

Unit types

• 37,554 1-unit detached
• 1,276 1-unit attached
• 22,267 multi-unit
• 2,441 Mobile homes

Median home value: $379,900
Median rent: $1,568

Compiled by staff researcher Rachel Friend. Data from U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 1-Year Estimates Subject Tables, Tables S0601, S1501, S1903, S2301, DP04

Denton was a relatively late arrival to North Texas. The town was founded in 1857 to serve as the county seat in a place near the center of the county, according to the Texas State Historical Association. The town was incorporated in 1866.

The town grew slowly at first but more than doubled in population to around 2,500 by 1890 following the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway and Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad that connected the town to Fort Worth and Dallas, respectively. Early on, Denton’s growth was largely due to its status as the county seat, but it also functioned as a center for agricultural manufacturing with flour and cottonseed oil mills, according to TSHA.

Denton had gained a new identity by 1903 as a college town. The Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute, now the University of North Texas, was founded in 1890, according to the university’s website. The Girls Industrial College, now Texas Woman’s University, followed in 1901 as a public institution dedicated to women’s education.

The town’s population grew steadily throughout the first half of the 20th century and later grew quickly in the postwar period and beyond. Denton’s population nearly doubled from just under 27,000 to more than 48,000 between 1960 and 1980, helped by its proximity to Dallas and Fort Worth and its connection to both via interstate highways, according to TSHA. The growth of  UNT also played a role, with enrollment in the university topping 10,000 students during the 1960s, according to its website.

Denton has a historic connection to music, with much of that driven by the globally-recognized College of Music at UNT. Music has been taught at the university since its founding, according to TSHA. The music program was significantly expanded in the 1930s and UNT was soon admitted to the National Association of Schools of Music. By 1950, UNT had become the world’s first music school to offer a jazz degree. Today, UNT is home to the largest public university music program in the United States, according to its website. Notable alumni include Don Henley, Norah Jones and Maren Morris. 

That musical heritage spilled out of the university and into the city, through various annual events. Those include the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival which began in 1980 and the Denton Blues Festival, which dates to 1998.

Denton Square: The heart of historic downtown Denton and the site of the original town center remains to this day. Now the square is the centerpiece of a bustling downtown area with restaurants, shops and other businesses.

Hurley Administration Building: This building on UNT’s campus houses mostly offices and meeting rooms, but lies at the heart of campus and is topped by a conspicuous clock tower and spire. On the north side, you’ll find a large eagle statue in reference to the school’s mascot. On the other side, you’ll find the university’s logo on the ground at the end of a brick walkway with water features and fountains.

Food writer Imelda García contributed to this list.

Here’s a look at some notable parks and trails in Denton:  

• Avondale Park
• Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center
• Evers Park
• Greenbelt Trail
• Lake Forest Park
• North Lakes Park and Recreation Center
• Quakertown Park
• South Lakes Park

Find more here.

• DATCU Stadium
• Denton Arts & Jazz Festival
• Denton Blues Festival
• Halloween in Denton
• North Texas Fair & Rodeo
• UNT Coliseum, also known as The Super Pit

• Bayless-Selby House Museum
• Botanical Gardens at Texas Woman’s University
• Denton County African American Museum
• Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum
• Texas First Ladies Historic Costume collection
• Texas Women’s Hall of Fame
• Union Art Gallery at UNT

• North Central Texas College
• Texas Women’s University
• University of North Texas

Denton was officially named the Halloween Capital of Texas by the state’s 89th Legislature in 2025. It’s a nod to the city’s 31 Days of Halloween, when the city goes all out for spooky season in October.