$273M Cowboys deal
Council voted Apr 22 — extends AT&T Stadium lease through 2055
City · Tarrant County
Arlington
Population ~392,304 · arlington-isd
The American Dream City
☕ Arlington brief Mon, Jun 1
City tax rate
$1.0929 / $100 (FY25, down ~1¢ from prior year)
Six Flags + Rangers + Cowboys
AT&T Stadium, Globe Life Field, Six Flags Over Texas — entertainment capital of TX
Local News
Arlington Headlines
Cowboys deal + Mavericks + UTA + Entertainment District
Cowboys
$273M Cowboys lease through 2055 (April 22 2026)
City commits up to $273M for AT&T Stadium upgrades; Cowboys contribute ≥$750M. Dissents: Hogg, Hunter. Source: KERA / Fort Worth Report.
Source: City + ISD records
Cowboys
Cowboys generate ~$324M/yr for Arlington
Per council figures. Stadium + adjacent dev anchor Entertainment District economy. Source: KERA News.
Source: City + ISD records
Schools
AISD: 56,000 students, C-77 rating
Rating improved 76 → 77 after appeal. Source: AISD.
Source: City + ISD records
Rangers
Globe Life Field 2023 World Series champions
Retractable-roof park opened 2020. Source: MLB.
Source: City + ISD records
Sports
Dallas Wings (WNBA) at College Park Center
UTA campus venue holds ~7,000 for WNBA. Source: WNBA / UTA.
Source: City + ISD records
Higher Ed
UTA Mavericks: ~40,000 students, NCAA Div I
Largest UT system school by Hispanic enrollment. Source: UTA.
Source: City + ISD records
🎓 Higher Ed
UT Arlington Mavericks: ~40,000 students, Division I athletics
University of Texas at Arlington enrolls approximately 40,000 students and fields Division I athletics in the Western Athletic Conference — making UTA one of the largest universities in Texas and a major anchor of Arlington's east-side economy. Source: UTA.
From across Tarrant County
🗳️ Election
Contested mayor races in nine Tarrant cities on May 2 ballot
The May 2, 2026 ballot featured contested races for mayor in nine Tarrant cities: Arlington, Euless, Keller, Kennedale, North Richland Hills, Pelican Bay, Sansom Park, Westlake, and Westover Hills. The slate also included numerous city council positions, school board trustee seats, and other municipal offices across the county. Source: NBC 5 DFW / Tarrant County Elections.
🗳️ Politics
Taylor Rehmet (D) wins Texas State Senate District 9 special election
In Tarrant County's state Senate District 9 special election held November 4, 2025, Democrat Taylor Rehmet finished as the top vote-getter, ahead by roughly 14,000 votes and a margin of nearly 15%. Rehmet replaces Republican Kelly Hancock, who left the seat in 2025 to become acting state comptroller. Rehmet completes the remainder of Hancock's term. Source: NBC 5 DFW.
Around Town
Around Town
Theme Park
Six Flags Over Texas — the original Six Flags
Six Flags Over Texas opened 1961 — the first Six Flags park anywhere, named for the six flags that have flown over Texas. Adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park rounds out the entertainment campus.
Year-round · Source: Six Flags Over Texas
Entertainment District
Texas Live!, Choctaw Stadium, Esports
Texas Live! entertainment complex anchors the Arlington Entertainment District alongside AT&T, Globe Life, Choctaw Stadium (the old Rangers ballpark, now multipurpose), and the Esports Stadium Arlington.
Year-round · Source: Texas Live!
Bowling
International Bowling Campus
Arlington hosts the International Bowling Campus — combined HQ for the USBC, the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum, and the World Bowling Center.
Year-round · Source: USBC
Known for
- AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys)
- Globe Life Field (Texas Rangers)
- Six Flags Over Texas
- University of Texas at Arlington
The Story of Arlington
Arlington grew up around a frontier outpost and a railroad. Its earliest anchor was Johnson Station, a stagecoach stop founded by Middleton Tate Johnson in 1846. Three decades later, when the Texas and Pacific Railway chose a Fort Worth–Dallas route just north of the station, a new town took shape along the tracks.
The first train arrived on July 19, 1876, and a Presbyterian minister, Andrew S. Hayter, laid out the first town plat. The post office was first called Hayter, then renamed Arlington in 1877 after Robert E. Lee's Virginia home; the town incorporated in 1884.
For most of its life Arlington was a farm market town midway between Dallas and Fort Worth — until its central location made it an entertainment powerhouse, beginning with the original Six Flags Over Texas in 1961.
Today Arlington is one of the largest cities in Texas, home to the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys, built on the old 'grand prairie' between the two big cities.
Sources: Texas State Historical Association, Handbook of Texas; City of Arlington.
🗓️ Coming this week Full calendar →
TUE
28
Birdville ISD Board of Trustees
6:30pm · agenda online
TUE
2
Tarrant County Commissioners Court
10am · agenda online
TUE
2
Fort Worth City Council
7pm · agenda online
TUE
2
Arlington City Council
6:30pm · agenda online
MON
8
Northwest ISD Board of Trustees
6:30pm · agenda online
MON
8
Keller ISD Board of Trustees
6:30pm · agenda online
MON
8
Carroll ISD Board of Trustees
5:30pm · agenda online
🎈 Kids Trading Post · Arlington 21 activities →
Storytime, classes, camps, leagues, and open-play in Arlington, sourced from libraries and partner orgs. Updated nightly · no manual data entry.
See all 21 kid activities →
Sports
Arlington Sports
The entertainment capital of Texas
Pro
Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium
Cowboys play home games at AT&T Stadium (formerly Cowboys Stadium, opened 2009). City's $273M April 2026 commitment extends the lease through 2055.
2055 lease · Source: KERA / Fort Worth Report
Pro
Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field
Rangers (MLB) play at Globe Life Field — retractable-roof park opened 2020 replacing Globe Life Park (now Texas Live!). 2023 World Series champions.
Ongoing · Source: MLB / Rangers
Pro
Dallas Wings at College Park Center
Dallas Wings (WNBA) play at College Park Center on UT Arlington campus — venue holds ~7,000 for WNBA games.
Season · Source: WNBA / UTA
College
UT Arlington Mavericks
UTA Mavericks athletics — Division I, Western Athletic Conference. ~40,000 students.
Ongoing · Source: UTA Athletics
⭐ Game of the week
Carroll Dragons — district football (anchor program)
🏈 District football ·
Tarrant County's anchor programs — Carroll (8 state titles), Keller (top-of-district 5A), Mansfield (B-rated district), Arlington Martin (AISD flagship), Fossil Ridge (KISD power program) — get priority weekly coverage from the news radar. Carroll Dragons headline the off-season anchor framing; weekly schedule populates from MaxPreps DFW + each ISD's athletics site.
📜 On this day in Tarrant County sports
1988
🏈 Carroll (Southlake) Dragons claim 1st state football championship — beginning of the dynasty that would produce 8 UIL state titles. Under coach Bob Ledbetter.
1993
🏈 Carroll Dragons capture their 3rd state football title (1988, 1992, 1993 = three-in-a-row 3A run under Coach Ledbetter; QB Kris Brown led the '93 squad past Cuero).
2011
🏈 Carroll Dragons win their 8th and most recent UIL state football title — capping the program's run as Tarrant County's most successful HS football dynasty.
2018
🥎 Mansfield Tigers softball reaches UIL state semifinals — anchor moment for MISD's growing softball program under HC Gregory George's broader program leadership.
2026
🏃 Keller ISD sends 11 athletes to UIL State Track & Field — multiple medal-stand finishes per district release.
📻 Radio guide
Southlake Carroll Dragons football
KKGM 1630 AM (Fort Worth; news/sports) — exclusive radio home of Carroll football
Dragon Sports Network
Aledo Bearcats football (Tarrant-area marquee program)
KTFW-FM 92.1 'Hank FM' (LKCM Radio Group; country) — flagship for Aledo broadcasts
Aledo Sports Network
Arlington ISD football (Martin · Lamar · Bowie)
NFHS Network (streaming platform) — official AISD broadcast partner
NFHS Network
Mansfield Tigers football
NFHS Network (streaming platform) — Mansfield ISD live broadcasts
NFHS Network
Keller / Fossil Ridge (Keller ISD) football
NFHS Network (streaming platform) — Keller ISD live broadcasts
NFHS Network
Fort Worth-area HS football game of the week
KTCU-FM 88.7 'The Choice' (TCU student station, Fort Worth)
KTCU 88.7
🏆 UIL playoff bracket
No active Tarrant County UIL playoff bracket on the desk. Populates when a Tarrant County team is in a UIL playoff round (football, basketball, baseball/softball, volleyball). Source: UIL playoff records.
Activities
Things to do in Arlington
Kids, library, sports, fitness, classes, camps, open play — sourced from libraries, parks, and partner orgs across Arlington.
story-time
Baby Storytime
Weekly · check APL calendar
Arlington Public Library · East Arlington Library
class
River Legacy Nature Programs
Year-round
River Legacy Foundation · 703 NW Green Oaks Blvd
story-time
Family Storytime
Saturdays 10:30am
Arlington Public Library · East Library + branch locations
club
Summer Reading Program
June-August
Arlington Public Library · All Arlington Library branches
class
Arlington Parks & Rec Swim Lessons
Multiple sessions
Arlington Parks & Rec · Hugh Smith Recreation Center + community pools
camp
UTA Physics for Kids Summer Camp
Multiple weeks Jun-Jul
University of Texas at Arlington · UTA campus
Civic & Government
Arlington Civic & Government
Council-manager + entertainment-district focus
Government
Council-manager, 8 council districts + mayor at-large
Arlington runs as council-manager.
Source: City of Arlington
Stadium Deal
$273M Cowboys lease extension through 2055
April 22 2026 council vote. Funded by venue-tax revenue from 2004 + 2016 projects. Dissents: Bowie Hogg, Nikkie Hunter.
Source: Fort Worth Report, KERA
Schools
AISD: 56,000 students, C-77 rating
Rating improved 76 → 77 after successful appeal.
Source: AISD, Fort Worth Report
Tax Rate
Arlington FY25 rate $1.0929/$100 — down ~1¢
Modest decrease from prior year.
Source: Tarrant Appraisal District
Reach the right desk
By the Numbers
Arlington by the Numbers
Census + economy + venues + tax
Pop
392,304 — 3rd-largest US city without a major airport
48th-largest US city overall. Source: Wikipedia / Census.
Source: City + ISD records
Area
99.7 sq mi
Mostly land area; some water around Lake Arlington + Joe Pool Lake portions. Source: Census.
Source: City + ISD records
Tax
FY25 city rate $1.0929/$100
Decreased ~1¢ from prior year. Source: TAD.
Source: City + ISD records
AISD
56,000 students, C-77
Includes Lamar HS, Arlington HS, Bowie HS, Martin HS, Sam Houston HS. Source: AISD.
Source: City + ISD records
UTA
40,000 students
NCAA Division I, Western Athletic Conference. Source: UTA.
Source: City + ISD records
Venues
AT&T Stadium + Globe Life Field + College Park Center
Three major pro/college venues within Entertainment District. Source: Wikipedia.
Source: City + ISD records
Population
392,304
Type
city
School District
arlington-isd
School ISDs in Tarrant County
Tarrant County ISDs by enrollment + TEA 2024-25 accountability rating.
| ISD | Enrollment | Rating | Mascot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Worth ISD | 70,184 | C | Panthers |
| Arlington ISD | 56,000 | C | Various |
| Lewisville ISD | 50,000 | B | Various |
| Mansfield ISD | 35,000 | B | Tigers |
| Keller ISD | 34,078 | B | Indians |
| Northwest ISD | 32,000 | B | Texans |
| Birdville ISD | 22,637 | C | Hawks |
| Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD | 22,000 | B | Eagles |
| Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD (HEB) | 22,000 | B | Trojans |
| Crowley ISD | 16,000 | C | Eagles |
| Grapevine-Colleyville ISD | 12,520 | B | Mustangs |
| Burleson ISD | 12,000 | B | Elks |
| Carroll ISD | 8,300 | A | Dragons |
| White Settlement ISD | 6,700 | C | Brewers |
| Azle ISD | 6,600 | C | Hornets |
| Everman ISD | 5,500 | C | Bulldogs |
| Castleberry ISD | 4,000 | B | Lions |
| Kennedale ISD | 3,400 | C | Wildcats |
| Lake Worth ISD | 2,700 | D | Bullfrogs |
Updated 2026-05-27
Property tax rates
Tarrant County 2025 property tax rates by jurisdiction.
| Jurisdiction | Rate / $100 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County (general) | ~$0.19 | FY25 county portion |
| City of Fort Worth | $1.0624 | Combined with FWISD+county tops out ~$2.24/$100 for FW residents (FY25) |
| City of Arlington | $1.0929 | FY25, decreased ~1¢ from prior year |
| Avg Tarrant homeowner total | ~$2.24 | ~$6,188/yr on $277k taxable homestead avg |
Updated 2026-05-27
Ask the Desk
Questions about Arlington
Why is Arlington paying $273M to keep the Cowboys?
Arlington City Council voted to commit up to $273M for AT&T Stadium upgrades to extend the Cowboys' lease through 2055 (the current lease ends 2038). The team contributes at least $750M. The city's share is funded by venue-tax revenue from …
What are Tarrant County's 2025 property tax rates?
Tarrant County (general portion): ~$0.19 per $100. City of Fort Worth: $1.0624. City of Arlington: $1.0929 (down ~1¢ from 2024). Combined rates from Fort Worth ISD + City of Fort Worth + Tarrant County College bring the total for most Fort …
Who is Tarrant County's County Judge?
Tim O'Hare. He is the 33rd County Judge of Tarrant County since the county's founding in 1849, took office January 1, 2023, and his current term runs through January 1, 2027. He is running for re-election November 3, 2026, and has said the …
Who is Tarrant County's Sheriff?
Bill E. Waybourn. Source: Tarrant County elected officials (tarrantcountytx.gov).
Who is the State Senator for Tarrant County's District 9?
Taylor Rehmet (Democrat), who won the November 4, 2025 special election to replace Republican Kelly Hancock — Hancock left to become acting state comptroller. Rehmet won by roughly 14,000 votes (~15% margin) and is completing the remainder …
All Arlington Q&As → Community Voice
History
Laid out by railroaders in 1876
European settlement in the Arlington area dates to at least the 1840s. The city itself was laid out by railroad men in 1876 and named for General Robert E. Lee's home in Virginia. Six Flags Over Texas — the original Six Flags — opened in 1961. The Washington Senators baseball franchise relocated to Arlington in 1972 as the Texas Rangers. In 2009 the Dallas Cowboys began playing at the new Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium). I-30 and I-20 routed traffic away from the old Bankhead Highway and downtown nearly vanished by 1972, though renewal efforts have since revived the city center. Sources: Wikipedia; TSHA Handbook of Texas; Texas Highways.
Neighborhoods
Arlington's many sides
Entertainment District (AT&T/Globe Life/Texas Live!), Downtown Arlington, near UTA, East Arlington (working-class diverse), North Arlington (near River Legacy), South Arlington along Cooper. Pantego + DWG are separate municipalities tucked inside. Source: City of Arlington.
Source: City + ISD records
UTA
UT Arlington shapes east-side identity
UTA's growth — 40,000 students, NCAA D-I — has reshaped east Arlington into a college-town adjacent district with dorms + student housing alongside historic neighborhoods. Source: UTA.
Source: City + ISD records
Neighborhoods
Arlington's many sides
Entertainment District (AT&T/Globe Life/Texas Live!), Downtown Arlington, near UTA, East Arlington (working-class diverse), North Arlington (near River Legacy), South Arlington along Cooper. Pantego + DWG are separate municipalities tucked inside. Source: City of Arlington.
Source: City + ISD records
UTA
UT Arlington shapes east-side identity
UTA's growth — 40,000 students, NCAA D-I — has reshaped east Arlington into a college-town adjacent district with dorms + student housing alongside historic neighborhoods. Source: UTA.
Source: City + ISD records
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