View source for Ferris, Texas

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Ferris, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = FerrisTexas1 (1 of 1).jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Downtown Ferris, Texas
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = TXMap-doton-Ferris.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Ferris, Texas
| image_map1               = Ellis County Ferris.svg
| mapsize1                 = 250px
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Ellis County, Texas|Ellis]], [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 12.37
| area_land_km2            = 12.01
| area_water_km2           = 0.37
| area_total_sq_mi         = 4.78
| area_land_sq_mi          = 4.63
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.14
<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 2788
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 456
| coordinates              = {{coord|32|32|13|N|96|40|26|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 75125
| area_codes                = [[Area codes 214, 469, 972, and 945|214, 469, 945, 972]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-25752<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2410500<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410500}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.ferristexas.gov/}}
| footnotes                = 
}}
'''Ferris''' is a city in [[Dallas County, Texas|Dallas]] and [[Ellis County, Texas|Ellis]] counties in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. It is {{convert|20|mi}} south of downtown [[Dallas]]. The population has dramatically flipped from 2,788 in 2020 to 5,081 in 2024.<ref name=":0" />

==History==
Settlement of the area began in the early 1870s. On September 28, 1874, a local family deeded approximately {{convert|100|acre|km2}} of land to four trustees for the establishment of a town and railway station.<ref name="Ferris_Story">[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txellis/towns/joanna.htm The Story of Ferris, Texas] – Ellis County TXGenWeb.</ref> Judge Justus Wesley Ferris of [[Waxahachie, Texas|Waxahachie]] handled the transaction, and the community was named for him. Within ten years, Ferris had a population of 300 with a post office, gristmills, cotton gins, four churches, and a school.<ref name="Texas_Handbook">[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hjf03 Ferris, Texas] – Handbook of Texas.</ref>

On September 18, 1882, an election was held to incorporate the community. A total of 47 votes were cast, 34 (72%) in favor of incorporation and 13 (28%) against.<ref name="Ferris_Story"/> The results were verified by the Ellis County Judge on September 30, and Ferris officially became a town. By 1900, the town was home to 904 residents. In 1910, that number had increased to 1,233 residents.<ref name="Texas_Handbook"/>

Fifty businesses, including six brick plants that benefitted from the area's mineral rich soil, were operating in 1914. The population rose to 1,586 by 1925 but declined during the 1930s and 1940s as a result of the [[Great Depression]] and [[World War II]].<ref name="Texas_Escapes">[http://www.texasescapes.com/CentralTexasTownsNorth/Ferris-Texas.htm Ferris, Texas] – Texas Escapes Online Magazine.</ref>

Ferris thrived during the early post-war years. Four brick plants operated during the 1950s, and the community was known locally as the "Brick Capital of the Nation".<ref name="Texas_Handbook"/> Ferris also has a second nickname – "The City that Bricked the World" – which is still commonly used to date. In 1952, the population had risen to 1,734 and 1,807 by 1964. The Ferris Annual Brick Festival is held every year at the end of April.<ref name="Texas_Escapes"/>

The expansion of the [[Dallas]]–[[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex|Metropolitan Area]] and the construction of [[Interstate 45]] aided the growth of Ferris in the latter half of the twentieth century. Although the number of businesses decreased during the 1980s, the population continued to grow. It stood at 2,212 in 1990, 2,175 in 2000,<ref name="Texas_Handbook"/> and 2,436 in 2010.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Ferris city, Texas |url=https://www.census.gov |access-date=January 12, 2012 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> In 1994, Ferris won the 3-A State Championship in men's [[basketball]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|12.0|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqkm|order=flip}} is water.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Ferris city, Texas |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref> Most of the city lies within Ellis County, with only a small portion in Dallas County.

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Ferris has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The hottest temperature recorded in Ferris was {{convert|112|F|C|1}} on July 18/20, 2022, while the coldest temperature recorded was {{convert|-1|F|C|1}} on December 22, 1989, and February 15–16, 2021.<ref name=NOWData />

{{Weather box
|location = Ferris, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1962–present
|single line = Yes
|collapsed = yes
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 96
|Mar record high F = 94
|Apr record high F = 100
|May record high F = 102
|Jun record high F = 110
|Jul record high F = 112
|Aug record high F = 111
|Sep record high F = 111
|Oct record high F = 99
|Nov record high F = 92
|Dec record high F = 87

|Jan avg record high F = 76.4
|Feb avg record high F = 80.8
|Mar avg record high F = 84.2
|Apr avg record high F = 88.3
|May avg record high F = 93.2
|Jun avg record high F = 97.8
|Jul avg record high F = 103.0
|Aug avg record high F = 103.8
|Sep avg record high F = 99.2
|Oct avg record high F = 92.8
|Nov avg record high F = 83.0
|Dec avg record high F = 77.6
|year avg record high F = 104.8

|Jan high F = 57.5
|Feb high F = 61.7
|Mar high F = 69.0
|Apr high F = 76.6
|May high F = 83.8
|Jun high F = 91.5
|Jul high F = 95.9
|Aug high F = 96.5
|Sep high F = 90.0
|Oct high F = 79.5
|Nov high F = 67.2
|Dec high F = 58.7
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 46.5
|Feb mean F = 50.3
|Mar mean F = 57.2
|Apr mean F = 65.0
|May mean F = 73.5
|Jun mean F = 81.1
|Jul mean F = 84.7
|Aug mean F = 84.9
|Sep mean F = 78.1
|Oct mean F = 67.2
|Nov mean F = 55.9
|Dec mean F = 47.8
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 35.6
|Feb low F = 38.8
|Mar low F = 45.4
|Apr low F = 53.3
|May low F = 63.2
|Jun low F = 70.7
|Jul low F = 73.5
|Aug low F = 73.3
|Sep low F = 66.2
|Oct low F = 55.0
|Nov low F = 44.6
|Dec low F = 36.8
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 20.8
|Feb avg record low F = 24.9
|Mar avg record low F = 28.4
|Apr avg record low F = 38.5
|May avg record low F = 48.4
|Jun avg record low F = 61.1
|Jul avg record low F = 67.2
|Aug avg record low F = 66.4
|Sep avg record low F = 53.4
|Oct avg record low F = 38.5
|Nov avg record low F = 27.7
|Dec avg record low F = 22.9
|year avg record low F = 17.6

|Jan record low F = 3
|Feb record low F = -1
|Mar record low F = 14
|Apr record low F = 29
|May record low F = 38
|Jun record low F = 53
|Jul record low F = 55
|Aug record low F = 50
|Sep record low F = 42
|Oct record low F = 26
|Nov record low F = 16
|Dec record low F = -1

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.96
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.08
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.00
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.85
|May precipitation inch = 4.34
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.95
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.98
|Aug precipitation inch = 2.81
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.69
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.86
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.84
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.51
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 5.6
|Feb precipitation days = 5.8
|Mar precipitation days = 6.3
|Apr precipitation days = 5.5
|May precipitation days = 6.6
|Jun precipitation days = 5.1
|Jul precipitation days = 3.5
|Aug precipitation days = 4.3
|Sep precipitation days = 4.3
|Oct precipitation days = 5.5
|Nov precipitation days = 4.9
|Dec precipitation days = 5.3

|Jan snow inch = 0.1
|Feb snow inch = 0.2
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.1
|Dec snow inch = 0.1
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.1
|Feb snow days = 0.2
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.1
|Dec snow days = 0.1

|Jan snow depth inch = 
|Feb snow depth inch = 
|Mar snow depth inch = 
|Apr snow depth inch = 
|May snow depth inch = 
|Jun snow depth inch = 
|Jul snow depth inch = 
|Aug snow depth inch = 
|Sep snow depth inch = 
|Oct snow depth inch = 
|Nov snow depth inch = 
|Dec snow depth inch = 
|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00413133&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access - Station: Ferris, TX
|access-date = November 1, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=fwd
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data - NWS Dallas/Fort Worth
|access-date = November 1, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 106
| 1890 = 311
| 1900 = 904
| 1910 = 1233
| 1920 = 1586
| 1930 = 1438
| 1940 = 1436
| 1950 = 1735
| 1960 = 1807
| 1970 = 2155
| 1980 = 2228
| 1990 = 2212
| 2000 = 2175
| 2010 = 2436
| 2020 = 2788
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 3370
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Ferris racial composition as of 2020'''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4825752&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|910
|32.64%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|472
|16.93%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|2
|0.07%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|12
|0.43%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|1
|0.04%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|5
|0.18%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|71
|2.55%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|1,315
|47.17%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''2,788'''
|
|}
Per the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,788 people, 956 households, and 803 families residing in the city. In 2010, Ferris had a population of 2,436. The racial and ethnic composition of the population in 2010 was 42.7% non-Hispanic white, 17.5% non-Hispanic black, 1% Hispanic black, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from two or more races and 38.4% Hispanic or Latino.<ref>2010 general population and housing profile for Ferris from the US Census</ref> At the 2020 census, its racial and ethnic composition was 32.64% non-Hispanic white, 16.93% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.18% some other race, 2.55% multiracial, and 47.17% Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name=":0" />

== Education ==
Pupils in Ferris are served by the [[Ferris Independent School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48139_ellis/DC20SD_C48139.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ellis County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-06-30}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48139_ellis/DC20SD_C48139_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48113_dallas/DC20SD_C48113.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dallas County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2022-06-30}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48113_dallas/DC20SD_C48113_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Some areas in Dallas County not within the Ferris city limits but with Ferris addresses are served by the [[Dallas Independent School District]]. The areas were served by the [[Wilmer-Hutchins Independent School District]] until it closed during the 2005–2006 school year.

The designated community college for Ellis County is [[Navarro College]]. The designated community college for Dallas County is [[Dallas College]] (formerly Dallas County Community College District or DCCCD).<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code Sec. 130.176. DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.189. NAVARRO COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.] - The assigned community college depends on the county.</ref>

==Transportation==

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-45 (TX).svg|20px]] '''[[Interstate 45]]'''

===Airport===
Ferris is also served by the privately owned Dallas South Port Airport.<ref name=FAA_T13>{{FAA-airport|ID=T13|use=PU|own=PU|site=site=23925.*H}}. Federal Aviation Administration, Effective 26 April 2018.</ref>

===Heliport===
{{Infobox airport
| name         = Ferris Red Oak Muni
| image        = 
| caption      = 
| IATA         = 
| ICAO         = 
| FAA          = 12T
| pushpin_map            = Texas
| pushpin_map_caption    = 
| pushpin_label          = '''12T'''
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| type         = Public
| owner        = Cities of Ferris and Red Oak
| operator     = 
| city-served  = Ferris, Texas; [[Red Oak, Texas]]
| location     = 
| elevation-f  = 510
| elevation-m  = 155
| coordinates  = {{coord|32|31|47.5|N|096|43|52.18|W|region:US-TX_type:airport_scale:10000|display=inline}}
| website      = 
| h1-number    = H1
| h1-length-f  = 40
| h1-length-m  = 12
| h1-surface   = Concrete
| stat-year    = 2015
| stat1-header = Aircraft operations
| stat1-data   = 0
| stat2-header = Based aircraft
| stat2-data   = 0
| footnotes    = Source: [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref name="FAA_12T">{{FAA-airport|ID=12T|use=PU|own=PU|site=site=23925.*H}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 26 April 2018.</ref>
}}
'''Ferris Red Oak Muni Heliport''' {{airport codes|||12T}} is a city-owned public [[heliport]] in  [[Ellis County, Texas]], [[United States]], serving the cities of Ferris and [[Red Oak, Texas|Red Oak]].<ref name="FAA_12T"/><ref name=txdot>{{cite web | url = https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/12t.pdf | title = Texas Airport Directory – Ferris/Red Oak, Ferris Red Oak Muni (12T) | publisher = [[Texas Department of Transportation]] | accessdate = 3 May 2018}}</ref> The heliport has no [[International Air Transport Association|IATA]] or [[International Civil Aviation Organization|ICAO]] designation.<ref name=gcm>{{cite web | url = http://www.gcmap.com/airport/12T | title = 12T – Heliport | publisher = Great Circle Mapper | accessdate = 3 May 2018 }}</ref> The facility is alternatively known as the '''Ferris Red Oak Municipal Heliport'''.<ref name=gcm /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.co.ellis.tx.us/484/Ferris-Red-Oak-Municipal-Heliport|title = Ellis County, Texas – Ferris-Red Oak Municipal Heliport | publisher = [[Ellis County, Texas]] | accessdate = 3 May 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.aopa.org/destinations/airports/12T/details |title = AOPA Airport Directory – 12T | publisher = [[Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association]] | accessdate = 3 May 2018}}</ref>

The Ferris and Red Oak jointly own the heliport,<ref name=FAA_12T>{{FAA-airport|ID=12T|use=PU|own=PU|site=site=23925.*H}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 26 April 2018.</ref> although the listed owner address is in Ferris, and it is maintained by City of Ferris Public Works.<ref name="FAA_12T"/> The heliport is used solely for [[general aviation]] purposes.

Ferris Red Oak Muni has one [[helipad]]:
* H1: 40 x 40&nbsp;ft. (12 x 12&nbsp;m), Surface: [[Concrete]]<ref name="FAA_12T"/>

In the year ending September 29, 2015, the heliport had no based aircraft nor reported aircraft operations.<ref name="FAA_12T"/>

==Notable people==

* [[Guilherme Marchi]], Professional bull rider and 2008 [[Professional Bull Riders|PBR]] world champion
* [[Homer P. Rainey]], Former University of Texas president; briefly attended Ferris High School

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ferris, Texas}}

* [http://www.ferristexas.gov/ City of Ferris official website]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=FPL&t=institution Read the Ferris Wheel newspaper], 1896–1897, hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History]
* {{cite web|url= https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/12t.pdf  |title=Ferris/Red Oak, Ferris Red Oak Muni (12T) }} at [[Texas DOT]] Airport Directory

{{US-airport-ga|12T|-}}

{{Dallas County, Texas}}
{{Ellis County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Ellis County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1874]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Texas]]