Roanoke was a country town of 300 when Cozette Harris was born here 77 years ago.
By 2001, when Robbie Terrell moved here, the population had jumped to nearly 3,000. But it still had the small-town feel that she and her husband wanted as they raised their sons.While the population has since doubled to nearly 6,000, Harris and Terrell said the amenities that came with the growth have only added to the town's charm. They cited the restoration of historic Oak Street. The 10 restaurants on that block, plus 30 others elsewhere, have earned the city the title of "Unique Dining Capital of Texas.""I'm just amazed what has taken place," Harris said.City Manager Jimmy Stathatos said many residents were also attracted by the affordable housing, the explosion of high-paying jobs, and the city's proximity to Fort Worth, Denton and Dallas.More than 81 percent of Roanoke residents over 16 are in the labor force, with 41 percent in management, professional and related jobs and about 28 percent in sales and office occupations. The city's estimated 2009 unemployment rate of 2.4 percent is one of the area's lowest.The mean commute time is 27.5 minutes.Since 2000, the city's median household income climbed from $48,107 to $65,942. And the 2009 American Community Survey estimated the median value of owner-occupied homes at $145,000, compared with a U.S. average of $185,400.Terrell said the family-friendly features that attracted her family to Roanoke are drawing others, too."Last week, I talked to a family who are moving here from New York," she said. "They said one of the draws is the fact it's the dining capital and all these community amenities. We still get a small-town feel even though we're in the middle of everything."Martha Deller, 817-390-7857
Roanoke snapshot
Population: 5,962
2000 population: 2,810
Median age: 32.7
Households with people over 65: 14.4 percent
Households with people under 18: 37.1 percent
Hispanics of all races: 1,010
Mean retirement income: $15,966
Houses built in 2005 or later: 7.6 percent
Median mortgage payment: $1,574
Average family size: 3.19
25 or older with college degrees: 30.6 percent
Foreign-born: 6.4 percent
Individuals below poverty line: 5.5 percent
Sources: 2009 American Community Survey, 2010 Census
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