Celina
Origin story• Settlers arrived in the 1870s, drawn by rich blackland soil along the Preston Trail.
• A settlement formed about 1 mile south of today's location in October 1879.
• First postmaster John T. Mulkey named the town after Celina, Tennessee. A post office opened in 1881.
• In 1902, the railroad missed the town by a mile, so residents reportedly moved the whole town on rollers to the tracks. This earned the nickname "Rollertown."
• The brick Downtown Square was built in 1910.
• Official date of incorporation: 1907 (per the Handbook of Texas).
• The "Rollertown" relocation story.
• Historic Downtown Square (built 1910).
• "Faith, Family, Football" culture and a strong high school football tradition.
• Texas's first "Gigabit City" (citywide fiber internet, 2021).
• Very fast population growth.
National awards
• Fastest-growing city in the U.S. (Census Bureau): 2023, 2024, and 2025.
• First Gigabit City in Texas (2021), recognized by Governor Greg Abbott.
• Scenic City Platinum Certification (2020, again 2025) from Scenic Texas.
• Scenic City of the Year (2022) from Scenic Texas.
• Accredited Main Street America program (2025 and 2026).
Top employers (by employee count, per the Celina EDC)
• Celina ISD (~815)
• City of Celina (~366)
• Methodist Celina Medical Center (~220)
• Lowe's Home Improvement (~200)
• Keller Williams North Country (~200)
• Settlers Ridge Care Center (~120)
• Brookshire's Groceries (~98)
• Collin College Celina Campus (~92)
• Kimley-Horn (~58)
• Southwest Erosion Control (~57)
• The Home Depot opened recently with 149 employees. Costco is expected to add 1,000 to 1,400 jobs.
Most prominent employers and why
• Celina ISD: the largest employer and a big draw for families.
• Methodist Celina Medical Center: the city's main hospital, a key healthcare anchor.
• Collin College Celina Campus: a regional higher-education provider.
• Kimley-Horn: a national engineering and planning firm.
• Costco (coming): a nationally known retailer expected to be a major jobs anchor.
Notable people (from Celina High School or Celina ties)
• Ryan Merritt: MLB pitcher, grew up in Celina, famous for his 2016 playoff start that helped Cleveland reach the World Series.
• Anthony Lynn: NFL player and former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
• D'Anton Lynn: NFL player, now USC defensive coordinator, son of Anthony Lynn.
• Jamie Blatnick and Jordan Roos: former NFL players.
• Craig James: former NFL running back and sportscaster; listed with Celina but born in Jacksonville, Texas.
• Population (July 1, 2025 estimate): 64,427.
• Land area: about 47.7 square miles, which equals roughly 30,528 acres.
Distances from City Hall (driving, approximate)
• DFW Airport: about 38 miles.
• Love Field: about 38 miles.
• Dallas City Hall: about 41 miles.
Attractions and amenities
• Old Celina Park (67 acres): sports fields, pond, trails, playgrounds.
• Founders Station Park: downtown park with courts and a gazebo.
• Historic Town Square.
• Celina Railroad Depot (1902), a museum on the National Register.
• Heritage Park: 1885 schoolhouse and replica 1873 jail.
• The Silos in Celina: event and dining venue.
• Two 29 on the Square: indoor event venue.
Education level Percent
Less than high school 3%
High school graduate 10%
Some college / associate 23%
Bachelor's degree 41%
Graduate or professional 23%
Schools
• Main district: Celina ISD, which also serves part of Weston.
• Prosper ISD serves southern parts of Celina.
• TEA rating for Celina ISD: B (88) for 2025-26.
• Celina High School moves to UIL Class 5A Division II for 2026-28 (up from 4A).
UIL state championships (all team titles)
• Football: 9 titles, including 1998-2001, 2005, 2007, and 2024 (4A Division I).
• Girls cross country: 4 titles.
• Girls soccer: 5 titles.
• Baseball: 1 title.
• Boys track: 5 titles.
• Girls track: 3 titles.
• Softball: 1 title.
• Cheerleading: 2 titles.
• Marching band: 4 titles.
• Total: 36 UIL state titles.
Lakes
• No lakes sit within or border Celina's city limits. Nearest lakes are 20 to 30 miles away.
Highways and tollways
• SH 289 (Preston Road): north-south, the main spine.
• Dallas North Tollway: north-south, being extended through Celina.
• US 380: east-west along the southern boundary.
• FM 428: east-west across the city.
• FM 546: east-west in the north.
Bordering cities and counties
• Bordering cities: Prosper, McKinney, Aubrey, Melissa, Weston, Gunter.
• Counties: Celina is in both Collin County and Denton County.
Airports
• No public or private airports exist within the Celina city limits. Nearby private turf strips sit outside the city. The nearest public airport is McKinney National, about 14 miles away.
Public transportation
• No passenger rail or fixed bus routes serve Celina.
• Collin County Transit offers on-demand, subsidized rides (a demand-response service), including reduced rates for residents 65 and older.
Future plans
• Dallas North Tollway extension (Phase 4) north through Celina, which the city calls its "golden growth corridor."
• Buildout population projected near 378,000.
• About $853 million in infrastructure spending over five years.
• Downtown redevelopment, including converting streets to concrete.
• A planned passenger rail corridor from Irving through Frisco to Celina (in study phase).
Sources: Handbook of Texas (TSHA), Celina EDC, U.S. Census Bureau, Scenic Texas, Main Street America, txschools.gov, UIL, and mapping services.
Important Websites:
Cities
School Districts
Chambers of Commerce: includes VCBs (Visitor & Convention Bureaus) and EDCs (Economic Development Corporations)
Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
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