Keep Texas Beautiful(KTB), along with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), is proud to recognize the ten winners of the 2023 Governor’s Community Achievement Awards (GCAA) for outstanding community improvement. The 2023 GCAA winners are Collinsville, Chandler, Nolanville, Henderson, Dickinson, Lake Jackson, Burleson, Pflugerville, McAllen, and Frisco.
From tiny Collinsville in north Texas to McAllen near the Mexican border, these communities share a commitment to making Texas clean and beautiful.
This year, the ten winning communities will share $2 million in landscape funding for a landscaping project to be completed by TxDOT along a state-maintained roadway. Communities compete in ten categories by population size.
The Governor’s Community Achievement Awards are one of the most coveted annual environmental and community improvement honors in Texas. A community’s environmental program is judged by a diverse group of judges on achievements in seven environmental and community improvement areas. KTB, in partnership with TxDOT, has awarded the GCAA to Texas communities for over 50 years.
Collinsville is a small town with a population of 1,934, located on the corridor connecting the DFW metroplex with Oklahoma. It is situated between two popular recreational lakes, Ray Roberts and Texoma. The town is named for Mrs. Collins who established the first free school in North Texas in 1868. Collinsville’s downtown square is the centerpiece of the community.
Chandler, located in East Texas, was founded in 1880. Chandler is surrounded on three sides by water: Lake Palestine, Neches River, and Kickapoo Creek. With over 1,000 houses in various stages of construction today, continued growth is ensured. The recent completion of the Visitor’s Center is a welcomed addition to the city, and plans are in the works for a new library addition and a maintenance building.
Nolanville is in Bell County, about an hour north of Austin. Fort Hood Military Base, located nearby, influences the diversity of residents and the values of the community with over 1,300 veterans residing within the city. Located in beautiful Central Texas, Nolanville is truly “A Great Place to Live!”
Henderson is a small, rural town in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas. Founded in 1843 during the days of the Republic of Texas, Henderson is one of the oldest towns in Texas and was named after James Pinkney Henderson, one of the first Governors of Texas. Henderson’s current population is 13,688, and it retains its small-town charm.
Established in 1824, Dickinson is situated along I-45 between Houston and Galveston. As Galveston County’s oldest mainland settlement, Dickinson has long enjoyed a quiet, small-town atmosphere, secluded among towering pines, and meandering, tree-lined bayous. At the same time, its key location and accessibility to NASA, and outstanding medical and recreational opportunities have influenced growth in and around the community.
Lake Jackson, the “City of Enchantment” is known for its tree-lined, winding streets and was created as a home for employees of Dow Chemical Company. An oasis of oak trees, Lake Jackson is a community of 28,421 citizens. Lake Jackson is located 50 miles south of Houston, near the Gulf of Mexico, and six miles from the beach. Even though the dynamics of the city are changing rapidly, it maintains a small hometown atmosphere.
The City of Burleson, which lies just south of Fort Worth, was founded in 1881 to provide water for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad. Artesian wells and picturesque creeks helped Burleson grow from a small town to 49,000 residents. Burleson’s Old Town District serves residents and visitors, featuring historic landmarks like restored railcars, historic homes, and the volunteer-run Interurban Museum and historic Baker House. Old Town Burleson’s independent restaurant scene, Mayor Vera Calvin Plaza, boutique shops, and a family-owned grocery store offer walkable shopping, entertainment, and leisure for all.
Pflugerville, where “quality meets life”, is a quickly expanding city north of Austin, and has grown from 549 residents in 1970 to 73,000 today. Pflugerville’s uniqueness expands beyond its name and the “Pf”. It has more than 500 acres of parks, 529 acres of open space, and over 45 miles of trails throughout the city.
Pflugerville is known for its “pfamily-pfriendly” atmosphere and keeping a small-town feel amid rapid growth, and for its rich German culture — and others are noticing! Pflugerville is consistently named one of the best cities to live in.
McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County and the 21st most populous city in Texas. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, only 11 miles from the Mexican border. As of 2021, McAllen’s population was estimated at 143,920. Ranked the fifth largest metropolitan area in the state, the binational metropolitan area grew to approximately 1,060,000 in 2022.
Established in 1911, the area was largely rural and agricultural in character but has grown steadily. The Rio Grande Valley has transformed into a major international trade zone and boasts numerous retail, medical, and educational facilities.
The City of Frisco, named after a major train line running from San Francisco to St. Louis, retains its small town railroad roots. The city maintains a historic downtown and a heritage museum. Since 2000, Frisco grown at a rate of about 5% a year. Frisco is a young community – the median age is 37 years old and 55% of households have children. To support this younger population, Frisco has a comprehensive public school system with 72 schools. There are over 1,369 acres for recreation across 40 different parks. Sports team facilities include soccer, basketball, baseball, football, hockey, and lacrosse. Frisco has a thriving corporate presence. New companies brought on last year include Universal and McAfee.
