Moving in

Dallas-Fort Worth welcomes more out-of-state newcomers than any other Texas metro

Everyone wants to move to DFW.

Photo by Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images

Dallas-Fort Worth reigns as a magnet for people relocating from outside Texas, as a new report from Texas Realtors shows DFW accounted for more than four of every 10 people who moved to the Lone Star State from out of state in 2017.

In 2017, DFW attracted 230,118 out-of-state newcomers, according to just-released report. That made it the No. 1 metro destination for people relocating to Texas from outside the state. The Houston metro area came in second, with 203,270 out-of-state arrivals in 2017.

Four DFW counties ranked among the top 10 Texas counties in 2017 for drawing out-of-state residents, the report says. Dallas County was No. 2, with Tarrant County at No. 3, Collin County at No. 6, and Denton County at No. 9. Harris County, anchored by Houston, was No. 1.

The Texas Realtors report analyzed migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau and U-Haul. Based on that analysis, Texas ranked second in the U.S. for relocation activity in 2017.

California led the pack for states sending residents to Texas in 2017, followed by Florida, Louisiana, Illinois, and New York, according to the report. Among U.S. metro areas, Los Angeles shipped the most residents to Texas, with New York City in second place and Chicago in third.

“Texas remained a hotbed of relocation activity in 2017 due in part to our diverse job opportunities, record-breaking housing market and booming economy,” Tray Bates, 2019 chairman of Texas Realtors, says in a release. “This is the fifth year in a row that Texas has gained more than 500,000 new residents from out of state, and we anticipate that trend will continue in the coming years.”

A major reason for the surge of people in DFW and elsewhere in Texas is the surge of companies moving to the state.

From 2000 to 2013, Texas was the country’s No. 1 destination for corporate relocations, luring more than 25,000 businesses and more than 300,000 jobs, according to a 2018 report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. During the same period, close to 18,000 businesses left the state, costing about 200,000 jobs. Nevertheless, Texas led all states for employment growth from out-of-state arrivals, with a net gain of about 100,000 jobs from 2000 to 2013.

“Texas, with its hospitable business climate, is a leading contender for firms looking to cross state borders,” the report says. “Anecdotal reports have long highlighted the state’s ability to attract businesses from high-tax and heavy-regulation places, such as California and New York … .”

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RIP Pete

Dallas businessman and former Schepps Dairy owner Pete Schenkel dies

Courtesy photo

Pete Schenkel

Dallas businessman Pete Schenkel, a philanthropist and former owner of Dallas-based Schepps Dairy, passed away at his Highland Park home on November 27 while in hospice care.

Born and raised in South Dallas where he worked on his father's dairy farm, Schenkel worked his way up from a Schepps Dairy deliverer to become an owner of the company in 1987. He went on to serve as President and owner of Southern Foods, which later sold to Suiza Foods and became Dean Foods, for which he also served as president and board member.

A statement from the city of Dallas says that Schenkel "leaves a legacy where he will be remembered for sharing his success with others and for his steadfast commitment to serve with pride and humility. Pete was unwavering in his dedication to making Dallas one of the safest large cities in the United States and was instrumental in promoting our economic growth and social vibrancy. We will strive to carry on his legacy by continuing to make Dallas a better place for all."

Founded by Harmon "Hymie" Schepps in 1942, Schepps Dairy traded hands and emerged from a bankruptcy under the primary ownership of Schenkel, who was Schepps' business partner. In 2000, the company was acquired by Suiza Foods Co., which then merged with Dallas-based Dean Foods the following year.

Schenkel was also involved in Dallas politics from the '80s to the '00s, both with sought-after endorsements as well as working on campaigns for mayoral candidates such as Jack Evans and Ron Natinsky.

In 2017, he was honored with an award from the NFF Gridiron Club for his role in helping bring football back to the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. He fought to keep the annual Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game at Cotton Bowl Stadium and has been the key negotiator in keeping the game there ever since.

Schenkel served on many influential boards that helped shape Dallas and North Texas, including chairing the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board of Directors and the Methodist Health Care Foundation. After retiringm he remained active in nonprofit circles, helping direct a charitable fund with his wife, the Pat and Pete Schenkel Charitable Trust. He also served on the board of the Dallas Blue Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families of Dallas police officers killed or wounded in action.

His multiple awards and commendations including receiving the 82nd annual Linz Award for civic service in Dallas in 2011, as well as a Russell H. Perry Award from Dallas Baptist University, which lauded Schenkel for adhering to the highest ethical standards and being loyal to and respectful of friends and customers, as well as his modesty, shying away from the spotlight and shining it on others instead.

He's survived by his wife Pat, three children and seven grandchildren.

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