Fairview
A short history of Fairview
During the spring of 1958, under the threat of annexation by McKinney, George Apple and Robert Milligan took the first steps to founding the town of Fairview. The two men drew up a survey plan and submitted it to Collin county officials, requesting an incorporation election on April 21, 1958. The election was held on May 7 of that same year at the Fairview Grocery. Following a vote of fifty ballots, 48 for and only 2 against, Judge W.E. Button signed the order officially making Fairview a town on May 12, 1958.
This sleepy country town of fifty or so people enjoyed a secluded existence for its first several years. The first mayor, Bill Glover sr., was elected and the town got a new church, Mount Olive Baptist, in October of 1958. By 1960 the town population had grown to 175. In 1965 the Town built its first water tower with water service beginning in 1966 to a four mile area. This original water tower, while no longer in service, can still be seen on the north side of Stacy Road overlooking the new developments currently taking place.
September of 1978 saw the creation of the Lovejoy Independent School District, which currently serves much of Fairview and the neighboring cities of Allen, Lucas, and McKinney. Due to the increasing population two new schools, Puster Elementary and Lovejoy Middle School have been built in Fairview and will open their doors to student in the fall of 2008.
Fairview has shown steady population growth in its first fifty years. In 1970 the population was 463 and doubled to almost 893 by 1980. Fairview entered the 90's with 1,554 residents and the millennium with 2,644. Substantial growth has been seen in the last eight years. The 2004 population was estimated at 4,100, and soared to 8,600 just four years later.
The fall of 2005 ushered in an important milestone Fairview; a panel of 15 citizens was appointed to write the home rule charter that would make the town a city. The charter was approved by popular vote on May 13, 2006 establishing the new city government.
Early spring 2006 saw the beginning of major business developments in Fairview when the city entered into a $47 million agreement with M.G. Herring Group to build about one million square feet of retail space. The Village at Fairview will include big name stores such as Dillard's, Barns & Nobles, J C Penny and Macy's, along with office and apartment spaces. The development will also include a police station and other city offices and is scheduled to be completed by 2009.
As Fairview celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008 it does this knowing full and well that this is only the beginning for one of the most prosperous cities of North Texas.