Red Oak is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States. It is part of the DallasâÂÂFort Worth metroplex. As of the 2020 census, Red Oak had a population of 14,222. The North Central Texas Council of Governments projects that number to grow to 63,329 by the year 2030, as it is on the verge of explosive suburban growth.
One of the first settlers to this area was James E. Patton and his family in 1844. They settled in what is now known as Ovilla, Texas, located about two miles from Red Oak. Before Red Oak was given its name in 1849, it was known as Possum Trot due to the animal that lived there. The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad reached Red Oak in 1884 and was completed in 1890,. providing service between Dallas and Waco. In 1949, Red Oak became an incorporated town of Ellis, County. In 2023, Google announced a 600 million dollar data center campus on a 375-acre land, right off Ovilla Road in Red Oak, making it the second data center to be built in Texas.
Red Oak is located along the northern edge of Ellis County. Adjacent cities include Glenn Heights to the northwest, Lancaster to the north, Ferris to the east, Pecan Hill to the southeast, Waxahachie to the south, and Oak Leaf to the west. It is south of downtown Dallas via Interstate 35E, which has two exits in Red Oak.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Red Oak has a total area of , all land.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Red Oak has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
As of the 2020 census, Red Oak had a population of 14,222 residents and 3,293 families residing in the city.
The median age was 35.5 years. 28.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 11.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.0 males age 18 and over.
93.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 6.2% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,751 households in Red Oak, of which 43.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.7% were married-couple households, 13.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 4,985 housing units, of which 4.7% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.7%.
The majority of the city of Red Oak is served by the Red Oak Independent School District. That district's schools include Shields Elementary, Eastridge Elementary, Red Oak Elementary, Wooden Elementary, Russell P Schupmann Elementary, Red Oak Middle School, and Red Oak High School.
The city extends into the Waxahachie Independent School District and the Ferris Independent School District. The former operates Waxahachie High School.
In addition Life School, a public charter school, operates the KâÂÂ12 Red Oak campus.
Texas State Technical College operates a branch campus in Red Oak.
The city of Red Oak jointly owns the Ferris Red Oak Muni Heliport together with the city of Ferris.