View source for Little Elm, Texas

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Little Elm, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "Town With A Lake Attitude"<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-17|title=Little Elm Saw Its Population Skyrocket After Investing In Lake Living|url=https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2019-06-17/little-elm-saw-its-population-skyrocket-after-investing-in-lake-living|access-date=2021-09-30|publisher=KERA News|language=en}}</ref>
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = [[File:LittleElm Residential.jpg|200px]]
| imagesize          = 20px
| image_caption      = A shot of some of the city's communities, along with the [[Little Elm High School]] and a local church.
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = LE_town_logo.JPG
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = Denton County Texas Incorporated Areas Little Elm highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Little Elm in [[Denton County, Texas]]
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Denton County, Texas|Denton]]
| established_title = Established
| established_date ={{Start date and age|1844}}
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Municipal council|City Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]]
| leader_title1      = [[City manager]]
| leader_name1       = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 57.22
| area_land_km2      = 46.60
| area_water_km2     = 10.62
| area_total_sq_mi   = 22.09
| area_land_sq_mi    = 17.99
| area_water_sq_mi   = 4.10
<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 46453
| population_density_km2 = 811.83
| population_density_sq_mi = 2102.89
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 55357
<!-- General information -->
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 515
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|9|50|N|96|55|49|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 75068
| area_codes          = [[Area codes 214, 469, 972, and 945|214, 469, 945, 972]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-43012<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2410843<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2410843}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.littleelm.gov}}
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Little Elm''' is a city in [[Denton County, Texas]], United States, and a part of the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]]. It is an extended suburb of [[Denton, Texas|Denton]]; its population was 46,453 as of the 2020 census.<ref name="Little Elm city, Texas">{{Cite web|title=Little Elm city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US4843012|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 13, 2022}}</ref> In 2000, the census population was at 3,646. By the 2010 census, the city total had jumped to 25,898,<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Little Elm city, Texas| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> making Little Elm one of the fastest-growing municipalities by percentage in Texas since 2000. The July 1, 2022 census estimates Little Elm's population as 55,357.

==History==
Little Elm was established along Lewisville Lake by C.C. "Kit" King, son of John and Delilah King, in 1844. King named the community after the creek banks where it was located. King helped organize mail service for the area and in 1852 was named the postmaster of [[Denton County]]'s first post office. The population was very low throughout the first half of the 20th century, but in 1966, the community was able to officially incorporate. The first official census for the town came in 1970, which recorded 363 persons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Town of Little Elm Comprehensive Plan 2017 |format=PDF |url=https://www.littleelm.org/DocumentCenter/View/13354/Final-LTE-Comprehensive-Plan |access-date=2022-02-03 |archive-date=2022-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203175537/https://www.littleelm.org/DocumentCenter/View/13354/Final-LTE-Comprehensive-Plan |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On March 2, 2023, a very powerful storm came through North Texas. It caused damages across the area but most notably, a supermarket's facade was completely torn off, covering several automobiles parked in the parking lot.<ref>{{Cite news |author=J.D. Miles |date=March 2, 2023 |title=Powerful winds cause partial collapse at Little Elm shopping center |publisher=CBS News Texas |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/little-elm-storm-damage-march-2/}}</ref>

==Geography==

Little Elm is generally located along the northern and eastern shores of [[Lewisville Lake]] at the crossroads of Eldorado Parkway, [[FM 720]], and [[FM 423]], and includes stretches of U.S. Highway 380. Its neighbors include [[Frisco, Texas|Frisco]] to the east, [[The Colony, Texas|The Colony]] and [[Hackberry, Texas|Hackberry]] to the south, [[Prosper, Texas|Prosper]], [[Aubrey, Texas|Aubrey]], [[Savannah, Texas|Savannah]], and [[Providence Village, Texas|Providence]] to the north, and [[Oak Point, Texas|Oak Point]], [[Cross Roads, Texas|Cross Roads]], [[Hickory Creek, Texas|Hickory Creek]], [[Lake Dallas, Texas|Lake Dallas]], and [[Lakewood Village, Texas|Lakewood Village]] to the west.

The city is about 33 miles north of [[Dallas TX|Dallas]], 53 miles north of [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], 23 miles north of the [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]], and 20 miles east of  [[Denton, Texas|Denton]], the county seat of Denton County.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it has a total area of {{convert|48.3|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|10.5|sqkm|disp=flip}}, or 21.83%, are covered by water.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Little Elm city, Texas| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref> Little Elm has an average elevation of 545 feet above sea level.

===Climate===

Little Elm has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''), typical for Northeast Texas.
{{Weatherbox
| name = Little Elm weatherbox
| location = Little Elm, TX
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.1
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.8
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.4
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.3
| May precipitation inch = 4.7
| Jun precipitation inch = 3
| Jul precipitation inch = 2.1
| Aug precipitation inch = 2
| Sep precipitation inch = 3
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.6
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.7
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.9
| year precipitation inch = 33.5
| source = WeatherBase<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=852514&cityname=Little-Elm-Texas-United-States-of-America | title=Little Elm, Texas Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase) }}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| align = right
| 1880 = 116
| 1970 = 363
| 1980 = 926
| 1990 = 1255
| 2000 = 3646
| 2010 = 25898
| 2020 = 46453
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 58496
| estref = 
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
}}

Little Elm's build-out population is anticipated to be about 90,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.littleelmtx.us/index.aspx?nid=756 |title=Town of Little Elm, TX - Official Website - Development Services |website=littleelmtx.us |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130092420/http://www.littleelmtx.us/index.aspx?nid=756 |archive-date=2012-11-30}}</ref>

===Racial and ethnic composition===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Little Elm city, Texas - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Little Elm city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US4843012&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Little Elm city, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US4843012&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|14,326
|19,422
|55.32%
|41.81%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|3,621
|8,420
|13.98%
|18.13%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|148
|184
|0.57%
|0.40%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|885
|4,511
|3.42%
|9.71%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|12
|27
|0.05%
|0.06%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some other race]] alone (NH)
|69
|265
|0.27%
|0.57%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Multiracial]] (NH)
|609
|2,407
|2.35%
|5.18%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|6,228
|11,217
|24.05%
|24.15%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''25,898'''
|'''46,453'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''
===2020 census===

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Little Elm had a population of 46,453. The median age was 33.3 years. 30.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 6.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.8 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME%2CDP1_0021P%2CDP1_0024P%2CDP1_0025C%2CDP1_0049C%2CDP1_0045C%2CDP1_0069C%2CDP1_0073C%2CDP1_0125P%2CDP1_0126P%2CDP1_0129P%2CDP1_0133P%2CDP1_0137P%2CDP1_0138P%2CDP1_0139P%2CDP1_0141P%2CDP1_0142P%2CDP1_0143P%2CDP1_0145P%2CDP1_0146P%2CDP1_0147C%2CDP1_0148C%2CDP1_0149C%2CDP1_0156C%2CDP1_0157C%2CDP1_0158C%2CDP1_0159P%2CDP1_0160P&for=place%3A43012&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL"/>

99.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.3% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME%2CP2_002N%2CP2_003N&for=place%3A43012&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=February 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 15,572 households in Little Elm, of which 48.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.8% were married-couple households, 13.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 16,644 housing units, of which 6.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.3%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N%2CP1_003N%2CP1_004N%2CP1_005N%2CP1_006N%2CP1_007N%2CP1_008N%2CP1_009N%2CP2_001N%2CP2_002N%2CH1_001N%2CH1_002N&for=place%3A43012&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=February 13, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| [[White Americans|White]] || 21,890 || 47.1%
|-
| [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 8,547 || 18.4%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 423 || 0.9%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 4,538 || 9.8%
|-
| [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 33 || 0.1%
|-
| Some other race || 3,867 || 8.3%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 7,155 || 15.4%
|-
| ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 11,217 || 24.1%
|}
==Government==
===Politics===
Historically a Republican-voting town, it has become more competitive in statewide and national elections as its population has diversified and grown in size, shifting toward the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in more recent elections.
{| class="wikitable" style="float:center; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+Little Elm town vote 
by party in recent gubernatorial elections<ref>{{cite web |title=votedenton.gov |url=https://www.votedenton.gov/election-results-and-maps/election-results/#PastElections |website=votedenton.gov |access-date=9 December 2022}}</ref>
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties/Ind.]]
|-
| align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[2022 Texas gubernatorial election|2022]]
| align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''50.49%''' 14,083
| align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}} |48.14% 13,427
| align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}} |1.36% 380
|-
| align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}} |[[2018 Texas gubernatorial election|2018]]
| align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}} |43.97% 12,492
| align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}} |'''53.76%''' 15,271
| align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}} |2.26% 642
|}

===Local government===
Little Elm became a [[home rule]] municipality in 2001. It has a [[council-manager]] form of government. The town council consists of a mayor and five city council members, one of whom is elected [[at-large]].

The city holds annual municipal elections in March, and run-off elections when necessary in June. Terms for both the offices of the mayor and council are three years, with term limits of three years.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

The city has a number of [[extraterritorial jurisdiction]]s that also vote in municipal elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Type of Government {{!}} Town of Little Elm, TX - Official Website|url=https://www.littleelm.org/465/Type-of-Government|access-date=2021-06-22|website=littleelm.org}}</ref>

In June 2021, Little Elm elected its first [[African Americans|African American]] mayor, [[Curtis Cornelious]], who previously served two and a half terms on town council as the at-large council member before resigning to run for mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the first Black mayor elected to lead Little Elm|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/curtis-cornelious-elected-first-black-mayor-little-elm/287-1339aa96-7fac-40d4-be41-a0fb6132daba|access-date=2021-06-22|publisher=WFAA|date=7 June 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2025 Little Elm elected its first Hispanic councilmember, Idalia Maria Amaya.<ref>https://www.littleelm.gov/874/District-4-Council-Member-Idalia-Maria-A</ref>

===State government===
After the 2021 state and federal redistricting, the town of Little Elm is located almost wholly within [[Texas House of Representatives|Texas State House of Representatives]] district [[Texas's 57th House of Representatives district|57]], with tiny portions in district [[Texas's 106th House of Representatives district|106]]. Likewise, most of Little Elm is in [[Texas Senate|Texas State Senate]] district [[Texas Senate, District 12|12]], with some small portions in district [[Texas Senate, District 30|30]].

===Federal government===
Following the 2021 state and federal redistricting, the town of Little Elm is located entirely within [[United States Congress]]ional district [[Texas's 26th congressional district|26]].

==Education==
[[File:Little Elm ISD Athletic Complex Stadium.jpg|thumb|Little Elm ISD Athletic Complex Stadium in Little Elm, Texas]]

Three school districts primarily serve Little Elm: [[Little Elm ISD]], [[Frisco ISD]], and [[Denton ISD]]. Generally, the U.S. 380 corridor is served by Denton ISD, the FM 423 corridor and east Little Elm by Frisco ISD, and the rest of Little Elm by Little Elm ISD. A small portion of land in city boundaries is also served by [[Aubrey ISD]].

The [[Little Elm Independent School District]]<ref>[http://www.leisd.ws Little Elm ISD]</ref> serves most of the original parts of Little Elm. Little Elm ISD is one of the fastest-growing in Denton County. The school district finished building its athletic stadium in 2006 located at the intersection of Hart Road and Eldorado Parkway. The stadium has a seating capacity of 7,500 with great wheelchair accessibility, a newly renovated video board at the north endzone, and a three level state-of-the-art press box.<ref>{{cite web|title=LEISD Athletics / Athletic Complex|url=http://www.littleelmisd.net/Page/281|website=littleelmisd.net}}</ref> Although the intent is to keep the community a one-high-school town, two new middle schools opened for the 2020–2021 school year. Most of the city in LEISD goes to Walker Middle School, while small portions go to Strike Middle School.

A portion of the city is within the Frisco Independent School District.<ref>"[http://www.friscoisd.org/about/district-overview/home District Overview] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20150802045016/http://www.friscoisd.org/about/district-overview/home Archive]). [[Frisco Independent School District]]. Retrieved on August 13, 2015.</ref> Robertson Elementary, which is in Little Elm, along with Stafford Middle School serve part of Sunset Pointe and Frisco Ranch; with other schools outside the city also serving small portions of the area. Lone Star High School also serves most of the city that is under Frisco ISD.

During the summer of 2016, Denton ISD completed construction on its fourth comprehensive high school, [[Braswell High School]], located at the southeast corner of Navo Road and U.S. 380, to serve the fast-growing University Drive corridor, which is part of Little Elm.<ref>[http://www.dentonisd.org/braswellhs Home]. [[Braswell High School]]. Retrieved on December 29, 2016. "Braswell High School,[...]serves families in the eastern portion of the district who reside in[...]"</ref> Along with Braswell, other Denton schools serve the northern area of the city. Navo Middle School and Union Park Elementary are located in the city; while Bell Elementary, Paloma Creek Elementary, Providence Elementary, and Rodriguez Middle School serve portions of Little Elm despite being out of the city's boundaries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bond Progress / Attendance Zones |url=https://www.dentonisd.org/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentonisd.org%2Fsite%2Fdefault.aspx%3FPageID%3D103052 |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=dentonisd.org |language=en}}</ref>

A small chunk of US 380, although uninhabited, is zoned to [[Prosper ISD]].

==Economy==

[[File:Downtown Little Elm.jpg|thumb|Near Beard Park in Little Elm, Texas.]]
While Little Elm is often referred to as a "[[Commuter town|bedroom community]]", five companies/entities in the city employ over 100 people, per the Little Elm EDC<ref>{{Cite web|last=jshipman|title=A Growing Population|date=August 14, 2013 |url=https://littleelmedc.com/little-elm-growing-population/|access-date=2020-07-21|publisher=Little Elm Economic Development Corporation|language=en-US}}</ref> – Little Elm ISD (853), The Town of Little Elm (311), Kroger (191), Lowe's Home Center (178), and Retractable Technologies (146). The 2019 Retail Trade population was 203,560. The unemployment rate in Little Elm, pre-[[COVID-19]], was 3.7%. Little Elm residents work in a variety of sectors,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Little Elm, TX Economy|url=https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/texas/little_elm}}</ref> including retail trade (13.9%), finance/insurance (11.6%), professional/scientific/technical services (10.8%), construction (8.6%), and educational services (8.5%).

The original downtown area of Little Elm, commonly known as "The Lakefront", has seen much investment in recent years. Multiple restaurants and entertainment options have established themselves in the area near Eldorado and Main Street, and multiple middle to upper income apartment developments have been completed or are in planning/construction phases. This has created a localized densification effect in a desirable area of the city, a city which is otherwise known for its sprawl and single family zoning patterns.

==Awards and honors==

The Arbor Day Foundation designated Little Elm a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry for three straight years (2011–2013).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Emily|title=Little Elm named 'Tree City USA'|url=https://starlocalmedia.com/littleelmjournal/news/little-elm-named-tree-city-usa/article_b14b3feb-708c-5ff4-900d-2bcae575e357.html|access-date=2021-09-30|website=Star Local|date=12 March 2012 |language=en}}</ref>

The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association honored Little Elm with its Certificate of Achievement for Planning Excellence award for 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}

In 2013, the Cross Timbers Urban Forestry Council presented Little Elm with its Bronze Leaf Award for its commitment to urban forestry initiatives.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Martinez|first=Celso|date=February 15, 2013|title=Forestry Council presents Bronze Leaf Award to Town|url=https://www.littleelm.org/DocumentCenter/View/5694/NR---Town-wins-Bronze-Leaf-Award-from-Forestry-Council?bidId=|publisher=Town of Little Elm}}</ref> <!-- I'm not sure how to cite a press release, so I just cited it as a website-->

In 2013, Little Elm was named the safest city in Texas by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] and the 18th-safest in the nation for cities with a population of 25,000 or higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/fbi-names-little-elm-the-safest-city-in-texas/|title=FBI Names Little Elm the Safest City in Texas |website=[[CBS News]] |date=23 January 2013 }}</ref> In 2016, Little Elm was ranked the 13th safest by the FBI in the state of Texas for towns with a population of 10,000 or higher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://starlocalmedia.com/littleelmjournal/little-elm-named-one-of-the-top-safest-cities-in/article_ff42bdfc-db36-11e5-82ea-e7be12becc0b.html|title=Little Elm named one of the top 15 safest cities in Texas |date=25 February 2016 }}</ref>

==Parks==

Little Elm has five major community parks: Little Elm Park, Cottonwood Park, Beard Park, McCord Park, and Union Park. Cottonwood Park, located in the Lakefront district at the southern terminus of Lobo Lane, is home to Cottonwood Creek Marina.

[[File:Beard Park in Little Elm, Texas.jpg|thumb|Entrance to Beard Park in Little Elm, Texas]]
[[File:Paloma Creek, Texas.JPG|thumb|Sunset at Paloma Creek's entrance in Little Elm]]

Beard Park is the future home of Little Elm's Farmers Market, which in 2013 was set up in the Hobby Lobby shopping center.<ref name="380news">{{cite web |last1=380news |title=Little Elm's Farmers' Market |url=http://www.380news.com/2014/06/01/364/little-elms-farmers-market/ |publisher=The 380 News |access-date=18 June 2021}}</ref>

McCord Park is a wooded, 38-acre park including trails, a disc golf course, a fishing dock, and a playground. The disc golf course was designed by [[John Houck]], a world-renowned disc golf course designer.<ref>{{cite web |title=McCord Park |url=https://www.littleelm.gov/955/McCord-Park |website=Little Elm |access-date=22 June 2025}}</ref>

Through creative planning and zoning, McCord Park was donated to the city and constructed by the developers of the luxury multifamily projects adjacent to it. The total value of the land and park improvements was estimated to be over $5 million, all of which was paid for by the developer. Vital to the city's master hike and bike trail plan, McCord Park provides an invaluable link from FM 423 to Veteran's Memorial Bridge on Witt Road and eventually westward along Lewisville Lake to the Lakefront district. It also offers a critical connection point into Frisco's trail system, which is part of a regional master trail system, one day ensuring that Little Elm residents could continually travel to Dallas via trail without interruption.

==Infrastructure==
Little Elm has access to the rest of the DFW metroplex via several regionally significant thoroughfares. The Dallas North Tollway is a 5-minute drive east of Little Elm, which opens up the greater north Dallas region to residents, including several large employment and shopping hubs.{{citation needed|date=July 2014}}  DFW Airport is about 30 minutes away by car, and [[Dallas Love Field|Love Field]] is about 35 minutes by car.

Eldorado Parkway, a six-lane E/W thoroughfare through most of Little Elm, functions as the city's main street. Eldorado provides a critical connection to the region by linking U.S. 75 and I-35E, including the Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge.

[[File:US Route 380.jpg|thumb|U.S. Route 380 intersection with FM 720 during construction of overpass in Little Elm, Texas.]]

FM 423 serves as Little Elm's eastern boundary, although it crosses east of FM 423 in several places. This six-lane thoroughfare connects SH 121 in The Colony to the U.S. 380 corridor. The U.S. 380 corridor is in the northern part of Little Elm and provides an invaluable regional connection between two of the four county seats of the Metroplex (McKinney and Denton).

As of late 2021, TxDOT is planning to expand US 380 to a six-lane divided roadway with grade separations at specific intersections, and is currently at a 95% design phase. Other changes include continuous illumination along the corridor with the goal to improve nighttime visibility and safety. The primary goal of this project is to simultaneously improve through-traffic from Denton to McKinney (and vice versa) and to provide easier, safer accessibility to businesses and housing developments on either side of the 380 corridor. As of Feb 1, 2022, the plan is currently on a temporary hold due to budget changes from TxDOT. {{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

The [[Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge]], a [[North Texas Tollway Authority]] project, was opened to the public on August 1, 2009. The authority also completed the [[Dallas North Tollway]] Extension Phase III in September 2007.

Little Elm is not currently served by any public transportation, and it does not border any municipality that has [[Dallas Area Rapid Transit|DART]] service. There is no bus, light rail, or regional rail public transportation. The closest and northernmost [[Green Line (DART)|Green Line]] station is [[North Carrollton/Frankford station]] and is just under 19 miles by car from Little Elm City Hall. The closest and northernmost [[Red Line (DART)|Red]] and [[Orange Line (DART)|Orange]] Line station is [[Parker Road station]] and is 24 miles by car from City Hall. Alternatively, the closest [[Denton County Transportation Authority|DCTA]] station is [[Highland Village/Lewisville Lake station|Highland Village station]] and is just over 12 miles by car from City Hall. The DCTA A-train connects at [[Trinity Mills station]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=A-train {{!}} DCTA |url=https://www.dcta.net/getting-around/rail-bus-services/a-train |access-date=2023-04-28 |publisher=DCTA}}</ref> along the DART Green Line with a 30-minute service interval, reduced Saturday service, and no Sunday service. The A train does not have service after 10:30 pm on weekdays.

==Major thoroughfares (WIP)==

===Eldorado Parkway===
Alternatively known as the "main street" of Little Elm, this six-lane thoroughfare passes through the center of town and provides connections to Lake Dallas, Lakewood Village, Denton, Frisco, Plano, and McKinney. It also runs as different farm to market roads, and the LLTB.

It starts off in Lake Dallas as the [[Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge]] coming in from Swisher, and bears northeastward through Lewisville Lake. Upon reaching land, it curves north and continues upon that direction. After approaching a middle school, it starts curving again as it enters Oak Grove, as it becomes [[FM 720]]. It continues as it curves and then heads southeast into the lake again in another chunk of land. It does a curve a bit more and goes northeast. Once it intersects with Hart Rd. Upon intersection, it heads east, and as it goes around ''Villages of Woodlake'' (Little Elm community), it curves northeast. While headed northeast, FM 720 splits off and becomes Little Elm Parkway, and Eldorado continues said direction until intersecting with Walker Lane. Once it reaches that street, it continues east and past FM 423 it stays east heading into Frisco and the DNT.

{{jcttop|state=TX|county=Denton|length_ref=|indep_city=Little Elm}}{{TXint|location=|mile=0.0|notes=Continues west as Swisher Road into [[Lake Dallas]] and [[Denton, Texas|Denton]]|road={{jct|state=TX|Toll|LLTB}}}}{{TXint|location=|mile=.86|road=Lakecrest Drive|notes=Takes to [[Lakewood Village, Texas|Lakewood Village]]}}{{TXint|location=|mile=1.88|road=East Dickson Lane / Pinnacle Bay Pointe}}{{TXint|mile=2.45|location=|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|720|city1=Oak Point|city2=Cross Roads}}|notes=Oak Grove Parkway}}{{TXint|mile=3.92|notes=Little Elm Park|road=Lobo Lane}}{{TXint|mile=4.31|road=Hardwicke Ln/Lakefront Dr}}{{TXint|road=Hart Road|mile=5.44}}{{TXint|mile=5.91|road=Wynfield Drive}}{{TXint|mile=6.28|road=Preston on the Lake Bvld}}{{TXint|mile=6.65|road=Witt Road/Woodlake Parkway}}{{TXint|mile=6.90|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|720}}/Little Elm Parkway|notes=[[FM 720]] branches off Eldorado}}{{TXint|road=Walker Lane|mile=7.61|notes=[[Little Elm High School]]}}{{TXint|mile=7.84|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|423|city1=The Colony|city2=Prosper}}|notes=Border line for westbound travellers}}{{TXint|mile=8.11|notes=Eastbound border line; continues east into [[Frisco, Texas|Frisco]]|road=Red Spruce Drive}}{{jctbtm|col=|key=}}

===Woodlake Parkway/Witt Rd===
This street is primarily a north–south thoroughfare which primarily runs through Little Elm, that also provides access to Frisco via the south side of Witt, and Panther Creek Pkwy which runs after the end of Woodlake. Along with Frisco, it also provides a way of transfer for those in Hackberry, along with McKinney if the City of Frisco expands it to SH 289.

It begins at FM 423 as Woodlake Parkway, and the street before that is Panther Creek Pkwy in Frisco. It begins westward, but almost immediately starts curving through the Sunset Point neighborhood. Once finished, it intersects with Walker Ln and continues south. It continues as so for most of the route with some slight curves here and there. South of Eldorado is known as Witt Road. Once reaching Old Witt Rd, it exits Little Elm and enters Frisco.

{{jcttop|state=TX|county=Denton|length_ref=|indep_city=Little Elm}}{{TXint|location=|mile=0.0|notes=Continues east as Panther Creek Parkway into [[Frisco, Texas|Frisco]]|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|423}}}}{{TXint|mile=1.46|road=Walker Lane}}{{TXint|mile=2.33|road={{jct|state=TX|FM|423}} E. Eldorado Parkway|notes=From here the street is known as Witt Road}}{{TXint|mile=3.33|road=King Road}}{{TXint|mile=3.54|road=Old Witt Road|notes=Continues south into [[Frisco, Texas|Frisco]]}}{{jctbtm|col=|key=}}

===Walker Lane===
This street is an east–west road that connects the High School to the rest of town and Eldorado Parkway. It is entirely within Little Elm.

It begins at Eldorado Pkwy, and continues west towards Eldorado West. It slights north and continues west right after. After passing by LEHS, it stays west until approaching Hart Road, when it goes northwest as Stardust Trail.{{jcttop|state=TX|county=Denton|length_ref=|indep_city=Little Elm}}{{TXint|location=|mile=0.0|notes=Continues south into a parking lot; also in Little Elm.|road=Eldorado Parkway}}{{TXint|mile=.69|road=Woodlake Parkway}}{{TXint|mile=.91|road=[[Little Elm High School]]|notes=}}{{TXint|mile=1.14|road=Waterside Dr|notes=An alternative route to LEHS}}{{TXint|mile=1.90|road=Hart Rd|notes=Goes northeast now as Stardust Trl}}{{TXint|mile=2.13|road=Appaloosa Court|notes=Western terminius}}{{jctbtm|col=|key=}}

===Farm roads and highways===
''See [[Farm to Market Road 423|FM 423]], [[FM 720]], [[Dallas North Tollway|DNT]], and [[U.S. Route 380|US 380]]''

==Housing==
The vast majority of Little Elm's residents reside in single family homes, usually in master-planned subdivisions built between the late 1990s and late 2010s. Because central Little Elm is surrounded on three sides by Lake Lewisville, apartments and townhomes have begun establishing themselves in the town's core as the need for denser, walkable housing has become more apparent. In The Lakefront district alone, there are more than 550 apartment units within walking distance to multiple restaurants, shops, and entertainment options, per Apartments.com analysis.

==Notable people==
<!--ALPHABETICAL order by surname, please! DO NOT add anyone without a Wikipedia article!  Thanks.-->

===Politicians===
* [[Curtis Cornelious]], current and first African American Mayor of Little Elm
* [[Lillian Salerno]], Texas state Director for [[USDA Rural Development]], and former Deputy Undersecretary for Rural Development

===Athletes===
* [[Cole Beasley]], former American football player
* [[R. J. Hampton|R.J. Hampton]], basketball player for the [[Orlando Magic]]
* [[Weston McKennie]], soccer player for [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
* [[Ryan Watts (American football)|Ryan Watts]], American football player for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]]
* [[John Mateer]], American Football Quarterback for the [[Oklahoma Sooners]]

===Entertainers, artists, and celebrities===
* [[Marsai Martin]], actress, famous for the movie ''[[Little (film)|Little]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mailamovie.info/2020/08/02/disney-channel-stars/|title=Disney Channel Star Marsai Martin|work=MailAMovie|date=2 August 2020 }}</ref> and the TV show ''[[Black-ish]]''
* [[Trevante Rhodes]], American actor

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons-inline}}
* [https://littleelm.org/ Town of Little Elm official website]
* [http://www.littleelm.com/ LittleElm.com], community website
* http://www.city-data.com/city/Little-Elm-Texas.html
* [http://www.edline.net/pages/lehs Little Elm Independent School District]

{{Denton County, Texas}}
{{Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Denton County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]