This Dallas suburb developed rapidly in the 1960s and '70s as families sought affordable housing outside the urban core. Summer brings oppressive heat and humidity typical of North Texas, with afternoon thunderstorms providing brief relief. The area's clay soil and flat prairie landscape offer few natural features, but the city's 49 square miles include numerous residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors. Winter temperatures drop to the 30s and 40s, with occasional ice storms disrupting the mild season. Mesquite's population approaches 150,000, representing diverse demographics across its established subdivisions.
