About Us
Overview
McLendon-Chisholm is a one-of-a-kind city with residents who fiercely protect a peaceful way of life and wide-open, green spaces. The City seeks to maintain its character and to preserve its way of life even as its inevitable growth has become apparent. McLendon-Chisholm adopted its first charter for Home Rule in May 2025. We are governed by a City Manager and seven City Council members, including the Mayor. The estimated 2025 population is over 7,000 with a projection of over 13,000 by 2030.
Most of the property in the City is in large lot residential, undeveloped, or agricultural uses. There are multiple subdivisions that provide a variety of single-family detached housing neighborhoods, from relatively small lots (as small as approximately 7,500 square feet) to very large lots (as large as five acres or more), as well as many agriculturally used properties, including farms and ranches.
The City of McLendon-Chisholm is located between the City of Rockwall in Rockwall County and the City of Terrell in Kaufman County, with the City Limits and Extra-territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) located mostly in Rockwall County and a small southern area located in Kaufman County. Nearby communities include the City of Heath to the west and south, and the cities of Rockwall and Fate located generally to the north.
State Highway 205 (SH 205) runs through the center of McLendon-Chisholm and connects Interstate 30 in Rockwall and US Highway 80 in Terrell. This transportation corridor brings traffic, development interest, and increased population to all of the land along SH 205, with McLendon-Chisholm being no exception. SH 205 in McLendon-Chisholm (with an approved, funded project extending from the City of Lavon in Collin County north of Rockwall to Terrell to the south in Kaufman County) is slated for major reconstruction and capacity enhancement. Plans for this project are currently at the 100% design completion stage.
The growth in value and numbers of the residential portions of the community has been significant. Over the last several years, the new growth and the evolution of McLendon-Chisholm as a city has resulted in new municipal facilities, including a new City Hall and a new Public Safety Building, along with expanded fire services and code compliance services. State and local transportation systems provide relatively convenient access to the community and to surrounding employment centers, shopping, recreation, and entertainment. The City has steadily grown due, in no small measure, to its proximity to major employment centers, its location within drivable commuting distance to and from Dallas, and its commitment to maintaining a less dense, rural lifestyle.
Brief History of McLendon-Chisholm
The City began as two separate settlements, McLendon and Chisholm, each of which was named for a prominent landowning family in the early 1850s. McLendon was named for P. A. McLendon, a local landowner who in about 1870 built a combination store, cotton gin, and blacksmith shop that remained in continuous operation until 1975. A schoolhouse and church were constructed at the same time. A post office was opened in 1880. Chisholm derived its name from Enoch Parson Chisholm, who settled on 200 acres in 1856, and from his brother, B. Frank Chisholm, a colonel in the Civil War. Enoch was not only a farmer and landowner but also a licensed preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He organized the Chisholm Methodist Church in his home in 1871. By 1875, the church had constructed a small chapel, called Chisholm Chapel, which was still standing in the 1980s. The community had two small school buildings, which were combined to form Berry Creek Academy in 1886. In 1898, this school had four rooms, four teachers, and 301 students. A Chisholm post office was opened in 1891. The community's first store was built in 1890. The City of McLendon-Chisholm was incorporated in 1969 after the residents decided to seek rural zoning protections for their territory.
Special Circumstances
The City of McLendon-Chisholm has a vast amount of undeveloped land and currently there is great interest on the part of developers to pursue development in the City and its ETJ. The City does not currently offer water services and is served by the RCH Water Supply Corporation, Highpoint Water Supply Corporation, and Blackland Water Supply Corporation. RCH, with the largest service area for properties in the City and its ETJ, is currently limited in terms of water supply available for growth. This is a matter that RCH Water Supply Corporation has under construction with a solution.
The City currently serves about 1095 residential homes with sewer services with the remainder being on septic systems. The City-operates the wastewater collection system in the Sonoma Verde subdivision and an outfall line to a regional wastewater interceptor line with treatment provided (through contract with the City of Rockwall and its regional partners) at a regional treatment plant in Mesquite. Residential billing and system operations are accomplished by contract.
Experience in working with and knowledge of Municipal Utility Districts, Public Improvement Districts, and developers that seek to use these mechanisms as a part of their development would be a definite plus for position applicants.