Home to over 26,000 residents, Denison has become a tourist destination for Dallas and the rest of the Texoma region because of its shopping, dining and recreation. Denison’s downtown district features one of the state's longest main streets and bolsters the local economy with hundreds of locally owned businesses. The city is also only 10 miles from the Oklahoma border, where boating and fishing at Lake Texoma await. “No one ever says they wished they hadn’t moved here,” says Carol Layman, a Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens and Texoma-region local. “There’s a lot to do here, and the lake itself has a lot of activities.” In addition to local businesses, Denison and its sister city, Sherman, have large manufacturing plants for Texas Instruments, Globitech, Tyson Foods and Ruiz Foods, which are all big employers.
Downtown Denison is the home of over 200 independently owned businesses.
Downtown Denison is known for its many locally owned business on Main Street.
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Downtown Denison’s award-winning Main Street
With over 200 small businesses packed into a mile-long stretch, downtown Denison is Grayson County’s most prominent shopping, dining and entertainment hub. Decades of investment into Main Street’s historic storefronts and small businesses have made it a Great American Main Street Award semifinalist four years in a row. “When I first came here, the buildings were beautiful, but there was a lot of vacancy. So, we cleaned the windows and made it look like a place people wanted to be,” says Donna Dow, director of Main Street Denison, who has worked in the city for over a decade. “Now specialty shops have come in when they maybe couldn’t support themselves 15 years ago.” More than 100 murals and sculptures by local artists also dot Main Street between long-standing shops like the Main Street Mall and restaurants like 34 Chophouse and Rustico Fine Mexican Cuisine.
Downtown Denison has the largest main streets in Texas.
Downtown Denison has event offerings no matter the season, from the Denison on Ice skating rink in winter to the Music on Main concert series in summer. Fall brings celebrations of the city's most famous son with the Eisenhower Birthday Celebration and I Like Ike 5K Run. The Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Park, less than a mile off Main Street, is a living museum surrounding the house where the 34th President was born in 1890.
Downtown Denison is the birthplace of the 34th U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Located in Denison, this is the home that President Eisenhower was born at in 1890.
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Fishing, boating and hiking on Lake Texoma
Lake Texoma is one of the largest reservoirs in the country, with 580 miles of shoreline surrounded by beaches, hiking trails and campsites. Marinas like Eisenhower Yacht Club and Grandpappy Point give boaters and anglers a place to dock, while Eisenhower State Park offers hiking and equestrian trails. Denison also maintains its city parks, including a fishing lake and hiking trails at Waterloo Park.
Preston residents enjoy boating on Lake Texoma on the weekends.
Preston is where those go to enjoy the views from the beach.
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Grants to repair Denison’s historic homes
The city's median home price is $250,000, lower than the $299,000 median in Sherman and the $449,900 median in Dallas. Some of the most in-demand Denison properties are waterside homes by Lake Texoma or historic residences near downtown. Historic properties became more popular after the city started an affordable home incentive program in 2014, which gave homebuyers grants to purchase and restore 20th-century homes.
Beautiful custom homes can be found in Downtown Denison.
Newly built homes with green yards are popping up in Downtown Denison.
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Upgrades to Denison Independent School District
Denison Independent School District receives an A-minus grade from Niche. Between 2023 and 2024, every school, including the brand-new Denison High School building, received upgrades like more classroom space, new gyms and cafeterias. The high school is rated an A-minus on Niche, making it the district’s highest-ranked school. The city is also home to Grayson College, a community college with over 5,000 students. Austin College, a private liberal arts school, is in neighboring Sherman.
Denison High School has an enrollment of over 1,300 students from 9th to 12th grade.
Forest Park features Munson Stadium, home of the Denison ISD Yellowjackets.
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Highway 75 crosses the Oklahoma and Texas borders
South Eisenhower Parkway, Texoma Parkway, and U.S. Highway 75 connect Denison to the rest of the Texoma region. U.S. 75 crosses the Oklahoma border and connects to Sherman, 11 miles away, and Dallas and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, 75 miles away. Denison has no public bus systems, but the TAPS Public Transit is on-demand and available throughout Grayson County.
Windy, icy winters on Lake Texoma
Denison has hot summers with temperatures over 100 degrees, while the winter has mild temperatures. Because Lake Texoma becomes icy and windy in winter, lake tourism drops off after November and picks up again in April. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers controls water levels throughout the year to reduce flooding.
The Denison Police Department reported a 24% overall decrease in crime in 2023 after a 31% overall decrease in 2022.
Written By
Delaney Murray
Photography Contributed By
Aaron Fisher
Video By
Houston Knight
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GreatSchools:
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On average, homes in Denison, TX sell after 79 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Denison, TX over the last 12 months is $250,000, consistent with the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Discover this well maintained, one owner home situated on a desirable corner lot with mature trees and plenty of charm. Inside, you’ll find an inviting layout featuring luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the home offering style and durability. Enjoy a privacy-fenced backyard, perfect for relaxing or entertaining, complete with a custom 10x12 storage shed for all your tools and hobbies. A
MLS# 21147765 - Built by Imagination Homes - Ready Now! ~ Imagination Homes proudly presents The Serenade — a beautifully designed 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with a versatile Flex Room and spacious 2-car garage. Offering 1,657 sq. ft. of smart, open-concept living, this home lives larger than its footprint suggests. Step inside to discover a thoughtfully crafted layout perfect for modern living. The
MLS# 21128140 - Built by Imagination Homes - Ready Now! ~ Imagination Homes presents The Chorus — a spacious and functional single-story home with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 2,057 sq. ft. of beautifully designed living space. Step into an inviting open-concept layout that seamlessly blends everyday comfort with thoughtful design. The heart of the home is the expansive family room, which flows
Discover this well maintained, one owner home situated on a desirable corner lot with mature trees and plenty of charm. Inside, you’ll find an inviting layout featuring luxury vinyl plank flooring throughout the home offering style and durability. Enjoy a privacy-fenced backyard, perfect for relaxing or entertaining, complete with a custom 10x12 storage shed for all your tools and hobbies. A
Beautiful one-story 4bedroom, 3 full bath located in Destination Denison Texas. Built by award-winning Highland Homes, adjacent to Texoma Health Foundation Park. Enjoy convenience of living near walking trails, baseball, soccer, splash park, and covered picnic tables. The spacious living area opens to a well-quipped kitchen with a large island perfect for entertaining. High ceilings and large
New construction: a two-story, four-bedroom home with 2.5 baths and a one-car garage. The kitchen features quartz countertops with an island, custom cabinets, and Whirlpool appliances. There are ceiling fans in every room and a large shower in the master bath. All bedrooms are carpeted, while wet areas have tile and the downstairs boasts engineered wood with 5-inch baseboard trim. A sizable patio
Discover modern comfort and smart design in this stylish 3-bedroom, 2-bath home ideally located near the heart of historic downtown Denison. Thoughtfully laid out, the home makes excellent use of every square foot, creating a space that feels both functional and welcoming. The semi open-concept living area is filled with natural light, offering the perfect setting for entertaining or relaxing
This studio apartment offers a simple, efficient living space ideal for low-maintenance living. The open-concept layout combines living and sleeping areas into one functional space, complemented by a bathroom featuring a stand-up shower. Designed for simplicity and convenience, this unit is well suited for individuals seeking an affordable, easy-to-maintain home in a compact footprint.
This studio apartment offers a simple, efficient living space ideal for low-maintenance living. The open-concept layout combines living and sleeping areas into one functional space, complemented by a bathroom featuring a stand-up shower. Designed for simplicity and convenience, this unit is well suited for individuals seeking an affordable, easy-to-maintain home in a compact footprint.
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