DISH got its name and free satellite TV service from the Dish Network
DISH is a rural North Texas town. The first thing people may ask when hearing about DISH is how it got its name. The all-caps title is not a typo. When the town was incorporated in 2000, it was named Clark, for founder Landis Clark. DISH became the town's name in 2005, in a commercial deal with satellite television company the Dish Network. "It's sort of interesting that the whole town actually ended up voting on it and passing that resolution," says Steve Depoe, a Realtor with the Rose Realty Team, part of Keller Williams. In exchange, residents received free basic television service for 10 years, plus equipment, including a DVR.
DISH is likely to grow within the expanding DFW Metroplex
DISH is located in the northern part of the DFW Metroplex, otherwise known as the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Fort Worth is about 30 miles to the south, and Dallas is about 47 miles to the southeast. DISH is in Denton County and about 16 miles southwest of the city of Denton.
Though DISH's population is roughly 600, according to U.S. Census estimates, the town will likely grow in the coming years. "It's more of a rural community than anything else right now, but the whole area is growing like crazy," Depoe says. As the region sees increased development to the north and west of DFW, the scope of what is considered the Metroplex could expand as well. "I am predicting that in about 5 to 7 years, DISH will be one of the towns in the middle of the Metroplex."
Subdivisions with 21st-century contemporary homes and large lots
Most homes were built from the 2000s on and are at least 1,800 square feet. Those constructed in the 2020s tend to be over 2,500 square feet. One of the newer subdivisions, Green Prairie County Estates, has four- and five-bedroom houses from several home builders.
Listing prices in DISH range from about $500,000 to $840,000, and age, square footage and acreage are factors. Homes are typically set back from the road and have driveways and garages. Lots are commonly an acre or more, and septic systems are standard.
The CAP Index Crime Score for DISH is 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
A four-day instructional week for Ponder Independent School District
Kids may attend public schools in the Ponder Independent School District, which officially transitioned to a four-day instructional week starting in the 2025-2026 school year. To accommodate families during the change, the district offered free childcare options for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students on Fridays, the non-instructional days. Ponder Elementary School earns a B grade from Niche. Ponder Middle School and Ponder High School both receive B-plus grades.
Neighbors in DISH come together for town meetings and celebrating
Town council meetings are open to the public and held regularly at DISH's town hall. In May 2025, the town hall hosted a celebration for the 25th Anniversary of the town. There's also an adjacent playground and basketball courts.
People go to Justin and Denton for shopping, dining and more
DISH has some aviation-related companies, agricultural businesses, equestrian facilities and manufacturers. However, there's not much of a commercial presence. "Retail, restaurants and all those types of things always follow residential construction. Justin, for example, is starting to get that retail right now, and I'd expect Dish to follow." Justin is a town about 4 miles south, with a Homeland grocery store and places to eat like the Mule Barn Sports Bar & Grill and Margarita's Mexican Restaurant.
People may go to Denton for more variety, from restaurants to movie theaters and grocery stores, including WinCo Foods and Albertsons. The Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton has a neonatal intensive care unit and a center for women
An air-quality monitoring station added after fracking concerns
Towns in the area were developed on top of a geological formation called the Barnett Shale, which has natural gas deposits. In the 2000s, the landscape was altered as gas wells were drilled, pipelines were constructed through people's properties and compressor sites were added. According to some residents of DISH, health and environmental issues like foul odors were the result of fracking. An air quality test by the town found elevated levels of chemicals, though a subsequent test by the state determined pollutant levels were within governmental standards. In 2010, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality installed an air-quality monitoring station in DISH.
Car-dependent DISH has long, flat expanses and some dirt roads
DISH is car dependent, and the main thoroughfares include Eakin Cemetery Road, Tim Donald Road and Farm to Market Road 156, which runs parallel to a freight-train track. Some parts of DISH, including newly developed areas, have roads that haven't been paved yet. The land is relatively flat and open, allowing for views of a considerable distance.
Greyhound buses are available from the University of North Texas campus in Denton. Clark Airport in DISH, a private aviation facility, is among several in the region. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, about a 30-mile drive from DISH, offers passenger flights on major carriers.
Written By
Robin Silberman
