The city of Garland is located in Dallas County, Texas. According to a 2000 census, it was reported to have a population of 215,768 people, making it the tenth-most populous city in the state. Garland is made up of 57.1 square miles of land.
Most of the city’s education is managed by the Garland Independent School District (GISD). In November 2006, GISD consisted of 3,236 teachers and 52,391 students. GISD does not have school zoning, enabling any student to go to any school in the area. Since 2000, Garland has gone through several notable developments. In 2003, Hawaiian Falls waterpark opened its doors to the public. The Firewheel Town Center, an outdoor mall and the Garland Independent School District’s Special Events Centers, a conference facility, opened in 2005. Residents of Garland who are looking for entertainment and recreation have several different options. There are several parks located throughout the city including Spring Creek Forest Preserve & Park Preserve, Rowlett Creek Preserve and Mountain Bike Trails, and Hawaiian Falls. The Garland Opry is open to everyone who is interested in their country and gospel concerts. The Patty Granville Arts Center, also offers different types of shows throughout the year. Centerville, Eastern Hills, Duck Creek, Embree, and Rose Hill are some of the neighborhoods and communities located in Garland.