Plano is a wealthy northern suburb of Dallas, the capital of Texas. Plano has an estimated population of 260,796 inhabitants as of 2007, making is the 69th most populous city in the nation. It is located in Collins and Denton county, and is part of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. Several corporate headquarters are located here, including Rent-A-Center, JCPenny, Frito-Lay, Dr Pepper, UGS, and Cinemark Theaters.
Plano was settled in the early 1840s, lured to the area by nearby facilities (saw mill, store, and gristmill). It's name comes from the spanish word for "flat," referring to the terrain and land of the area. The city was officially incorporated in 1873, one year after the completion of the Houston and Texas Railroad.
Migration to this area was slow, and in turn, the population did not grow too much. Many large corporations moved headquarters to Plano in the 1980s, bringing in more inhabitants and workers. By 1994, the city was recognized as an All-America City.
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit public transportation system makes a stop in Plano, connecting the city with eleven other suburbs. Several bus lines and a recent light rail project has increased transportation to and from the area, which has created more attention and interest in the flat lands.