“What’s that body of water doing way up here?” I imagine Peter F. Lucas asked himself. He settled here in the 1840s. We are standing before Lucas Lake Dam. It is located in Collin County Texas.
Lucas Lake Dam resides in a place with a story. The town of Lucas was named after Peter’s son Gabriel. Gabriel opened a store in 1870. For almost 100 years, Lucas was an agricultural town. The town grew cotton and corn.
In 1947, Lucas had only 100 residents. It also had two stores and a gin. There was also a school and a softball field. Two churches completed the town.
But, Dallas grew. New housing arrived. Lucas changed from farming to a suburb. Lucas incorporated in 1970. By 1984, the population was 1,500. Newcomers worked in Dallas. The gin, school, and softball field disappeared. In 1990, the population was 2,205. By 2000, it reached 2,890.
Lucas Lake Dam sits at N31.81351 degrees and W94.93022 degrees. It is 278 feet above sea level. You can find it on the USGS map Reklaw, TX.
Lucas is bordered by several places. Fairview is to the north. Allen is to the west. Parker is to the southwest. Wylie is to the south. St. Paul is to the southeast. Wylie is again to the southeast. Lavon Lake is to the east.
Lucas offers big-city amenities in a small-town setting. The city has ordinances for its citizens. These cover animal control and recycling. They also cover trash collection. The city promotes public welfare and health. It also ensures safety.
In 2017, Lucas had 7,483 people. It is the 285th largest city in Texas. The population density is 519.29 people per square mile. The median age is 38.2 years. For every 100 females, there are 89.2 males.
In 2017, there were 1,979 households. The median home has nine rooms. It is valued at $544,800. The median household income is $151,188.
Lucas has seven school districts. Lovejoy is one of them. Allen is another. McKinney, Plano, Princeton, and Wylie are also included.
Lucas Lake Dam is more than just a dam. It’s a landmark. It reflects the changes in Lucas. It has gone from farming town to a growing suburb. Lucas Lake Dam stands as a testament to the area’s past and present.