DENTON

city, seat (1857) of Denton County, northern Texas, U.S. Denton is situated about 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Dallas Fort Worth. Permanently settled in 1857 and named for John B. Denton, a Texas frontiersman and Indian fighter, the city, although in an industrial and agricultural region, is largely a cultural, research, and educational centre, with the University of North Texas (1890), Texas Woman's University (established as Girls Industrial College in 1901), and Denton State School (1960) for the mentally retarded. It is the site of the first federal regional emergency centre, headquarters for civil defense, disaster, and preparedness operations in a five-state area. Inc. 1866. Pop. (1993 est.) 69,167.