Denton County vs. Kent County
Momentum & Memories
The first week of Counties Across Texas ends with two places that couldn’t look more different, yet feel deeply connected by the Texas spirit. Denton County, home to more than 1 million residents in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, thrives on higher education, innovation, and suburban growth. Kent County, with fewer than 750 people, embodies the quiet determination of rural Texas: rolling plains, ranching life, and deep community ties. One builds the future in classrooms and startups; the other preserves the past through tradition and land stewardship. Both share the belief that local voices matter and that real progress in Texas happens when we respect both the growing cities and the towns that never stopped believing in one another.
Denton County (approx. 1 million)
Anchored by the cities of Denton, Lewisville, and Flower Mound, Denton County blends small-town charm with the opportunities of a major metro region. It’s home to two major universities: the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University while facing challenges around traffic, housing affordability, and infrastructure expansion. Often compared to Austin in terms of its quirkiness and liberal perspective; so much so that it has adopted similar "Keep Denton Weird" and "Keep Denton Beard".
Kent County (approx. 750)
Located in the rolling plains of West Texas, Kent County is known for ranching, oil, and wide horizons. Its county seat, Jayton, is a close-knit community where Friday night lights and local fundraisers keep everyone connected. Challenges include population decline, limited healthcare access, and maintaining essential public services.
Why It Matters
Denton County debates revolve around managing growth responsibly: schools, housing, and transit must keep up with population booms. Kent County debates revolve around preserving rural quality of life and ensuring small towns have the same voice in Austin as growing suburbs. Both remind Texans that good governance means seeing and serving every community.
Why Forward
Forward’s vision is rooted in inclusion, balance, and innovation: the same values that drive both Denton and Kent.
In Denton County, open primaries and Ranked Choice Voting would encourage pragmatic, solutions-focused leadership that represents a broad coalition of educators, small business owners, and families. Fair maps would protect suburban neighborhoods and student communities from being sliced apart for partisan advantage.
In Kent County, those same reforms would ensure that rural Texans are heard, not forgotten. Ranked Choice Voting would empower consensus candidates in low-turnout elections, while open primaries would let local voices choose leaders without partisan interference.
Forward believes that every Texan deserves a system that rewards cooperation over division, and that democracy works best when we elevate solutions whether they come from a university lab or a ranch kitchen table.
Did You Know…
Denton County is home to two major universities and one of Texas’s most vibrant local music scenes.
Like Austin, the city of Denton is a liberal pocket in a diverse county. This leads to a coexistence of political views and an understanding of "Community over Campaign" mentality.
Denton is the birthplace of Jazz Education: the University of North Texas (UNT) established the nation's first jazz studies program, significantly impacting American music culture. Helping the 1 O'Clock lab band win multiple Grammy's.
The entire county of Denton served as a critical Texas frontier nexus (including the Preston Trail), supporting ranching and becoming a state leader in wheat production. This history can be found through the rail system and hiking the historically marked cattle trails.
While livestock and horse raising now account for less than 0.25% of Denton County's multi-billion-dollar economy, this sector remains one of the county's most celebrated agricultural industries, providing a deeply rooted cultural identity that contrasts with the rapidly growing urban environment of the DFW Metroplex.
Kent County has one of the lowest population densities in the state: less than one person per square mile.
Why Texans Love Living Here
Denton County residents love the blend of small-town soul and big-city opportunity — concerts, coffee shops, and community pride. Kent County residents love the open skies, quiet strength, and the feeling that everyone’s part of the same family. Both remind us that Texas hospitality isn’t just a phrase, it’s a way of life.
Key Events That Bring Neighbors Together
Denton Arts & Jazz Festival: a free community celebration of music, food, and creativity held every spring.
People & Tech Created This
The profiles and shared challenges were gathered from Texas Forward Party supporters and written using ChatGPT and Gemini models to combine verified public data, official county/state sources, and general knowledge from Texas historical and government records, including, but not limited to:
