Back

The Colony is a city in Denton County, Texas, positioned along the eastern shore of Lake Lewisville in the northern Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Bordered by Lewisville to the west, Carrollton to the south, and Plano and Frisco to the east, it occupies a central location in one of the region's fastest-developing corridors. Its population was 44,534 in the 2020 census, and the city brands itself the "City by the Lake," reflecting its defining geographic feature. The name traces to the Peters Colony, a mid-19th-century land-grant settlement that covered much of North Texas. The modern city was incorporated in 1977 and later absorbed the small lakeside community of Eastvale. Lake Lewisville itself took shape in the 1950s, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the dam that created the reservoir, and the lake has shaped The Colony's recreation and identity ever since. Today The Colony blends established neighborhoods with newer development, anchored commercially by Grandscape, one of the largest mixed-use projects in the region, home to Nebraska Furniture Mart and a broad collection of restaurants, retail, and entertainment. That development, along with the lakefront and the city's park system, gives The Colony a self-contained quality unusual for a mid-sized suburb. The city is notable for its open space, with more than 20 parks and thousands of acres of parkland, including the lakefront Stewart Creek Park, a shoreline trail system, and a dedicated dog park. Lewisville ISD serves the community, including The Colony High School. With Frisco's employment and retail just across the city line and Dallas reachable via the Sam Rayburn Tollway and Dallas North Tollway, The Colony offers lakeside living with strong commuter access across North Texas.

Population 46,496

County Denton

Active Listings 273

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is The Colony in?

The Colony is a city in Denton County, Texas, and a suburb of Dallas. It sits on the eastern shore of Lake Lewisville, bordered by Lewisville, Carrollton, Plano, and Frisco.

Why is it called The Colony?

The name refers to the Peters Colony, a mid-19th-century land-grant settlement that covered much of North Texas. The modern city was incorporated in 1977 and later absorbed the small lakeside community of Eastvale.

What school district serves The Colony?

The Colony is served by Lewisville Independent School District, which operates The Colony High School and several elementary and middle schools in the city. Private and charter options are available in the surrounding area.

What is Grandscape?

Grandscape is a large mixed-use development in The Colony, anchored by Nebraska Furniture Mart and featuring restaurants, retail, entertainment, and public gathering space. It is one of the largest such projects in North Texas and a regional destination.

What is there to do outdoors in The Colony?

Residents enjoy boating, fishing, and lakefront recreation at Stewart Creek Park on Lake Lewisville, plus more than 20 city parks, a shoreline trail system, and a dog park. The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area offers nearby hiking and wildlife viewing.

City Guide

About The Colony

Real Estate & Housing

The Colony's housing stock spans its growth from a 1970s-era suburb to a present-day North Texas destination. Established neighborhoods hold single-family homes from the 1970s through 1990s, while newer master-planned communities and apartment communities cluster near Grandscape and along the tollways. Townhomes and rental options serve young professionals and employees of the area's retail and corporate sectors. Lake-adjacent properties and neighborhoods near Stewart Creek offer premium settings. Compared with neighboring Frisco and Plano, The Colony is frequently positioned as a more value-oriented entry point to the same school and employment ecosystem.

Neighborhoods

The Colony's neighborhoods are spread across a compact footprint between Lake Lewisville and the tollways. The city's original districts hold mature, established homes, while newer subdivisions line the eastern and northern edges near Grandscape and the Sam Rayburn Tollway. The Austin Ranch area and lakefront communities near Stewart Creek Park offer lakeside and trail-oriented living. Because the city abuts Frisco and Plano, many residents treat those cities' commercial districts — Legacy West, The Star, and the Shops at Legacy — as extensions of their own neighborhood.

Lifestyle in The Colony

Life in The Colony revolves around the lake, the parks, and Grandscape. Residents boat, fish, and kayak on Lake Lewisville, walk the shoreline trail, and use the city's extensive park network for sports and picnics. Grandscape supplies a major dining and entertainment district with restaurants, live events, and retail that draw visitors from across the metroplex. Community events, public art installations, and theatre companies add local character. The lifestyle is suburban and family-oriented, with the convenience of Frisco and Plano's amenities immediately adjacent.

Schools & Education

The Colony is served by Lewisville Independent School District, one of the larger and well-regarded districts in Denton County, which operates The Colony High School and multiple elementary and middle campuses within the city. The district's rating and the availability of advanced coursework and extracurricular programs are key draws for families. Private and charter options are also accessible in the surrounding cities, and higher-education access includes nearby Collin College and the University of North Texas system campuses in Denton.

Getting Around

The Colony sits between two major tollways — the Sam Rayburn Tollway (State Highway 121) along its northern edge and the Dallas North Tollway just to the east — giving residents fast access to Plano, Frisco, DFW International Airport, and downtown Dallas. US 380, State Highway 121, and Interstate 35E provide additional routes, with Lewisville's rail station on the A-train/DART network nearby. The city's lakefront setting and growing trail network make it walkable in core areas, though most regional trips are car-based.

Parks & Recreation

Lake Lewisville is The Colony's recreational centerpiece, with Stewart Creek Park providing lakefront beaches, boat ramps, fishing, and picnic areas. The city maintains more than 20 parks and thousands of acres of open space, among the highest park acreage per capita in Texas, plus the Pawsome Playground dog park and a shoreline trail network. The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) sits nearby for hiking and wildlife viewing, while Arbor Hills Nature Preserve in Plano and Frisco's parks extend the options across the city line.

MARKET SNAPSHOT