GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JULY | AUGUST 2018 39 The City of Allen has only been an established town for 65 years, but its history dates back to the 1800’s. What was once a town full of rich railroad heritage and only 400 residents in the early 1950’s now ranks in second place on MONEY’s 2017 Best Places to Live in America list. With nearly 98,000 community members, Allen is only expected to grow into an even larger and more prosperous city. There is an abundance of things to do within the city, from the prestigious Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm to attending an Eagle’s game at the famous Allen Eagles’ Stadium. There are so many events to choose from each and every weekend and the close to 1,200 acres of park grounds allow for hours of endless outdoor fun. The school system is also a big draw; the district has been ranked as one of the best in the state of Texas, and Allen students routinely outperform the state averages in both reading and math. Allen is bursting with excitement and adventure, and there is truly something for everyone. Whether you just plan to visit, or if you’ve been consider making the move to Collin County, Allen is the place to be. LAST YEAR, MONEY MAGAZINE RATED ALLEN THE SECOND-BEST PLACE TO LIVE IN AMERICA.  GOOD LIFE FAMILY REVEALS SOME OF THE REASONS WHY. By Erin O’Connell andTriciaWhite IT'S ALL ABOUT ALLEN LASTYEAR, MONEY MAGAZINE RATED ALLENTHE SECOND-BEST PLACETO LIVE IN AMERICA.  WHY? I think it’s a combination of big-city amenities and small-town feel. You don’t have to drive more than a few miles to enjoy more than 200 restaurants, unique shopping destinations, award-winning parks and trails, performances from local theatre, ballet and orchestra groups and more. At Allen Event Center you can root for our Allen Americans hockey team or see favorite musical acts like Meghan Trainor or Steve Miller Band. With just one high school, the community roots for our hometown Allen Eagles every Friday night during football season and supports our other athletes, artists and scholars year-round. With both US 75 and SH 121 running through our city, we have easy access to amenities and employers all over the metroplex. But if you talk to our residents, most will tell you they find all they need in Allen! WHAT DO ALLEN RESIDENTS HAVETO LOOK FORWARDTO? We are most excited about development along one of our main highway corridors, State Highway 121, which anticipates the presence of major headquarters or corporate hubs. More than office parks, these “mini cities” will feature urban shopping, dining and living options connected by trails, parks and open spaces. As our population grows, we are also expanding our city amenities to include a new recreation center, fire station, library expansion, police training center, parks, trails and roadways in the coming years. Q A AND STEPHENTERRELL | MAYOR OF ALLEN As Allen’s mayor since 1997, Stephen Terrell has helped Allen grow from a small town of 34,000 to a vibrant city of nearly 100,000. During his tenure, Allen has welcomed numerous major retail and employment centers, helping to create a more diverse and sustainable tax base. Mayor Terrell and his wife, Sally, have a son, daughter and two grandchildren. Continued on Pages 40–42