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The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area, an official title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, encompasses 12 counties within the U.S. state of Texas. Three of these counties--Collin, Rockwall, and Denton--are among the top 100 richest counties in the United States.
The area is divided into two distinct metropolitan divisions: Dallas–Plano–Irving and Fort Worth–Arlington. Residents of the area informally refer to it as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, DFW, or The Metroplex.
It is the economic and cultural hub of the region commonly called North Texas or North Central Texas and is the largest land-locked metropolitan area in the United States.[3]
The 2011 official estimate U.S. Census has the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex at 6,526,548 [4] making it the largest metropolitan area in the South.
During the 12-month period from July 2008 to July 2009, the Dallas-Fort
Worth-Arlington metropolitan area gained 146,530 new residents, more
than any other metropolitan area in the United States.[5][6]
The area's population has grown by about one million since the last census was administered in 2000.[7] The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington MSA is, by population, the largest metropolitan area in Texas, the largest in the South, the fourth-largest in the United States, and the tenth-largest in the Americas.
The metroplex encompasses 9,286 square miles (24,100 km2) of total area: 8,991 sq mi (23,290 km2) is land, while 295 sq mi (760 km2) is water, making it larger in area than the U.S. states of Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. It is also the sixth largest gross metropolitan product (GMP) in the United States,[8] and approximately tenth largest by GMP in the world.
There's a reason I wanted to open today's Friday report with some impressive statistics about DFW. That's because I want to talk about the entertainment one can find it this week.
Naturally, Dallas gets all the first run movie blockbusters. The big talk this week is the opening of the third and final intallment of The Batman triology starring Christian Bales, The Dark Knight Rises. This no doubt promises to break box office records in spite of the fact that some critics have panned it.Â
The critics at Rotten Tomatoes.com, after roundly criticizing the flick, got so many protests that they had to take the critique down or risk it shutting down their site. Â
That may be why the critic for Guide, the weekend insert in the Dallas Morning News gave it a non-threatening B+. The writer did state that unless one had seen the two previous parts of the trilogy that he would be lost watching this one. That leaves me out. Breaks my heart! Actually, I am much more interested in seeing Mighty Mike.
Even more fun would be going to The Palladium Ballroom where Tenacious D, the mock rock band of Jack Black and Kyle Glass are appearing this weekend. For those who may think of him as only a comedian, Jack Black is a gifted guitarist and singer as well. He and his guitarist partner have gained a cult following and their 2008 movie, Tenacious D In The Pick of Destiny, featured small roles by Amy Poeler, Tim Robbins, Dave Grohl, Ben Stiller, Meat Loaf and many others, all fans of Jack and his good friend Kyle.
Then, I could scoot on over to the House of Blues to listen to that sweet Southern baritone, Darius Rucker, belt out some blues country. You may remember him as rocker Hootie (with his Blowfish). I loved him then too.
He has, as a solo artist, made quite an impressiion in the CW venue, becomming only the second black American ever to win A CMA since Charley Pride.
His first two CD's Learn to Love and 2010's Charleston, SC 1966 have spun off five Number One hits and earned him two Grammys.
In theater, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying is currently playing in Garland; and Company is onstage at the Jubilee Theater.
The author of War Horse, the British author Michael Morpugo, is giving a reading today at the Prairie Creek Branch Library.
There's so much more, art exhibits, plays and music everywhere.
That's all for now...See you next week with more from Dallas.
Statistics provided by Wikipedia.com