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, Denton is largely a cultural, research, and educational centre; institutions include the University of North Texas (1890), Texas Woman’s University (1901), North Central Texas (junior) College (1924), 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. The Denton County Historical Museum contains many artifacts, including a reconstructed Victorian house, relating to the area’s history. Inc. 1866. Pop. (2000) 80,537; (2010) 113,383.This article was most recently revised and updated by Kenneth Pletcher, Senior Editor.