Indian community now comprises 14 percent of Collin County population
Fernando Garcia, Guest Contributor|April 18, 2017
“Me and my family moved here in 2014 and used to live in Plano. But because Plano was so overpopulated, we thought we’d take our chances with the fast developing Frisco,” junior Jaya Balakumar said. “I feel like many Indian families find Frisco attractive because there’s a lot of opportunities here for kids and the school district is known for amazing performance in education and extracurriculars.” (from left: sophom*ore Sathya, Vanishree, Balasubramaniyan and junior Jaya Balakumar)
Frisco is the nation’s fastest growing city and is home to a vast amount of diversity with reasonably priced suburban homes for middle class families. It’s also becoming increasingly more appealing to immigrant families, especially ones from India. “My dad’s job and the quality of education got me to Frisco,” junior Havish Gattu said. “Since most Indian families are nuclear ones, it really works well with the number of schools in Frisco.” “ There’s a lot of opportunities here for kids and the school district is known for amazing performance in education and extracurriculars, — junior Jaya Balakumar Gattu’s experience is part of a trend with the Indian community comprising 14 percent of the population in Collin County. “Me and my family moved here in 2014 and used to live in Plano. But because Plano was so overpopulated, we thought we’d take our chances with the fast developing Frisco,” junior Jaya Balakumar said. “I feel like many Indian families find families attractive because there’s a lot of opportunities here for kids and the school district is known for amazing performance in education and extracurriculars.”
Frisco’s growing diversity and cultural acceptance is a draw for many Indian families.
“There are many people accepting of different cultures and traditions,” Balakumar said. “Which really frames the community as an accepting and pleasant one to be apart of.”
One of the major draws for Indian families is the 2015 opening of the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple on Independence Parkway.
“It gives us a public place to pray so it’s great,” Gattu said. “It may be a slight pull factor, however I honestly believe that temples are only established because of other Indian families coming to Plano and Frisco. This is most likely because of the quality of the education here as well as the present ethnic communities of Indian people.”
Ultimately it’s parents that make the decision to move and for the Balakumar family, Frisco presented a great opportunity.
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We moved here for better education for me and my sister. We have relatives living here so we decided to live in Frisco,
— junior Devanshi Pudsalla
“Frisco is a very fast developing city which brings many more opportunities for success,” mom Vanishree Balakumar said. “This was the main motivating factor for us to move to Frisco compared to everywhere else. Apart from this, with the already large Indian population present in Collin County, it is more comfortable for families like us to be around people from nation as well, which is why many Indians keep moving to Frisco. It offers more opportunities for kids and adults.”
The influx of families from India doesn’t appear to be slowing. Junior Devanshi Pudsalla and her family moved here in May 2014 from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India with Frisco ISD one of the primary factors in her family’s decision.
“Honestly, we moved here for better education for me and my sister. We have relatives living here so we decided to live in Frisco,” junior Devanshi Pudsalla said. “Education is what attracted us to move here. When I was in India, I feel like I have accomplished a lot. I have gained confidence and greater self-esteem through this change.”
As a seasoned observer and enthusiast with a deep understanding of the factors influencing migration patterns within the Indian community in the United States, particularly in Collin County, I can shed light on the various dimensions at play in the article you've provided.
The central theme revolves around the growing presence of the Indian community in Collin County, with a particular focus on the city of Frisco. This phenomenon is underscored by statistical evidence, as the article states that the Indian community now comprises 14 percent of the population in Collin County. This demographic shift is a result of multiple factors, including economic opportunities, educational prospects, and a welcoming cultural environment.
Frisco, touted as the nation's fastest-growing city, serves as a magnet for immigrant families, notably those from India. The city's appeal lies not only in its rapid development but also in its diverse and reasonably priced suburban homes, catering to middle-class families. Education emerges as a significant driver, with the school district gaining recognition for outstanding performance in both academics and extracurricular activities.
Junior Jaya Balakumar's experience, echoed by others in the article, exemplifies the trend. The decision to relocate from Plano to Frisco was motivated by the desire for better opportunities for children and the commendable performance of the school district. This sentiment is reinforced by the assertion that Frisco is conducive to nuclear Indian families due to the abundance of schools.
Cultural acceptance and diversity play pivotal roles in attracting Indian families to Frisco. The community is portrayed as accepting and pleasant, with an emphasis on the welcoming atmosphere that embraces various cultures and traditions. The opening of the Karya Siddhi Hanuman Temple in 2015 is highlighted as a significant factor, providing a public place for prayer and contributing to the cultural fabric that attracts Indian families.
The narratives of individual families, such as the Gattus and Pudsallas, offer firsthand insights into the decision-making process behind moving to Frisco. Quality education is consistently cited as a primary motivator, with the presence of relatives and a burgeoning Indian population in Collin County adding to the comfort and appeal.
In summary, the article underscores a multifaceted pull factor drawing the Indian community to Frisco, ranging from educational opportunities and cultural acceptance to economic prospects and community support. The evidence provided through personal stories and statistical data aligns with broader trends in immigration and settlement patterns, making Frisco a focal point for Indian families seeking a thriving and inclusive environment.
