45 Fascinating Photos Capture Street Scenes of Denton in the Late 1970s

Denton is a city in and the county seat of Denton County, Texas, United States. It is the 27th-most populous city in Texas, the 197th-most populous city in the United States, and the 12th-most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

Located on the far north end of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in North Texas on Interstate 35, Denton is known for its active music life; the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, and Thin Line Fest attract over 300,000 people to the city each year.

The city experiences hot, humid summers and few extreme weather events. With over 45,000 students enrolled at the two universities located within its city limits, Denton is often characterized as a college town. As a result of the universities’ growth, educational services play a large role in the city’s economy. Residents are served by the Denton County Transportation Authority, which provides commuter rail and bus service to the area.

These fascinating photos were taken by Alec Williams that show street scenes of Denton in the late 1970s.

Secondhand Rose on Fry Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1977

1047 Gregg Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1977

A blurry Final Exam on Fry Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1977

An old abandoned house in Denton, Texas, 1977

Dairy Queen on Sherman Drive before it was four lanes, Denton, Texas, 1977

Denton Bicycle Center, Denton, Texas, 1977

Denton County National Bank, Denton, Texas, 1977

Earthware on Fry Street looking east-northeast, Denton, Texas, 1977

Evers house after the fire, Denton, Texas, 1977. This shot of the house was taken from West Hickory, looking north

Girl at Hamburger Stand, Denton, Texas, circa 1977

Girl at the corner of Avenue A and Hickory, Denton, Texas, 1977

Looking due north from the parking lot of the Emily Fowler Public Library. The Texas Woman's University Clock Tower is visible in the background, Denton, Texas, 1977

McDonald's on West University Drive in Denton, Texas, 1977

Morrison Milling from South Locust Street, Denton, Texas, 1977

Pizza Hut on W. Hickory, Denton, Texas, 1977

Russell's Department Store, Denton, Texas, 1977

Tel-Tronix mural, Denton, Texas, 1977

Texas Building, Denton, Texas, 1977

The Depot on Fry Street, Denton, Texas, 1977

Turbo Laundry on Sherman Drive, Denton, Texas, circa 1977

University Drive at Bolivar looking east, Denton, Texas, 1977

View of the east side of the Square in Denton, Texas, circa 1977

View of the Shoe Shack on Avenue A, Denton, Texas, 1977

A house on West Hickory Street in Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Artist's colony in the flames, Denton, Texas, 1978

Bell Avenue looking north near the intersection of University Drive, Denton, Texas, 1978

Fry Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Gregg Street looking east towards the Square in Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Hickory Creek on Fry Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Hubbard Hall at Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Kroger Food Store, Denton, Texas, 1978

Looking north along Elm Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Old house with porch on Gregg Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Rudra Ashram complex on Congress Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Sherman Drive construction, looking due south, with two of the high rise dorms at Texas Woman's University in the background, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Sherman Drive looking north, Denton, Texas, 1978

The 1896 County Courthouse in Denton, Texas, 1978

The Mulberry at the intersection of Avenue A and Mulberry, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

View of Elm Street looking south, Denton, Texas, 1978

West Hickory shows Voertman's on the left, Denton, Texas, 1978

West Oak Street looking due west, Denton, Texas, circa 1978

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid at the Campus Theatre in Denton, Texas, 1979

Northwest corner of the square looking east, Denton, Texas, circa 1979

Our Country Kitchen was located at 514 S. Locust Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1979

Zoom Zooms Kegs was located at 500 S. Locust Street, Denton, Texas, circa 1979