Annexation history of Keller Texas

1. The 1969 Annexations
Three key months that
shaped the City of Keller
By Mark Dumas

2. Keller –1959
(White area indicates 2010 city limits)
ORD. No. 15
Oct 15, 1959
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1959
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 11
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959

3. Early 1960’s Annexations
ORD. No. 22
Oct 19, 1961
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
Little progress is made in Keller between 1959 and 1968 as Hurst,
Southlake, North Richland Hills, Bedford & Colleyville are growing
towards the city.

4. Hurst Blocks the East
ORD No. 306 (Jul 27, 1965)
ORD. No. 22
Oct 19, 1961
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
Hurst annexes a 50’ strip to block Keller, NRH, Colleyville, Bedford
and Southlake. Prior Ord No. 184 (Feb 14, 1961) annexed 50’ strip
up Precinct Line Road and Davis Blvd.

5. The Need to Annex
• In 1968, newly appointed Councilman Allen Dumas started
studying annexation rules because the city would need tax
money to support newly created departments (police, city
courts, inspectors, maintenance, etc.)
• Keller was a “General Rule” city. To annex, the property
owners had to petition the city and the limit was ½ mile at a
time.
• Annexation to the north was not an option. As a “General
Rule” city, landowners had to petition the city. With no
apparent threat of annexation from other cities, the
landowners had no incentive to join Keller.
• Annexation east would be a challenge due to Hurst’s
Ordinance No. 306 from 1965. This ordinance annexed a 50’
strip of land adjacent to the existing eastern boundary line of
Keller (Keller-Smithfield Road).
• After learning of Hurst’s intentions, Bandit trail residents
wanted to discuss with the city council about coming into
Keller.
• Mayor Billy Henderson asked Councilman Allen Dumas to
meet with them since he was studying annexation procedures.
• The Bandit trail group scheduled a meeting at 9-acres. Their
Lawyer was present and trying to convince the group to start a
new city.
• Councilman Dumas convinced them that no city would allow
them to create a city within their extra-territorial boundaries,
and also convinced them that they would have a bigger voice
in Keller than Hurst.
• The outcome of this meeting was that the group would petition
to come to Keller.

6. The Need to Annex
• Knowing Hurst’s strip violated the extra territorial jurisdiction of
Fort Worth, a meeting was arranged with Fort Worth. During
this meeting, it was agreed that Keller would not annex West
of the railroad tracks, and Fort Worth would not annex east of
the tracks.
• Fort Worth also agreed to challenge Hurst’s annexation if
needed. This would allow Councilman Dumas to continue.
• Keller did not have money to pay a surveyor, but the
properties and roads were conveniently ½ mile apart which
allowed Councilman Dumas to create the needed ordinances
by himself.
• The first annexation was written by Councilman Dumas and
approved by the City Council in January 1969.
• A total of five annexations were written by Councilman Dumas
and executed by the end of March 1969.
• For each annexation, the petitions were gathered door-to-door
by the highly motivated Bandit Trail volunteers.
• These annexations more than doubled the size of Keller, and
paved the way for Keller to become a “Home Rule” city and
expand North.

7. The Goal: Bandit Trail
ORD. No. 22
Oct 19, 1961
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
Bandit Trail
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959

8. The Plan
This is the original plan drafted by Councilman Dumas. The plan
was for 6 annexations based on the known boundaries of
neighboring cities.

9. Ordinance No. 58
January 20, 1969
ORD. No. 22
Oct 19, 1961
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 42
May 1968
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
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10. Ordinance No. 61
February 3, 1969
ORD. No. 22
Oct 19, 1961
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
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11. Ordinance No. 62
• These are Councilman Dumas’s agenda notes for the February
3rd City Council meeting.
• On these notes, he identifies that NRH Ordinance No. 240
contains common ground as Keller Ordinance No. 62.
• The notes state “We must have special meeting Sat. or Richland
Hills will have the second reading the following Monday”.
• The notes also state “Last !!!!”, indicating that this should be
discussed at the END of the meeting.

12. Ordinance No. 62
Special Meeting February 8, 1969
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 3, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
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Ordinance approved 2 days before NRH, and part of Green
Valley Raceway obtained.

13. NRH Ord. No. 240
February 10, 1969
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 3, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
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Although Keller Ordinance No. 62 contains a portion of Green
Valley, NRH gets to the remainder of Green Valley 1 week
before Keller Ordinance No. 63.

14. Ordinance No. 63
February 17, 1969
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 3, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 62
ORD. No. 12 Feb 8, 1969
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
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ORD. No. 62
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Feb 8, 1969
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15. Ordinance No. 64
March 3, 1969
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 3, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958 ORD. No. 63
Feb 17, 1969 ORD. No. 64
Mar 3, 1969
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 62
ORD. No. 12 Feb 8, 1969
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58 ORD. No. 63
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 17, 1969
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ORD. No. 62
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Feb 8, 1969
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Bandit Trail is annexed into the City of Keller.

16. 1969 Annexations
(Overall)
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958 ORD. No. 63
Feb 17, 1969 ORD. No. 64
Mar 3, 1969
These annexations
over a 3 month period
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
increased the size of
ORD. No. 12
Apr 15, 1959
Keller by more than ORD. No. 62
Feb 8, 1969
2.5 times
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 63
Feb 17, 1969
ORD. No. 62
Feb 8, 1969

17. Related Lawsuits
• Ratcliff & Southlake vs. City of Hurst
– Cause 50687C
• Tarrant County – 48th Judicial District
• November 1967
• Claiming Hurst Ordinances 184 & 306 should be null
and void.
• March 1970 – conclusion that these ordinances are
valid
– 17126
• Court of Civil Appeals for the 2nd Supreme Judicial
District of Texas
• Opinion Jun 1970 – ordinances are valid with the
exception of area defined in Exhibit B.
• Opinion Sep 1970 – On a motion for rehearing, the
previous opinion was withdrawn. The Judgment is
reversed and declares the Ordinances void.
• NRH & Hurst vs. City of Keller
– Cause 96-166-70
• NRH & Hurst vs. Keller (initiated by Hurst)
• 96th Judicial District court of Tarrant County
• Filed January 16, 1970
• August 1971 filing – based on the prior decision of the
Fort Worth Court of Civil Appeals, and in view of the
fact that the Supreme Court of Texas has held Hurst’s
Ordinances No. 184 and 306 void, the City of Hurst
removes themselves from the Cause.
• Judgment October 12, 1971 – Southeastern
Boundaries agreed.

18. Hurst/NRH vs CoK
(Cause 96-166-70, Jan 1970 to Oct 1971)
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 3, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958 ORD. No. 63
Feb 17, 1969 ORD. No. 64
Mar 3, 1969
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 62
ORD. No. 12 Feb 8, 1969
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 63
Feb 17, 1969
Judgment Setting City Boundary
Cause 96-166-70
ORD. No. 62 Oct 12, 1971
Feb 8, 1969

19. Southlake Release
(ORDINANCE NO. 99, April 17, 1972)
ORD. No. 61 ORD. No. 22
Jan 20, 1969 Oct 19, 1961 ORD. No. 61
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969 Feb 3, 1969
ORD. No. 15 ORD. No. 21
Oct 15, 1959 Sep 22, 1961
Keller City Limits ORD. No. 8
Prior to ORD. No. Apr 28, 1958
7 April 17, 1958
Apr 17, 1958
ORD. No. 7
ORD. No. 9
Jun 19, 1958 ORD. No. 9963
ORD. No.
Feb 17, 1969 ORD. No. 64
Apr 17, 1972
Mar 3, 1969
Releasing to Southlake
ORD. No. 31, Feb 26, 1965 &
ORD. No. 11
ORD. No. 32, Mar 1, 1965
Mar 2, 1959
ORD. No. 62
ORD. No. 12 Feb 8, 1969
Apr 15, 1959
ORD. No. 13
May 21, 1959
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 58
Jan 20, 1969
ORD. No. 63
Feb 17, 1969
Judgment Setting City Boundary
Cause 96-166-70
ORD. No. 62 Oct 12, 1971
Feb 8, 1969