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Kaufman is a city in Northeast Texas and the seat of Kaufman County, located about 35 miles southeast of downtown Dallas on the eastern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The community's development was tied to the railroads: two lines reached the area and established Kaufman as the shipping point for county farmers, spurring growth through the late 1800s. By 1884 the town counted about 1,000 residents, four churches, two schools, an opera house, and forty businesses. Its early civic life even included minor-league baseball, with the 1915 Kaufman Kings playing in the Class D Central Texas League. Roughly 11,300 people live in the city today, while Kaufman County as a whole has grown past 200,000 residents as the Metroplex extends eastward. Kaufman remains, at heart, a county-seat town, with a courthouse square and a compact historic core that anchor civic life and give the community its sense of place. The city is served by Kaufman Independent School District, which covers Kaufman and surrounding portions of the county. Outdoor recreation centers on Kaufman City Lakes Park, a 232-acre facility offering fishing, boating, hiking, picnicking, and playgrounds, complemented by neighborhood parks such as Shannon Park and the Phillips Circle Open Area. For residents, Kaufman combines a small-town pace with practical access to Dallas, about 35 minutes away by car along the U.S. 175 corridor. New neighborhoods have grown alongside the historic core, giving the city a family-oriented, rural-suburban character that appeals to commuters seeking room, local schools, and a quieter daily rhythm while staying within reach of the Metroplex's jobs and amenities.

Population 11,318

County Kaufman

Active Listings 235

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Kaufman, Texas in?

Kaufman is located in Kaufman County, Texas, in the northeastern part of the state, and it serves as the county seat. The city sits southeast of Dallas on the eastern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

How far is Kaufman from Dallas?

Kaufman is roughly 33 to 36 miles southeast of downtown Dallas, and the drive by car typically takes about 35 minutes. Most commuters travel along the U.S. 175 corridor toward Dallas and the wider Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

What school district serves Kaufman?

Kaufman is served by Kaufman Independent School District, a public district that covers the city and surrounding portions of Kaufman County. The district operates elementary, middle, and high school campuses for area students.

What is Kaufman known for?

Kaufman is known as the Kaufman County seat with a railroad-era history. Two rail lines once made the city a shipping point for county farmers, and by 1884 it had about 1,000 residents, two schools, an opera house, and forty businesses.

What parks are in Kaufman?

Kaufman City Lakes Park is the city's signature outdoor space, spanning 232 acres with fishing, boating, hiking, picnicking, and playground areas. Additional neighborhood parks such as Shannon Park and the Phillips Circle Open Area add local green space.

City Guide

About Kaufman

Real Estate & Housing

Kaufman's housing stock mixes its historic county-seat core with newer residential growth. The older part of town holds established homes near the courthouse square and the historic commercial district, while recent decades have brought new single-family neighborhoods to the city's edges as the Metroplex expands eastward. Lot sizes tend to be comfortable, and the surrounding Kaufman County countryside offers acreage and rural properties. The market is centered on families and commuters drawn by Kaufman ISD, local parks, and the roughly 35-minute drive to Dallas.

Neighborhoods

Kaufman is organized around its historic courthouse square and central commercial district, where older homes and civic buildings reflect the city's railroad-era origins. Newer subdivisions extend from the core, and the city's parks map out its residential geography: Shannon Park sits in the northwest part of town, while the Phillips Circle Open Area lies to the east. The 232-acre Kaufman City Lakes Park stands just outside the center as a major green anchor. This layout gives Kaufman a traditional county-seat center ringed by newer family neighborhoods and open space.

Lifestyle in Kaufman

Kaufman offers a small-town, county-seat way of life within commuting distance of Dallas. Civic life centers on the courthouse square and the rhythms of a county government town, while the City Lakes Park and neighborhood parks give families easy outdoor recreation. The community has added new neighborhoods while holding onto its small-town character, and residents enjoy a quieter pace than the urbanized core of the Metroplex. With Dallas about 35 minutes away, Kaufman suits households that want room, local schools, and a slower daily rhythm without losing access to the region's jobs and amenities.

Schools & Education

Kaufman is served by Kaufman Independent School District, a public district covering the city and surrounding portions of Kaufman County. The district operates elementary, middle, and high school campuses serving the community's families. As the county seat's home district, Kaufman ISD is a central institution in local life, and its schools are a common reason families cite for choosing the area as the region continues to grow east of Dallas.

Getting Around

Kaufman sits about 33 to 36 miles southeast of downtown Dallas, with a drive of roughly 35 minutes along the U.S. 175 corridor. Direct commuter rail or express bus service from Kaufman into Dallas is limited, so most residents commute by car, often combining driving with regional transit closer to the city. The city's position on the eastern edge of the Metroplex keeps Dallas-Fort Worth's employment, air travel, and entertainment within reach while allowing a small-town setting at the end of the commute.

Parks & Recreation

Kaufman's recreation is anchored by Kaufman City Lakes Park, a 232-acre facility with fishing, boating, hiking trails through oak hammocks and wildflower fields, picnicking, and playgrounds. The city also maintains neighborhood parks, including Shannon Park in the northwest and the Phillips Circle Open Area to the east, providing fields and open space for residents. The surrounding Kaufman County countryside offers additional trails, lakes, and rural recreation, while Dallas's larger entertainment and cultural venues remain within about a 35-minute drive.

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