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Milford is an incorporated rural community in the southwestern corner of Ellis County, in North Central Texas. It sits along U.S. Highway 77, adjacent to the Interstate 35E corridor, roughly twenty miles south of Waxahachie and about midway between Dallas–Fort Worth and Waco. With a population of about 720, Milford is one of the smaller municipalities in the county, but it retains an independent identity built around its school and its farming heritage. The community's name combines "mill" and "ford," a reference to the mill that once stood at a nearby stream crossing. Milford grew as an agricultural and shipping community in the late 1800s and early 1900s, serving the surrounding cotton and grain farms, and for generations it has remained a compact, largely residential town. The town's population has ebbed and flowed with the fortunes of rural Texas, reaching a low point in the late 1960s before stabilizing as a small bedroom community within reach of the metroplex. Today Milford's economy and daily life are modest in scale. The school district is the community's anchor, and many residents commute to jobs in Waxahachie, Hillsboro, or points along the I-35 corridor, while others work in agriculture and local trades. The town offers a quiet, unhurried pace with a short main-street corridor and surrounding rural acreage. Hillsboro lies a short distance to the south along I-35, and Waxahachie, the Ellis County seat, provides county services, shopping, and its historic courthouse square to the north. For homebuyers, Milford offers small-town living with relatively quick freeway access to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a one-campus school where students attend from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and a low-density housing stock. It suits families and individuals who want a rural North Texas setting and the community closeness of a small school without being far removed from larger cities and their amenities.

Population 722

County Ellis County

Active Listings 49

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Milford, Texas in?

Milford is located in Ellis County, Texas, in the southwestern corner of the county. The town sits along U.S. Highway 77 near Interstate 35E, about twenty miles south of the county seat of Waxahachie.

What school district serves Milford, Texas?

Milford is served by the Milford Independent School District, a small 1A district that operates a single PK–12 campus for the entire town. The district's athletic teams, known as the Bulldogs, are a major source of community pride.

How far is Milford from Dallas?

Milford is about twenty miles south of Waxahachie and sits roughly midway between the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and Waco along the Interstate 35E corridor, putting downtown Dallas roughly fifty miles to the north.

How did Milford, Texas get its name?

Milford's name combines 'mill' and 'ford,' referring to the mill that once operated at a nearby stream crossing. The community grew as an agricultural and shipping town serving the surrounding cotton and grain farms.

What is there to do in and around Milford, Texas?

Milford is a quiet, small-town community with a one-campus school and a rural setting. Nearby Lake Whitney and the Brazos River offer outdoor recreation, while Waxahachie and Hillsboro provide shopping, dining, and services.

City Guide

About Milford

Real Estate & Housing

Milford's housing stock is modest and low-density, reflecting the town's rural character. Homes are primarily single-family residences, with a mix of older frame and brick houses on established town lots and a smaller amount of newer construction. Some properties include larger yards, and the surrounding countryside offers acreage and farm parcels for buyers seeking more space. The town's compact scale means most homes are within easy walking or driving distance of the school and main street.

Neighborhoods

Milford is a compact community without distinct named subdivisions, so its residential areas blend together around the school and the main-street corridor. Older homes cluster near the center of town, while newer and larger lots tend to sit on the edges. The overall feel is that of a small rural Texas town, where tree-lined streets and wide front yards are common and neighbors are close-knit.

Lifestyle in Milford

Life in Milford revolves around the school, local churches, and the rhythm of rural North Texas. High school athletics, particularly the Bulldogs' football and basketball teams, are a central gathering point, and community events draw residents together. Weekday life is quiet, with most shopping and services found in nearby Hillsboro or Waxahachie. The town's small size fosters familiarity, while its position on the I-35 corridor keeps the metroplex within commuting reach.

Schools & Education

Milford is served by the Milford Independent School District, a small 1A district operating a single PK–12 campus that educates roughly 260 students. The district's Bulldogs teams and its close student-teacher relationships are defining features of the community. The one-campus arrangement means students attend school together from pre-kindergarten through graduation. Nearby Waxahachie and Hillsboro offer additional school options, and community colleges in the region provide higher education pathways.

Getting Around

Milford sits along U.S. Highway 77, which runs parallel to Interstate 35E and serves as a local route between Waxahachie and Hillsboro. The I-35E interchange is minutes away, placing Dallas about fifty miles to the north and Waco roughly forty miles to the south. Most commuting is by car, and the town's small size keeps daily trips short. Regional air travel is available through Dallas–Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field airports.

Parks & Recreation

Recreation around Milford leans toward the outdoors of rural North Texas. Lake Whitney and the Brazos River lie within a short drive for boating, fishing, and camping, while nearby Waxahachie offers its historic courthouse square, seasonal events, and parks. Hillsboro's outlet shopping and the Texas countryside provide additional weekend destinations. Within town, school athletic events and community gatherings anchor the social calendar.

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