Arlen, Texas: The Fictional Home of 'King of the Hill'

Arlen, Texas does not exist. It is a fictional city created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels for the animated series King of the Hill (1997–2010).

Inspiration & Setting Clues

• Based on: Richardson, Texas (north Dallas suburb) where Judge lived, blended with Arlington (where he went to high school) and generic North Texas suburbs.
• County: Fictional "Heckman County."
• Landmarks: Strickland Propane, Sugarfoot's, Arlen High, Tom Landry Middle, Mega Lo Mart, the alley.
• Vibe: Middle-class, conservative, lawn-obsessed, football-centric, sprawl-adjacent.

Real Texas Towns Often Confused

None. Fans sometimes visit Garland, Plano, or Allen looking for "Arlen." The show's specificity (Whataburger, H-E-B, Dallas Cowboys obsession, cedar fever) makes it feel authentically Texan, but the zip code 750xx is fictional.