Texas A&M University–Commerce is a state university located in Commerce, Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System, the second largest university within the system behind Texas A&M University in College Station. Located within the boundaries of the Dallas – Fort Worth Metroplex, approximately fifty five miles from downtown Dallas, the University attracts a remarkable blend of traditional resident students, both from smaller northeast Texas cities and from the Metroplex, and commuters. In addition to the main campus in Hunt County, there are additional satellite buildings in downtown and Mesquite, Texas. Classes from the institution are also offered in McKinney, Texas and Mount Pleasant, Texas as an outreach to students in the geographic region. This university began as the East Texas Normal College in 1889 when founder William Leonidas Mayo opened the doors to a one-building campus in Cooper, Texas, roughly 16 miles northeast of Commerce.