West Lake Hills, Texas is one of the more valuable residential suburbs of Austin. Located in Travis County, it has a relatively modest history, and is moderately young, especially in comparison to some of the historically rich suburbs of the Austin area.
The town was incorporated in 1953, and was created as a small, family oriented suburb for the workers of the city. The city grew very slowly, and has continued its growth since at the same slow pace. In 1960, the population was approximately 700 people. By 1970, it had doubled to around 1400 people. It continued to grow at a similar pace ever since. In 1980, it had around 1900 residents, about 2500 in 2000, and a little more than 3100 in 2008.
What started as a humble residential area on the outskirts of Austin has changed into something quite different along the way, however. Whereas it was initially an area created for blue collar workers, it has now become one of the higher-end suburbs of the Austin area.
All of the average financial figures of the town are considerably higher than those of most of the other Austin suburbs, from median income, to per capita income, to median home price. The Median income in West Lake Hills is a little over $130,000 a year. The average for the rest of Texas is only little more than $47,000. The per capita average income for the town is slightly more than $66,000, almost $40,000 per year higher than the average per capita income of the rest of the state.
Unlike the rest of the nation, the average home price in West Lake Hills has not seen a rapid decline in the last few years. It seems as though the village, as a whole has been largely unaffected by the housing crisis and recession that has affected so many other Austin areas and suburbs. In 2000, the average home price in West Lake Hills was $300,400. By the last fiscal quarter, that price had risen to over $505,000. To put this in perspective, the average home price for the entire state of Texas is only $120,900.
The area continues to be a town that is in high demand, and the properties located within maintain a high level of desirability. It is not surprising to find multiple million dollar properties for sale in the town of West Lake Hills, however, the one trend that has been universal, even in this austere suburb, has been the decline in sales. There are two main factors to this phenomenon. First, once people have a home in the town, they typically do not want to leave, and second, as a recession hits, it becomes harder for new people to afford homes in the area.
For a town with such humble beginnings, West Lake Hills has elevated itself to a very desirable level of distinction.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Wells Creek, Texas (Unnamed Copywriting)
Wells Creek, Texas, a small suburb of Austin has a history that has been forgotten by most, but, especially in our time of modern patriotism, is one that should be brought back to the forefront. The small town was originally created as nothing less than a monument to a soldier of Texas, long before it was simply a suburb of Austin.
In the very early 19th century, a local Austin man by the name of Martin Wells was raising a family in the small town of Mina, now known as Bastrop. He had a wife and a son, Wayman. He was a proud member of local government, and upstanding member of the community. He and his family were happy.
But, within Texas, there was unrest. Colonists of the area desperately wanted independence from Mexico, and were slowly deciding that they were ready to fight for it. In the two year period of 1835 and 1836, two major events happened that would forever shape what was to later become Wells Creek. First, in 1835, Texas settlers made their decision and took arms against Mexico in a fight for their independence. Second, in 1836, Martin died of natural causes, leaving Wayman on his own as a man.
Shortly after his father’s death, Wayman joined the revolution, and was a fierce participant. He was a part of numerous battles throughout the war, but made his mark as a hero in the Battle of San Jacinto in April of 1836, when Texas won its freedom.
Because of his heroics in the battle, Waymon was awarded a land grant from Stephen F. Austin, the namesake of another Texas town, as well as one from the newly formed Republic of Texas. The land was approximately 1,170 acres nestled against a branch of Little Walnut Creek. Wayman and his new wife, Mary Emily, moved to the land and built a residence there.
The town of Austin grew up around them and Wayman became active in the politics and civic activities of the city. He became the Travis County Commissioner, and later, the trustee for the Austin Insane Asylum. He had a home at 912 W. 26th St., and remained living there until his death in 1878.
The branch of the creek was named in his honor as Wells Branch, and later, the whole of his original land that was granted to him in honor of his service to Texas was also named for him as the town of Wells Creek.
In the very early 19th century, a local Austin man by the name of Martin Wells was raising a family in the small town of Mina, now known as Bastrop. He had a wife and a son, Wayman. He was a proud member of local government, and upstanding member of the community. He and his family were happy.
But, within Texas, there was unrest. Colonists of the area desperately wanted independence from Mexico, and were slowly deciding that they were ready to fight for it. In the two year period of 1835 and 1836, two major events happened that would forever shape what was to later become Wells Creek. First, in 1835, Texas settlers made their decision and took arms against Mexico in a fight for their independence. Second, in 1836, Martin died of natural causes, leaving Wayman on his own as a man.
Shortly after his father’s death, Wayman joined the revolution, and was a fierce participant. He was a part of numerous battles throughout the war, but made his mark as a hero in the Battle of San Jacinto in April of 1836, when Texas won its freedom.
Because of his heroics in the battle, Waymon was awarded a land grant from Stephen F. Austin, the namesake of another Texas town, as well as one from the newly formed Republic of Texas. The land was approximately 1,170 acres nestled against a branch of Little Walnut Creek. Wayman and his new wife, Mary Emily, moved to the land and built a residence there.
The town of Austin grew up around them and Wayman became active in the politics and civic activities of the city. He became the Travis County Commissioner, and later, the trustee for the Austin Insane Asylum. He had a home at 912 W. 26th St., and remained living there until his death in 1878.
The branch of the creek was named in his honor as Wells Branch, and later, the whole of his original land that was granted to him in honor of his service to Texas was also named for him as the town of Wells Creek.
Taylor, Texas (Unnamed Copywriting)
Taylor, Texas is a town started by business, supported by business, and a town that created its own monumental Texas businesses afterward. The town was born solely by the Texas Land Company, the state’s largest company at the time, and went on to create the state’s first large savings and loan company.
In 1876, it was known to the Texas Land Company that the International-Great Northern Railroad was planning on building a new line through what would now be Taylor. In anticipation of the arrival of the railroad, the company split its land in the area into lots and auctioned them off.
The lots were largely bought by railroad executives, and they created a town. The town was named after a railroad executive named Edward Moses Taylor. Initially, it was named Taylorsville, but the name was shortened to Taylor when the town was officially incorporated in 1882.
Originally, the town was settled by Czechoslovakian and other Slavic immigrants, and later also attracted numerous immigrants from Germany and Austria. These immigrants found success when the railroad line was finally built through the town. It became a busy shipping point on the railroad for cattle, grain, and cotton.
The town grew very quickly, based on the success of its shipping business. By 1878, the town had over 1,000 residents, and over 32 businesses. It was a thriving frontier town, full of individual success. However, 20 of the local businesses were ruined in a fire that consumed the town in 1879. The future looked bleak for the town, until, in 1882, the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railroad brought a second railroad line through the town.
Having two separate railroad lines run through the town made it easy to rebuild, as there was now a need for not only a shipping industry in the town, but now also a need for a machine shop industry and a roundhouse to service both lines. The majority of the businesses that were destroyed in the fire were rebuilt by 1890, and the economy of the town was again thriving. The town opened the state’s first savings and loan to handle the economy of the bustling town.
Taylor remained an economic powerhouse throughout the end of the century and attracted such novel new business as an electric company, a cotton compress, and many different newspapers. It grew throughout the turn of the century, until larger neighboring towns, such as Austin began to eclipse it, and started to steal new businesses away from it. By the last census, the town had grown to a level of over 13,000 residents.
In 1876, it was known to the Texas Land Company that the International-Great Northern Railroad was planning on building a new line through what would now be Taylor. In anticipation of the arrival of the railroad, the company split its land in the area into lots and auctioned them off.
The lots were largely bought by railroad executives, and they created a town. The town was named after a railroad executive named Edward Moses Taylor. Initially, it was named Taylorsville, but the name was shortened to Taylor when the town was officially incorporated in 1882.
Originally, the town was settled by Czechoslovakian and other Slavic immigrants, and later also attracted numerous immigrants from Germany and Austria. These immigrants found success when the railroad line was finally built through the town. It became a busy shipping point on the railroad for cattle, grain, and cotton.
The town grew very quickly, based on the success of its shipping business. By 1878, the town had over 1,000 residents, and over 32 businesses. It was a thriving frontier town, full of individual success. However, 20 of the local businesses were ruined in a fire that consumed the town in 1879. The future looked bleak for the town, until, in 1882, the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railroad brought a second railroad line through the town.
Having two separate railroad lines run through the town made it easy to rebuild, as there was now a need for not only a shipping industry in the town, but now also a need for a machine shop industry and a roundhouse to service both lines. The majority of the businesses that were destroyed in the fire were rebuilt by 1890, and the economy of the town was again thriving. The town opened the state’s first savings and loan to handle the economy of the bustling town.
Taylor remained an economic powerhouse throughout the end of the century and attracted such novel new business as an electric company, a cotton compress, and many different newspapers. It grew throughout the turn of the century, until larger neighboring towns, such as Austin began to eclipse it, and started to steal new businesses away from it. By the last census, the town had grown to a level of over 13,000 residents.
Sam Marcos, Texas (unnamed copywriting)
San Marcos, Texas can not only boast that is the oldest human settlement in Texas, but also that it is argued to be as old as the oldest human settlement in the northern hemisphere. This town, a substantial suburb of Austin, has been teeming with life for over 10,000 years.
Archaeologists have found proof of the existence of the Cloivis culture, a prehistoric Paleolithic Indian culture first appearing directly after the Ice Age, throughout the area of San Marcos. Among the archaeological sites found in the area has been proof of continued human habitation ever since.
In 1689, a group of Spaniards exploring the area reached the river at San Marcos after traveling for months from Mexico. Their journey had been a trying one, and upon reaching the river, they stopped for a much-needed break. The day that they happened to reach the river was April 25, also known as the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist. For this reason, the Spaniards named the river the San Marcos.
The first modern village on the location was created in the year 1808 when a small group of Mexican farmers settled at the river crossing and built homes. The village was short-lived, however, as the farmers were continually plagued by flood and Indian attack. In 1812, the settlers abandoned the village.
The area remained vacant until 1846 when the first Anglo settlers inhabited it. A small town was created around the springs of the San Marcos River, and for the next two years it slowly grew. In mid-1848, the Texas Legislature created a new county, named Hayes. They designated San Marcos as the county seat, and set the borders of Hayes County so that San Marcos would be close to the center.
The town became a business center. It was active in milling, ginning, and was an active market for agricultural products. The river was later dammed, and the waterpower was used to create even more mills. The businesses were, in and of themselves, enough to continually attract new settlers to the area, but the added help that came from the addition of the International-Great Northern Railroad line to the city made the population grow at a very rapid pace.
A university was opened here in 1899, focusing on the education of new teachers. The university steadily grew and expanded its breadth. It has gone through a few different incarnations, but has continually grown. The university is still there, now known as Texas State University, and boasts a student body consisting of over 28,000 people.
During World War II, the city attracted men from many neighboring towns, due to its production jobs. Most of the businesses in the area were converted to help with the war effort, and as a result, job creation skyrocketed, and with it so did the town's population.
In the 1960s, two popular tourist attractions were opened in the city. Aquarena Springs and Wonder World caused tourism to become a major part of San Marcos' thriving economy. The population continued to grow throughout the 60s, and when neighboring Austin experienced a large population growth of its own, San Marcos started growing even faster as a result. Since the late 70s, the town has continued to see steady growth, and as of the last census, it could boast over 35,000 residents.
Archaeologists have found proof of the existence of the Cloivis culture, a prehistoric Paleolithic Indian culture first appearing directly after the Ice Age, throughout the area of San Marcos. Among the archaeological sites found in the area has been proof of continued human habitation ever since.
In 1689, a group of Spaniards exploring the area reached the river at San Marcos after traveling for months from Mexico. Their journey had been a trying one, and upon reaching the river, they stopped for a much-needed break. The day that they happened to reach the river was April 25, also known as the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist. For this reason, the Spaniards named the river the San Marcos.
The first modern village on the location was created in the year 1808 when a small group of Mexican farmers settled at the river crossing and built homes. The village was short-lived, however, as the farmers were continually plagued by flood and Indian attack. In 1812, the settlers abandoned the village.
The area remained vacant until 1846 when the first Anglo settlers inhabited it. A small town was created around the springs of the San Marcos River, and for the next two years it slowly grew. In mid-1848, the Texas Legislature created a new county, named Hayes. They designated San Marcos as the county seat, and set the borders of Hayes County so that San Marcos would be close to the center.
The town became a business center. It was active in milling, ginning, and was an active market for agricultural products. The river was later dammed, and the waterpower was used to create even more mills. The businesses were, in and of themselves, enough to continually attract new settlers to the area, but the added help that came from the addition of the International-Great Northern Railroad line to the city made the population grow at a very rapid pace.
A university was opened here in 1899, focusing on the education of new teachers. The university steadily grew and expanded its breadth. It has gone through a few different incarnations, but has continually grown. The university is still there, now known as Texas State University, and boasts a student body consisting of over 28,000 people.
During World War II, the city attracted men from many neighboring towns, due to its production jobs. Most of the businesses in the area were converted to help with the war effort, and as a result, job creation skyrocketed, and with it so did the town's population.
In the 1960s, two popular tourist attractions were opened in the city. Aquarena Springs and Wonder World caused tourism to become a major part of San Marcos' thriving economy. The population continued to grow throughout the 60s, and when neighboring Austin experienced a large population growth of its own, San Marcos started growing even faster as a result. Since the late 70s, the town has continued to see steady growth, and as of the last census, it could boast over 35,000 residents.
Round Rock, Texas (unnamed copywriting)
Round Rock, Texas, and inner ring suburb of Austin located in Travis County Texas, is a town on the rise. Like many other Austin suburbs, Round Rock benefited greatly from Austin's population explosion of the late 1970s. However, unlike the rest of the Austin suburbs, Round Rock used Austin's population explosion to create an even stronger one in their own town.
Round Rock has had a banner year. Its praises have been sung by numerous publications and its growth continues to increase. Last August, Round Rock was named as the seventh best small-town to live in of America. This would have given Round Rock more than enough cause for bragging within Texas, but compounding the victory was the fact that no other town in Texas even made the list.
The basis for this decision was the record numbers that Round Rock was showing. The average median income within the town was a towering $85,000, a considerably higher amount than the rest of Texas's average. Along with the high level of median income was an incredibly high level of new job growth. At just over a 45%, Round Rock's new job rate soared over the national average of only 18.8%.
Later, in July of 2009, Round Rock garnered more awards. It was in this month that CNN named the city the second fastest growing city in the nation. The city's rate of population growth, over 8 1/2%, can easily be witnessed by watching the historic trends in the census poll. In 2000, the town had a population of just under 80,000 people. However, by 2008, it already reached a level of population of over 150,000 people. However, it was not always this way.
Round Rock had humble beginnings. It was started as a small community on Brushy Creek in 1851. The location of the town was chosen because it was next to an area of the Creek that contained a large round rock in the middle of the creek that made fording the creek extremely easy. Because of its ease of crossing, this became one of the first destinations on the Chisholm Trail, and as a result brought in numerous settlers.
The town grew into a frontier town and had its share of "Wild West" stories, but the best known is that of train robber Sam Bass. It was in the town of Round Rock that Bass was eventually hunted down and avoided capture with the epic gunfight known as "the Sam Bass Shoot out". The shoot out is still remembered, and is in fact reenacted annually in Round Rock's downtown area.
Round Rock has had a banner year. Its praises have been sung by numerous publications and its growth continues to increase. Last August, Round Rock was named as the seventh best small-town to live in of America. This would have given Round Rock more than enough cause for bragging within Texas, but compounding the victory was the fact that no other town in Texas even made the list.
The basis for this decision was the record numbers that Round Rock was showing. The average median income within the town was a towering $85,000, a considerably higher amount than the rest of Texas's average. Along with the high level of median income was an incredibly high level of new job growth. At just over a 45%, Round Rock's new job rate soared over the national average of only 18.8%.
Later, in July of 2009, Round Rock garnered more awards. It was in this month that CNN named the city the second fastest growing city in the nation. The city's rate of population growth, over 8 1/2%, can easily be witnessed by watching the historic trends in the census poll. In 2000, the town had a population of just under 80,000 people. However, by 2008, it already reached a level of population of over 150,000 people. However, it was not always this way.
Round Rock had humble beginnings. It was started as a small community on Brushy Creek in 1851. The location of the town was chosen because it was next to an area of the Creek that contained a large round rock in the middle of the creek that made fording the creek extremely easy. Because of its ease of crossing, this became one of the first destinations on the Chisholm Trail, and as a result brought in numerous settlers.
The town grew into a frontier town and had its share of "Wild West" stories, but the best known is that of train robber Sam Bass. It was in the town of Round Rock that Bass was eventually hunted down and avoided capture with the epic gunfight known as "the Sam Bass Shoot out". The shoot out is still remembered, and is in fact reenacted annually in Round Rock's downtown area.
Rollingwood, Texas (unnamed copywriting)
Rollingwood, Texas, located a few miles south of Austin, Texas in Travis County, is a relatively new town to Texas, and as such, is a town full of residents with pride for their community. This Austin suburb was only recently created, and has taken pride in the fact that it has always maintained its own municipal services. It is a town full of civic responsibility and great passion for government.
Rollingwood was founded in 1955 by George B. Hatley. At least founded the town and proceeded to develop the area, creating the whole community himself. Small idyllic community that he created slowly brought in new residents. By 1965, the town was incorporated and had a population of almost 400 people. The residents decided on a mayor-council form of government, and from the very beginning have been known to be very impassioned on all the works and acts of the government.
By 1970, this impassioned viewpoint of their city had attracted enough new residents to nearly double their population to almost 800 people. From the beginning, the municipality strove to be independent of the larger cities around them, specifically Austin. As for this reason that from the outset, Rollingwood maintained its own police and fire departments.
Rollingwood continue to grow at a steady pace. In 1980 there were approximately 1100 residents. By 1990, there were almost 1300 residents. In this number had grown again by the year 2002 to a level of almost 1400 residents.
The civic pride and close proximity to Austin have always made at Rollingwood a popular and expensive place for real estate. It is for this reason that Rollingwood, possibly more than any other Austin suburb, has resisted the effects of the recent housing crisis and recession. In fact, Rollingwood has not only resisted housing value decline, it is actually continued to increase, in terms of housing value, up to the level that it currently is.
While the average home price throughout Texas is only $120,000, the average home price in Rollingwood is nearly $450,000. In the year 2000, however, the average home price in Rollingwood was only approximately $250,000. The level of increase that Rollingwood is shown in its average home price throughout the recession is unmatched by any of the other Austin area suburbs. It is for this reason that Rollingwood typically has less home sales and other Austin suburbs, and in that area is desirable enough that most residents do not want to leave.
Rollingwood was founded in 1955 by George B. Hatley. At least founded the town and proceeded to develop the area, creating the whole community himself. Small idyllic community that he created slowly brought in new residents. By 1965, the town was incorporated and had a population of almost 400 people. The residents decided on a mayor-council form of government, and from the very beginning have been known to be very impassioned on all the works and acts of the government.
By 1970, this impassioned viewpoint of their city had attracted enough new residents to nearly double their population to almost 800 people. From the beginning, the municipality strove to be independent of the larger cities around them, specifically Austin. As for this reason that from the outset, Rollingwood maintained its own police and fire departments.
Rollingwood continue to grow at a steady pace. In 1980 there were approximately 1100 residents. By 1990, there were almost 1300 residents. In this number had grown again by the year 2002 to a level of almost 1400 residents.
The civic pride and close proximity to Austin have always made at Rollingwood a popular and expensive place for real estate. It is for this reason that Rollingwood, possibly more than any other Austin suburb, has resisted the effects of the recent housing crisis and recession. In fact, Rollingwood has not only resisted housing value decline, it is actually continued to increase, in terms of housing value, up to the level that it currently is.
While the average home price throughout Texas is only $120,000, the average home price in Rollingwood is nearly $450,000. In the year 2000, however, the average home price in Rollingwood was only approximately $250,000. The level of increase that Rollingwood is shown in its average home price throughout the recession is unmatched by any of the other Austin area suburbs. It is for this reason that Rollingwood typically has less home sales and other Austin suburbs, and in that area is desirable enough that most residents do not want to leave.
Pflugerville, Texas (unnamed copywriting)
Pflugerville, Texas, a suburb of Austin, located in Travis and Williamson counties was founded in the 1800s. It went through periods of growth, rapid decline, and finally resurgence. It successfully fought annexation from Austin and is now its own municipality and suburb.
The namesake of the town, Henry Pflueger, Senior, was a German immigrant and one-time wealthy farmer. However, while still in Germany, Pflueger lost his fortune and found financial ruin. The Prussian War caused all of Pflueger's land to be taken from him. Pflueger fled Germany and emigrated to the Texas area. With his final $1600 he purchased 160 acres of land 2 miles east of Austin. He and his family stayed on this land for a few years and in 1849 he traded the land for larger plot about 5 miles east of what is now Pflugerville. They are, he and his family built a five room log cabin and started farming.
It was not until after the Civil War that Pflugerville would start to find settlers. Another family, headed by William Bohls, followed the Pfluegers and built a house on the neighboring property. The Bohls family opened a general store and a post office in their home, and named a post office after Pflueger. Shortly thereafter, a Lutheran church and a small community school or opened, and residents started pouring in.
In 1904, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad completed a line between Austin and Georgetown. This line ran just outside of Pflugerville, as a result over the next two decades, the population of Pflugerville doubled from 250 to 500. During this time, Pflugerville built a thriving Main Street, despite the fact that most residents did the majority of their business and shopping in the town of Round Rock, located 8 miles to the northwest.
The railroad attracted a lot of businesses to the area, which in turn attracted a lot more settlers. The first business to land in the area was a steam powered cotton gin, which attracted cotton farmers from around the county. Later an ice factory was built beside the cotton gin, in 1913, a movie theater was built in the town, the Skye Dome Theatre. The theater played silent movies, accompanied by a piano player.
The depression and later, World War II, caused a sharp decline in population in Pflugerville, as many left for bigger cities in the attempt to find work. After World War II, the population fell back to a level of only 250 people. It was not until the 1960s that Pflugerville would find its resurgence. In 1965 the town was incorporated, and had a population of 750 people. This number would slowly grow until the population boom felt in Austin in the 70s had its effect here as well. Since then, Pflugerville has thrived as a suburb of Austin, and by 2000, its population had skyrocketed to over 11,000 people.
The namesake of the town, Henry Pflueger, Senior, was a German immigrant and one-time wealthy farmer. However, while still in Germany, Pflueger lost his fortune and found financial ruin. The Prussian War caused all of Pflueger's land to be taken from him. Pflueger fled Germany and emigrated to the Texas area. With his final $1600 he purchased 160 acres of land 2 miles east of Austin. He and his family stayed on this land for a few years and in 1849 he traded the land for larger plot about 5 miles east of what is now Pflugerville. They are, he and his family built a five room log cabin and started farming.
It was not until after the Civil War that Pflugerville would start to find settlers. Another family, headed by William Bohls, followed the Pfluegers and built a house on the neighboring property. The Bohls family opened a general store and a post office in their home, and named a post office after Pflueger. Shortly thereafter, a Lutheran church and a small community school or opened, and residents started pouring in.
In 1904, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad completed a line between Austin and Georgetown. This line ran just outside of Pflugerville, as a result over the next two decades, the population of Pflugerville doubled from 250 to 500. During this time, Pflugerville built a thriving Main Street, despite the fact that most residents did the majority of their business and shopping in the town of Round Rock, located 8 miles to the northwest.
The railroad attracted a lot of businesses to the area, which in turn attracted a lot more settlers. The first business to land in the area was a steam powered cotton gin, which attracted cotton farmers from around the county. Later an ice factory was built beside the cotton gin, in 1913, a movie theater was built in the town, the Skye Dome Theatre. The theater played silent movies, accompanied by a piano player.
The depression and later, World War II, caused a sharp decline in population in Pflugerville, as many left for bigger cities in the attempt to find work. After World War II, the population fell back to a level of only 250 people. It was not until the 1960s that Pflugerville would find its resurgence. In 1965 the town was incorporated, and had a population of 750 people. This number would slowly grow until the population boom felt in Austin in the 70s had its effect here as well. Since then, Pflugerville has thrived as a suburb of Austin, and by 2000, its population had skyrocketed to over 11,000 people.
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