Georgetown, Texas
Encyclopedia
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat
of Williamson County
, Texas
, United States
with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University
, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square. Sun City Texas
(formerly called Sun City Georgetown
) is a large retirement-oriented and age restricted development which constitutes more than one-third of the population of Georgetown.
Georgetown has a notable range of Victorian
commercial and residential architecture. In 1976 a local historic ordinance was passed to recognize and protect the significance of the historic central business district and in 1977 the Williamson County
Courthouse Historic District, containing some 46 contributing structures, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Georgetown is called the "Red Poppy" Capital of Texas for the many red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) wildflowers planted throughout the city and in many residents' front yards, which bloom each Spring. Georgetown also holds a Red Poppy Festival in April each year. The festival attracts up to 30,000 visitors annually.
Geographically, Georgetown lies across the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line that divides Georgetown into areas roughly east of Interstate 35
in the Blackland Prairie which is flat farmland characterized by having black, fertile soils, where cotton is the primary crop; and the west side of the Escarpment which consists of hilly, karst-like
terrain pocketed with vugular limestone
openings that allow water to percolate through the limestone and into the Edwards Aquifer below. The area typically has little topsoil and has higher elevations, and is considered part of the Texas Hill Country
.
Central Business District
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 24.9 square miles (64.6 km2), of which 22.8 square miles (59.1 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (8.42 percent) is water.
The city is located on the northeastern edge of Texas Hill Country
. Portions of Georgetown are located on either side of the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line in which the areas roughly east of IH-35 are flat and characterized by having black, fertile soils of the Blackland Prairie
, and the west side of the Escarpment which consists mostly of hilly, karst-like
terrain with little topsoil and higher elevations and which is part of the Texas Hill Country
. Inner Space Cavern
, a large cave
, is a major tourist attraction found on the south side of the city, just west of Interstate 35, Interstate 35
and is a large-scale example of limestone karst formations.http://www.myinnerspacecavern.com/
The North and middle fork of the San Gabriel River
both run through the city, providing over 30 miles of hike and bike trails, several parks and recreation for both residents and visitors.
in Travis
and Williamson counties. There are invertebrate species found only in Williamson county and which live in the cave-like fissures on the west side of Georgetown. Karst topography
is the name for the honeycomb type limestone formations (including caves, sinkholes and fissures) that are typical in the county's limestone geology west of Interstate 35
. In the 1990s a small group of concerned landowners and developers formed the Northern Edwards Aquifer Resource Council (NEARC) with the goal of obtaining a United States Fish and Wildlife Service
10-A permit (known as an Incidental Take Permit
) for the entire county by identifying and preserving a sufficient number of caves with endangered species to ensure survival of the species., These species would be preserved through voluntary donations of land rather than required setbacks and other involuntary means typically enforced on landowners without an incidental take permit. The group transferred their successful work on an Environmental Impact Statement
to the county in 2002 and a county-wide 10-A permit was obtained in October 2008.
of 2000, there were 28,339 people, 10,393 households, and 7,711 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,241.3 people per square mile (479.3/km2). There were 10,902 housing units at an average density of 477.5 per square mile (184.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.39% White, 3.39% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.31% from other races
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.07% of the population. The residents include Baseball hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan
.
There were 10,393 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,098, and the median income for a family was $63,338. Males had a median income of $40,541 versus $27,082 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,287. About 4.4% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Winters in Georgetown have highs in the 50s and 60’s with a few days dropping near freezing, providing the region with one or two ice storms per season. On the other hand, a few days will reach well above the average. It is not uncommon for the region to experience 80’s well into December and 70's in January.
Fall, winter and spring all average about two to three inches of rain per month while July and August are the driest averaging only one to two inches and sometimes will provide no precipitation at all. Most of what rain does fall during the long summer months comes from the outflow of Gulf storms that are often pushed away from the region by a large summer high pressure.
Georgetown sees over 300 days of at least partly cloudy skies per year with over 225 of those days being mostly sunny to sunny.
Georgetown has been the site of human habitation since at least 9,000 B.C., and possibly considerably before that. The earliest known inhabitants of the county, during the late Pleistocene (Ice Age), can be linked to the Clovis culture
, a Paleo-Indian culture that first appeared around 9200 B.C., and possibly as old as 11,500 B.C. at the end of the last glacial period, and characterized by the manufacture of the distinctive "Clovis points." One of the most important discoveries in recent times is that of the ancient skeletal remains dubbed "The Leanderthal Lady" because of its age and proximity to Leander, Texas
. The site is immediately southwest of Georgetown and was discovered by accident by Texas Department of Transportation
workers while drilling core samples for a new highway. The site has been extensively studied for many years and samples carbon date to the Pleistocene
period at approximately 10,500 years ago (8500 BC). Archeological dig sites showing a much greater evidence of Archaic Period inhabitants has been recovered from burned rock middens at several sites along the San Gabriel that are now inundated by Granger Lake, and at the confluence of the North and South San Gabriel Rivers in Georgetown.
s, were a flint-working, hunting people who followed buffalo
on foot and periodically set fire to the prairie to aid them in their hunts. During the eighteenth century they made the transition to a horse culture and used firearms to a limited extent. There also appear to have been small numbers of Kiowa, Yojuane, Tawakoni, and Mayeye Indians living in the county at the time of the earliest Anglo settlements.
Even after most native Americans were crowded out by white settlement, the Comanches continued to raid settlements in the county until the 1860s.
who donated the land for the new town. Early American and Swedish pioneers were attracted to the area's abundance of timber and good, clear water. In addition, the land was inexpensive and extremely fertile. Georgetown, Texas is the county seat of Williamson County, which was formed on March 13, 1848 after the early settlers petitioned the State Legislature to create it out of Milam County. The county was originally to have been named San Gabriel County, but was instead named after Robert McAlpin Williamson
(aka Three-Legged Willie), a Texas statesman and judge at the time.
Georgetown was an agrarian community for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The [Shawnee Trail]], a cattle trail that led from Texas to the railcenters in Kansas and Missouri, crossed through the heart of Georgetown. The establishment of Southwestern University
in 1873 and construction of a railroad in 1878 contributed to the town's growth and importance. A stable economy developed, based largely on agricultural activity. Cotton was the dominant crop in the area between the 1880s and the 1920s. Williamson County was the top producer of cotton in the State of Texas.
Primarily to transport cattle and bales of cotton, at one time Georgetown was served by two national railroads, the International-Great Northern Railroad
, which eventually was merged into the Missouri Pacific, and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. The regional Georgetown and Granger Railroad (GGR) was completed to Austin
in 1904. Currently, Georgetown is served by the appropriately named Georgetown Railroad
, a 'short line' railroad that uses portions of the former M-K-T and the I-GN to connect with the Union Pacific Railroad at Round Rock
and at Granger.
Extensive damage and loss of life throughout the county from a 1921 flood led Georgetown to seek flood control. A low pressure system from a hurricane settled in over Williamson County and brought more than 23 inches of rain in Taylor and 18 plus inches of rain in Georgetown. An estimated 156 persons perished in the flood, many of them farm laborers . The flood and its horrific destruction culminated in the building of a dam on the north fork of the San Gabriel River to create and impound Lake Georgetown
, which opened officially on October 5, 1979. Both Georgetown and Round Rock own the water rights to Lake Georgetown for municipal water use.
Population growth and industrial expansion continued modestly in the twentieth century until about 1960 when residential, commercial, and industrial development, due to major growth and urban expansion of nearby Austin, greatly accelerated. In 2008, Fortune Small Business Magazine named Georgetown the No. 2 best city in the nation to "live and launch" a new business.
where the La Frontera
project now sits. It was cut into pieces and moved to Georgetown and restored. It is known locally as the Burkland-Frisk house as it was built by an early settler in Williamson County, Leonard Frisk, and was later owned by Tony Burkland, a relative of the Frisk family. The house originally set across the street from an identical twin house, which was used in the filming of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
and which was also cut into seven pieces and was moved to Kingsland, Texas
to become a part of the Antlers Hotel (Kingsland, Texas)
. It was moved in 2006 and restored by the developers of La Frontera, Don Martin and Bill Smalling (1953–2008) and sits on San Gabriel Village Blvd prominently overlooking the South San Gabriel River
. The house was a "pattern book" house, ordered from a catalog and assembled on site from a package of materials brought by wagon from a local lumber company. Research indicates it was likely built between 1908 and 1910 and is now used as an office.
Georgetown's resurrected interest in its historic resources came at a time when the cost of borrowing money was soaring. Interest rates near 20 percent might have been a deterrent elsewhere. In Georgetown, every bank offered significantly lower interest loans for the renewal of the town's grand Victorian buildings and facades. And rehabilitation tax credit programs in the 1980s made investing in historic property an even more lucrative enterprise. By 1984, 40 rehabilitations were complete. A mere two years after its Main Street program was founded, more than half the Main Street district had undergone some kind of positive transition.
In the town's historic neighborhoods, adaptive restoration has been widely practiced as well, with special emphasis on the private restoration of older homes. The city was recently named one of the best places to purchase a historic house. Today, Georgetown is home to one of the best preserved Victorian and Pre-WW1 downtown historic districts, with The Beaux-Arts Williamson County Courthouse (1911) as its centerpiece. Due to its successful preservation efforts, Georgetown was named a national Main Street City in 1997, the first Texas city so designated.
Georgetown has three National Register Historic Districts:
Part of this is because Sun City Texas
,a large master-planned community for "active adults 55 and over," calls Georgetown home. Fifteen years after the project groundbreaking, Sun City is now home to nearly 11,000 residents—nearly 70 percent retired with a median age of 65—and has been a driving force behind growth, development and the very shape of Georgetown since its inception. Numerous other active adult communities are also found in Georgetown, including the well-respected Wesleyan at Estrella, the Oaks at Wildwood, Heritage Oaks and many others. Various projects offer differing levels of care including assisted living. The city, county, and churches also maintain compassionate care facilities for the elderly at the Bluebonnet Community Residence.
” city and adopted its initial Home Rule Charter on April 24, 1970. As provided by its charter, Georgetown has a Council-Manager form of government. Under this form of government, the City Council
provides leadership by establishing the City’s goals and policies. The City Council appoints a full-time City Manager
to achieve the desired end set by the City Council. The manager oversees the day-to-day activities of the City, all city departments, and executes Council established laws and policies.
The City Council is composed of seven Council members elected by geographic districts and a Mayor elected at-large. Each position is elected for a term of three years, with council districts with staggered election dates. Paul E. Brandenburg has been the City Manager since 2002.
The Commissioners Court is the overall governing and management body of Williamson County. The Commissioners Court consists of five members. The County Judge presides as chairman over the court, and is elected every four years by all voters in the county. Four Commissioners are elected by single-member precincts every four years. The majority of Georgetown is within Pecinct 3 with a small portion in Precinct 1.
and Georgetown High School
, a National Blue Ribbon Award School, serves the community.
Georgetown is also the home of Southwestern University
. Southwestern is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian. Southwestern offers 40 bachelor's degrees in the arts, sciences, fine arts, and music as well as interdisciplinary and pre-professional programs. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Association of Schools of Music.
through Georgetown. Originally, when first conceived, a Georgetown route was very much in doubt as most alignments had the road going through or near Taylor
. After all, at the time Taylor was the economic hub of Williamson County as the center for agriculture, cotton and cattle. While the Taylor leadership supported the Taylor route, local farmers strongly opposed it. The Interstate would require a then-unheard-of 300 feet of Right of way
across the entire county and through nearby Taylor farms, and many farmers worried that their homes might get cut off from their field. There were concerns about noise relating to cattle and other farm animals, and in general there were concerns about loss of the country way of living. Meanwhile Round Rock
and Georgetown leadership strongly lobbied for a route along the Balcones Escarpment fault line, a line which would later become U.S. Highway 81 and then eventually Interstate 35
.
Southwestern University, historic homes and districts, and a bi-weeky hometown newspaper—the Williamson County Sun—all work together to create a sense of place that make people want to make Georgetown their home. Georgetown also has a high per capita level of college educated people, with many college professors from Southwestern, but also from the University of Texas, living here.
Opened in June 1995, Sun City Texas
is a 5,300-acre (21 km2) age-restricted community located in Georgetown, approximately 10 miles west of IH-35 on Andice Road (FM 1431). It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by the Del Webb Corporation (now a division of Pulte Homes
). Residency is restricted to persons over age 55 (at least one person in a couple has to be 55 or older). Sun City Texas is made up mostly of single family dwellings, but also has duplexes. It is legal to drive golf cars on the streets in the development (under a special Texas license exemption with help from Del Webb) and most shopping and the community facilities all have special parking slots for same.
There has been vocal opposition to the project a times, especially at the start during the zoning process, with arguments against the size of the community, its effect on Georgetown as a family-oriented town, concerns about the costs of providing city utilities, and concern about lowered property taxes fixed for retirees under Texas law, and the disproportionate effect of City voting. Indeed in the 2008 city elections, for example, two residents of Sun City were the only two candidates for Mayor of Georgetown. They also were both formerly elected city council members.
which was discovered by the Texas Highway Department
in 1963 during the construction of Interstate 35
. Several skeletons of prehistoric Ice-Age animals have been found in the caverns. Several miles of cave passage have been surveyed, but many sections of the cave remaining unexplored due to filled-in areas blocking passage. The caverns were carved by water passing through Edwards limestone
. The caverns are estimated to be 90–100 million years old but were only open to the surface since the late Pleistocene
period 20,000–45,000 years ago, evidenced by finds of mammoth
and sabre-toothed cat
bones. The cave was opened to the public in 1966 with over 1.2 miles of passage being open to visitors.
.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Williamson County
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square. Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas is a age-restricted community located in Georgetown, Texas , a city 35 miles north of Austin off I-35. It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by Del Webb.|...
(formerly called Sun City Georgetown
Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas is a age-restricted community located in Georgetown, Texas , a city 35 miles north of Austin off I-35. It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by Del Webb.|...
) is a large retirement-oriented and age restricted development which constitutes more than one-third of the population of Georgetown.
Georgetown has a notable range of Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
commercial and residential architecture. In 1976 a local historic ordinance was passed to recognize and protect the significance of the historic central business district and in 1977 the Williamson County
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
Courthouse Historic District, containing some 46 contributing structures, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Georgetown is called the "Red Poppy" Capital of Texas for the many red poppy (Papaver rhoeas) wildflowers planted throughout the city and in many residents' front yards, which bloom each Spring. Georgetown also holds a Red Poppy Festival in April each year. The festival attracts up to 30,000 visitors annually.
Geographically, Georgetown lies across the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line that divides Georgetown into areas roughly east of Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
in the Blackland Prairie which is flat farmland characterized by having black, fertile soils, where cotton is the primary crop; and the west side of the Escarpment which consists of hilly, karst-like
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
terrain pocketed with vugular limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
openings that allow water to percolate through the limestone and into the Edwards Aquifer below. The area typically has little topsoil and has higher elevations, and is considered part of the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
.
Geography
Georgetown is located at 30.651187°N 97.681333°W (30.651187, −97.681333), 26 miles (42 km) north of Austin'sAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
Central Business District
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 24.9 square miles (64.6 km2), of which 22.8 square miles (59.1 km2) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km2) (8.42 percent) is water.
The city is located on the northeastern edge of Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
. Portions of Georgetown are located on either side of the Balcones Escarpment, a fault line in which the areas roughly east of IH-35 are flat and characterized by having black, fertile soils of the Blackland Prairie
Texas blackland prairies
The Texas Blackland Prairies are a temperate grassland ecoregion located in Texas that runs roughly from the Red River in North Texas to San Antonio in the south.-Setting:...
, and the west side of the Escarpment which consists mostly of hilly, karst-like
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
terrain with little topsoil and higher elevations and which is part of the Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country
The Texas Hill Country is a vernacular term applied to a region of Central Texas featuring tall rugged hills consisting of thin layers of soil atop limestone or granite. It also includes the Llano Uplift and the second largest granite monadnock in the United States, Enchanted Rock, which is located...
. Inner Space Cavern
Inner Space Cavern
Inner Space Cavern is a Karst cave located in Georgetown, Texas. The cave was discovered by the Texas Highway Department in 1963 during the construction of Interstate 35...
, a large cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
, is a major tourist attraction found on the south side of the city, just west of Interstate 35, Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
and is a large-scale example of limestone karst formations.http://www.myinnerspacecavern.com/
The North and middle fork of the San Gabriel River
San Gabriel River (Texas)
The San Gabriel River is a river that flows through central Texas. The San Gabriel River is formed in Georgetown, Texas by the confluence of the North Fork San Gabriel and the South Fork San Gabriel, both of which originate in Burnet County. There are two major impoundments of the river: Lake...
both run through the city, providing over 30 miles of hike and bike trails, several parks and recreation for both residents and visitors.
Major highways
Interstate 35
State Highway 29
State Highway 195
State Highway 130 (Toll Road)State Highway 130 (Texas)State Highway 130, also known as SH 130 and Pickle Parkway, is a tollway from Interstate 35 in Georgetown to US 183 and SH 45 at Mustang Ridge in Central Texas. Portions south of Mustang Ridge are now under construction [As of 7/2010]. When completed, SH 130 will run in a corridor east and...
Endangered species
Georgetown is home to five endangered species. Two endangered species are songbirds protected by the Balcones Canyonlands PreserveBalcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge
Balcones Canyonlands is a National Wildlife Refuge located in the Texas Hill Country to the northwest of Austin, Texas. The Refuge was formed in 1992 to conserve habitat for two endangered songbirds including the Golden-cheeked Warbler and the Black-capped Vireo and to preserve Texas Hill Country...
in Travis
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
and Williamson counties. There are invertebrate species found only in Williamson county and which live in the cave-like fissures on the west side of Georgetown. Karst topography
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
is the name for the honeycomb type limestone formations (including caves, sinkholes and fissures) that are typical in the county's limestone geology west of Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
. In the 1990s a small group of concerned landowners and developers formed the Northern Edwards Aquifer Resource Council (NEARC) with the goal of obtaining a United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
10-A permit (known as an Incidental Take Permit
Incidental Take Permit
An incidental take permit is a permit issued under Section 10 of the Federal Endangered Species Act to private, non-federal entities undertaking otherwise lawful projects that might result in the take of an endangered or threatened species...
) for the entire county by identifying and preserving a sufficient number of caves with endangered species to ensure survival of the species., These species would be preserved through voluntary donations of land rather than required setbacks and other involuntary means typically enforced on landowners without an incidental take permit. The group transferred their successful work on an Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental impact statement
An environmental impact statement , under United States environmental law, is a document required by the National Environmental Policy Act for certain actions "significantly affecting the quality of the human environment". An EIS is a tool for decision making...
to the county in 2002 and a county-wide 10-A permit was obtained in October 2008.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 28,339 people, 10,393 households, and 7,711 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,241.3 people per square mile (479.3/km2). There were 10,902 housing units at an average density of 477.5 per square mile (184.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.39% White, 3.39% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 8.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.07% of the population. The residents include Baseball hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
.
There were 10,393 households out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $54,098, and the median income for a family was $63,338. Males had a median income of $40,541 versus $27,082 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $24,287. About 4.4% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Weather
Georgetown, like much of Central Texas, is characterized by its long and hot summers with cooler, mild winters. The average summer temperature typically reaches 100 degrees for several days during July and August. It is common for highs to be near 90 well into October but by this time the nights are noticeably cooler.Winters in Georgetown have highs in the 50s and 60’s with a few days dropping near freezing, providing the region with one or two ice storms per season. On the other hand, a few days will reach well above the average. It is not uncommon for the region to experience 80’s well into December and 70's in January.
Fall, winter and spring all average about two to three inches of rain per month while July and August are the driest averaging only one to two inches and sometimes will provide no precipitation at all. Most of what rain does fall during the long summer months comes from the outflow of Gulf storms that are often pushed away from the region by a large summer high pressure.
Georgetown sees over 300 days of at least partly cloudy skies per year with over 225 of those days being mostly sunny to sunny.
Prehistoric era
Clovis culture
The Clovis culture is a prehistoric Paleo-Indian culture that first appears 11,500 RCYBP , at the end of the last glacial period, characterized by the manufacture of "Clovis points" and distinctive bone and ivory tools...
, a Paleo-Indian culture that first appeared around 9200 B.C., and possibly as old as 11,500 B.C. at the end of the last glacial period, and characterized by the manufacture of the distinctive "Clovis points." One of the most important discoveries in recent times is that of the ancient skeletal remains dubbed "The Leanderthal Lady" because of its age and proximity to Leander, Texas
Leander, Texas
Leander is a city in Williamson and Travis counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 7,596 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimates the population is now 25,424...
. The site is immediately southwest of Georgetown and was discovered by accident by Texas Department of Transportation
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
workers while drilling core samples for a new highway. The site has been extensively studied for many years and samples carbon date to the Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
period at approximately 10,500 years ago (8500 BC). Archeological dig sites showing a much greater evidence of Archaic Period inhabitants has been recovered from burned rock middens at several sites along the San Gabriel that are now inundated by Granger Lake, and at the confluence of the North and South San Gabriel Rivers in Georgetown.
Early history
The earliest known historical occupants of the county, the TonkawaTonkawa
The Tickanwa•tic Tribe , better known as the Tonkawa , are a Native American people indigenous to present-day Oklahoma and Texas. They once spoke the now-extinct Tonkawa language believed to have been a language isolate not related to any other indigenous tongues...
s, were a flint-working, hunting people who followed buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
on foot and periodically set fire to the prairie to aid them in their hunts. During the eighteenth century they made the transition to a horse culture and used firearms to a limited extent. There also appear to have been small numbers of Kiowa, Yojuane, Tawakoni, and Mayeye Indians living in the county at the time of the earliest Anglo settlements.
Even after most native Americans were crowded out by white settlement, the Comanches continued to raid settlements in the county until the 1860s.
Modern history
Georgetown was named for George Washington GlasscockGeorge Washington Glasscock
George Washington Glasscock was an early settler, legislator, and businessman in Texas.He was born in Hardin County, Kentucky near the same area where Abraham Lincoln was born. In 1830 he went to St. Louis and from there to Springfield, Illinois, where in 1832 he was a partner of Abraham Lincoln...
who donated the land for the new town. Early American and Swedish pioneers were attracted to the area's abundance of timber and good, clear water. In addition, the land was inexpensive and extremely fertile. Georgetown, Texas is the county seat of Williamson County, which was formed on March 13, 1848 after the early settlers petitioned the State Legislature to create it out of Milam County. The county was originally to have been named San Gabriel County, but was instead named after Robert McAlpin Williamson
Robert McAlpin Williamson
Robert McAlpin Williamson was a Republic of Texas Supreme Court Justice, state lawmaker and Texas Ranger. Williamson County, Texas is named for him.-Early life:...
(aka Three-Legged Willie), a Texas statesman and judge at the time.
Georgetown was an agrarian community for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The [Shawnee Trail]], a cattle trail that led from Texas to the railcenters in Kansas and Missouri, crossed through the heart of Georgetown. The establishment of Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
in 1873 and construction of a railroad in 1878 contributed to the town's growth and importance. A stable economy developed, based largely on agricultural activity. Cotton was the dominant crop in the area between the 1880s and the 1920s. Williamson County was the top producer of cotton in the State of Texas.
Primarily to transport cattle and bales of cotton, at one time Georgetown was served by two national railroads, the International-Great Northern Railroad
International-Great Northern Railroad
The International – Great Northern Railroad was a railroad that operated in the U.S. state of Texas. It was created on September 30, 1873, when International Railroad and Houston and Great Northern Railroad merged....
, which eventually was merged into the Missouri Pacific, and the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad. The regional Georgetown and Granger Railroad (GGR) was completed to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
in 1904. Currently, Georgetown is served by the appropriately named Georgetown Railroad
Georgetown Railroad
The Georgetown Railroad is a short-line railroad headquartered in Georgetown, Texas.-History:The original Georgetown Railroad Company was chartered on May 31, 1878, with a commitment to build a railroad the approximately 10 mile distance between Georgetown and Round Rock. The first board of...
, a 'short line' railroad that uses portions of the former M-K-T and the I-GN to connect with the Union Pacific Railroad at Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
and at Granger.
Extensive damage and loss of life throughout the county from a 1921 flood led Georgetown to seek flood control. A low pressure system from a hurricane settled in over Williamson County and brought more than 23 inches of rain in Taylor and 18 plus inches of rain in Georgetown. An estimated 156 persons perished in the flood, many of them farm laborers . The flood and its horrific destruction culminated in the building of a dam on the north fork of the San Gabriel River to create and impound Lake Georgetown
Lake Georgetown
Lake Georgetown is a reservoir on the north fork of the San Gabriel River in central Texas in the United States. Lake Georgetown is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir formed on the San Gabriel by the North San Gabriel Dam, which is located about three miles west of Georgetown, Texas. The...
, which opened officially on October 5, 1979. Both Georgetown and Round Rock own the water rights to Lake Georgetown for municipal water use.
Population growth and industrial expansion continued modestly in the twentieth century until about 1960 when residential, commercial, and industrial development, due to major growth and urban expansion of nearby Austin, greatly accelerated. In 2008, Fortune Small Business Magazine named Georgetown the No. 2 best city in the nation to "live and launch" a new business.
Burkland Frisk House
A densely overgrown 1908-1910 Victorian house was found in Round Rock, TexasRound Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
where the La Frontera
La Frontera (Round Rock, Texas)
La Frontera is Round Rock's largest master-planned, multi-use commercial business-retail-housing center and is located at the northeast corner of SH 45 Toll Road and Interstate 35 in Round Rock, Texas within Williamson County, Texas. La Frontera is also located immediately across Interstate 35...
project now sits. It was cut into pieces and moved to Georgetown and restored. It is known locally as the Burkland-Frisk house as it was built by an early settler in Williamson County, Leonard Frisk, and was later owned by Tony Burkland, a relative of the Frisk family. The house originally set across the street from an identical twin house, which was used in the filming of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 1974 American independent horror film directed and produced by Tobe Hooper, who cowrote it with Kim Henkel. It stars Marilyn Burns, Paul A. Partain, Edwin Neal, Jim Siedow, and Gunnar Hansen, who respectively portray Sally Hardesty, Franklin Hardesty, the...
and which was also cut into seven pieces and was moved to Kingsland, Texas
Kingsland, Texas
Kingsland is a census-designated place in Llano County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,584 at the 2000 census. Texas Ranch to Market Road 1431 runs through the community.-Geography:...
to become a part of the Antlers Hotel (Kingsland, Texas)
Antlers Hotel (Kingsland, Texas)
The Antlers Hotel is a hotel and resort built in 1901 by the Austin and Northwestern Railroad on the Colorado River in Kingsland in Llano County in Central Texas. After a brief heyday, The Antlers closed in 1923 and fell into disrepair...
. It was moved in 2006 and restored by the developers of La Frontera, Don Martin and Bill Smalling (1953–2008) and sits on San Gabriel Village Blvd prominently overlooking the South San Gabriel River
San Gabriel River (Texas)
The San Gabriel River is a river that flows through central Texas. The San Gabriel River is formed in Georgetown, Texas by the confluence of the North Fork San Gabriel and the South Fork San Gabriel, both of which originate in Burnet County. There are two major impoundments of the river: Lake...
. The house was a "pattern book" house, ordered from a catalog and assembled on site from a package of materials brought by wagon from a local lumber company. Research indicates it was likely built between 1908 and 1910 and is now used as an office.
Historic neighborhoods
In the 1970s, Georgetown's downtown was bleak and featureless. In an effort to modernize and compete with suburban retail development, building owners in the ‘50s and ‘60s obscured one of their most priceless resources – their retail buildings. The Texas-Victorian streetscape was plastered with stucco, aluminum covers, brick, and multiple layers of white paint. But community leaders had already begun taking interest and putting new stock back into their architectural heritage.Georgetown's resurrected interest in its historic resources came at a time when the cost of borrowing money was soaring. Interest rates near 20 percent might have been a deterrent elsewhere. In Georgetown, every bank offered significantly lower interest loans for the renewal of the town's grand Victorian buildings and facades. And rehabilitation tax credit programs in the 1980s made investing in historic property an even more lucrative enterprise. By 1984, 40 rehabilitations were complete. A mere two years after its Main Street program was founded, more than half the Main Street district had undergone some kind of positive transition.
In the town's historic neighborhoods, adaptive restoration has been widely practiced as well, with special emphasis on the private restoration of older homes. The city was recently named one of the best places to purchase a historic house. Today, Georgetown is home to one of the best preserved Victorian and Pre-WW1 downtown historic districts, with The Beaux-Arts Williamson County Courthouse (1911) as its centerpiece. Due to its successful preservation efforts, Georgetown was named a national Main Street City in 1997, the first Texas city so designated.
Georgetown has three National Register Historic Districts:
- Williamson County Courthouse District
- Belford National District
- The University Avenue/Elm Street District
Retirement destination
Georgetown is considered to be one of the best places to retire in the nation because of its fairly warm climate year round, close proximity to both the countryside and Austin, excellent medical care including Alzheimer's care, and its increasing population of retirees. In 2007, Georgetown was named by Retirement Places Rated (Seventh Edition) as the Best Place in America to Retire.Part of this is because Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas is a age-restricted community located in Georgetown, Texas , a city 35 miles north of Austin off I-35. It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by Del Webb.|...
,a large master-planned community for "active adults 55 and over," calls Georgetown home. Fifteen years after the project groundbreaking, Sun City is now home to nearly 11,000 residents—nearly 70 percent retired with a median age of 65—and has been a driving force behind growth, development and the very shape of Georgetown since its inception. Numerous other active adult communities are also found in Georgetown, including the well-respected Wesleyan at Estrella, the Oaks at Wildwood, Heritage Oaks and many others. Various projects offer differing levels of care including assisted living. The city, county, and churches also maintain compassionate care facilities for the elderly at the Bluebonnet Community Residence.
City government
The City of Georgetown is a “Home RuleHome rule
Home rule is the power of a constituent part of a state to exercise such of the state's powers of governance within its own administrative area that have been devolved to it by the central government....
” city and adopted its initial Home Rule Charter on April 24, 1970. As provided by its charter, Georgetown has a Council-Manager form of government. Under this form of government, the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
provides leadership by establishing the City’s goals and policies. The City Council appoints a full-time City Manager
City manager
A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a city, in a council-manager form of city government. Local officials serving in this position are sometimes referred to as the chief executive officer or chief administrative officer in some municipalities...
to achieve the desired end set by the City Council. The manager oversees the day-to-day activities of the City, all city departments, and executes Council established laws and policies.
The City Council is composed of seven Council members elected by geographic districts and a Mayor elected at-large. Each position is elected for a term of three years, with council districts with staggered election dates. Paul E. Brandenburg has been the City Manager since 2002.
County government
- County Judge-Honorable Dan A. Gattis
- Precinct 1-Commissioner Lisa Birkman
- Precinct 2-Commissioner Cynthia Long
- Precinct 3-Commissioner Valerie Covey
- Precinct 4-Commissioner Ron Morrison
State and national representation
-
- Texas House of RepresentativesTexas House of RepresentativesThe Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
:- State Representative District 20 – Charles Schwertner (R) – elected November 2010
- State Representative District 52 – Larry Gonzalez (R) = elected November 2010
- Texas House of Representatives
-
-
- Texas SenateTexas SenateThe Texas Senate is the upper house of the Texas Legislature. There are 31 members of the Senate, representing 31 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 672,000 per constituency. There are no term limits, and each term is four years long. The Senate meets at the...
District 5 – Steve OgdenSteve OgdenSteve Ogden is a Republican member of the Texas Senate representing the 5th District. Ogden was elected to the Texas Senate in January 1997, and chairs the Texas Senate Finance Committee...
- Texas Senate
-
-
- Congressman:
- Texas's 31st congressional districtTexas's 31st congressional districtTexas District 31 of the United States House of Representatives is a Congressional district that serves a strip of central Texas from north Austin up to Stephenville...
– John R. Carter (R)
- Texas's 31st congressional district
- Congressman:
Education
The City of Georgetown is served by the Georgetown Independent School DistrictGeorgetown Independent School District
Georgetown Independent School District is a public school district based in Georgetown, Texas . The district has just over 10,000 students based on recent studies....
and Georgetown High School
Georgetown High School (Texas)
Georgetown High School is a public high school located in Georgetown, Texas serving grades 9–12. As of 2008–2009, the school has an enrollment of 2146...
, a National Blue Ribbon Award School, serves the community.
Georgetown is also the home of Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
. Southwestern is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian. Southwestern offers 40 bachelor's degrees in the arts, sciences, fine arts, and music as well as interdisciplinary and pre-professional programs. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Association of Schools of Music.
Interstate 35 location
Without question the single most important issue relating to economic development was the location of Interstate 35Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
through Georgetown. Originally, when first conceived, a Georgetown route was very much in doubt as most alignments had the road going through or near Taylor
Taylor, Texas
Taylor is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,575 at the 2000 census; it was 15,191 in the 2010 census estimate. Taylors largest employers include the Electric Reliability Council of Texas , Durcon Inc, and the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, an immigration...
. After all, at the time Taylor was the economic hub of Williamson County as the center for agriculture, cotton and cattle. While the Taylor leadership supported the Taylor route, local farmers strongly opposed it. The Interstate would require a then-unheard-of 300 feet of Right of way
Right of way (public throughway)
Right of way is a term first used to describe the right to travel unhindered, to access a route regardless of land ownership or any other legality.The right of way may be limited...
across the entire county and through nearby Taylor farms, and many farmers worried that their homes might get cut off from their field. There were concerns about noise relating to cattle and other farm animals, and in general there were concerns about loss of the country way of living. Meanwhile Round Rock
Round Rock, Texas
Round Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
and Georgetown leadership strongly lobbied for a route along the Balcones Escarpment fault line, a line which would later become U.S. Highway 81 and then eventually Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
.
Sun City
The second largest economic development activity in Georgetown history was the selection in 1995 of Georgetown as the site for the first-ever Sun City location in Texas. Originally called Sun City Georgetown, the project today is called Sun City Texas due to its size and the fact that it draws residents form all over the state. As of 2010 approximately 11,500 people live in the massive 5,300-acre (and expanding) community, with an average net worth of over $1,000,000 per person. The economic stimulus, creation of sales tax, banking and investment, and the high rate of community support and volunteerism has had an enormous effect on Georegetown according to recent studies. The Sun City population has had a strong impact on local elections as well, electing two members of the City Council, the current Mayor, and voting as a mostly solid republic bloc in local, state and national elections.Employers
Unfortunately Georgetown has not been able to lure major new employers in the manner that Round Rock has. Round Rock has Dell, for instance. But it has retained a strong sense of community with smaller employers, first class civic features, with a new public library and the Palace Theatre.Southwestern University, historic homes and districts, and a bi-weeky hometown newspaper—the Williamson County Sun—all work together to create a sense of place that make people want to make Georgetown their home. Georgetown also has a high per capita level of college educated people, with many college professors from Southwestern, but also from the University of Texas, living here.
List of major employers
Georgetown's major employers and number of employees as of June 2009:- Williamson County Government (1,700)
- Georgetown Independent School District (1,650)
- St. David's Georgetown Hospital (650)
- Airborn, Inc. (550)
- City of Georgetown (455)
- Southwestern University (450)
- Caring Home Health (400)
- Wesleyan Homes, Inc., (290)
- Sun City (Del Webb) (260)
Sun City Texas
(Redirected from Sun City Georgetown)Opened in June 1995, Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas
Sun City Texas is a age-restricted community located in Georgetown, Texas , a city 35 miles north of Austin off I-35. It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by Del Webb.|...
is a 5,300-acre (21 km2) age-restricted community located in Georgetown, approximately 10 miles west of IH-35 on Andice Road (FM 1431). It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by the Del Webb Corporation (now a division of Pulte Homes
Pulte Homes
Pulte Homes, Inc is a Bloomfield Hills, MI based company founded by Bill Pulte. Announced April 8, 2009, Pulte Homes has agreed to acquire Centex - creating the nation's largest homebuilding company in a stock transaction worth $3.1 billion, including $1.8 billion of debt...
). Residency is restricted to persons over age 55 (at least one person in a couple has to be 55 or older). Sun City Texas is made up mostly of single family dwellings, but also has duplexes. It is legal to drive golf cars on the streets in the development (under a special Texas license exemption with help from Del Webb) and most shopping and the community facilities all have special parking slots for same.
There has been vocal opposition to the project a times, especially at the start during the zoning process, with arguments against the size of the community, its effect on Georgetown as a family-oriented town, concerns about the costs of providing city utilities, and concern about lowered property taxes fixed for retirees under Texas law, and the disproportionate effect of City voting. Indeed in the 2008 city elections, for example, two residents of Sun City were the only two candidates for Mayor of Georgetown. They also were both formerly elected city council members.
Inner Space Cavern
Inner Space Cavern is the most popular attraction in Georgetown in terms of number of visitors. It is a karst caveKarst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
which was discovered by the Texas Highway Department
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
in 1963 during the construction of Interstate 35
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 is a north–south Interstate Highway in the central United States. I-35 stretches from Laredo, Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border to Duluth, Minnesota, at Minnesota Highway 61 and 26th Avenue East. Many interstates used to have splits or spurs indicated with suffixed letters , but I-35...
. Several skeletons of prehistoric Ice-Age animals have been found in the caverns. Several miles of cave passage have been surveyed, but many sections of the cave remaining unexplored due to filled-in areas blocking passage. The caverns were carved by water passing through Edwards limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
. The caverns are estimated to be 90–100 million years old but were only open to the surface since the late Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
period 20,000–45,000 years ago, evidenced by finds of mammoth
Mammoth
A mammoth is any species of the extinct genus Mammuthus. These proboscideans are members of Elephantidae, the family of elephants and mammoths, and close relatives of modern elephants. They were often equipped with long curved tusks and, in northern species, a covering of long hair...
and sabre-toothed cat
Smilodon
Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...
bones. The cave was opened to the public in 1966 with over 1.2 miles of passage being open to visitors.
.
Sites of interest
- Williamson County Courthouse
- Williamson County Art Guild
- Sun City TexasSun City TexasSun City Texas is a age-restricted community located in Georgetown, Texas , a city 35 miles north of Austin off I-35. It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by Del Webb.|...
- Blue Hole Park
- San Gabriel Park
- Georgetown Firefighters Museum
- Inner Space CavernInner Space CavernInner Space Cavern is a Karst cave located in Georgetown, Texas. The cave was discovered by the Texas Highway Department in 1963 during the construction of Interstate 35...
- Southwestern UniversitySouthwestern UniversitySouthwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
- Lake GeorgetownLake GeorgetownLake Georgetown is a reservoir on the north fork of the San Gabriel River in central Texas in the United States. Lake Georgetown is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir formed on the San Gabriel by the North San Gabriel Dam, which is located about three miles west of Georgetown, Texas. The...
- Georgetown Municipal AirportGeorgetown Municipal AirportGeorgetown Municipal Airport is a public use airport in Williamson County, Texas, United States. It is owned by the City of Georgetown and is located three nautical miles north of the central business district. According to the FAA's National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2007–2011, it is...
- Levy House
Notable residents
- Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr.Nolan RyanLynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
(born on January 31, 1947), nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcherPitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He is currently the owner, CEO, and team president of the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. During a major league record 27-year baseball career, he pitched in 1966 and from 1968–1993 for four different teams: the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, and Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. His famous nickname "The Express" led to the naming of the "Round Rock ExpressRound Rock ExpressThe Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
" minor league team in which he is part owner, located in Round Rock, TexasRound Rock, TexasRound Rock is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is part of the metropolitan area. The 2010 census places the population at 99,887....
. Ryan lives in the exclusive gated community of Cimmaron Hills in Georgetown.
- Clara Stearns Scarbrough was born in Circleville (Williamson CountyWilliamson County, TexasWilliamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
), founded by her ancestors in 1853. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of TexasUniversity of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
and taught music in public schools as well as at the University of Texas. She married Don Scarbrough and assisted her husband in working in the newspaper business. Together, they owned several newspapers and she served as editor-publisher of the Taylor Times. The family later moved to Georgetown where she and her husband published the Williamson County Sun. She also wrote what most local researchers consider the definitive book on Williamson county history "The Land of Good Water, takachue pouetsu" published in 1973 (with four reprint editions through 1990).
- John Wesley SnyderJohn Wesley Snyder (Texas)John Wesley Snyder was a pioneer rancher, farmer, and businessman from principally Georgetown in Williamson County near Austin, Texas.-Background:...
, a ranching pioneer, with his brother Dudley Hiram Snyder
Movies filmed all or partly in Georgetown
List partly from material provided by the Texas Film Commission- Friday Night Lights (TV Series)Friday Night Lights (TV series)Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
- LeadbellyLeadbellyHuddie William Ledbetter was an iconic American folk and blues musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced....
- GrindhouseGrindhouseA grindhouse is an American term for a theater that mainly shows exploitation films. It is named after the defunct burlesque theaters located on 42nd Street in New York City, where 'bump n' grind' dancing and striptease were featured.- History :...
- What's Eating Gilbert GrapeWhat's Eating Gilbert GrapeWhat's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. Peter Hedges wrote the screenplay adapted from his 1991 novel of the same name...
- BernieBernie (2011 film)Bernie is an American comedic film directed by Richard Linklater, and written by Linklater and Skip Hollandsworth. The film stars Jack Black as Bernie Tiede, Shirley MacLaine as the elderly widow, Marjorie Nugent, and Matthew McConaughey as the local District Attorney. It made its world premiere...
- My Boyfriend's BackMy Boyfriend's Back (film)My Boyfriend's Back is a 1993 American romantic black comedy/fantasy/horror film directed by Bob Balaban which tells the story of Johnny Dingle, a teenage boy who returns from the dead as a zombie to meet Missy McCloud, the girl he's in love with, for a date...
- Natural Selection
- The Big Picture
- Picnic
- Uber Goober
- Pair of Aces
- Night Job
- Johnny Be GoodJohnny Be GoodJohnny Be Good is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Bud Smith, starring Anthony Michael Hall as the main character, Johnny Walker. The film also features Robert Downey Jr., Steve James, Jennifer Tilly and Uma Thurman in her film debut...
- Michael (1996 film)MichaelMichael is a given name that comes from the , derived from the Hebrew question מי כמו אלוהים? meaning "Who is like God?" In English, it is sometimes shortened to Mike, Mikey, or, especially in Ireland, Mick...
– a Nora Ephron film - Varsity BluesVarsity BluesThe Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto. Its 26 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport. The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877, with the formation...
- Lemmy Lemmy
- Where the Heart IisWhere the Heart Is (2000 film)Where the Heart Is is a 2000 drama/romance film directed by Matt Williams and produced by Susan Cartsonis, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher and Matt Williams. Filmed in Austin, Texas, and Waco, Texas at Baylor University. The movie stars Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd...
- Shady Grove
- The Prophet of Armageddon
- Dazed and ConfusedDazed and Confused"Dazed and Confused" is a song by Jake Holmes, which was covered by The Yardbirds, and later reworked by Led Zeppelin who hold a separate copyright on the song.-Jake Holmes:...
- ZombielandZombielandZombieland is a 2009 American zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as survivors of a zombie apocalypse...
External links
- City of Georgetown website
- Main Street Georgetown
- Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Williamson County Historical Commission page on Georgetown
- Current and future development and neighborhood map
- PICTORIAL HISTORY OF GEORGETOWN
- Southwestern University
- Inner Space Cavern
- Georgetown ISD
- Georgetown Heritage Society
- The Williamson Museum
- Three-Legged Willie
- Georgetown Chamber of Commerce
- Georgetown Public Library