Travis County, Texas

Travis County, Texas
Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse in Austin
Seal
Location in the state of Texas
Texas's location in the U.S.
Founded	1840 (1840)
Named for	William B. Travis
Seat	Austin
Largest city	Austin
Area
• Total	1,023 sq mi (2,650 km2)
• Land	990 sq mi (2,564 km2)
• Water	33 sq mi (85 km2), 3.2%
Population (Est.)
• (2014)	1,151,145
• Density	1,163/sq mi (449/km²)
Congressional districts	10th, 17th, 21st, 25th, 35th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	traviscountytx.gov

Travis County is a county located in south central Texas. As of 2014, the estimated population was 1,151,145,^[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in Texas. Its county seat is Austin,^[2] the capital of Texas. The county was established in 1840 and is named in honor of William Barret Travis, the commander of the Republic of Texas forces at the Battle of the Alamo.

Travis County is part of the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located along the Balcones Fault, the boundary between the Edwards Plateau to the west and the Blackland Prairie to the east.

History

Pre-Columbian and colonial periods

Evidence of habitation of the Balcones Escarpment region of Texas can be traced to at least 11,000 years ago. Two of the oldest Paleolithic archeological sites in Texas, the Levi Rock Shelter and Smith Rock Shelter, are located in southwest and southeast Travis County, respectively.^[3] Several hundred years before the arrival of European settlers, the area was inhabited by a variety of nomadic Native American tribes. These indigenous peoples fished and hunted along the creeks, including present-day Barton Springs,^[4] which proved to be a reliable campsite.^[5] At the time of the first permanent settlement of the area, the Tonkawa tribe was the most common, with the Comanches and Lipan Apaches also frequenting the area.^[6]

The region (along with all of modern Texas) was claimed by the Spanish Empire in the 1600s, but at the time no attempt was made to settle the area (or even to fully explore it).^[7] In 1691 Domingo Terán de los Ríos made an inspection tour through East Texas that likely took him through Travis Country. The first European settlers in the area were a group of Spanish friars who arrived from East Texas in July 1730. They established three temporary missions, La Purísima Concepción, San Francisco de los Neches and San José de los Nazonis, on a site by the Colorado River near Barton Springs. The friars found conditions undesirable and relocated to the San Antonio River within a year of their arrival.^[8]

Mexican period

In 1821 Mexico won its independence from Spain, and the new government enacted laws encouraging colonists to settle the Texas frontier by granting them land and reduced taxation. Over the next decade, thousands of foreign immigrants (primarily from the United States) moved into Texas; in particular, American empresario Stephen F. Austin established one of his colonies near what is now Bastrop, Texas (in future Travis County) in 1827.^[9] Josiah and Mathias Wilbarger, Reuben Hornsby, Jacob M. Harrell, and John F. Webber were early settlers who moved into the area in the early 1830s.

Republican period

In 1836 Texas declared and won its independence from Mexico, forming a new Republic of Texas. After Texas Vice President Mirabeau B. Lamar visited central Texas during a buffalo-hunting expedition between 1837 and 1838, he proposed that the republic's capital (then located in Houston) be relocated to a site on the north bank of the Colorado River. In 1839 the site was officially chosen as the republic's new capital and given the name Waterloo, Texas; shortly thereafter the city's name was changed to Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin.^[10] A new county was also established the following year, of which Austin would be the seat; the county was named Travis County, after William B. Travis. Though the Republic's capital moved briefly back to Houston during the events surrounding the Texas Archive War, by 1845 Austin was again the capital, and it became the capital of the new State of Texas when Texas was annexed by the United States later that year.

Civil War and beyond

In 1861 Travis County was one of the few Texas counties to vote against secession from the Union. Since the majority of the state did favor secession, Travis County then became a part of the Confederacy for the duration of the Civil War. After the Confederacy's defeat, Texas was fully readmitted to the Union in 1870.

From the end of the Civil War to the early twenty-first century, Travis County has experienced steady, rapid population growth (averaging more than a 36% increase every decade from 1870 to 2010), driven largely by the growth of Austin and its suburbs; it is now the fifth most populous county in Texas, after Harris (Houston), Dallas, Tarrant (Fort Worth) and Bexar (San Antonio) counties.

Geography

Travis County is located in the southern part of central Texas, between San Antonio and Dallas–Fort Worth. Its county seat and largest city is Austin. The county's geographical center lies two miles northwest of downtown Austin at 30°18' north latitude and 97°45' west longitude.^[11]

Physical geography

Travis County straddles the Balcones Fault, the boundary between the Edwards Plateau to the west and the Texas Coastal Plain to the east. The western part of the county is characterized by the karst topography of the Texas Hill Country, while the eastern part exhibits the fertile plains and farmlands of the Blackland Prairie. The Colorado River meanders through the county from west to east, forming a series of man-made lakes (Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake). The county has a total area of 1,023 square miles (2,650 km²), of which 990 square miles (2,600 km²) is land and 31 square miles (80 km²) (3.2%) is water.^[12]

Springs

The limestone karst geology of the western and southwestern parts of Travis County gives rise to numerous caverns and springs, some of which have provided shelter and water for humans in the region for thousands of years. Notable springs in the county include Barton Springs, Deep Eddy and Hamilton Pool.

Major highways

Travis County is crossed by Interstate Highway 35, US Highways 183 and 290, and Texas Highway 71. IH-35 leads northward to Waco and Dallas–Fort Worth and southward to San Antonio. US-183 leads northward through Cedar Park to Lampasas and southward to Lockhart. US-290 leads westward to Fredericksburg and eastward to Houston. TX-71 leads westward to Marble Falls and eastward to Bastrop.

Other major highways within the county include Texas Highway Loop 1 (the "Mopac Expressway"), which runs from north to south through the center of the county, and Texas Highway 45, which forms parts of an incomplete highway loop around Austin. Texas Highway 130 (constructed as an alternative to IH-35 for long-distance traffic wishing to avoid Austin and San Antonio) also runs from north to south through the sparsely populated eastern part of the county.

Adjacent counties

• Williamson County (north)
• Bastrop County (east)
• Caldwell County (south)
• Hays County (southwest)
• Blanco County (west)
• Burnet County (northwest)

Protected areas

• Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	3,138		—
1860	8,080		157.5%
1870	13,153		62.8%
1880	27,028		105.5%
1890	36,322		34.4%
1900	47,386		30.5%
1910	55,620		17.4%
1920	57,616		3.6%
1930	77,777		35.0%
1940	111,053		42.8%
1950	160,980		45.0%
1960	212,136		31.8%
1970	295,516		39.3%
1980	419,573		42.0%
1990	576,407		37.4%
2000	812,280		40.9%
2010	1,024,266		26.1%
Est. 2014	1,151,145		12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13] 1850-2010[14] 2014 Estimate[15]

According to the census of 2010, there were 1,024,266 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 1034 persons per square mile (387/km²). There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile (131/km²).^[1] The racial makeup of the county was 68.21% White, 9.26% Black or African American, 0.58% Native American, 4.47% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 14.56% other races, and 2.85% from two or more races. 28.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 12.0% were of German, 7.7% English, 6.6% Irish and 5.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000. English is the sole language spoken at home by 71.42% of the population age 5 or over, while 22.35% speak Spanish, and a Chinese language (including Mandarin, Taiwanese, and Cantonese) is spoken by 1.05%.^[16]

In 2000 there were 320,766 households, of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.60% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.70% were non-families. 30.10% of all households were composed of individuals and 4.40% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.15.

The population's age distribution was 23.80% under the age of 18, 14.70% from 18 to 24, 36.50% from 25 to 44, 18.20% from 45 to 64, and 6.70% age 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 104.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.50 males.

Government

Like other Texas counties, Travis County is governed by a Commissioners' Court composed of the county judge and four county commissioners. The court levies county taxes and sets the budgets for county officials and agencies. The judge and commissioners are elected for four-year terms (the judge at-large, and the commissioners from geographic precincts).

The other major county-wide official is the county clerk, who maintains the county's records, administers elections, and oversees legal documentation (such as property deeds, marriage licenses and assumed name certificates). The clerk is also elected at-large for a four-year term.

Economy

As of 2013, Travis County had a median household income of $58,025 per year, and a per capita income of $33,206 per year. 17.4% of the population lived below the poverty level.^[1] The county's largest employers are governments (the State of Texas, the US Federal Government, Travis County and the City of Austin) and public education bodies (notably Austin ISD, Austin Community College and UT Austin). Other major employers are concentrated in industries relating to semiconductors, software engineering and healthcare.^[17]

Travis County, along with other Texas counties, has one of the nation's highest property tax rates. In 2009, the county was ranked 88th in the nation for property taxes as percentage of the homes value on owner occupied housing.^[18] Travis County also ranked in the top 100 for amount of property taxes paid and for percentage of income paid as tax. Property tax rates are generally high in Texas because the state does not levy an income tax.

Education

School districts

Travis county is served by a number of public school districts; the largest is Austin Independent School District, serving most of Austin. Other districts wholly or mainly located in Travis County include Eanes ISD, Lake Travis ISD, Lago Vista ISD, Leander ISD, Del Valle ISD, Manor ISD, and Pflugerville ISD. Parts of Elgin ISD, Coupland ISD, Round Rock ISD, Marble Falls ISD, Johnson City ISD, Dripping Springs ISD and Hays Consolidated ISD also cross into Travis County.

Colleges and universities

The largest university in Travis County is the University of Texas at Austin. Other universities include St. Edward's University, Huston–Tillotson University, and Concordia University Texas. The region's major community college system is Austin Community College District.

Culture

Within Texas, Travis County is known as an exceptionally culturally "liberal" region and a stronghold of the Texas Democratic Party.^[19] The county voted for the Democratic candidate in six of the most recent seven US Presidential elections (and its one vote for a Republican was for George W. Bush, the sitting Texas Governor). Few county-wide elected positions are even contested by Republican candidates.^[20] In 2005 it was the only county in Texas to vote against the Proposition 2 state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Communities

Cities, towns, and villages

Austin Bee Cave Briarcliff Creedmoor

Elgin (partial) Jonestown Lago Vista Lakeway

Manor Mustang Ridge (partial) Pflugerville Point Venture

Rollingwood Round Rock (partial) San Leanna Sunset Valley

The Hills Volente Webberville West Lake Hills

Census-designated places

Anderson Mill Barton Creek

Garfield Hudson Bend

Jollyville Lost Creek

Onion Creek Shady Hollow

Wells Branch Windemere

Unincorporated areas

Bluff Springs Cele Del Valle

Elroy Kimbro Littig

Lund Manchaca Marshall Ford

McNeil New Sweden

Oak Hill Pilot Knob

Corrections

The Travis County Jail and the Travis County Criminal Justice Center are located in Downtown Austin.^[21][22] The Travis County Correctional Complex is located in an unincorporated area in Travis County, next to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.^[23]

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Travis County Unit, a state jail for men, in eastern Austin.^[24]

See also

• Austin Bat Cave (non-profit educational org)
• List of museums in Central Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Travis County, Texas

References

External links

• Travis County Government website
• Travis County from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Travis County Law Library
• Travis County, Texas at DMOZ

	Burnet County	Williamson County
	Blanco County		Bastrop County
	Travis County, Texas
	Hays County	Caldwell County

Municipalities and communities of Travis County, Texas, United States County seat: Austin Cities Austin‡ Bee Cave Cedar Park‡ Creedmoor Elgin‡ Jonestown Lago Vista Lakeway Leander‡ Manor Mustang Ridge‡ Pflugerville‡ Rollingwood Round Rock‡ Sunset Valley West Lake Hills Villages Briarcliff Point Venture San Leanna The Hills Volente Webberville CDPs Barton Creek Garfield Hornsby Bend Hudson Bend Jollyville‡ Lost Creek Manchaca Shady Hollow Wells Branch Windemere Other unincorporated communities Bluff Springs Cele Del Valle Elroy Kimbro Littig Lund Manda Marshall Ford McNeil Nameless New Sweden Pilot Knob Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos Central city Austin Satellite cities Cedar Park Georgetown Pflugerville Round Rock San Marcos Other communities Bastrop Buda Burnet Elgin Hudson Bend Hutto Jollyville Kyle Lago Vista Leander Lakeway Lockhart Lost Creek Luling Manor Marble Falls Taylor Smithville Wells Branch West Lake Hills Wimberley Windemere Wyldwood Counties MSA/CSA Bastrop Burnet Caldwell Hays Travis Williamson Outlying Blanco Burleson Colorado Fayette Gillespie Lee Llano Milam Washington Parks and preserves Balcones Canyonlands Bastrop Emma Long Enchanted Rock Hippie Hollow Indiangrass Longhorn Cavern McKinney Falls Mount Bonnell Onion Creek Pedernales Falls John Stokes Wild Basin Zilker Geography Austin Chalk Balcones Fault Edwards Aquifer Edwards Plateau Highland Lakes Hill Country Llano Uplift Bodies of water Barton Creek Barton Springs Colorado River Granger Lake Lady Bird Lake Lake Austin Lake Georgetown Lake Marble Falls Lake Travis Lake Walter E. Long Pedernales River San Gabriel River San Marcos River Transportation Capital Area Rural Transportation System

Counties of Texas Anderson Andrews Angelina Aransas Archer Armstrong Atascosa Austin Bailey Bandera Bastrop Baylor Bee Bell Bexar Blanco Borden Bosque Bowie Brazoria Brazos Brewster Briscoe Brooks Brown Burleson Burnet Caldwell Calhoun Callahan Cameron Camp Carson Cass Castro Chambers Cherokee Childress Clay Cochran Coke Coleman Collin Collingsworth Colorado Comal Comanche Concho Cooke Coryell Cottle Crane Crockett Crosby Culberson Dallam Dallas Dawson Deaf Smith Delta Denton DeWitt Dickens Dimmit Donley Duval Eastland Ector Edwards Ellis El Paso Erath Falls Fannin Fayette Fisher Floyd Foard Fort Bend Franklin Freestone Frio Gaines Galveston Garza Gillespie Glasscock Goliad Gonzales Gray Grayson Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hall Hamilton Hansford Hardeman Hardin Harris Harrison Hartley Haskell Hays Hemphill Henderson Hidalgo Hill Hockley Hood Hopkins Houston Howard Hudspeth Hunt Hutchinson Irion Jack Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jim Hogg Jim Wells Johnson Jones Karnes Kaufman Kendall Kenedy Kent Kerr Kimble King Kinney Kleberg Knox Lamar Lamb Lampasas La Salle Lavaca Lee Leon Liberty Limestone Lipscomb Live Oak Llano Loving Lubbock Lynn Madison Marion Martin Mason Matagorda Maverick McCulloch McLennan McMullen Medina Menard Midland Milam Mills Mitchell Montague Montgomery Moore Morris Motley Nacogdoches Navarro Newton Nolan Nueces Ochiltree Oldham Orange Palo Pinto Panola Parker Parmer Pecos Polk Potter Presidio Rains Randall Reagan Real Red River Reeves Refugio Roberts Robertson Rockwall Runnels Rusk Sabine San Augustine San Jacinto San Patricio San Saba Schleicher Scurry Shackelford Shelby Sherman Smith Somervell Starr Stephens Sterling Stonewall Sutton Swisher Tarrant Taylor Terrell Terry Throckmorton Titus Tom Green Travis Trinity Tyler Upshur Upton Uvalde Val Verde Van Zandt Victoria Walker Waller Ward Washington Webb Wharton Wheeler Wichita Wilbarger Willacy Williamson Wilson Winkler Wise Wood Yoakum Young Zapata Zavala

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Coordinates: 30°20′N 97°47′W / 30.33°N 97.78°W / 30.33; -97.78