48-567: West Lake Hills (locally referred to as "Westlake") is a city in Travis County, Texas , United States. The population was 3,444 at the 2020 census . The city was established and incorporated in 1953 and developed rapidly in the 1970s and 1980s, especially on the south side of the Colorado River . It is a suburb of Austin , located just west of central Austin. West Lake Hills was founded by Emmett Shelton in 1953. Shelton played
96-557: A hospital district , was established in 2004. Brackenridge Hospital was originally built as the City-County Hospital in 1884 but Travis County ended its share of the ownership in 1907. In 2017 Brackenridge was replaced by the Dell Seton Medical Center . 30°20′N 97°47′W / 30.33°N 97.78°W / 30.33; -97.78 Edwards Plateau The Edwards Plateau
144-632: A median household income of $ 68,350 per year, and a per capita income of $ 38,820 per year. 13.9% of the population lived below the poverty level . 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. Other major employers are concentrated in industries relating to semiconductors , software engineering and healthcare . Travis County
192-510: A million (they winter in Mexico) and is the largest bat colony anywhere in an urban area. The Edwards Plateau is home to at least 14 endemic freshwater fishes, including two subterranean species of catfish and 13 fish species considered to be spring-associated. Mechanisms for spring association of fishes is not fully understood, but thought to mediated by water temperature. The large numbers of reptiles and birds also include breeding populations of
240-463: 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 ; shortly thereafter
288-487: A significant role as a land planner for the city. The Emmett Shelton Bridge, named in his honor, is an important infrastructure that connects West Lake Hills with Austin. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km), all land. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 3,444 people, 1,193 households, and 1,002 families residing in
336-541: 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. 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
384-537: A variety of nomadic Native American tribes inhabited the area. These indigenous peoples fished and hunted along the creeks, including present-day Barton Springs , which proved to be a reliable campsite. 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. The region (along with all of modern Texas)
432-415: A vegetation type historically shaped by droughts and regular fires. Other abundant woody species include Texas mountain-laurel , Texas persimmon , cedar elm and agarito . Pecan trees are native in floodplains along springs and rivers, which are often lined with stands of baldcypress . The Balcones Fault zone which runs along the southern and eastern edge of the plateau is an ecological demarcation for
480-691: Is a geographic region forming the crossroads of Central , South and West Texas , United States. It is named in honor of Haden Edwards . It is bounded by the Balcones Fault to the south and east; the Llano Uplift and the Llano Estacado to the north; and the Pecos River and Chihuahuan Desert to the west. San Angelo , Austin , San Antonio and Del Rio roughly outline the area. The plateau, especially its southeast portion,
528-409: Is also elected at-large for a four-year term. The Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse is located in downtown Austin . The county courthouse holds civil and criminal trial courts and other functions of county government. As of 2017 , the county's probate courts are in the process of being moved from the county courthouse into Austin's 1936 United States Courthouse , which was acquired by
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#1732780655060576-482: Is also known as the Texas Hill Country . The bedrock consists primarily of limestone , with elevations ranging between 100 and 3000 ft. Caves are numerous. The landscape of the plateau is mostly savanna scattered with trees. It mostly lacks deep soil suitable for farming, though the soil type is fertile mollisol , so some cotton , grain sorghum , and oats are grown. For the most part, though,
624-672: Is located in Central Texas . As of the 2020 census , the population was 1,290,188. It is the fifth-most populous county in Texas . Its county seat and most populous city is Austin , the state's capital. 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
672-558: Is one of the most consistently Democratic counties in Texas, having voted for the Democratic presidential nominee all but five times since 1932. The only exceptions have been the Republican landslide years of 1952, 1956, 1972 and 1984, when Dwight Eisenhower , Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan each won over 400 electoral votes, and 2000, when the Republican nominee was incumbent Texas Governor George W. Bush . In 2005 Travis County
720-770: 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 , Hutto ISD , Round Rock ISD , Marble Falls ISD , Johnson City ISD , Dripping Springs ISD and Hays Consolidated ISD also cross into Travis County. State-operated schools include: Texas Blind, Deaf, and Orphan School
768-499: Is the only city completely within the Eanes Independent School District . Residents are zoned to Eanes Elementary School, Bridge Point Elementary School, Barton Creek Elementary School, Cedar Creek Elementary School, Forest Trail Elementary School, Valley View Elementary School, Hill Country Middle School, West Ridge Middle School, and Westlake High School . Travis County, Texas Travis County
816-580: Is well drained; rainwater flows into the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone at the south of the plateau to feed rivers to the south. Rainfall varies from 15 to 33 inches per year, typically, from northwest to southeast, and the area has a moderate temperature and a reasonably long growing season. Trees of the savanna include Ashe junipers (locally called mountain cedar) and oak species, especially plateau live oak and Texas red oak , scattered over grasses such as little bluestem and sideoats grama ,
864-702: The Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge and Lost Maples State Natural Area . Another important area for wildlife is Fort Cavazos military base. Earliest human settlement of this area was by Native Americans . First it was used and wandered about by Jumano and Coahuiltecan groups, then the Apacheria extended into the Southern Plains by the forerunners of the Lipan and Mescalero Apaches . After
912-707: 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 limestone karst geology of
960-566: The Democratic Party. *appointed to fill a vacancy **court created in 2023 The board governing the Austin Community College district , which Travis County is a part of alongside Hays , Caldwell , and Blanco counties, as well as portions of Williamson , Bastrop , Guadalupe , Lee , and Fayette counties. Members are elected in nonpartisan elections and serve six year terms. As of 2017, Travis County had
1008-484: The U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,023 square miles (2,650 km ), of which 990 square miles (2,600 km ) is land and 33 square miles (85 km ) (3.2% of the territory) is water. Travis County is located in the southern part of central Texas , between San Antonio and Dallas–Fort Worth . The county's geographical center lies two miles northwest of downtown Austin at 30°18' north latitude and 97°45' west longitude. Travis County straddles
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#17327806550601056-750: The Austin– Round Rock – Georgetown 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. 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 in southwest and southeast Travis County, respectively. Several hundred years before European settlers arrived,
1104-488: The Texan endemic golden-cheeked warbler ( Setophaga chrysoparia ). Much of the natural habitat of the plateau has been converted to residential development, especially around Austin and San Antonio in the eastern part of the plateau. Further alteration to the savanna has incurred though the encroachment of shrubs now that grassland fires are carefully controlled. Small areas of intact habitat remain in protected areas such as
1152-480: 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. 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. In 1836 Texas declared and won its independence from Mexico, forming
1200-494: 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. 12.0% were of German , 7.7% English , 6.6% Irish and 5.5% American ancestry according to Census 2000 The population's age distribution
1248-423: The average family size was 3.10. In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.1% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 35.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males. The median income for a household in the city of West Lake Hills
1296-422: 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
1344-532: The city's name was changed to Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin . 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
1392-509: The city. As of the census of 2000, there were 3,116 people, 1,143 households, and 873 families residing in the city. The population density was 835.7 inhabitants per square mile (322.7/km). There were 1,185 housing units at an average density of 317.8 per square mile (122.7/km). The racial makeup of the city was 95.60% White , 0.29% African American , 0.29% Native American , 1.28% Asian , 0.71% from other races , and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.85% of
1440-651: The county in 2016. The Travis County Jail and the Travis County Criminal Justice Center are located in Downtown Austin. The Travis County Correctional Complex is located in an unincorporated area in Travis County, next to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport . The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Travis County State Jail, a state jail for men, in eastern Austin . Travis County
1488-425: 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
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1536-636: The county. Amtrak 's Austin station is located in downtown Austin and is served by the Texas Eagle which runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio , continuing on to Los Angeles several times a week. Travis County is served by the Union Pacific Railroad and the Austin Western Railroad . According to the census of 2010, there were 1,024,266 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in
1584-407: The county. The population density was 1,034 persons per square mile (399 persons/km ). There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 units per square mile (130 units/km ). 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
1632-422: The district vote for justices. Justices serve six year terms in at-large seats with no term limits, besides a mandatory retirement age of 75 years old. Following the 2018 midterm elections, Democrats held a majority on the 3rd Court of Appeals. Since 2022, Democrats have held all six seats. Judges serve a 4-year term, with no term limits . As of March 2024, all county elected officials are members of
1680-468: 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. According to
1728-852: The expulsion of the Apachean groups from the Plains by the Comanche , this area was dominated by the Penateka band of the Southern Comanche. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , all or portions of these 41 counties comprise the Edwards Plateau geographic region: The Texas Water Development Board, a state government agency, includes additional counties all or partly in the Edwards Plateau area: A map showing
1776-709: The new State of Texas when Texas was annexed by the United States later that year. 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
1824-466: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 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%. As of the 2010 census, there were about 11.1 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county. According to the census of 2000, there were 812,280 people, of which 29.30% had children under
1872-407: The population. There were 1,143 households, out of which 40.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.0% were married couples living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 17.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and
1920-759: The presidential level, as all of the county-level officials are Democrats. In addition, the majority of the county is represented by Democrats in the US Congress , Texas Senate , and Texas House . State Senators serve four year terms with no term limits. State Representatives serve two year terms with no term limits. In addition to Travis, the 3rd Court of Appeals hears cases from 23 other counties across Central Texas: Bastrop , Bell , Blanco , Burnet , Caldwell , Coke , Comal , Concho , Fayette , Hays , Irion , Lampasas , Lee , Llano , McColluch , Milam , Mills , Runnels , San Saba , Schleicher , Sterling , Tom Green , and Williamson . All 24 counties in
1968-527: The ranges of a number of species. Caves of the Edwards Plateau are important habitats for wildlife and for many endemic species. The area is home to some of the largest colonies of bats in the world, including millions of Mexican free-tailed bats . The largest colony of these inhabits Bracken Cave near San Antonio, while the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin is the summer home for over half
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2016-537: The thin soil and rough terrain areas are primarily grazing regions, with cattle, sheep, and goats ( Angora and meat types) predominant. Several rivers cross the region, which generally flow to the south and east through the Texas Hill Country toward the Gulf of Mexico ; springs occur (in wet years), but permanent surface water supplies are sparse throughout the area, except for man-made reservoirs. The area
2064-731: 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 . 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
2112-401: Was $ 116,905, and the median income for a family was $ 232,913. Males had a median income of $ 116,371 versus $ 43,969 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 55,651. About 0.6% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 1.8% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over. In June 2010, the average home price was $ 1,225,697. West Lake Hills
2160-462: 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. 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
2208-625: Was claimed by the Spanish Empire in the 1600s, but at the time no attempt was made to settle the area (or even to explore it fully). 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
2256-694: Was formerly in operation for black students pre-desegregation. 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 . Under Texas law Austin Community College District (ACC) is the designated community college for most of the county. However, areas in Marble Falls ISD are zoned to Central Texas College District . Central Health ,
2304-471: Was the only county in Texas to vote against the Proposition 2 state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, with slightly under 60% of voters being against it. In 2020, Travis County backed Democrat Joe Biden with nearly 72% of the vote, his strongest showing in the state and the best showing for any presidential candidate in the county since 1948. The county's Democratic bent is not limited to
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