TRAVIS COUNTY
County Offices
5501 Airport Boulevard
Austin 512-854-9020
https://www.traviscountytx.gov
Chamber of Commerce
535 East 5th Street
Austin 512-478-9383
https://www.austinchamber.com
Anchored by the Texas capital city of Austin, Travis County is nested in Central Texas and features a panoramic landscape of rolling hills and sparkling lakes. Combining the vibrant capital city with its thriving economic development and growing suburbs, the county has enough diversity to support every imaginable lifestyle.
Services
Travis County is home to world-class educational and healthcare facilities and services, including state-of-the-art hospitals and medical centers. The medical needs of the community is continually being evaluated by active healthcare systems like the Seton Healthcare Network and St. David’s Health Care System, although regional growth is attracting more quality providers and managed care companies for a world of choices. Parents will appreciate the presence of the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, the only dedicated freestanding pediatric facility in the entire region. Dell Children’s is a premier provider of services for children and adolescents, serving a 46-county area and beyond. Award-winning hospitals and medical centers provide the latest in technological advancements, including specialties like neonatal care, organ transplants, oncology, and in-vitro fertilization. Complement the major hospitals are numerous outpatient clinics, specialty institutes, emergency and after-hour care centers, and skilled professionals in private practice who represent every major specialization and most sub-specialties.
Educational opportunities abound in Travis County, underlined by quality public school systems that include award-winning schools and alternative charter schools as well as scores of respected private schools, both independent and parochial. Founded in 1883, the University of Texas at Austin is distinguished as one of the largest and most respected universities in the nation. The Times of London ranked UT second among U.S. public universities when compared to the world’s 200 top institutions. The diverse learning community brings together students from more than 100 countries. Austin Community College is an asset to the entire region, providing opportunities for continuing education, college track programs, specialized training, and invaluable training assistance to area businesses. Private colleges and specialized schools and institutes expand the options for vocational, technical, and career training close to home. Residents are bright and prepared for the future in Travis County, where nearly 40 percent of those 25 years and older hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
Lifestyle
Anchored by the vibrant and beautiful city of Austin, Travis County offers an unusually appealing mix of advanced technology, a prosperous economy, well-educated residents, outstanding outdoor recreational sites, a strong cultural community, and a lively entertainment scene. At the same time, the motto of “Keep Austin Weird” is evidence that the residents of this desirable metropolitan area are as relaxed and open as they are full of enthusiasm and energy. Beyond the city limits of Austin, Travis County offers rapidly growing communities that blend small towns and Lake Travis Area villages with emerging centers of business like Pflugerville. The residential choices include gated golf course communities, enclaves with acreage properties and elegant manors, family-oriented neighborhoods with walking paths and recreational amenities, and historical homes in the heart of a long-established town. World-renowned festivals add spice and color to every season in Travis County, home to more than 200 live music venues. Those who appreciate culture will find exceptional art museums, wonderful gardens, professional performing arts companies, and venues that showcase national and international talent. Even in the smaller towns, delightful productions like Way Off Broadway draw local audiences.
The recreational opportunities are around every corner in lush municipal parks and greenways that offer sports equipment as well as fields and courts. County and state parks dot the landscape with opportunities to camp, fish, hunt, horseback ride, rock climb, mountain bike, and hike against the backdrop of breathtaking beauty. The city of Austin has four lakes, with other water-oriented recreational sites just minutes from a Travis County address. Lake Travis is especially popular for its boating and water sports but also as an ideal location for upscale and exclusive lakefront homes. Golf courses, tennis courts, community and recreation centers, swimming pools, fitness centers, and private sports clubs are scattered throughout the metro area. Shopping opportunities are abundant and first class, combining elegant malls filled with designer boutiques with national chains, historic downtown districts, and neighborhood plazas. For an unparalleled quality of life that does come with an equally high cost of living, few places in the nation can match Travis County.
Bee Cave
City Offices
512-767-6614
https://www.beecavetexas.gov
Chamber of Commerce
512-263-5833
https://www.laketravischamber.com
The residential haven of Bee Cave is drawing record numbers of newcomers to an attractive community with luxurious homes, great schools, and first-class shopping amenities. Located along Highway 72 between Bee Caves Road and Hamilton Pool Road, the city provides many amenities including the Field of Dreams for youth athletics, the Town Center at the Hill Country Galleria with amphitheatre and splash fountain, a public library, and a 50-acre city park for active and passive recreation. Public and private golf courses are available. The Lake Travis Youth Association offers soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, and cheering. Entertainment includes live music at the local amphitheatre and other venues. Many professionals and families have chosen Bee Cave as their hometown for the easy access it provides to regional destinations. Highway 71 leads east to town and west to Lake Travis, where water-oriented recreation is extremely popular. Highway 620 runs north to Lakeway, while Hamilton Pool Road leads south and Bee Caves Road leads to Westlake. The commute from this highly desirable community to downtown Austin is less then 30 minutes.
Lakeway, Spicewood, Hudson Hills
City Offices
512-314-7500
https://www.lakeway-tx.gov
Chamber of Commerce
512-263-5833
https://www.laketravischamber.com
The real estate properties and upscale communities that surround Lake Travis are some of the most desirable in Metropolitan Austin. Formed to control Colorado River flooding, Lake Travis is extremely popular as a recreational site and destination for water sports. The dramatic, hilly terrain and sparkling expanse of water are ideal for custom homes and grand estates that climb the hillsides or perch on view lots. Top-rated schools and every imaginable amenity make these communities popular with professionals, retirees, and families alike. Lakeway is an incorporated city in the Lake Travis area, while Spicewood and Hudson Hills are unincorporated communities. West of Austin, Lakeway offers a wide selection of housing from condominiums and townhomes to custom builds, family homes, waterfront residence, view properties, and even gated enclaves. Lakeway has emerged as a balanced community where most needs can be met close to home, although the Hill Country Galleria Mall offers expanded shopping. Lakeway is home to three marinas including the new Rough Hollow Marina and Yacht Club. In addition to fine greenbelts, the city offers a 64-acre park on the Lake Travis waterfront park with hiking trails, play and picnic areas, and a sandy beach.
Manor
City Offices
512-272-5555
http://www.cityofmanor.org/
Chamber of Commerce
512-272-5699
https://manorchamber.com/
The name of the small but rapidly growing town of Manor is pronounced “may-ner” not “mann-er,” a community with a long and rich history that was once the center of cotton production in Travis County. In fact, by the closing of the 19th century Manor was said to be second only to Austin in population. The town incorporated in 1913 with expectations of future growth and development, although devastating fires destroyed the business district and cotton production declined. As a result, this once booming community diminished in size and importance. By the year 2000, new growth was again evident—a trend that continues today, fueled by Austin’s continued urban sprawl eastward. Manor is listed as one of the area’s fastest-growing cities, to the point where the local newspaper sometimes refers to is as the Manorplex. Newcomers will find a warm and friendly small-town spirit, abundant new-home construction and fine residential neighborhoods, and a more affordable real estate market than is available in many of the more exclusive suburban communities.
Marble Falls
City Offices
830-693-3615
https://marblefallstx.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
830-693-2815
https://www.marblefalls.org/
Nestled in the heart of Texas Hill Country on Highway 281, the community of Marble Falls is centrally located for easy access to regional metropolitan destinations. Just 45 miles northwest of Austin, the city is situated in a region that is renowned for its natural beauty with sparkling waterways and lush rolling hills. The shade of ancient oaks, a sighting of an American bald eagle, and the burst of wildflowers each spring are just a few of the highlights in this scenic area. Many amateur and professional photographers and artists are drawn to this area, trying to capture the breathtaking landscapes of the Highland Lakes area on film. Marble Falls is a growing community that is expected to continue adding new residents at a rate that is three times the national average of 4.6 percent. Affordable housing is still available, although luxury homes can be found near Lake LBJ on Horseshow Bay, also home to premier golf courses. The gated community of Meadowlakes on Lake Marble Falls is another popular development.
Pflugerville
City Offices
512-990-6101
https://www.pflugervilletx.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
512-251-7799
https://www.pfchamber.com
Named by Forbes magazine among the nation’s fastest-growing cities, Pflugerville is emerging as a major growth center in Central Texas. Located 16 miles northeast of downtown Austin at the intersection of State Highways 45 and 130, the city nestles between Austin and Round Rock. The rolling hills and prairies that characterize Pflugerville are highly desirable for residential neighborhoods but also for retail, commercial, and light industrial development. The city offers a family-oriented atmosphere that includes quiet streets and excellent schools. The city’s unusual name belies a rich German heritage, and reverence for the past blends with a progressive attitude about new business and technological advancement. The city’s amenities continue to grow, although the bright lights of Austin are just minutes from home for world-class cultural and entertainment opportunities. Recreational sites are abundant within the city and also in the surrounding countryside.
Village of Briarcliff
Village Offices
512-264-2274
https://www.briarclifftx.com
Chamber of Commerce
512-263-5833
https://www.laketravischamber.com
From its ’60s roots as a resort community on Lake Travis, Briarcliff is emerging as a permanent home of choice for residents of all ages and walks of life. Once a village of summer homes and cottages along the lakeshore and surrounding hills, the community now offers a wide range of housing choices. In addition to bungalows or vacation homes from yesterday, newcomers will find more modern construction. Many of the original homes have already been remodeled and renovated for year-round living. Depending upon the location and size of the home, even these older models retain strong real estate value. Water-oriented activities are common pastimes for those who live in the Travis Lake Area communities, and the Briarcliff Marina is a favorite starting point for many boating adventures. The village offers a community center, tennis courts, a park with sports and play equipment, and a privately owned country club and golf course. Shopping and service providers are minutes from home in surrounding communities, and the world-class advantages of Austin are equally accessible.
Village of The Hills
Village Offices
512-261-6281
https://www.villageofthehills.org
Chamber of Commerce
512-263-5833
https://www.laketravischamber.com
Nestled in the very heart of the panoramic Texas Hills Country, the Village of The Hills offers a secluded retreat just off the sparkling shores of Lake Travis. This exclusive residential village features private golf, tennis, fitness amenities, swimming, and social activities for an active lifestyle that seems more like a year-round vacation. Newcomers will discover a prestigious yet friendly community atmosphere where lasting friendships are easily formed. The community has recently developed the Village Park and Nature Trail, complete with picnic tables, a playscape, basketball court, and a walking path. As one of the communities in the desirable Lake Travis Area, the village provides easy access to some of the finest water-oriented recreation in Central Texas. Surrounding cities and towns provide shopping, services, and expanded amenities for a convenient yet wonderfully secluded lifestyle near a major urban metropolis.
