Georgetown, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Georgetown, Texas
settlement_type = City
nickname = Red Poppy Capital of Texas, Retirement Capital of Texas, Gtown
motto = "Sincerely Yours"

imagesize =
image_caption =

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Georgetown, Texas


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Williamson

government_footnotes =
government_type = Mayor/Council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = George Garver
leader_title1 = City Manager
leader_name1 = Paul Brandenburg
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 64.6
area_land_km2 = 59.1
area_water_km2 = 5.4
area_total_sq_mi = 24.9
area_land_sq_mi = 22.8
area_water_sq_mi = 2.1

population_as_of = 2008
population_footnotes =
population_total = 48202
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi = 2114
Demonym = Georgetonian

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 230
elevation_ft = 755
latd = 30 |latm = 39 |lats = 4 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 40 |longs = 53 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 78626, 78627, 78628 & 78633
area_code = 512
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-29336GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1357960GR|3
website = www.georgetown.org
footnotes = .

Geography

Georgetown is located at coor dms|30|39|4|N|97|40|53|W|city (30.651187, -97.681333)GR|1, 26 miles (42 km) north of Austin's 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) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it (8.42%) is water.

The city is located on the northeastern edge of Texas Hill Country, providing karst topography in western parts with more arable land to the east. The San Gabriel River runs through the city providing miles of hike and bike trails, several parks and recreation for both residents and visitors.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 28,340 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/sq mi (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.

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.

History

Georgetown, the county seat of Williamson County, was founded in 1848 at the fork of the San Gabriel River. The town was named for George Washington Glasscock who donated the land for the new town. Early pioneers were attracted to the area's abundance of timber and good, clear water, just as the Tonkawa Indians, who thrived in the area for many years. In addition, the land was inexpensive and extremely fertile.

Georgetown remained an agrarian community for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries.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 was based largely on agriculture, mainly cotton. The Chisholm Trail, a cattle trail that led from Texas to the railcenters in Kansas and Missouri crossed through the heart of Georgetown.

Cotton production became dominant in the area from the 1880s through the 1920s. The Georgetown and Granger Railroad (GGR) was completed to Austin in 1904. Extensive loss from a 1921 flood led Georgetown to seek flood control, an effort that culminated in the building of a dam to impound Lake Georgetown, which opened officially on October 5, 1979. An unlicensed radio station appeared briefly in the 1930s, and Radio Station KGTN opened in 1962. At one time, Georgetown was served by two railroads, the International-Great Northern, which eventually was merged into the Missouri Pacific, and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway. 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.

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 fact, Fortune Small Business Magazine in a 2008 publication named Georgetown the No. 2 best city in the nation to live and launch.

In the historic neighborhoods, adaptive restoration has been widely practiced, with special emphasis on a Main Street program and private restoration of older homes. The city was recently named one of the best places to purchase an 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. In 1998, the city celebrated its 150th birthday with numerous community activities and parties. By 2000, Georgetown and Williamson County experienced tremendous growth, doubling the population.

Founding

The Tonkawa and Comanche Indians were some of the earliest to have a lived on the San Gabriel river many years before the arrival of the Spanish and settlers. Archaeologists have found evidence of Indian habitation that dates back some 11,700 years.

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 founded in 1848. In a story relayed to historians, Washington Anderson tells of Georgetown’s beginnings. Anderson and the four other men assigned the task of locating a county seat were enjoying a brief respite under a large oak tree when Anderson’s cousin and prodigious landowner, George Washington Glasscock, Sr., rode up on his mule. Sensing a quick solution to their task, Anderson spoke up, “George, if you’ll give us all the land between here and the San Gabriel River, we’ll make this the county seat and name the town after you.” His cousin agreed, promptly donating convert|173|acre|km2|1, with his partner Thomas B. Huling.

The early Georgetown was a population of immigrants with Swedish, German, Austrian, Swiss, Moravian and Czech settlers joining transplanted Americans from Tennessee, South Carolina and other Southern states.

Retirement Capital of Texas

In addition to being well known as having one of the best preserved and active historic downtowns in Texas, Georgetown is considered to be one of the best places to retire in the nation due to its fairly warm climate year round, close proximity to both the countryside and Austin, and because of its increasing population of retirees. Part of this is due to the fact that Sun City Texas,a new and large adult community, calls the Georgetown home. Several thousand 55 and better residents reside there.

Weather

Georgetown, like much of Central Texas, is characterized by its long and hot summers with cooler, very enjoyable winters. The average summer temperature tops out at around 100 degrees 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, giving the weather a more desert like feel.

Winters in Georgetown is considered by many to be very comfortable. Much of the winter months 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 70’s well into December and 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.

Education

The City of Georgetown is served by the Georgetown Independent School District.

ites of interest

*Historic Downtown Square
*Williamson County Courthouse
*Palace Theater
*Grace Heritage Church
*Winberg Art Gallery
*8th Street Art Studio
*Williamson County Art Guild
*Founder's Park
*The Williamson Museum
*Georgetown Firefighters Museum
*Georgetown Visitors Information Center
*Inner Space Cavern
*Southwestern University
*Lake Georgetown
*San Gabriel Park

References

External links

* [http://www.georgetown.org City of Georgetown website]
* [http://mainstreet.georgetown.org/ Main Street Georgetown]
* [http://www.visitgeorgetown.com Georgetown Convention and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.georgetownrealestateexpert.com/blog Get the INSIDE SCOOP on the Georgetown Community & its Real Estate from a Realtor and Former Planning & Zoning Commissioner's Blog]
* [http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/GEORGETOWN_TEXAS/Georgetown_Texas_Williamson_County.htm Williamson County Historical Commission page on Georgetown]
* [http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=df2j2dg9_0x8dx7fj8&hl=en A Permit to Protest?]
* [http://www.georgetown360.com Newly Launched Community Portal for Georgetown Texas]
* [http://www.georgetowncustomhomes.com/blog Georgetown Texas Real Estate Blog]
* [http://www.georgetown-texas.org PICTORIAL HISTORY OF GEORGETOWN]
* [http://www.southwestern.edu/ Southwestern University]
* [http://www.innerspace.com/ Inner Space Cavern]
* [http://www.georgetownisd.org/ Georgetown ISD]
* [http://www.thegeorgetownpalace.org/ The Palace Theater]
* [http://georgetownheritagesociety.com Georgetown Heritage Society]
* [http://www.williamsonmuseum.org/ The Williamson Museum]
* [http://three-legged-willie.org Three-Legged Willie]
*
* [http://www.ifoundgeorgetown.com iFoundGeorgetown]
* [http://www.georgetownchamber.org/ Georgetown Chamber of Commerce]