Burnet, Texas

Geography

Burnet is located one mile west of the divide between the Brazos and Colorado River watersheds near the center of Burnet County. It is 54 miles (87 km) northwest of the state capital, Austin – roughly a 1- to 1½-hour drive via U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 29. It is 36 miles (58 km) west of Georgetown and Interstate Highway 35 via State Highway 29, and 100 miles (160 km) north of San Antonio on U.S. Highway 281.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Burnet has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.3 km²), of which 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.32%, is water.

History

In December 1847, a company of the Texas Ranger Division commanded by Henry E. McCulloch established a station at the site of present-day Burnet for the protection of frontier settlers from Indian raids. In March 1849, the station was chosen as a federal fort and named Fort Croghan.

A town was founded next to Fort Croghan in 1852, when Burnet County was established. The town was originally named Hamilton after John Hamilton, who owned a league and labor of land nearby. In August 1852 a post office was established in Hamilton and named Burnet Courthouse. In 1857 thirty-five residents of the town petitioned the state legislature to change the name of the town to Burnet since there was another town in Texas named Hamilton. The name was changed in 1858. Major growth occurred with the arrival of the Austin and Northwestern Railroad in April 1882, when Burnet became the railhead for the area to the west. After the railroad was extended to Llano in 1892, Burnet declined as a supply point and became a farming and livestock center. The City of Burnet was incorporated in 1933.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,735 individuals, 1,661 households, and 1,114 families residing in the city. The population density was 693.1 people per square mile (267.7/km²). There were 1,813 housing units at an average density of 265.4 per square mile (102.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.80% White, 5.32% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 7.77% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.97% of the population.

There were 1,661 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,093, and the median income for a family was $37,604. Males had a median income of $25,663 versus $17,163 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,749. About 11.8% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major employers in Burnet include the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District (285 employees), Burnet County government (140), Seton Highland Lakes Hospital (120), Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice substance abuse facility (120), City of Burnet government (120), A.T.M.I. [manufacturer of materials for semiconductor and flat panel industry] (100), H.E.B. grocery store (100), Sure Cast (92), Hoover Companies (90), Southwestern Graphite Co. (45), Bilbrough Marble Co. (25), Lone Star Industries (25), and Dash Covers, Inc. (25).

Education

Burnet is served by Burnet Consolidated Independent School District and home to the Burnet High School Bulldogs.

Located outside of Burnet is a summer camp called Camp Longhorn that has two branches (Inks Lake and Indian Springs).

Transportation

Burnet is served by two primary highways:

Rail service is provided by the Hill Country Flyer steam train from Cedar Park. The Hill Country Flyer is operated every Saturday in January and February, most Saturdays and Sundays March–May, and most Saturdays in October and November.

Burnet Municipal Airport, also known as Kate Craddock Field (ICAO Code KBMQ), is a general aviation airport located approximately one mile south of State Highway 29 on U.S. Highway 281. It has a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) lighted runway with a full-length taxiway, which can accommodate aircraft with up to 34,000 pounds (15,000 kg) per wheel. The airport is home to the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force.

Tourist attractions

Attractions in the Burnet area include the Highland Lakes, Longhorn Cavern, Inks Lake State Park, the Historic Burnet Square, the Highland Lakes Air Museum, Fort Croghan Museum and Grounds, the Vanishing Texas River Cruise, Hamilton Creek Park, Galloway Hammond Recreation Center, Delaware Springs Golf Course, and the Austin Steam Train Association's Hill Country Flyer.

The Historic Square features buildings from as early as the 1880s and offers a variety of unique shops and eateries.

Famous residents

Famous residents of Burnet include Doak Field, a professional American football player. As a linebacker at Baylor University, Field was selected in the 1981 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He appeared in seven games in the 1981 season for the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL. Other football players from Burnet High School include quarterback Stephen McGee of Texas A&M University and the Dallas Cowboys, and wide receiver Jordan Shipley of The University of Texas at Austin and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Logan Vandeveer was a Texas soldier, ranger, cattleman and civic leader. Vandeveer was a leader in presenting the petition to the legislature in 1852 to establish Burnet County and was instrumental in having the town of Burnet named the county seat.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Burnet has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.