Burnet, Texas
Encyclopedia
Burnet is a city in and the county seat
of Burnet County
, Texas
, United States
. The population was 4,735 at the 2000 census
.
Both the city and the county were named for David Gouverneur Burnet
, the first (provisional) president of the Republic of Texas
. He also served as Vice President during the administration of Mirabeau B. Lamar
. The name is pronounced as "BURN-it" rather than "bur-NET" because that is the way David Burnet pronounced his name.
and Colorado River
watersheds near the center of Burnet County. It is 48 miles northwest of the state capitol, Austin
- roughly a 1- to 1½-hour drive via U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 29. It is 36 miles west of Georgetown
(and Interstate Highway 35
) via State Highway 29, and 100 miles north of San Antonio
on U.S. Highway 281.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), all of it land.
.
A town was founded by 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 then 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.
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 population was spread out with 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.
(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).
.
Located outside of Burnet is a summer camp
called Camp Longhorn that has two branches (Inks Lake and Indian Springs).
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, 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 lighted runway with a full length taxiway, which can accommodate aircraft with up to 34,000 pounds per wheel. The airport is home to the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force
, 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.
, 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 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.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Burnet County
Burnet County, Texas
Burnet County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 34,147. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate was 44,488. Its county seat is Burnet. Burnet is named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,735 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
.
Both the city and the county were named for David Gouverneur Burnet
David G. Burnet
David Gouverneur Burnet was an early politician within the Republic of Texas, serving as interim President of Texas , second Vice President of the Republic of Texas , and Secretary of State for the new state of Texas after it was annexed to the United States of America.Burnet was born in Newark,...
, the first (provisional) president of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. He also served as Vice President during the administration of Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar was a Texas politician, diplomat and soldier who was a leading Texas political figure during the Texas Republic era. He was the second President of the Republic of Texas, after David G. Burnet and Sam Houston.-Early years:Lamar grew up at Fairfield, his father's...
. The name is pronounced as "BURN-it" rather than "bur-NET" because that is the way David Burnet pronounced his name.
Geography
Burnet is located one mile west of the divide between the BrazosBrazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
and Colorado River
Colorado River (Texas)
The Colorado River is a river that runs through the U.S. state of Texas; it should not be confused with the much longer Colorado River which flows from Colorado into the Gulf of California....
watersheds near the center of Burnet County. It is 48 miles northwest of the state capitol, Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
- roughly a 1- to 1½-hour drive via U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 29. It is 36 miles west of Georgetown
Georgetown, Texas
Georgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
(and Interstate Highway 35
Interstate 35 in Texas
Interstate 35 in Texas is a major north–south Interstate Highway running from Laredo near the United States-Mexico border to the Red River north of Gainesville where it crosses into Oklahoma. Along its route, it passes through the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco before it splits into two...
) via State Highway 29, and 100 miles north of San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
on U.S. Highway 281.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), all of it land.
History
In December 1847, a company of the Texas Rangers 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 CroghanFort Croghan
*For the 1842 Iowa fort of the same name, see Council Bluffs, Iowa.Fort Croghan was the third of the first four forts established by the United States government to protect settlers from hostile Indians along the Texas frontier. From its establishment in 1849 until its decommission in 1853, Fort...
.
A town was founded by 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
Hamilton, Texas
Hamilton is a city in Hamilton County in Central Texas. The population was 3,095 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County.-Geography:Hamilton is located at ....
. The name was changed in 1858. Major growth occurred with the arrival of the Austin and Northwestern Railroad
Austin and Northwestern Railroad
The Austin and Northwestern Railroad began construction on a rail line west of Austin, Texas, USA, toward Llano on April 20, 1881. The railroad was originally built as a narrow gauge line with plans to connect to the Texas and Pacific Railway at Abilene...
in April 1882, when Burnet then became the railhead for the area to the west. After the railroad was extended to Llano
Llano, Texas
-History:Llano County was established in compliance with a February 1, 1856, state legislative act. The Llano River location was chosen in an election held on June 14, 1856, under a live oak on the south bank of the river, near the present site of Roy Inks Bridge in 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 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 4,735 individuals, 1,661 households, and 1,114 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 population was spread out with 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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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 Burnet Consolidated Independent School DistrictBurnet Consolidated Independent School District
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Burnet, Texas .Located in Burnet County, small portions of the district extend into Llano and Williamson counties....
(285 employees), Burnet County
Burnet County, Texas
Burnet County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 34,147. The 2008 Census Bureau Estimate was 44,488. Its county seat is Burnet. Burnet is named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas...
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 the low-performing Burnet Consolidated Independent School DistrictBurnet Consolidated Independent School District
Burnet Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Burnet, Texas .Located in Burnet County, small portions of the district extend into Llano and Williamson counties....
.
Located outside of Burnet is a summer camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
called Camp Longhorn that has two branches (Inks Lake and Indian Springs).
Transportation
Burnet is served by two primary highways:-
U.S. Highway 281 - a north-south route connecting Burnet with the towns of LampasasLampasas, TexasLampasas is a city in Lampasas County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,786 at the 2000 census. It is the seat of Lampasas County.Lampasas is part of the Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
(22 mi north) and Marble FallsMarble Falls, TexasMarble Falls is a city in Burnet County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,959 at the 2000 census.Marble Falls is about northwest of Austin and north of San Antonio...
(13 mi south). San AntonioSan Antonio, TexasSan Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
is 100 miles south. -
State Highway 29State Highway 29 (Texas)State Highway 29, or SH 29, runs from south of Menard east to SH 95 in Circleville via Mason, Llano, Burnet, Liberty Hill, and Georgetown in central Texas....
- an east-west route connecting Burnet with LlanoLlano, Texas-History:Llano County was established in compliance with a February 1, 1856, state legislative act. The Llano River location was chosen in an election held on June 14, 1856, under a live oak on the south bank of the river, near the present site of Roy Inks Bridge in Llano...
(30 mi west) and GeorgetownGeorgetown, TexasGeorgetown is a city and also the county seat of Williamson County, Texas, United States with a population of 47,400 at the 2010 census. Southwestern University, founded in 1840, is the oldest university in Texas and is located in Georgetown, about 1/2 mile east of the historic square...
(36 mi east). State Highway 29 intersects with Interstate Highway 35Interstate 35 in TexasInterstate 35 in Texas is a major north–south Interstate Highway running from Laredo near the United States-Mexico border to the Red River north of Gainesville where it crosses into Oklahoma. Along its route, it passes through the cities of San Antonio, Austin, and Waco before it splits into two...
in Georgetown.
Rail service is provided by the Hill Country Flyer steam train from Cedar Park
Cedar Park, Texas
Cedar Park is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 48,937. The city is a major suburb of Austin, the center of which is approximately to the southeast, although Austin directly borders Cedar Park at the latter's...
. 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, 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 lighted runway with a full length taxiway, which can accommodate aircraft with up to 34,000 pounds per wheel. The airport is home to the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force
Commemorative Air Force
The Commemorative Air Force , formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is a Texas-based non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and showing historical aircraft at airshows primarily throughout the U.S. and Canada...
Tourist attractions
Attractions in the Burnet area include the Highland Lakes, Longhorn Cavern, Inks Lake State ParkInks Lake State Park
Inks Lake State Park is a state park located in Burnet County, Texas, United States, next to Inks Lake on the Colorado River. The landscape of the park is hilly, with many cedar, live oak, prickly pear cacti, and yuccas. The ground is rocky, mainly consisting of gneiss rock.Devil's Waterhole is a...
, 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 UniversityBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, Field was selected in the 1981 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He appeared in seven games in the 1981 season for the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL. Other football players from Burnet High School include quarterback Stephen McGee
Stephen McGee
Stephen Richard McGee is an American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for Texas A&M....
of Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
and the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and wide receiver Jordan Shipley
Jordan Shipley
Jordan Shipley is an American football player who currently plays wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League . He was drafted by Cincinnati in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
of The University of Texas and the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
Logan Vandeveer
Logan Vandeveer
Logan Vandeveer, early Texas Ranger, soldier, pioneer; ranger, cattleman, and civic leader, was born in Casey county, Kentucky about 1815. He was the son of William and Emily Vandeveer. He came to Texas in 1833, joining Stephen F. Austin's Little Colony at Mina in present day Bastrop County.-...
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.