Cedar Park, Texas
Encyclopedia
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 16 miles (25.7 km) to the southeast, although Austin directly borders Cedar Park at the latter's southern extent.
, the Lipan Apache, and the Comanche
. A paleo-American archaeological site (named the Wilson-Leonard site) was discovered in Cedar Park in 1983 that showed evidence of continual habitation of the area since circa 5000 BC
.
In the mid-19th century the community was known as Running Brushy, named after a spring that formed the headwaters of a creek of the same name. In 1873 George and Harriet Cluck, after having run cattle up the Chisholm Trail
for many years, bought 329 acres (1.3 km²) of land that included the Running Brushy spring. Their ranch formed the core of the community that would one day become Cedar Park.
Ten years later, the railroad came through. The Austin & Northwest Railroad, which connected the state capitol with the cities of Burnet
and Lampasas
to the north, was finished in 1882 and passed through Running Brushy and the Cluck ranch. The community was at this point renamed Bruggerhoff, after a railroad company official. However, the name was generally disliked by locals, being both hard to spell and pronounce. In 1887, Emmett Cluck (son of George and Harriet) changed the community name to Cedar Park. In 1892, a "strolling park" of 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²) was built near the train depot. Austinites would ride the train to Cedar Park for day trips to the park.
Cedar Park changed little until the 1950s and 1960s when housing subdivisions began to be built, spurred by the growth of nearby Austin. On February 24, 1973, the citizens of Cedar Park voted to incorporate.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
Cedar Park is generally bisected north to south by U.S. Route 183
. A bypass
route, the 183A toll road
, also runs through Cedar Park and opened to traffic on March 15, 2007.
of 2000, there were 26,049 people, 8,621 households, and 7,155 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,535.0 people per square mile (592.7/km²). There were 8,914 housing units at an average density of 525.3 per square mile (202.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.41% White, 3.32% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.61% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races
, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.50% of the population.
There were 8,621 households out of which 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,527, and the median income for a family was $70,587. Males had a median income of $49,657 versus $32,039 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $24,767. About 3.0% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
As of July 2006 the Census Bureau estimated the population of Cedar Park to be 52,058, representing a 99.9% increase from the 2000 census.
system of local government. As of June 17, 2010, Cedar Park City Council members are as follows:
The seven members serve two year terms. The mayor and council members place two, place four and place six are elected on even years. Council members place one, place three and place five are elected on odd years.
began American Hockey League
play in October 2009 at the Cedar Park Center. The arena is also home to the Austin Toros
of the NBA Development League
.
A major public skate park facility opened in Cedar Park in July 2010. The 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) facility features a large bowl, mini bowl and modern street course.
, and is home to the Cedar Park High School
Timberwolves and the Vista Ridge High School
Rangers.
One neighborhood, Riviera Springs, feeds into the Round Rock Independent School District
.
The city is home to the Cypress Creek campus of Austin Community College
, which was significantly expanded in 2008 to accommodate the area's growing population.
The Texas Psychological Association
is located in the city.
The city has been designated for the fifth installment of the popular Schlitterbahn
waterparks. The 95 acres (384,451.7 m²) Schlitterbahn Cedar Park is set to be completed by the Summer of 2012, and will include not only a waterpark, but also a boutique hotel, conference center, retail space and restaurants. This new site will utilize the latest in water recycling technology, and is expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs in the area.
Congregation Shir Ami is a Reform Jewish synagogue
in Cedar Park, founded in 2002, and led by Cantor Marie Betcher.
Travis County, Texas
As of 2009, the U.S. census estimates there were 1,026,158 people, 320,766 households, and 183,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 821 people per square mile . There were 335,881 housing units at an average density of 340 per square mile...
and Williamson
Williamson County, Texas
Williamson County is a county located on both the Edwards Plateau to the west, consisting of rocky terrain and hills, and Blackland Prairies in the east consising of rich, fertile farming land, The two areas are roughly bisected by Interstate 35...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 48,937. The city is a major suburb of 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...
, the center of which is approximately 16 miles (25.7 km) to the southeast, although Austin directly borders Cedar Park at the latter's southern extent.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century, the Cedar Park area was inhabited by various Native American tribes including the TonkawaTonkawa
The Tickanwa•tic Tribe , better known as the Tonkawa , are a Native American people indigenous to present-day Oklahoma and Texas. They once spoke the now-extinct Tonkawa language believed to have been a language isolate not related to any other indigenous tongues...
, the Lipan Apache, and the Comanche
Comanche
The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose historic range consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, northeastern Arizona, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northwest Texas. Historically, the Comanches were hunter-gatherers, with a typical Plains Indian...
. A paleo-American archaeological site (named the Wilson-Leonard site) was discovered in Cedar Park in 1983 that showed evidence of continual habitation of the area since circa 5000 BC
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
.
In the mid-19th century the community was known as Running Brushy, named after a spring that formed the headwaters of a creek of the same name. In 1873 George and Harriet Cluck, after having run cattle up the Chisholm Trail
Chisholm Trail
The Chisholm Trail was a trail used in the late 19th century to drive cattle overland from ranches in Texas to Kansas railheads. The portion of the trail marked by Jesse Chisholm went from his southern trading post near the Red River, to his northern trading post near Kansas City, Kansas...
for many years, bought 329 acres (1.3 km²) of land that included the Running Brushy spring. Their ranch formed the core of the community that would one day become Cedar Park.
Ten years later, the railroad came through. The Austin & Northwest Railroad, which connected the state capitol with the cities of Burnet
Burnet, Texas
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 president of the Republic of Texas. He also served as Vice President during the...
and Lampasas
Lampasas, Texas
Lampasas 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:...
to the north, was finished in 1882 and passed through Running Brushy and the Cluck ranch. The community was at this point renamed Bruggerhoff, after a railroad company official. However, the name was generally disliked by locals, being both hard to spell and pronounce. In 1887, Emmett Cluck (son of George and Harriet) changed the community name to Cedar Park. In 1892, a "strolling park" of 0.5 acres (2,023.4 m²) was built near the train depot. Austinites would ride the train to Cedar Park for day trips to the park.
Cedar Park changed little until the 1950s and 1960s when housing subdivisions began to be built, spurred by the growth of nearby Austin. On February 24, 1973, the citizens of Cedar Park voted to incorporate.
Geography
Cedar Park is located at 30°30′24"N 97°49′49"W (30.506620, -97.830317). It lies mostly in Williamson County, although a small amount extends into Travis County.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 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
Cedar Park is generally bisected north to south by U.S. Route 183
U.S. Route 183
U.S. Route 183 is a north–south United States highway. U.S. 183 was the last US route to be completely paved. The 20 mile segment in Loup County, Nebraska, north of Taylor, was unpaved until 1967. The highway's northern terminus is in Presho, South Dakota, at an intersection with...
. A bypass
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
route, the 183A toll road
183A toll road
The 183A Toll Road or 183A is a toll road in the Austin metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Texas. The road includes sections in north Austin, Cedar Park, and Leander. It provides a bypass for U.S. Highway 183. The road is owned and operated by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. ...
, also runs through Cedar Park and opened to traffic on March 15, 2007.
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 26,049 people, 8,621 households, and 7,155 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 1,535.0 people per square mile (592.7/km²). There were 8,914 housing units at an average density of 525.3 per square mile (202.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.41% White, 3.32% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.61% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.10% 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 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.50% of the population.
There were 8,621 households out of which 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,527, and the median income for a family was $70,587. Males had a median income of $49,657 versus $32,039 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 $24,767. About 3.0% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
As of July 2006 the Census Bureau estimated the population of Cedar Park to be 52,058, representing a 99.9% increase from the 2000 census.
Government
Cedar Park was incorporated in 1973 with a council-managerCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
system of local government. As of June 17, 2010, Cedar Park City Council members are as follows:
- Mayor: Robert S. Lemon
- Place 1: Matt Powell
- Place 2: Mitch Fuller
- Place 3: Scott Mitchell
- Place 4: Lowell Moore(Mayor Pro Tem)
- Place 5: Tony Dale
- Place 6: Don Tracy
The seven members serve two year terms. The mayor and council members place two, place four and place six are elected on even years. Council members place one, place three and place five are elected on odd years.
Sports
Cedar Park is home to two top-level minor league professional teams. The Texas StarsTexas Stars
The Texas Stars are an American Hockey League team. They play in Cedar Park, Texas, near Austin.The team is the top affiliate of the NHL Dallas Stars. In April 2008, the Iowa Stars announced that they would no longer affiliate with the Dallas Stars, and changed the team's name to Chops for the...
began American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
play in October 2009 at the Cedar Park Center. The arena is also home to the Austin Toros
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
of the NBA Development League
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
.
A major public skate park facility opened in Cedar Park in July 2010. The 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) facility features a large bowl, mini bowl and modern street course.
Institutions and schools
Cedar Park is served primarily by the Leander Independent School DistrictLeander Independent School District
Leander Independent School District is a school district based in Leander, Texas and covering a total of in Leander, Cedar Park, Jonestown in Williamson County and Northwest Austin in Travis County...
, and is home to the Cedar Park High School
Cedar Park High School
Cedar Park High School is a high school in Cedar Park, Texas; it was established in 1998 to serve as the second high school in the Leander Independent School District. The school was built due to the rapid growth in the area....
Timberwolves and the Vista Ridge High School
Vista Ridge High School
Vista Ridge High School is a high school in Cedar Park, Texas. The school was established in 2003 to serve as the 3rd high school in the Leander Independent School District, graduating its Alpha class June 2007. The school was built due to the rapid growth in the area, and continues to grow with...
Rangers.
One neighborhood, Riviera Springs, feeds into the Round Rock Independent School District
Round Rock Independent School District
Round Rock Independent School District is a school district headquartered in the city of Round Rock, Texas, United States. As of 2007, the school district served 39,079 students....
.
The city is home to the Cypress Creek campus of Austin Community College
Austin Community College
The Austin Community College District is a regional community college district with eight campuses and 12 centers located in and around the city of Austin, Texas, United States....
, which was significantly expanded in 2008 to accommodate the area's growing population.
The Texas Psychological Association
Texas Psychological Association
The Texas Psychological Association is a professional association representing psychologists in the U.S. state of Texas. It was established in 1947 and is headquartered in Cedar Park, Texas.-About TPA:...
is located in the city.
Entertainment
The Cedar Park Center was completed in 2009, and hosts a wide array of live entertainment events.The city has been designated for the fifth installment of the popular Schlitterbahn
Schlitterbahn
Schlitterbahn is a family-owned and operated company based in New Braunfels, Texas, USA. Schlitterbahn began its first park, Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort, in 1979. Since then Schlitterbahn has developed three waterparks located in Texas and one in Kansas City, Kansas.Schlitterbahn Waterparks are...
waterparks. The 95 acres (384,451.7 m²) Schlitterbahn Cedar Park is set to be completed by the Summer of 2012, and will include not only a waterpark, but also a boutique hotel, conference center, retail space and restaurants. This new site will utilize the latest in water recycling technology, and is expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs in the area.
Religion
Cedar Park is served by a number of Christian churches, including Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Park United Methodist Church, Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Lakehills Free Will Baptist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, among many others.Congregation Shir Ami is a Reform Jewish synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Cedar Park, founded in 2002, and led by Cantor Marie Betcher.
External links
- City of Cedar Park website
- Williamson County Historical Commission: Cedar Park
- Cedar Park Life - local news and information blog
- CedarPark360 Local Guide and Directory