Round Rock, Texas

City of Round Rock
—  City  —
The Round Rock, from which the city takes its name, marked a low water wagon crossing in Brushy Creek. One hundred year old wagon ruts are still visible in the creek bottom.  Photo by Larry D. Moore.
Motto: "Sports Capital of Texas"
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Texas
Counties Williamson, Travis
Brushy Creek 1851
Government
 - Type Mayor-Council
 - Mayor Alan McGraw
Area
 - Total 26.3 sq mi (68.0 km2)
 - Land 26.1 sq mi (67.7 km2)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation 735 ft (224 m)
Population (2008 est.)
 - Total 104,446
 - Density 2,339.1/sq mi (903.1/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s) 512
FIPS code 48-63500[1]
GNIS feature ID 1366966[2]
Website www.roundrocktexas.gov

Round Rock is a city located in Travis and Williamson counties in the state of Texas in the United States. A part of the Austin–Round Rock[3] metropolitan area,[4] its population was 79,136 as of the 2000 census. The 2008 census estimates placed the population at 104,446.[5]

The city straddles both sides of the Balcones Escarpment,[6] a fault line in which the areas roughly east of IH-35 are flat and characterized by having black, fertile soils of the Blackland Prairie, and the west side of the Escarpment which consists mostly of hilly, karst-like terrain with little topsoil and higher elevations and which is part of the Texas Hill Country.

In August 2008, Money Magazine named Round Rock as the seventh-best American small city in which to live.[7] Money based this ranking on an estimated annual income of $85,809 per household, and job growth of 45.15% from 2000–2007 (well above the 18.6% national average). Round Rock was the only Texas city to make the Top 10. In a CNN article dated July 1, 2009, Round Rock was listed as the second-fastest growing city in the country, with a population growth of 8.2% in the preceding year.[8]

Round Rock has outstanding public education.[9] According to the 2008 ratings from the Texas Education Agency, the Round Rock Independent School District ranks among the best in the state. Of 42 schools within RRISD, 12 were rated exemplary and 11 are recognized. No RRISD schools received an academically unacceptable rating.[10]

Round Rock is probably best known, however as the international headquarters of Dell, employing 16,000 people at its Round Rock facilities.[11] and about 96,000 people worldwide. That plus other major employers,[12] a strong economic development program, favorable tax rates, and major retailers such as IKEA and a Premium Outlet Mall, have changed Round Rock from a sleepy bedroom community.[13] next to Austin, into its own self-contained "super suburb."[14]

Contents

History

Pre-historic Round Rock

This Clovis point is from a period of habitation of approximately 11,500 years ago.

Round Rock and Williamson County have been the site of human habitation since at least 9,200 BC. The earliest known inhabitants of the area lived during the late Pleistocene (Ice Age), and are linked to the Clovis culture around 9,200 B.C. (11,200 years old) based on evidence found at the much-studied Gault Site.[15] One of the most important discoveries in recent times is that of the ancient skeletal remains dubbed "The Leanderthal Lady" because of its age and proximity to Leander, Texas.[16] The site is four miles west of Round Rock and was discovered by accident by Texas Department of Transportation workers while drilling core samples for a new highway. The site has been extensively studied for many years and samples carbon date to the Pleistocene period at approximately 10,500 years ago (9,500 BC). Pre-historic and archaic "open occupation" campsites are also found throughout the county along streams and other water sources including Brushy Creek in Round Rock and the San Gabriel River in Georgetown.[17] These archeology dig sites show a much greater volume of evidence of Archais Period inhabitants based on relics and flint tools recovered from burned rock middens.

The earliest known historical Native American occupants, the Tonkawa, were a flint-working, hunting people who followed the buffalo on foot and periodically set fire to the prairie to aid them in their hunts. During the eighteenth century they made the transition to a horse culture and used firearms to a limited extent. After they were crowded out by white settlement, the Comanches continued to raid settlements in the county until the 1860s. There also appear to have been small numbers of Kiowa, Yojuane, Tawakoni, and Mayeye Indians living in the county at the time of the earliest Anglo settlements.[18]

In the late 1800s, Native Americans were being push out of Central Texas. In some cases new paved roads followed the original Indian pathways. One famous immigration route passed through Round Rock and is called the "Double File Trail" because the path was wide enough for two horsemen to ride side-by-side. It is part of a longer trail from north Texas that crossed the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Brushy Creek in Round Rock, and the Colorado River in Austin.[19] An elementary school in the Round Rock school district is named for the trail. Double File Trail Elementary School.

Modern history

In 1851, a small community was formed on the banks of Brushy Creek, near a large round and anvil-shaped rock located in the middle of the creek. This round rock marked a convenient low-water crossing for wagons, horses, and cattle. The first postmaster called the community Brushy and the creek was called Brushy Creek. But in 1854, at the suggestion of the postmaster, the small settlement was renamed Round Rock in honor of this now famous rock. After the Civil War, Jesse Chisholm began moving cattle from South Texas through Round Rock on the way to Abilene, Kansas. The route he established, which crossed Brushy Creek at the round rock, became known as the Chisholm Trail.[20] Most of the old buildings, including the old Saint Charles Hotel, have been preserved. This historic area is now called "Old Town."[21]

The Era of Sam Bass - 1870s

Downtown Round Rock was the site of an historic gunfight and subsequent capture (then death) of the nineteenth-century American train robber Sam Bass,[22] by the Texas Ranger Division on July 19, 1878. The Rangers followed Bass and his gang after they robbed the Fort Worth to Cleburn train. Bass was tracked to Round Rock and as he attempted to flee, Bass was shot and killed in a gun battle by Ranger George Herold and Ranger sergeant Richard Ware. Near Ware was Soapy Smith, a noted con man, and his cousin Edwin, who witnessed Ware's shot. Soapy exclaimed, "I think you got him."[23] The event is known locally as the "Sam Bass Shootout."[24] This shootout is re-created each year at the July 4 'Frontier Days' Celebration in Old Settlers Park. Bass is buried in Round Rock Cemetery, located northwest of "Old Town" on Sam Bass Road. His original headstone can be found on display at the Round Rock Public Library.[25]

Cotton

In the first half of the twentieth century the county's wealth came from the cotton fields.[26] Cotton, row-crops, grapes, and truck farming were the predominat subsistence east of Interstate 35. West of the Balcones divide ranchers raised cattle, sheep and to a lesser extent goats.[27] Due to Round Rock's favorable geographic location over the rich, fertile "blackland prairie" soils also known locally as the "black waxy"[28] due to the high clay content, cotton was the largest economic driver at that time. Because of the soil and climate, this ecoregion is ideally suited to crop agriculture. Nearby Taylor, Texas (east of Round Rock) was the primary cotton center where the cotton was hauled for ginning (mechanically removing the cotton seeds) at the cotton gin, compressed into bales, and shipped by train. Austin was also a cotton center for a time once the railroad arrived there in the 1870s.[29] Cotton production and cattle raising, on a much smaller scale, continues today although both are primarily east of Round Rock.

Chisholm Trail Crossing Park

To preserve the heritage of the famous crossing, a Chisholm Trail Crossing Park was developed to provide visitors with a simulated scene of Round Rock's historical role in the Chisholm Cattle Drive. Commemorative plaques in the park tell of the history of Round Rock. The bronze sculptures of 4 steers and pioneer woman, Hattie Cluck, and her son, Emmitt, were commissioned by the City through donations from Round Rock residents. The sculptures depict Round Rock's history as a crossing location along the Chisholm Trail.[30] The project plans include 18 to 20 additional bronze statues over time.

Old Settlers Association

Following the end of the Civil War a group of Confederate veterans held a reunion in Georgetown on August 27, 1904, for the old settlers of Williamson County and their descendants. The invitation promised “good music, plenty to eat, and above all a warm welcome.” The event was well-attended, and reunions — now called Old Settlers Association (OSA) reunions—have been held annually ever since. After the initial start, the event was moved to Round Rock and eventually a structure was built (along with three restored log cabins) in the Palm Valley area of Round Rock, in front of Old Settlers Park, just off Highway 79 in east Round Rock. All members of the organization are descendants of Williamson County residents prior to 1904. OSA has approximately 50 active members and 300 members total.[31] The Old Settler's Association today is a social and educational group, with the purpose of facilitating social activities, as well as collecting and preserving important historical information and facts. The facilties are rented for meetings, arts and craft and collectable shows, events, parties, weddings and rehersal dinners. Cooking/catering facilities are also available.[32]

The economic impact of Interstate 35

In the 1950s, Taylor was the economic powerhouse in the county due to it being the center of cotton production and shipping, and had a large poulation. So It was expected, then, that the proposed Interstate 35, part of the new Interstate Highway System would pass through Taylor on its way from Dallas to Austin. In fact, the original routing plans drawn by Highway Commioner DeWitt Greer called for the "Interregional" highway to go through Taylor. Some of the citizens and leadership of Taylor lobbied against the Taylor route citing multiple concerns ranging from the loss of farmland, to unwanted right of way (ROW) acquisition -- ROW was proposed to be an astounding 300 feet wide, never heard of before this time—the possibility of cutting off farmers from their fields or having their fields be located on opposite sides of the road, traffic noise, and loss of country life. No one even knew what an "Interregional Highway" would look like Instead they wanted improvements to the Farm to market roads and a "Airline Highway" (meaning a straight route, built to Austin.[33]

Meanwhile, Round Rock leaders wanted the highway to come their way as they were focused on the potential economic development opportunities it would bring. At that time no one had ever seen such a road as an "Interstate" (unless they had traveled to Germany to see the Autobahn), and then-Mayor Louis Henna lobbied hard at the Highway Commission for the Round Rock route. In June 1956, the 15-year debate over the form, funding and route of the Interstate was resolved.]].[34] Due to the heavy lobbying effort, and not wanting to antagonize Taylor, the route was eventually changed and the highway was built along the edge of the Balcones Fault line running through Round Rock. The precise route was not without opposition, however, as the final route cut off "Old Town" to the west from what had become the more recent "downtown" area east of Interstate 35.[35] The Interstate eventually made Round Rock into a viable and vibrant commercial center. Due to the Interstate and the reduction in the importance of cotton as a primary crop, Taylor is today a more modest town with a smaller population, while Round Rock has thrived and rapidly grown into the largest city in the county and attracting industries like Dell Computer and major retail centers.[14]

Life as a bedroom community

Bt the 1990s, Round Rock was primarily a bedroom community with the majority of its employed residents working in Austin and then return home after work to places like Round Rock and Georgetown where housing and land was less expensive—which is partly still true today. However in the 1990s, Round Rock had few major employers and jobs other than local retail and other services, or ranching and farming.[13] (see also Business and Economic Development Section in this article). In the late 1990s, that began to change as economic development became a major focus of the City and the Chamber of Commerce. Dell Corp (later re-named Dell) moved its headquarters to Round Rock,[36] and provided significant jobs with 16,000 employee,[37] at it's Round Rock headquarters.

Geography

Palm House Museum in Round Rock
Round Rock Public Library

Round Rock is located at (30.514865, −97.672561),[38] 17 miles (27 km) north of Austin, and 10 miles (16 km) south of Georgetown. Elevation 709 ft (216 m)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.0 km2), of which 26.1 square miles (67.7 km2) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.3 km2) (0.50%) is water.[39]

Major highways

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 61,136 people, 21,076 households, and 15,933 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,339.1 people per square mile (903.0/km2). There were 21,766 housing units at an average density of 832.8/sq mi (321.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.76% White, 7.72% African American, 0.50% Native American, 2.89% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 9.47% from other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.10% of the population.

There were 21,076 households out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.29. The median price for a house in Round Rock in 2006 was $150,322.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

Government and politics

City government

The city of Round Rock is managed through a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is composed of six city councilmembers and the Mayor. All Council Members and the Mayor are elected at large and serve the entire City, not by geographic precincts. The Mayor Pro-Tem is appointed annually by Council Members.[40] City Council positions are not full-time jobs. The Council appoints a full-time city manager who manages the daily affairs of the city. All Council meetings are held at 221 E. Main St., in downtown Round Rock, on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7 p.m., unless indicated otherwise. Council meetings are televised.[41]

County government

The Commissioners Court[42] is the overall governing and management body of Williamson County. The Commissioners Court consists of five members. The County Judge presides as chairman over the court, and is elected every four years by all voters in the county. Four Commissioners are elected by single-member precincts every four years. While the majority of Round Rock is within Precinct 1, all four precincts include some portions of the City. (See Williamson County, Texas article for more detail.)

State and national representation

  • Texas House of Representatives: State Representative District 52: Diana Maldonado (D).
  • Texas Senate District 5: Senator Steve Ogden (R)[43]
  • US Congress - Congressman John R. Carter (R), Congressional District 31.[43]
  • US Congress - Congressman Michael McCaul (R), Congressional District 10.[43]

Other political subdivisions

Municipal Utility Districts, commonly called a "MUD," play a significant role in Round Rock. A Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a special-purpose district that provides public utilities such as water, wastewater, storm water, and sometimes roads, parks, solid waste and other infrastructure and services to the residents of that district. MUD's are typically formed by a residential developer as a means to install utilities and roads to a project when a city is not ready or able to provide them. The developer gets reimbused over time from the fees levied by the MUD, and at some point the area may be annexed by the City to bring the development into the City's tax base once the basic infrastrucutre costs are paid off.[44] The MUD is represented by its own board of directors who are voted on by the residents of the district. A MUD has the authority to condemn land, add additional land area, and levy fees in lieu of property taxes to maintain the utilities and other facilities.
Round Rock's largest district is Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District. [45] Brushy Creek MUD was formed as Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 2 in October 1977 with 725 acres of land. An annexation in 1983 increased the District to 2210 acres. The district name was changed to Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District on August 1990. The MUD provides a wide range of city-like services including parks and recreation, full utilities, road maintennance and a Home Owner's Association (HOA)> Serves a MUD can offer, however ar elimited by law (for example they cannot offer library services).
Another similar but somewhat smaller MUD in Round Rock's is Fern Bluff Municipal Utility District [46] in the Wyoming Springs area of town. Both MUD's play a significant role in local governance and maintenance of basic utilities.
From time to time there have been very contentious elections to the Boards and heated debates regarding other MUD issues.[47] Round Rock does not often annex a MUD in order to not take on the aging infrastructure replacement and upkeep costs.

Business and economic development

Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp. Image by Don Martin
Round Rock, Texas. Image provided by Dell.

The City of Round Rock has maintained a high quality of life while becoming a major center for economic growth in Central Texas, with industry clusters in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences and computer/software development.[20]

Round Rock has more than twenty major employers[12] including: Toppan Photomasks, Sears Customer Care, Ikea, Round Rock Premium Outlets, KoMiCo Technology Inc., Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corp (TGSL), Cintas, Dresser, Hospira, and TECO-Westinghouse, and Dell.[20]

Dell corporate headquarters

Dell is a multinational computer and information technology corporation based in Round Rock, which develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. The company employees about 16,000 people in the Round Rock facilities[37] and about 96,000 people worldwide.[48] Dell was originally based in Austin after its initial formation in 1984 as PC's Limited by UT college student Michael Dell. With the need for significant space as it expanded, the City of Round Rock in 1996 offered Dell a "Chapter 380"" agreement by offering to split sales tax revenue from in-state sales 50/50 between Dell and the City. A "Chapter 380" agreement is named for the chapter in Vernon's Statutes that permits sales tax revenue sharing for economic development purposes. It was the first time such an agreement had been used in Central Texas and among the very first in the state.[49] As of 1999, almost half of the general fund of the City of Round Rock originates from sales taxes generated from the Dell headquarters.[49] Today the company is one of the largest technology companies in the world. Dell was listed as number 38 on the Fortune 500 (2010). Fortune also lists Dell as the #5 most admired company in its industry. As part of its clean energy program, in 2008 Dell switched the power sources of the Round Rock headquarters to more environmentally friendly ones, with 60% of the total power coming from TXU Energy wind farms and 40% coming from the Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant operated by Waste Management, Inc.

Commercial and retail

Bumper stickers help promote Round Rock as "a great place to do business" - Donated to Chamber of Commerce by 35/45 LP Image by Don Martin, 33/45

Round Rock's largest commercial and office business center is La Frontera, located at the NE corner of SH 45 and IH-35. La Frontera combines multi-tenant offices, company headquarter facilities, a million square feet of retail,[50] and several apartment complexes and other smaller retail and housing centers. The project also includes Williamson County's only major hotel, the Austin North Marriott, which provides both small executive conference rooms, but also space for large conferences, meetings and banquets - a first for the county and an important component of Round Rock's economic efforts, for the Chamber of commerce, and for Dell.[51] The center is also home to the Texas Guaranteed Student Loan Corporation (TGSL).[52] The retail portion is the second largest outdoor commercial project in the Austin - Round Rock Metro area.[53] In 2006, a retail-only hub opened in Round Rock at the corner of Interstate 35 and Highway 1431 (now re-named "University Blvd"), The major retailer center includes the Premium Outlets Mall (by Simon Property Group), across the street is IKEA[54] as well as numerous other retail stores and restaurants.

Health care

Round Rock has a wide array of hospitals and extensive health care services. Many of these facilities serve not only Round Rock, but the greater Williamson county area. as well as North Austin.[55]

  • Saint David's Round Rock Medical Center was the first major hospital in Round Rock, opening its doors as Round Rock Hospital in 1984. It is a "for profit" hospital and part of the extensive St. David's system.[56]
  • Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple opened a satellite hospital in Round Rock in 2008. It is located on University Blvd. The facility has full hospital services, but also transfers some patients to its primary Temple campus. Scott & White is a "for-profit" company based in Temple. They have numerous clinics through Williamson County and Travis County. Scott & White has been rated one of the top 100 heart hospitals in the nation.[57]
Seton Williamson opened in 2008 as the latest new hospital in Round Rock. Image provided by Seton Williamson.
  • Seton Williamson is the newest hospital to locate in Round Rock, opened in 2009 on University Blvd. It is adjacent to the Texas State University campus, the new Austin Community College (ACC) campus opening in Fall 2010, as well as the Round Rock campus of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. The facility is currently building out its planned expansion space ahead of the original schedule.[58] Seton is a "non-profit" company and part of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul.
  • The latest entrant into the heath care field in Round Rock was the opening in December 2009 of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. The 250,000 sq ft. building is the first of up to 17 more additional buildings expected to be built in coming years. The facility also houses administrative offices, classrooms and a 33,000-square-foot Lone Star Circle of Care clinic, where health care students will train.[59]
  • A separate, dedicated nursing school is scheduled to open within the Texas State University Round Rock campus in late 2010.
  • Lone Star Circle of Care (LSCC) is a grant-funded organization dedicated to serving the health needs of the uninsured and underinsured in Williamson County and nearby areas. They have grown from one clinic in Georgetown in January 2001 to today having 18 community clinics serving Central Texas. They provided 130,000 patient visits for medically underserved adults and children in 2009. Grants come from the Scott & White Foundation, Seton Foundation, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. Georgetown Health Foundation, St. David's Foundation, and many others.[60] In May 201- the Seton fmaily of hospitals awarded LSCC a $3 million grant for pediatric care.[61] And the new A&M Health Science Center is partnering with the Lone Star Circle of Care for a 32,000 s.f. clinical hub which opened in A&M's existing building in December 2009.[62]

Transportation

Toll roads

Interchange of Interstate 35 and State Highway 45under construction in 2004. Image by Larry D. Moore

In November 2006, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA)[63] opened the first segment of the region's first toll road system. Both State Highway 130 and State Highway 45 toll roads run through portions of Round Rock and provide greatly increased mobility to the city. State Highway 130 runs just south of Austin Bergstrom International Airport at US Highway 183 and connecting to Interstate 35 north of Georgetown, and passes through the easternmost portion of Round Rock. It provides Round Rock residents with quick access to the Austin airport. The project, when completed, will end at Interstate 10 just east of Seguin, about 30 miles east-northeast of San Antonio essentially creating a parallel roadway to Interstate 35.

SH 45 was built on a fast-track basis with bonds sold in advance based on the projected toll revenues. Image by Don Martin

State Highway 45 is part of an eventual loop that runs east from State Highway 183 in Cedar Park to 130 at Pflugerville (east of Round Rock) where it merges with the SH 130 toll road, and then intercects with the southern portion of SH 45 near Buda, south of Austin. SH 45 passes through the entire southern portion of Round Rock. Highway 45 provides much faster access between Round Rock and Austin, alleviating what was previously a major bottleneck at Interstate 35. The project includes a tolled extension to Loop 1 (also known locally as the "Mopac Expressway") and allows direct access from to I-35 to Loop 1 by use of flyover connections rather than ground level intersections. The toll roads also provide access to the Dell headquarters and its considerable number of employees. Together, both toll roads significantly improve mobility in Round Rock in a positive manner.

Round Rock played a major role in the creation of SH 45 through constant pressure on the Texas Department of Transportation to make it a priority project, the purchase of right of way, and other assistance to the project at critical early stages. Robert L. "Bob" Bennett, who was Round Rock City Manager at the time, oversaw the project for the city. Bennett, now retired, served as a founding member of CTRMA board of directors as an appointee of Williamson County in 2003.[64] Former Williamson County commissioner (and former Round Rock city councilman) Mike Heiligenstein is the Executive Director of the CTRMA.[65]

Education

Public education

Round Rock Independent School District, a Texas Education Agency Recognized School District, is located in southern Williamson County and northwest Travis County and includes all the City of Round Rock and portions of the City of Austin and the City of Cedar Park.[9] The area covers 110 square miles encompassing high tech manufacturing and urban retail centers, suburban neighborhoods, and farm and ranch land. In 2009-2010, roughly 43,000 students attend the district's four high schools, nine middle schools, 30 elementary schools, one ninth grade center and two alternative learning centers.[66]

During the past five years, the number of students has increased by nearly 14%, and enrollment continues to grow by more than 1,200 students per year. In August 2010 the district will open its fifth high school, a ninth center will revert to a middle school and the district’s 31st Elementary, will open in the Stone Oak subdivision. The average student-teacher ratio for RRISD is 14.7. The annual dropout rate for students in grades 7 – 12 is 1.1% and more than 77% of the district's graduating seniors take the SAT and ACT college entrance exams, scoring well above state and national averages.[66]

In the annual report released July 30, 2010 the Round Rock Independent School District received the highest possible rating (“Exemplary”) for twenty five of it’s schools, the highest number of schools so rated in any of the suburban districts in Central Texas. The “Exemplary” schools are: Westwood High School. Canyon Vista, Walsh, and Cedar Valley middle schools. Spicewood, Forest North, Caraway, Brushy Creek, Laurel Mountain, Fern Bluff, Canyon Creek, Great Oaks, Teravista, Cactus Ranch, Sommer, Deep Wood, Robertson, Pond Springs, Live Oak, Old Town, Jollyville, Forest Creek , Blackland Prairie, Union Hill and Gattis elementary schools. In 2010 the school district as a whole was rated "academically recognized”a significant step above 2009 when the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.[67]

Higher education

Avery Building at the Round Rock Higher Education Center

Round Rock also has a number of higher education opportunities. In 1990s, the city, under the Leadership of then-City Manager Bob Bennett, Planning Director Joe Vining, and local citizen Mike Swayze envisioned and then oversaw creation of the Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC). The concept was envisioned as a way to lure colleges and universities to jointly provide education, training and degree opportunities on a part time and full time basis. The RRHEC used various empty facilities around town and many of the initial training programs were targeted to help educate students for work at local companies, such as Dell, which had specialized needs. In 2008, an educational campus and the first RRHEC building—the Avery Building—was opened through the combined efforts of Texas State University-San Marcos, Austin Community College, and Temple College in order to provide a broader range of educational opportunities, specialized training, and varying degree programs including post graduate degrees. By the end of 2009 1,700 students were enrolled in the programs. Texas State University has taken on the lead role in this effort and 100 acres of land for the facility and additional buildings was donated by the Avery family of Round Rock, whose family were early settlers on the land surrounding the RRHEC. Planning and architectural work is already underway for the second classroom building.[68] (See also Round Rock Higher Education Center)

The city is also home to the new Texas A&M Health Science Center Round Rock which opened its doors December 9, 2010.[69] The campus is designed to eventually accommodate as many as 72 additional buildings over time as monies are appropriated each bienniem by the Texas Legislature.[59]

On August 23, 2010[70] Austin Community College's largest campus in their system,[71] will open adjacent to the Texas State University center. ACC is currently constructing five buildings with a total of 250,000 square feet to accommodate up to 5,000 students in its first phase. All three campuses are adjacent to each other within the burgeoning Avery Farms development, and this particular area is now known as Round Rock's "Higher Education District".[72]

The next component of higher education will be the opening of the St. David's School of Nursing at Texas State University, for which construction is already underway. It will be housed within the University's College of Health Professions. Other programs that are offered by the college are health information management, health services research, and physical therapy.[73][74]

Sports

Round Rock is home to the Class AAA Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team Round Rock Express,[75] which is owned by RSR Sports (Nolan Ryan, Don Sanders, Reid Ryan) and was founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. As of August 2010 Ryan is also the new owner of the major league Texas Rangers ball club. Home games for the Round Rock Express are played at the Dell Diamond, a facility that is owned by the City of Round Rock and leased long-term to RSR Sports who run and maintain the facility.

Round Rock opened a free public skate park in 2007.[76] The park is located behind the Clay Madsen Recreation Center on Gattis School Road.[77]

Round Rock is the self-proclaimed Sports Capital of Texas.[78] The City's Old Settlers Park offers a professionally designed disc golf course, cricket, 20-field baseball complex, five-field softball complex, and seven soccer facilities in addition to the Rockin' River Family Aquatic Center.[79]

Notable residents

Soapy Smith in 1898
  • Soapy Smith - Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith II (November 2, 1860 – July 8, 1898)[80] was an American con man and gangster who had a major hand in organized crime from 1879 to 1898. As young Round Rock youth he witnessed the shooting of the outlaw Sam Bass. He himself was also killed in shootout -- the famed Shootout on Juneau (Alaska) Wharf. He is perhaps the most famous confidence man of the old west.[81][82]
  • Barbette - A world famous female impersonator. (Born December 19, 1899 in Round Rock,and died August 5, 1973 - age 74 - in Round Rock as well). Birth name Vander Clyde, later legally changed to Vander Clyde Broadway.[83] but was known mostly by his/her stage name. Barbette is believed to have been the inspiration for the 1933 German film Viktor und Viktoria, which features a plot about a woman pretending to be a female impersonator whose gimmick of removing her wig at the end of her act is inspired by Barbette's signature gesture.[84] Viktor und Viktoria was remade in 1935 (First a Girl), 1957 also called Viktor und Viktoria; and which in turn inspired a US 1992 film Victor/Victoria a Broadway musical starring Julie Andrews (who was nominated for an the Oscar for Best Actress) and Blake Edwards, Director. Release date: May 6, 1983.[85]
  • Noel Grisham (died 1999 in Round Rock, Texas; birth date unknown) helped lay the foundation for Round Rock Independent School District (RRISD) to become the academically successful district it is today.[10] Grisham was superintendent of Round Rock ISD for 22 years. As superintendent from 1957 to 1979, Grisham oversaw the consolidation of RRISD and Pond Springs School District—located in the west side of Round Rock—and the construction of more than 10 of the district’s schools. Following his exit from public education, Grisham served as representative of Texas House of Representatives, District 52 during the 1983 state legislative session, serving on the House Committee on Public Education. Noel Grisham Middle School in Round Rock is named after Mr. Grisham.[86]
  • Cpl. Robert P. Hernandez had the distinction of being the only Vietnam War casualty from Round Rock. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Navy Cross. A Round Rock Independent School District Middle School was named after Hernandez in June 1010. His father, a high school janitor, was the founder of the El Amistad Club and resident of Round Rock. The first civic project of El Amistad was to help develop Veterans Memorial Park along Brushy Creek in memory of Hernandez.[87]
Mayor Pro Tem Garfield McConico was profiled in 1973 by Austin's black newspaper The Tribune.
  • Garfield McConico - Garfield McConico (1916-2000) helped literally "build" Round Rock. At the end of World War II, a time when the city’s population totalled about 1,400, he worked with former Mayor Louis Henna to construct some of the city’s first subdivisions from the ground up, building new homes with lumber reused from Army barracks at Fort Hood. McConico also helped build Round Rock in a more figurative sense, by creating employment opportunities for local soldiers when they came home from serving abroad. McConico’s most enduring legacy, however, began in 1969, when he became Round Rock’s first African-American city councilman. In 1994 he and his wife Petrenella were honored as "Living Legends" in Round Rock, and in 1994 the new city administrative building (built on the site of McConico boyhood home) was named in their honor.[88]
  • Louis Henna - visionary business leader, and former Mayor. Of all the early mayors, the one who perhaps had the greatest impact on Round Rock at the time, and certainly the greatest flair for business, was Louis M. Henna -- a entreprenuer, businessman, civic volunteer, major donor, and politician. He was named one of the first "Outstanding Citizens" of Round Rock. By 1936, the 21-year old Henna already operated his own independent garage and filling station in Round Rock. He soon founded the Henna Motor Company and became the youngest person in Chevrolet history to own a car dealership when he negotiated to become a Chevy dealer, a dealership that is still owned and operated by the family today, seven decades later, as Henna Chevrolet.[89] In 1938 he famously erected what was described as "The World's Largest Sign" measuring 47 ft by 107 ft on the corner of what is now Interstate 35 and Louis Henna Blvd.(now Texas State Highway 45) The sign dwarfed a car he placed in front of the sign to give it scale. [90] Henna was also a generous donor and volunteer in numerous organizations, far too numerous to name here. He and his wife deeded 112 acres of land and five newly constructed buildings, three cottges and an administrator's building for the Texas Children's Baptist Home in Round Rock, which still operates at the same location today. He was a generous donor to many causes, and help build affordble housing and new suburban subdivisions for GI's returning from World War II.[91] He served on the City Council from 1947 to 1952, and as Mayor from 1952-1956.
Michael Saul Dell (born Februrary 23, 1965) has had a profound impact on Round Rock as Founder, President and CEO of Dell Computers
  • Michael Dell, an American business magnate and the founder and chief executive officer of Dell (formerly Dell, Inc.) While a pre-med student at the University of Texas at Austin, Dell started an informal business (Originally called PC's Limied) by upgrading computers in room 2713 of the Dobie Center residential building. He then applied for a vendor license to bid on contracts for the State of Texas, winning bids by not having the overhead of a computer store.[92][93][94] By 1992, at the age of 27, Dell became the youngest CEO to have his company ranked in Fortune magazine’s list of the top 500 corporations.[95] Today he is one of the richest people in the world, with a net worth of an estimated $13.5 billion in 2010.[96] Dell's 1999 book, Direct from Dell: Strategies That Revolutionized an Industry, is an account of his early life, his company's founding, growth and missteps, as well as lessons learned. The book was written in collaboration with Catherine Fredman.[97]
  • Colleen LaRose - Rose, nicknamed "JihadJane" was identified in 2010 by federal prosecutors as an alleged terrorist intent on recruiting others to her cause. Prosecution is pending.[98][99]

Round Rock movies

The dilapidated house in Round Rock where the Texas Chainsaw Massacre:x was filmed was moved to Kingsland Texas and restored as a restaurant.
  • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (original version. Tobe Hooper, Director. Theatrical release 1974) was filmed in and around Round Rock with the majority of shooting occurring in a dilapidated two story farm house on Quick Hill Road,[100] which is now the site of the La Fontera commercial development[101] Contrary to popular belief the movie is not based on a true story. Even to this day tours are still conducted by TCM film buffs to the sites where the movie was filmed including the Round Rock house site.[102] The 1910 house where the movie was filmed was later cut into seven pieces and trucked to Kingsland, Texas where it was reassembled and restored, and is now a restaurant for The Antlers Hotel.[103]
  • Blood Simple" (Theatrical release 1984. Directed by Joel and Ethan Cohn.) Blood Simple is a 1984 American neo-noir crime film. It was the directorial debut of Joel and Ethan Coen, and the first major film of cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld, who later became a noted director. The film's title derives from the Dashiell Hammett novel Red Harvest, in which "blood simple" is a term coined to describe the addled, fearful mindset people are in after a prolonged immersion in violent situations. Blood Simple was re-released theatrically in 2000 and on DVD in 2001 in a "Director's cut".
  • The Rookie: (Theatrical release March 29, 2002. John Lee Hancock, Director. A majority of scenes from the 2002 Disney film The Rookie were shot around and inside the Dell Diamond in Round Rock. It is inspired by the true story of Jim Morris, who had a brief but famous Major League Baseball career. The movie starred Dennis Quaid and Rachel Griffiths.[104]
  • The Simple Life: (TV Season 2, episode 15). The Simple Life is a reality television series that broadcasted from December 2, 2003 to August 5, 2007. The first three seasons aired on Fox, and the final two on E!. The comedic show depicts two wealthy young socialites (Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie) as they struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, doing farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants & working as camp counselors. Season 2, Episode 15 took place during a Round Rock Express baseball game.
List provided by the Texas Film Commission.[105]

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