Located in the state of Texas, Round Rock is a city that falls within both Williamson and Travis counties, with the latter being part of the larger Austin metropolitan area.
The area now known as Round Rock and Williamson County has a rich history of human habitation dating back to at least 9,200 BCE. The earliest known inhabitants of the region lived during the late Pleistocene era, and their presence is linked to the Clovis culture, which flourished around 9,200 BCE. The Gault Site, located midway between Georgetown and Fort Cavazos, has been extensively studied and has yielded significant evidence of human habitation during this time period. One of the most notable discoveries in recent years is the ancient skeletal remains known as “the Leanderthal Lady,” which was discovered accidentally by Texas Department of Transportation workers while they were drilling core samples for a new highway. The site is located 4 miles (6 km) west of Round Rock and has been dated to the Pleistocene period around 10,500 years ago through carbon dating techniques. The site has been the subject of extensive research and study for many years.
In this region, the weather is typically hot and humid during the summer and mild and cool in the winter. Round Rock is classified as having a humid subtropical climate according to the Köppen system, designated as Cfa on climate charts.
On March 21, 2022, a powerful EF2 tornado ravaged the city, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The twister persisted in its northeasterly path, inflicting further damage before finally dissipating. Unfortunately, 16 individuals were injured as a result of the storm.
In the city, there were 119,468 individuals, 41,896 households, and 29,962 families living there according to the 2020 United States census.
Round Rock has managed to preserve its high standard of living while experiencing significant economic expansion in the Central Texas region, with a focus on industries such as renewable energy, cutting-edge manufacturing, biotechnology, and computer software development.
The city of Round Rock hosts the Round Rock Express, a professional baseball team that competes in the Pacific Coast League at the Triple-A level. The team is part of Minor League Baseball and is owned by RSR Sports, a group that includes baseball legend Nolan Ryan and his son Reid Ryan, who founded the team.
The governing body of Round Rock operates under a council-manager system, comprising six council members and a mayor. These officials are elected by the entire city, rather than by specific districts. The mayor pro tem is selected yearly by the council members. While the mayor and council members hold important roles, they are not full-time positions. The city manager, who is appointed by the council, oversees the day-to-day operations of the city. The council convenes at 221 E. Main Street in downtown Round Rock on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 7 pm, unless otherwise noted. These meetings are open to the public and broadcast on television.
Williamson County’s governing body, the Commissioners Court, is composed of five members who oversee the county’s management. The county judge, elected by all county voters every four years, serves as the court’s chairman. The four commissioners, each representing a single-member precinct, are also elected every four years. Although Precinct 1 includes most of Round Rock, all four precincts contain parts of the city.
Round Rock Independent School District, acknowledged by the Texas Education Agency, is situated in the southern part of Williamson County and the northwest area of Travis County. It incorporates the entire City of Round Rock as well as parts of Austin and Cedar Park. Spanning 110 square miles (280 km2), the district encompasses a variety of landscapes, including high-tech manufacturing hubs, commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, and agricultural properties. Approximately 45,000 students are enrolled in the district’s five high schools, ten middle schools, 32 elementary schools, and two alternative learning facilities.
Key roadways in the area include Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 79, State Highway 45, State Highway 45 Toll Road, and State Highway 130 Toll Road.
Round Rock offers a variety of hospitals and comprehensive healthcare options. These facilities cater to not just Round Rock residents but also those in the surrounding Williamson county region and North Austin.
Prominent figures:
Soapy Smith (1860-1898), notorious outlaw and native of Round Rock, who witnessed the “Sam Bass Shootout” at the age of 17
Barbette, renowned female impersonator
Juanita Craft, esteemed politician and civil rights activist
Ryan Goins, professional baseball player
Larry Gonzales, former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives, hailing from Round Rock
Colleen LaRose, suspected terrorist
Donnie Little, accomplished football player
Soapy Smith, infamous confidence man and gangster
Billie Lee Turner, distinguished botanist
Wande, rising rapper and A&R administrator
Cinematic and televised productions set in and inspired by Round Rock
The Texas Chainsaw House, which appeared in the 1974 horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, was relocated from Round Rock to Kingsland, Texas in 1998 and underwent a complete restoration.
The iconic horror film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, released in 1974, was shot at different spots in Central Texas, mainly focusing on two houses located opposite each other along an old section of County Road 172. This road was later re-routed in the 1980s and is now part of the La Frontera commercial development in Round Rock, known as Quick Hill. Inspired by the heinous actions of Ed Gein in the 1950s, who committed gruesome murders and crafted items like lamp shades from human body parts in Wisconsin, the movie has become a cult favorite.
Enthusiastic movie enthusiasts continue to offer tours of nearby locations. During the early 1980s, a rundown two-story house featured in the film was set on fire by local high school students, resulting in a charred limestone structure remaining from the original wooden frame. The Texas Chainsaw House, built in 1910 and used for filming, was dismantled in 1998 and relocated to Kingsland, Texas. It was meticulously reconstructed and now functions as a restaurant at The Antlers Hotel.
Blood Simple, a 1984 American neo-noir crime film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, marked the directorial debut of the Coen brothers and the first notable film for cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld. The title of the film is inspired by the term “blood simple” coined in the Dashiell Hammett novel Red Harvest, referring to the confused and fearful state individuals find themselves in after prolonged exposure to violence. A “director’s cut” of Blood Simple was released theatrically in 2000 and on DVD in 2001.
The 2002 Disney movie The Rookie, featuring Dennis Quaid Diamond, a minor-league baseball stadium in Round Rock. The film is based on the real-life tale of Jim Morris, who experienced a short yet remarkable career in Major League Baseball.
Elgin native Jake Helgren wrote and co-produced the film A Dogwalker’s Christmas Tale (2015), which featured several scenes filmed in and around Round Rock. The locations included downtown Round Rock near the public library, Star Coffee Company, Round Rock Dog Depot, and various sidewalk scenes in Mayfield Ranch subdivision.
Lake Macquarie and Sabinas Hidalgo in Nuevo León established sister city relationships in 1985 and 1991, respectively.