Round Rock Texas (Greater Austin)

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It’s easy to guess where Round Rock, Texas, got its name. Yes, you’re right! It was named after a round rock that poked through the waters of Brushy Creek, marking the spot where cattle drivers and wagons could safely cross the river.

Round Rock, Texas, forms part of the Greater Austin metropolitan area. It is located in Williamson county, but a small section falls in Travis county. It has excellent schools, scores of recreational activities, and over twenty major employers. It is known as the Sports Capital Of Texas.

Old Post Office Building Round Rock - Texas View
Old Post Office Building Round Rock, Texas. – Photo by Larry D. Moore

About Round Rock

Until the 1990s, the city was a sleepy little town where the inhabitants mostly worked in Austin and drove home to Round Rock, where housing and land were far more affordable.

Towards the turn of the century, the city and the Chamber of Commerce started focusing on the area’s economic development. Dell set up its headquarters in Round Rock, which created approximately 16 000 jobs.

Facts About Round Rock

  • Location: Central Texas  Hill Country
  • County: Williamson and Travis
  • City Size: 26.3 square miles, with 0.2 square miles of it covered by water
  • Elevation: 735 feet
  • Population: 125 772 (October 2022)
  • Climate: Humid subtropical
  • Average precipitation p/a: 36.54 inches
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What’s Round Rock Known For?

Round Rock is the self-proclaimed Sports Capital of Texas, partly because the Round Rock Express baseball team calls it home and plays at the local Dell Diamond stadium. The area is a sporting Mecca with opportunities to play any conceivable sport, including Quidditch!

One of the city’s other claims to fame is that Dell Technologies has built its international headquarters in Round Rock, employing approximately one-fifth of its population.

People From Round Rock

  • Adalia Rose Facebook Star with premature aging condition progeria
  • Mason Thompson, baseball player
  • Jessica Meuse, singer
  • James Lynch, football player
  • Ryan Goins, baseball player
  • Soapy Smith, conman and gangster
  • Colleen LaRose, terrorist

Where Is Round Rock?

Round Rock is about 20 miles north of Austin, and both cities border on the Texas State Highway 45. It is positioned on both sides of the Balcones Escarpment, a regional fault line.

The land is flat on the eastern side of Interstate 35 and has the characteristic Blackland Prairie fertile soil. The western section is hilly, forming part of the Texas Hill Country.

Places Nearby Round Rock

You can find these cities within 45 miles of Round Rock:

  • Georgetown
  • Cedar Park
  • Jollyville
  • Anderson Mill
  • Pflugerville
  • Leander
  • Taylor
  • Lakeway
  • Austin
  • Kyle
  • Belton
  • Killeen
  • Harker Heights
  • Copperas Cove
  • Lockhart

Layout Of Round Rock

The Interstate Highway 35 was built in 1956 and somewhat controversially cut through the old “Old Town” of Round Rock from the eastern, newer downtown. Round Rock also annexed Brushy Creek CDP as part of its town. It has a lot of parks and a suburban vibe. Most people own their houses.

Areas In Round Rock

The best areas in Round Rock, Texas, are Teravista, Forest Creek, Behrens Ranch, Highlands at Mayfield Ranch, and Brushy Creek.

Getting Around Round Rock

Round Rock, Texas, and the rest of the Austin-Round Rock metro rely primarily on cars for commuting. They also have excellent public transportation systems, including buses and taxis.

As the population increases, there is more road congestion and a growing need for extra public transport, which the city has been working on since 2015 with the Transit Plan.

  • Air transport
  • Cars
  • Public transport

Air Transport

Round Rock’s closest airport is Austin Bergstrom International Airport, located approximately 30 miles from the city center. The simplest way of getting to Round Rock is by rental car, but taxis are also available. It will cost about $40 for a one-way trip.

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Cars

Round Rock rates 24th on the list of the top 25 cities that own the most vehicles, with 97,3% of the population owning vehicles. Most people own two cars. That sounds like a lot of traffic!

The average commuting time for Round Rock workers is about 25.3 minutes.

Commuter TransportationPercentage
Commuters driving alone75.7
Working from home11.4
Carpooling10.4
Transportation in Round Rock Texas

Public Transport

  • Capital Metro: Round Rock partners with Capital Metro to provide services around the city. You can buy your ACC Green Pass and UT passes at the Transit Center, on the bus, online, or at your local HEBs.
  • Paratransit: Round Rock has a Paratransit Service for disabled people who can’t get around on regular fixed routes.
  • CARTS Interurban Bus Service: runs from Round Rock to Taylor, Georgetown, Hutto, Austin, and other towns.
  • Capital Metro RideShare Program: a month-to-month vanpool lease agreement for groups of 5-12 riders commuting to work.
  • Senior Access: personal transport for seniors over 60 for shopping, business, and medical appointments
  • Veteran Transportation Service – United For The People: provides veterans with transport to medical appointments.
  • Medicaid Transportation Services: for those clients receiving Medicaid-covered services and having no transport to appointments.
  • MyCommute Solutions: find people to carpool, and plan bike routes or transit trips.
  • Rideamigos: mobile and web app for commuters.
  • Rideshare and taxi services provide on-demand trips.

What To Do In Round Rock

Round Rock is known as one of the best places to live and one of the fastest-growing cities. It has an endless list of attractions suitable for the whole family, from AAA baseball, stunning trails and parks, and water parks, to name a few.

  • Round Rock Express
  • Old Settlers Park
  • Kalahari Indoor Water Park
  • Bats In Round Rock
  • Round Rock Donuts

Round Rock Express

The Round Rock Express team has played baseball at the Dell Diamond for about twenty years. Different ticket options are available for groups and individuals, so seeing an Express game is a perfect family outing.

Old Settlers Park

Round Rock is nicknamed the Sports Capital of Texas. Old Settlers Park has something for everyone, including cricket, tennis, football, fishing, hiking trails, and volleyball. It holds various sports tournaments during the year.

Kalahari Indoor Waterpark

The Kalahari Indoor Waterpark spans over 200 000 square feet and boasts water slides, wave simulators, and a swim-up bar. Tiny tots can play at the zero-depth Coral Cove, with bouncers, mini-basketball, and little slides.

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Bats In Round Rock

At sunset between March and November, you can view approximately 1.5 million bats emerging in massive swarms from the McNeil Bridge to find food. It’s a vision to behold and free! Take a lawn chair to enjoy the sight.

Round Rock Donuts

Round Rock Donuts is famous for its two-pound donut and many other delightful confections.

Where To Eat

  • Garcia’s CafΓ©
  • Taqueria Chapal Jalisco
  • Hoody’s Sub Shop
  • 620 CafΓ© and Bakery
  • Louisiana Longhorn CafΓ©
  • Main Street Grill

Where to Stay

  • Kalahari Resorts
  • Hyatt Place
  • Ruby Hotel And Bar
  • River Ranch Inn

Round Rock FAQs

Is Round Rock Texas A Good Place To Stay

Round Rock is a great place to stay. It has many attractions for visitors and residents alike, ranging from sports to parks and water parks. Its income per capita is higher than most places, and the unemployment rate is lower here.

Is Round Rock Texas Safe?

Round Rock rates 14thΒ on the Β safest cities list in the USA, with an 86.77 crime index.

Is Round Rock Worth Visiting?

Round Rock is a beautiful small, but growing town with much to offer tourists in terms of entertainment, sports facilities, restaurants, and more. It is worth spending a few days there when you’re planning your next vacation.

10 Things To Do In Round Rock, Texas (MUST WATCH)

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Author Profile

Christian Linden is a seasoned writer and contributor at Texas View, specializing in topics that resonate with the Texan community. With over a decade of experience in journalism, Christian brings a wealth of knowledge in local politics, culture, and lifestyle. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of Texas. When he's not writing, Christian enjoys spending weekends traveling across Texas with his family, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes.

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