Cedar Park is an Austin suburb nestled in the beautiful central Texas hill country. Cedar Park is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, it has grown by more than 400 percent since 2005, as has Cedar Park real estate. The town has approximately 63,000 residents. Movoto has ranked it as one of the top 10 desirable American suburbs, based on cost of living, employment, education, safety, and other amenities. For many years, it has had one of the lowest crime rates for cities of its size. This little town has a lot to offer, so it’s no wonder why more and more people are calling Cedar Park “home.”
The area is rich in wild Texas history, and you will enjoy learning all about it. Texas Rangers, led by John J. Tumlinson, were the first to arrive in this once remote area of Texas. Tumlinson was a Ranger captain in the 1835 provisional government of Texas, before it became a state, and was commissioned to build a fort in the area to protect Anglo-American settlers from Comanche Indian raids. The men later left their post to go fight against the Mexican army when they heard the news that Antonio López de Santa Anna had invaded. In 1837, the abandoned post was burned by Indians, but a historical marker denotes its place today. Later in 1874, the Cluck family purchased 329 acres on Running Brushy Creek. They became the founders of the town that would eventually be named Cedar Park.
Once the Limestone Quarry was built in 1877, people flocked to the area for work for a large project called the Galveston seawall, which was built from limestone blocks from this quarry. A railroad spur tying Cedar Park to Burnet was built in 1929, and that event really put Cedar Park on the map. You can still experience this railroad journey for yourself on the Austin Steam Trains, which run most weekends. The train company hosts special events too, such as holiday-themed train rides and murder mystery trains.
Cedar Park is surrounded by the beauty of the Texas Hill Country. There are 927 acres of city and county parks and natural areas to enjoy; there is even a doggie bark park. Cedar Park also has 22 miles of walking/running/hiking/biking trails. You can practically live outdoors year-round.
The beautiful Balcones Canyonlands wildlife refuge is located just minutes north of Cedar Park. It serves as an internationally Important Bird Area (IBA), to protect two highly endangered species, the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo. It is one of 14 designated refuges that invites professional land managers to attend training on habitat-management technology and techniques. Bird watching, hiking, and carefully managed hunts are all available at the Refuge.
Cedar Park is surrounded by the gorgeous Lower Colorado River Lake System. The Highland Lakes are just eight miles from Cedar Park; this is a system of six lakes along the Colorado River. Lake Travis is nearest to Cedar Park, and residents enjoy boating, swimming, fishing, and hike and bike trails. This area is a water sport paradise with several marinas offering boat and jet ski rentals, as well as paddleboard, windsurfing, and other water sports. The Lower Colorado River Authority and Travis County operate 15 parks around Lake Travis, with beaches, picnic areas, campgrounds and boat ramps.
The Hill Country is known as a golf destination, and if you’re a golfer, you won’t be disappointed. Golf courses abound in the area for all levels, from beginner wide open link-style courses to seasoned golfers seeking that complex course challenge.
Cedar Park is home to two professional sports teams: the Texas Stars hockey team and the NBA D-league Austin Spurs, affiliated with the 2014 NBA World Champion San Antonio Spurs. The Austin Aces world tennis team also calls Cedar Park home. The city-owned $55 million dollar Cedar Park Center is home to both teams, as well as to many other entertainment venues. The multi-purpose venue hosts around 130 events per year and seats 8,000 spectators. The venue has valet parking, four public bars, concession stands and plenty of restrooms.
Restaurants abound in Cedar Park; you will never go hungry! In fact, Financial company Nerd Wallet named Cedar Park the best US city in which to open a new restaurant, so expect a variety of choices. There is even a pet-friendly Tex-Mex restaurant that you can bring your dog to.
Cedar Park is also home to a wonderful science and technology museum, The Texas Museum of Science and Technology, featuring traveling exhibits from world-renowned museums. The museum has recently added a planetarium and is increasing its permanent collections.
Microbreweries are popping up all over the area, and the region’s natural limestone is superb for grape growers. As such, there are 46 spectacularly beautiful wineries spanning from Austin to Fredericksburg to New Braunfels, all a short distance from Cedar Park. Five million annual visitors enjoy discovering the personality, , and style of winemaking at each of these unique and lovely vineyards.
And last but not least, Cedar Park is only a 17-mile drive from downtown Austin, so you are close to the state capitol and all the history, adventures, and nightlife the big city has to offer.
Cedar Park offers a diverse spectrum of businesses in the oil, manufacturing, biotech, and software industries. National Oilwell Varco, and Dana Corporation/Fallbrook Technologies are two Fortune 500 company major employers in the area, and several companies have Cedar Park headquarters, including Firefly Space Systems, Corvalent and BMC Millworks.
Summary
Cedar Park is now the third largest city in the Austin area and its unique charm and close proximity to Austin and the Texas Hill Country attracts residents from around the world. You’ll feel right at home in Cedar Park.
