Smithville, Texas is a small, working class town located in a rural portion of eastern Bastrop County along the Highway 71 corridor. Smithville is just over an hour southeast of Austin and less than two hours from San Antonio, Houston and Bryan/College Station. The nearest major town is Bastrop, 15 minutes west of Smithville on Highway 71. Most Smithville residents drive to Bastrop for retail shopping and suburban amenities. Smithville is proud of its rural heritage and open space, including its close proximity to Buescher State Park and Bastrop State Park. While much of the land around Austin, San Antonio and Houston is rapidly developing, Smithville remains committed to maintaining its small town identity and tight-knit community while encouraging smart, sustainable growth.
Smithville real estate is considered to be fairly affordable by Austin, San Antonio and Houston standards. Most single-family homes range from $75,000 to $250,000, although sprawling ranch estates with hundreds of acres may list for upwards of $2 million.
Source:wikimedia.org
Smithville was established in 1827 when Dr. Thomas Jefferson Gazley founded a small settlement. Dr. Gazley is also an important figure in Texas state history: he helped write the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Texas Constitution. During the Texas War for Independence, the doctor fought as a solider-surgeon in several major battles, including at San Jacinto, the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. After returning to Smithville, Dr. Gazley continued to be a local commercial leader, even founding a riverboat landing to service boats traveling up to Austin. Dr. Gazley is buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin.
William Smith’s family arrived several years after Dr. Gazley founded the first settlement. The family established a flourishing general store and influenced early development, causing the community to be referred to informally as “Smithville.” The name stuck, although it was nearly changed to Burleson, in honor of another town leader. Legend has it that the Smith’s and Burleson’s held a coin toss-off to determine which family would get the official town’s name. The Smith’s won, and when the first post office was established, the town officially became known as “Smithville”. When the railroad passed through Smithville in 1887, the population boomed, attracting industrious, hard workers seeking to make a name for themselves on the Texas frontier. The town boomed between the 1890's and 1930's and many of the buildings built during this period still stand today.
Today, Smithville has two historic districts that encompass the residential district north of Loop 230 and the downtown commercial district. Independence Park is located on Dr. Gazley’s historic homestead. Over the years, Smithville has also attracted moviemakers in search of historic sets. For example, the McCollum-Chapman-Trousdale House, built in 1908 in a Neoclassical style, is the setting for Birdee’s house in the movie Hope Floats, which stars Sandra Bullock.
Source:wikimedia.org
Smithville is a primarily rural, working class community. The median household income is $35,586 and the median income for families is $45,163, according to U.S. Census data. Residents are proud of their history, their community’s rural nature, and small town charm. Some are descendants of founding families and many take an active role in community groups and cultural events.
The Springtime Smithville Jamboree, started in 1956, continues to be a popular local event, as is the December Festival of Lights. Smithville is recognized in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records for the largest gingerbread cookie, which led to the founding of the Gingerbread Man 5K/3-Mile fun run/walk to support community activity. The annual “Airing of the Quilts” is held every November, attracting tourists from across Texas to celebrate the pioneering spirit of Smithville’s founding women who created beautiful quilts. The event brings quilters together from across Texas to display their creations.
Due to Smithville’s small size, most residents make the 15-minute drive west to Bastrop to stock up on groceries and Super H-E-B or visit Walmart. There is a 7-11 convenience store and small deli near downtown Smithville.
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Smithville is part of the Smithville Independent School District, which has four main public schools that all children attend: Brown Primary School (early education through Grade 2), Smithville Elementary School (Grades 3-5), Smithville Junior High School (Grades 6-8), and Smithville high School (Grades 9-12). The Texas Education Authority rates the school district “academically acceptable”. Of the 159 high school graduates from 2013, 29 enrolled in a four-year university, 37 enrolled in a two-year university, and 85 did not enroll in higher education.
Despite recent growth in Bastrop, Smithville continues to fly under the development radar– and most townspeople seem to like it that way. The comprehensive community development plan calls for measured growth and land preservation that protects the community’s rural heritage. House hunters seeking solace away from fast-paced city life and an escape from suburban sprawl will find both in Smithville.
