Bluff Springs, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bluff Springs
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 Bluff Springs
Location in Texas
Bluff Springs
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Travis |
| Elevation | 577 ft (176 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Bluff Springs is a small community in Travis County, Texas, United States. It is called an unincorporated community because it does not have its own local government. Instead, it is part of the larger county. In 2000, about 50 people lived there. Bluff Springs is located near the big city of Austin.
Contents
History of Bluff Springs
Bluff Springs was first settled in the early 1850s. People started building homes and farms there.
Early Community Life
A post office opened in Bluff Springs in 1853. This made it easier for people to send and receive mail. William S. Smith was the first postmaster. The post office stayed open until 1902. After that, mail for Bluff Springs was sent from a nearby town called Buda.
In the mid-1880s, Bluff Springs was a busy place.
- It had several gristmills, which used steam power to grind grain into flour.
- There were also cotton gins, which separated cotton fibers from their seeds.
- A church served about 250 people living in the area.
Travel and Farming
Stagecoaches helped people travel from Bluff Springs to other towns. These towns included Lockhart, Luling, and Austin. Farmers in Bluff Springs grew important crops. They grew cotton, corn, oats, and sweet potatoes.
Population Changes
The number of people living in Bluff Springs changed over time. In 1892, the population dropped to 50. It fell even more in the early 1930s. However, by 1939, the population was back to 50. It stayed around 50 people until the year 2000. By the 1940s, Bluff Springs mostly had a church, a few small businesses, and scattered houses. The community is built on land that was once given to Thomas F. McKinney.
Where is Bluff Springs?
Bluff Springs is located in southern Travis County. It is right next to Onion Creek. The community is about 8 miles (13 km) south of Austin. It is also about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Interstate 35.
Education in Bluff Springs
In the mid-1880s, Bluff Springs had its own school. Today, students in the community attend schools in the Austin Independent School District. This school district serves many areas around Austin.
Local Schools
The schools that students from Bluff Springs typically attend are:
- Blazier Elementary School
- Paredes Middle School
- Akins High School
