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Burnet, Texas
City Hall in Burnet
City Hall in Burnet
Nickname(s): 
Bluebonnet Capital of Texas
Motto(s): 
"Lakes, Hills, History"
Location of Burnet within Burnet County, Texas
Location of Burnet within Burnet County, Texas
Burnet County Burnet.svg
Country United States
State Texas
County Burnet
Area
 • Total 10.40 sq mi (26.94 km2)
 • Land 10.37 sq mi (26.85 km2)
 • Water 0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
1,286 ft (392 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,436
 • Estimate 
(2019)
6,406
 • Density 617.86/sq mi (238.56/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
78611
Area codes 512 and 737
FIPS code 48-11464
GNIS feature ID 1353341

Burnet ( BUR-nit) is a city in and the county seat of Burnet County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,436 at the 2020 census.

Both the city and the county were named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first (provisional) president of the Republic of Texas. He also served as vice president during the administration of Mirabeau B. Lamar.

Geography

Burnet is located one mile west of the divide between the Brazos and Colorado River watersheds near the center of Burnet County. It is 54 miles (87 km) northwest of the state capital, Austin – roughly a 1- to 1½-hour drive via U.S. Highway 183 and State Highway 29. It is 36 miles (58 km) west of Georgetown and Interstate Highway 35 via State Highway 29, and 100 miles (160 km) north of San Antonio on U.S. Highway 281.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Burnet has a total area of 10.2 square miles (26.3 km2), of which 10.1 square miles (26.2 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.32%, is water.

History

In December 1847, a company of the Texas Ranger Division commanded by Henry E. McCulloch established a station at the site of present-day Burnet for the protection of frontier settlers from Indian raids. In March 1849, the station was chosen as a federal fort and named Fort Croghan.

A town was founded next to Fort Croghan in 1852, when Burnet County was established. The town was originally named Hamilton after John Hamilton, who owned a league and labor of land nearby. In August 1852 a post office was established in Hamilton and named Burnet Courthouse. In 1857 thirty-five residents of the town petitioned the state legislature to change the name of the town to Burnet since there was another town in Texas named Hamilton. The name was changed in 1858. Major growth occurred with the arrival of the Austin and Northwestern Railroad in April 1882, when Burnet became the railhead for the area to the west. After the railroad was extended to Llano in 1892, Burnet declined as a supply point and became a farming and livestock center. The City of Burnet was incorporated in 1933.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 280
1880 490 75.0%
1890 1,454 196.7%
1900 1,003 −31.0%
1910 981 −2.2%
1920 966 −1.5%
1930 1,055 9.2%
1940 1,945 84.4%
1950 2,394 23.1%
1960 2,214 −7.5%
1970 2,864 29.4%
1980 3,410 19.1%
1990 3,423 0.4%
2000 4,735 38.3%
2010 5,987 26.4%
2020 6,436 7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2020, there were 6,436 individuals and 2,077 households residing in the city. The population density was 693.1 people per square mile (267.7/km2). There were 1,813 housing units at an average density of 265.4 per square mile (102.5/km2). (The remaining data that follows in this section is outdated and not reflective of 2020 census results. Those 2020 results are still unreleased.) The racial makeup of the city was 83.80% White, 5.32% African American, 1.20% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 7.77% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.97% of the population.

There were 1,661 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,093, and the median income for a family was $37,604. Males had a median income of $25,663 versus $17,163 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,749. About 11.8% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Burnet is served by two primary highways:

  • US 281.svg U.S. Highway 281 – a north-south route connecting Burnet with the towns of Lampasas (22 mi north) and Marble Falls (13 mi south). San Antonio is 100 miles south.
  • Texas 29.svg State Highway 29 – an east-west route connecting Burnet with Llano (30 mi west) and Georgetown (36 mi east). State Highway 29 intersects with Interstate 35 in Georgetown.

Rail service is provided by the Hill Country Flyer steam train from Cedar Park. The Hill Country Flyer is operated every Saturday in January and February, most Saturdays and Sundays March–May, and most Saturdays in October and November.

Burnet Municipal Airport, also known as Kate Craddock Field (ICAO Code KBMQ), is a general aviation airport located approximately one mile south of State Highway 29 on U.S. Highway 281. It has a 5,000-foot (1,500 m) lighted runway with a full-length taxiway, which can accommodate aircraft with up to 34,000 pounds (15,000 kg) per wheel. The airport is home to the Highland Lakes Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force.

Tourist attractions

Attractions in the Burnet area include the Highland Lakes, Longhorn Cavern, Inks Lake State Park, the Historic Burnet Square, the Highland Lakes Air Museum, Fort Croghan Museum and Grounds, the Vanishing Texas River Cruise, Hamilton Creek Park, Galloway Hammond Recreation Center, Delaware Springs Golf Course, and the Austin Steam Train Association's Hill Country Flyer.

The Historic Square features buildings from as early as the 1880s and offers a variety of unique shops and eateries.

Gallery

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Burnet has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

  • Burnet from the Handbook of Texas Online


Economy

Major employers in Burnet include the Burnet Consolidated Independent School District (285 employees), Entegris [manufacturer of materials for semiconductor and flat panel industry] (180), Burnet County government (140), Seton Highland Lakes Hospital (120), City of Burnet government (120), H.E.B. grocery store (100), Sure Cast (92), Hoover Companies (90), Southwestern Graphite Co. (45), Whataburger (40), Bilbrough Marble Co. (25), Lone Star Industries (25), and Dash Covers, Inc. (25).

Education

Burnet is served by Burnet Consolidated Independent School District and home to the Burnet High School Bulldogs.

Located outside of Burnet is a summer camp called Camp Longhorn that has three branches (Inks Lake, Indian Springs, and C3).

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Burnet (Texas) para niños

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