Pemberton Heights, Austin, Texas facts for kids
Pemberton Heights is a special neighborhood in Austin, Texas. It's part of the Old West Austin Historic District, which means it has a lot of history. This area is known for being one of Austin's oldest and wealthiest neighborhoods.
It is surrounded by Northwood Road to the north, Lamar Boulevard and Shoal Creek to the east. To the south, you'll find 24th Street and Windsor Road. On the west side is Texas State Highway Loop 1, also called "MoPac."
Pemberton Heights is located in Austin City Council District 10.
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History of Pemberton Heights
The land where Pemberton Heights now stands was once a large farm. In the late 1800s, it belonged to a person named John Woods Harris, who was an Attorney General.
Later, the Fisher family inherited this farm. They started a company called the Austin Land Company. In 1927, this company built a bridge over Shoal Creek. This bridge helped connect the area to Austin.
At that time, Pemberton Heights was outside the city limits of Austin. Between 1927 and the early 1940s, the neighborhood was built in 12 different sections. It grew into the beautiful area we see today.
In 1998, a magazine called Town & Country recognized Pemberton Heights. They named it one of the top 25 "Platinum Addresses" in the United States. This shows how special and well-known the neighborhood is.
Cool Places in Pemberton Heights
Pemberton Heights has several interesting spots. It includes the western edge of the Shoal Creek Greenbelt. This is a natural area along Shoal Creek.
You can also find several "triangle parks" here. These parks are shaped like triangles because of how the streets meet. Some of these parks include Harris Triangle Park, Jarratt Triangle Park, and Wooldridge Triangle Park.
Hartford Park: A Community Space
In 2016, the people living in Pemberton Heights wanted to create a new park. They worked with the City of Austin to make this happen. The park is located at the corner of Hartford Road, Jefferson Street, and Ethridge Avenue.
The community raised $350,000 through donations to build the park. This money helped add fences, play areas, and plants. Hartford Park officially opened on Mother's Day in 2018. It's a great place for families and friends to gather.
Pemberton Castle: A Unique Home
The famous Pemberton Castle was built in the 1890s. It started as a tall, round water tower. In the 1920s, it was changed into a castle-like building.
In 1927, the Austin Development Company bought the property. They used it as an office to sell homes in the new Pemberton Heights area. Later, in 1937, Samuel Gideon, an architecture professor from the University of Texas at Austin, bought the castle.
The castle has even been in a movie! In 1993, it was a set for the film Blank Check. Today, the house is owned by the well-known film director, Robert Rodriguez.
Schools Serving Pemberton Heights
Students living in Pemberton Heights attend schools in the Austin Independent School District.
- Casis Elementary School
- O. Henry Middle School
- Stephen F. Austin High School
Many students from the area also go to private schools. Some popular choices include St. Andrew's Episcopal School and St. Stephen's Episcopal School.
Famous People from Pemberton Heights
Many notable people have lived in Pemberton Heights over the years.
- Greg Abbott: The current Governor of Texas.
- Roy Butler: A former mayor of Austin and a successful businessman.
- Edward A. Clark: Served as the United States Ambassador to Australia.
- Roberta Crenshaw: Known for protecting parklands and giving to good causes.
- David Dewhurst: The 41st Lieutenant Governor of Texas.
- Lloyd Doggett: A United States Representative.
- O. Henry: A famous American short story writer.
- Steven Hicks: An American businessman.
- Natalie Maines: The lead singer for the popular music group, The Chicks.
- Jane Y. McCallum: A leader in the women's right to vote movement and a Texas Secretary of State.
- Robert Rodriguez: A well-known film director.
- Kendra Scott: A designer of fashion and accessories.
- John Sharp: A Texas politician and chancellor of the Texas A&M University System.
- Max Starcke: A leader of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), which manages Texas rivers.
- Homer Thornberry: A United States Representative and a judge.
- Kirk Watson: A former Austin mayor and a Texas State Senator.
- Ralph Yarborough: A United States Senator.
- Samuel Gideon: An expert in architectural history.
