Utley, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Utley, Texas
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 Utley, Texas
Location in Texas
Utley, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Bastrop |
| Elevation | 417 ft (127 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 512 & 737 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1379199 |
Utley (pronounced YOOT-lee) is a small, unincorporated community in Bastrop County, Texas, United States. An unincorporated community is a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Utley is located within the larger Greater Austin metropolitan area. In 2000, about 50 people lived there.
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The Story of Utley: A Look Back
Utley was started in the early 1850s by a man named James Harvey Wilbarger. He set up a store and a trading post there. These places were important for the large farms (plantations) nearby. Wilbarger named the community "Utley" after his wife's maiden name.
A post office opened in Utley in 1892. It closed in 1922 but then reopened the very next year. In 1896, Utley had two general stores where people could buy many different things. By 1914, the population was 25, and there was only one general store left.
The number of people living in Utley changed over the years. It grew to 250 in the 1930s and 1940s. But then it dropped to 30 people by the end of the 1940s. This number stayed around 30 through 1990. By 2000, the population had grown a bit to 50 people.
Today, Utley is a popular spot for canoeists. They use it as a starting point to go canoeing on the Colorado River. The Wilbarger family also named a creek nearby.
Where is Utley Located?
Utley is found along Farm to Market Road 969. It is about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Bastrop. It's also about 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Austin. If you travel south from Elgin, Utley is about 13 miles (21 km) away. It is located in the western part of Bastrop County.
Schools in the Utley Area
In the 1930s, Utley had a special school for Hispanic students. Today, the western part of Utley is served by the Elgin Independent School District. The eastern part of the community is served by the Bastrop Independent School District. This means students in Utley go to schools in one of these two districts.
Utley in Movies and TV Shows
Utley has been a filming location for some well-known movies and TV shows!
Michael (1996 Film)
The 1996 film Michael, starring John Travolta, was filmed in Utley. A gas station and general store building in Utley was used for a scene. It became the "Milk Bottle Motel" in the movie. Filmmakers built special fronts (facades) for the motel rooms and even a giant milk bottle for the set.
Fear the Walking Dead (TV Series)
Episode 509 of the TV series Fear the Walking Dead was also filmed in and around Utley.
