Wells Branch, Texas facts for kids

Wells Branch is a special community in Travis County, Texas, United States. It's called a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a place the government counts for population, but it's not officially a city. In 2020, about 14,000 people lived here. It's known for its parks and family-friendly feel.

History of Wells Branch

The first settlers in the Wells Branch area were Wayman F. and Mary Emily Wells. They arrived around 1827. Wayman Wells was a spy and scout during the Texas Revolution. This was when the Republic of Texas fought for its freedom from Mexico. He helped in battles like Goliad and San Antonio.

Where is Wells Branch?

Wells Branch is located in Texas, about 13 miles (21 kilometers) north of downtown Austin. You can find it at these coordinates: 30.443997 degrees North and -97.678469 degrees West.

The area covers about 2.5 square miles (6.6 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.

Who Lives in Wells Branch?

In 2020, there were 14,000 people living in Wells Branch. There were 6,270 households and 2,852 families.

Many different groups of people live here. In 2020, about 39% of residents were White (not Hispanic). About 17% were Black or African American. Around 7% were Asian. About 31% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, the average household had about 2 people. About 20% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age of residents was 30 years old. The median income for a household was $46,934. This means half of the households earned more and half earned less.

How Wells Branch is Governed

Wells Branch is managed by a special group called a Municipal Utility District (MUD). This MUD provides important services to residents. These services include water and wastewater. They also manage parks, fun activities, and other community facilities. The MUD is known for saving water. They have a special program to collect rainwater.

For a long time, a board chosen by the original builders ran the MUD. But in 1987, residents, led by Mike Howe, won control of the board. Since then, the people living in Wells Branch have been in charge. This has helped Wells Branch become a very popular place to live near Austin.

The MUD board has added many great things over the years. They expanded the park system and built a second swimming pool. They also added a Community Center and a Recreation Center. A former pond was even turned into a small lake in the middle of the park system. Because of these features and affordable costs, Wells Branch is seen as a great place to live.

Recently, the board has added a skate park. They also updated the recreation center and the Willow Bend Pool.

The Wells Branch MUD provides most services. However, the Travis County Sheriff's Department handles police and court services. Fire and emergency medical services are provided by Travis County Emergency Services District #2.

Schools in Wells Branch

Students in Wells Branch attend schools from two different school districts. These are the Pflugerville and Round Rock Independent School Districts. North West Elementary is in Pflugerville ISD. Wells Branch Arts Integration Academy and Joe Lee Johnson Elementary are in Round Rock ISD.

Wells Branch Library

The Wells Branch Library district started in 1998. This happened after a state law allowed new library districts in areas without library services. The library gets its money from a small sales tax on businesses in Wells Branch. A board of five elected people manages the library's money and daily work.

Local residents, led by Dianne Koehler, helped create the first Library Board and build the library. The library has over 42,000 items you can check out. It also has rooms for community use and more than 20 computers for people to use.

Mills Pond

Mills pond entrance sign

Mills Pond is a small lake that holds water for Wells Branch Creek. Wells Branch Creek starts in Wells Branch. It flows into Walnut Creek, which then travels through Austin, Texas and eventually joins the Colorado River.

See also

In Spanish: Wells Branch (Texas) para niños