Williamson County Historical Co

History of Round Rock Texas
in Williamson County

History line Chronologically
The Tonkawa Indians
The earliest residents of the Round Rock area were the two hundred tribes that were the ancestors of the Tonkawa Indians (Scarbrough 25). As early as 8000 B.C., groups of hunter-gatherers roamed the plains from the Guadalupe River north to the headwaters of the Neches (Jones, Map 1). They often made their temporary villages along the banks of rivers and streams, including Brushy Creek and the San Gabriel River.
Kenney Fort
Dr. Thomas Kenney, his wife Mary Jane and their daughters Mary Jane and Clarissa, came to Texas around 1833 and settled in Bastrop. The doctor practiced medicine there and joined the army during the fight for independence. He served in the Battle of San Jacinto and after the war, returned to Bastrop for a few years (Scarbrough 85). During the spring of 1838 Dr. Kenney, Joseph Barnhart and others built Kenney Fort, the first permanent settlement in Round Rock ("Some Early…" 79). The fort was near the banks of Brushy Creek, between Lake Creek and Dyer Branch at the intersection of the military road from Austin and the Double File Trail
The Story of Old Town
Originally, Round Rock was not named Round Rock nor was it located where it currently is. Coincidence and fate combined to determine the location of Round Rock.
Round Rock and the Chisholm Trail
Part of the history and lore of Round Rock involves the Chisholm Trail, as evidenced by the naming of the major thoroughfare through Old Town, Chisholm Trail Drive.
The Railroads of Round Rock
The first railroad tracks in Texas were constructed in 1852. By 1870, only 583 miles of track existed, all of it constructed prior to the Civil War. The post-war legislature decided to make railroad construction a priority. A system of land grants was established whereby railroads were induced to construct tracks in return for free land, which they could then sell to the general public for a profit (Pool 164). This land grants system resulted in 17,078 miles of trackage by 1932 and made many railroads quite wealthy (Stephens 51).
The Story of Sam Bass
The legend of Sam Bass has grown way out of proportion in relation to his actual deeds.
The Political Structure of Round Rock
Round Rock was officially incorporated in 1913 and started holding regular City Council meetings in January of that same year
Growth and Demographics
The population of Round Rock in 1878 was 1,200. By 1890, that figure had grown to 1,438; however, the population declined between this period and 1900, when the population was only 1,138.

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Round Rock's Historic Sites
The architecture of the older sections of Round Rock is fairly typical for its time, although there are several outstanding exceptions. Most buildings in the downtown were built between 1876 and 1881, although several buildings have facades that date from later eras. Round Rock is also fortunate to have a well-preserved stock of houses that show the progression of middle class housing styles from the 1870s through the present.
The Local Legend Award
The Historic Preservation Commission of the City of Round Rock created the Local Legend Award in 1990 and announced the first recipients the next year. The Local Legend Award recognizes Round Rock citizens who have had a positive and lasting impact on the culture, development, and history of our community and who exemplify the very essence of Round Rock. Honorees have included both individuals and groups who have played an important, if not always prominent, role in the history of Round Rock

What is it?
The Round Rock Jukebox is a collection of various photographs, historic publications and many other unique and interesting items.

We hope that you will enjoy these and submit contributions to the Round Rock Planning and Community Development Department so that this web page will continue to expand with time!

The following sections of the Jukebox contain many images and therefore may take a while to load:

	Historic Photos
	A collection of historic photos of people and places in Round Rock.
	Round Rock, Texas, 1840-1965
	As events have transpired at the intersection of the Chisholm Trail and Brushy Creek.
	Celebrating 25 Years of Progress ... Round Rock, Texas 1913-1938
	A 1938 publication by R.B. Sweet Publishing Co.
	Palm Valley Evangelical Lutheran Church - 1929 Yearbook
	Donated by Mrs. Lambert Peterson, a complete copy of this publication which includes the 1928 Church Membership is available in the printed version of the Round Rock Collection.
	Johnson Family Photo Collection
	A collection of photos donated by the Johnson Family

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Pardon our dust - we're under construction and we will have more information forthcoming.