Cedar Park is a city in Travis and Williamson counties in the U.S. state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 48,937. The city is a major suburb of Austin, the center of which is approximately 16 miles (26 km) to the southeast, although Austin directly borders Cedar Park at the latter's southern extent.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century, the Cedar Park area was inhabited by various Native American tribes including the Tonkawa, the Lipan Apache, and the Comanche. A paleo-American archaeological site (named the Wilson-Leonard site) was discovered in Cedar Park in 1983 that showed evidence of continual habitation of the area since circa 5000 BC.
In the mid-19th century the community was known as Running Brushy, named after a spring that formed the headwaters of a creek of the same name. In 1873 George and Harriet Cluck, after having run cattle up the Chisholm Trail for many years, bought 329 acres (1.33 km2) of land that included the Running Brushy spring. Their ranch formed the core of the community that would one day become Cedar Park.[3]
Ten years later, the railroad came through. The Austin & Northwest Railroad, which connected the state capitol with the cities of Burnet and Lampasas to the north, was finished in 1882 and passed through Running Brushy and the Cluck ranch. The community was at this point renamed Bruggerhoff, after a railroad company official. However, the name was generally disliked by locals, being both hard to spell and pronounce. In 1887, Emmett Cluck (son of George and Harriet) changed the community name to Cedar Park. In 1892, a "strolling park" of 0.5 acres (2,000 m2) was built near the train depot. Austinites would ride the train to Cedar Park for day trips to the park.[4]
Cedar Park changed little until the 1950s and 1960s when housing subdivisions began to be built, spurred by the growth of nearby Austin. On February 24, 1973, the citizens of Cedar Park voted to incorporate.
Geography
Cedar Park is located at 30°30′24″N 97°49′49″W / 30.50667°N 97.83028°W / 30.50667; -97.83028 (30.506620, -97.830317)[5]. It lies mostly in Williamson County, although a small amount extends into Travis County.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.1 square miles (44.3 km²), of which, 17.0 square miles (44.0 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
Cedar Park is generally bisected north to south by U.S. Route 183. A bypass route, the 183A toll road, also runs through Cedar Park and opened to traffic on March 15, 2007.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 26,049 people, 8,621 households, and 7,155 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,535.0 people per square mile (592.7/km²). There were 8,914 housing units at an average density of 525.3 per square mile (202.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.41% White, 3.32% African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.61% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.50% of the population.
There were 8,621 households out of which 52.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.3% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 12.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 33.5% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 40.3% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 4.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $67,527, and the median income for a family was $70,587. Males had a median income of $49,657 versus $32,039 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,767. About 3.0% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
As of July 2006 the Census Bureau estimated the population of Cedar Park to be 52,058, representing a 99.9% increase from the 2000 census.[6]
Government
Cedar Park was incorporated in 1973 with a council-manager system of local government. As of June 17, 2010, Cedar Park City Council members are as follows:[7]
The seven members serve two year terms. The mayor and council members place two, place four and place six are elected on even years. Council members place one, place three and place five are elected on odd years.
Retail
Fumée, a cigar media and online retailer, has its headquarters in Cedar Park.[8]
Sports
Cedar Park is home to two top-level minor league professional teams. The Texas Stars began American Hockey League play in October 2009 at the Cedar Park Center.[9] The arena is also home to the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League.
A major public skate park facility opened in Cedar Park in July 2010. The 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) facility features a large bowl, mini bowl and modern street course.
Institutions and schools
Cedar Park is served primarily by the Leander Independent School District, and is home to the Cedar Park High School Timberwolves and the Vista Ridge High School Rangers.
One neighborhood, Riviera Springs, feeds into the Round Rock Independent School District.
The city is home to the Cypress Creek campus of Austin Community College, which was significantly expanded in 2008 to accommodate the area's growing population.[10]
The Texas Psychological Association is located in the city.[11]
Entertainment
The Cedar Park Center was completed in 2009, and hosts a wide array of live entertainment events.
The city has been designated for the fifth installment of the popular Schlitterbahn waterparks. The 95-acre (380,000 m2) Schlitterbahn Cedar Park is set to be completed by the Summer of 2012, and will include not only a waterpark, but also a boutique hotel, conference center, retail space and restaurants. This new site will utilize the latest in water recycling technology, and is expected to create up to 1,000 new jobs in the area.[12]
Religion
Cedar Park is served by a number of Christian churches, including The Sanctuary, Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Park United Methodist Church, Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Lakehills Free Will Baptist Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, among many others.
Congregation Shir Ami is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Cedar Park, founded in 2002, and led by Cantor Marie Betcher.[13][14][15]
Cedar Park is also home to the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of the Hindu faith to cater to the growing Hindu community in Cedar Park and in the Greater Austin area.
References
External links
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