10 Things You Didn’t Know About Buda | Is Living In Buda Texas A Good Idea?

Buda is a town that people don’t really talk about. It’s under the radar right now. It’s between Austin and San Antonio and is a perfect spot to check out if you want something affordable.

You don’t want to be in the city, but you don’t want to be out in the country, either. So today, I’m going to share 10 things that you need to learn about Buda.

By the way, my name is Tiffany Moore. I’m a local realtor with Rise and Shine Realty in Austin, Texas. I regularly post blogs and videos showcasing the Austin Market. I help people from all over the world buy and sell homes here. If you want to move to Austin, retire in Austin, or discover what’s happening in the Austin market, contact me.

So let’s jump right into it. 10 things you didn’t know about Buda. Number one, it was not initially named Buda. Cornelia Trimble owned the land that later became Buda.

In 1880, the railroad expanded to include a track from Austin to San Antonio, and she saw potential there and started working on plans to turn her land into a city. I love that. I wish I just had this vast tract of land. I was like, you know what? I’m going to turn this land into a city. Amazing, 1800s.

So in 1881, she accomplished her goal, and the town of Dupree was established. A railroad stop was created here, leading to the town getting a post office and massive population growth.

So this post office ends up being key in the name changing or in Dupree changing its name. So six years after Dupree was established, the post office requested a name change because they discovered that another town in Texas was named Dupree. So crazy; another random Texas town is named Dupree. So in 1887, the town became Buda.

Number two, Buda is not named after the spiritual leader. If you’re like some people, you hear Buddha and think of Buddha, whose teachings eventually turned into Buddhism, but Buda was not named for him. And in fact, the pronunciation is different.

So if you see Buda written on paper, which many people are, it looks like Buddha. And y’all will call me and say, ah, tell me about Buddha. Let’s check that place out. I’m like, okay, it’s not Buddha. We’re not talking about Buddhism. It’s Buda.

So keep that in mind when you’re talking to anyone from Texas. You don’t want me to stick out like a sore thumb. It’s not Buddha; it’s Buda.

So Dupree was a popular stop for travelers and road workers because the Kerrigan Hotel gave travelers room and board and hot meals. So allegedly, two widows handled all the cooking duties in the hotel. And Spanish-speaking clients refer to them as viudas, which means widows in Spanish.

So the town of Buda is a corruption of the Spanish word viuda. So even further evidence that is not named after Buddha.

Number three, Buda was once home to a community of formerly enslaved people. So shortly after the Civil War, formerly enslaved people sought settlement and work. They banded together and formed a colony that is present-day Buda.

And the settlement eventually became known as Antioch Colony. So it was primarily a farming colony, remaining segregated until 1961. And then it was abandoned. But in the seventies, ancestors of the original colony members began to return and buy back their land.

Number four, Buda is known as the outdoor capital of Texas. That’s something even I had no idea. In Buda, there’s a lot of outdoor stuff going on, but I had yet to learn it was the outdoor capital of Texas.

So it was named this by the state of Texas legislature due to its high percentage of parkland. It’s got a skate park. It’s got lots of hiking trails, sportsplexes, fishing parks, all that good stuff. So if it is outdoors, you can do it in Buda.

Number five, Buda is part of the film industry. So the city of Buda is recognized by the Texas Film Commission as a film-friendly community.

Some films and TV shows that have been shot partly in Buda include Fear the Walking Dead, Friday Night Lights, and Snake Tales. Side note, Bastrop is also growing in the film industry.

A 546-acre film studio and entertainment district is set to open in Bastrop in mid-2023. So Hollywood is taking note of Texas. It will be interesting to see what happens in the future.

Number six, Buda is experiencing massive growth. Many people think Buda is a sleepy town that isn’t changing much, but that would be wrong. Buda is actually one of Austin’s fastest-growing suburbs. From 2014 to 2019, in just five years, Buda grew considerably, with a nearly 65% increase in population in that timeframe.

So also, the median household income jumped about $20,000 in that same timeframe. The current population is about 17,000. If you’re looking for a home on the market with a lot of growth and potential and already has a strong foundation, Buda is a good option.

Also, Buda is just 15 minutes south of downtown Austin, so it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking for something closer to Austin but a little more affordable.

Number seven, Buda has so-so schools. So one thing to know about Buda is that the massive growth that we just talked about impacted local schools, as shown in Buda’s ratings.

But Buda is served by the Hayes Independent School District, which has been given, in general, a B minus rating. Some bright spots in areas that are overperforming versus others are in academics. The district was given a B, and in diversity in college prep, the district got an A minus.

This is something they can think about as you’re doing your research. This may be on the back burner if you don’t have kids attending public school. But this is just a correlation. I’m not saying one causes the other. Remember that usually, the better school districts are with the higher-priced houses, and usually, the higher-priced houses have better school districts.

Number eight, Buda has fun things to do. Another myth is that Buda doesn’t have anything cool to do, that it’s just a small space, a bedroom community with no activities, and this just isn’t true.

A great place to check out is Buda Mill & Grain Co. I know a mill and grain doesn’t really sound sexy, but it’s a newly renovated nine-acre site that, when it’s finished, will have more than 28,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

It has yoga, hair salons, many restaurants, coffee spots, cocktail lounges, cool shops, and everything else. Buda also has a lot of recurring festivals like the Buda Crawfish Festival, which is like crawfish and live music, annual Easter egg hunts, farmer’s markets every Sunday, and, of course, events on pretty much every holiday, July 4th, Christmas, all that good stuff.

Number nine, Buda is nationally recognized as a historic site. So the six blocks that makeup downtown Buda have a lot of historic homes, buildings, and local crafters that are really fun to check out.

The oldest buildings date back to 1881 when the town was first formed. There are also a lot of events in the historic district, like the Sip N Stroll. So the Sip N Stroll is precisely what it sounds like. You can stroll through the downtown shops tasting different spirits and trying samples of some of the signature dishes and the restaurants downtown.

Then there is the Oaks Alive Heritage Tree Fest. This is so cool. I am like a certified self-proclaimed tree hugger. No shame in that. This festival is fantastic. This week-long celebration marks Buda’s anniversary as an official Texas Main Street city.

It takes place under the canopies and the Celebration Oaks along Main Street. So I’m going to go through a bunch of specific terms in there. I didn’t know what it meant to be a Main Street city. This is like a proper noun, an official term.

Main Street programs across the country focus on downtown revitalization through historic preservation. And Buda is no different. So Buda’s historic downtown is lined with heritage trees up and down Main Street. They’re named the Celebration Oaks.

The Celebration Oaks are 10 oak trees in Old Town Buda and two other trees on the Buda Mill & Grain property. Each tree is named after key figures in Buda’s history, from the founder Cornelia Trimble, who greets you as you enter Main Street from the north side to Geronimo, who, as folklore has it, would sell his jewelry under the tree at the corner of Main Street and 2770 as he traveled through.

Oaks Alive combines the community’s appreciation for local businesses, heritage trees, Buda’s rich history in the charming downtown, and Earth Day and Arbor Day to celebrate Buda’s unique setting.

Number 10 is my favorite. Buda is the wiener dog capital of Texas. If anyone didn’t know that, now you know. Because of the annual Wiener Dog Races, Buda has become known as the wiener dog capital of Texas.

This event attracts people from all over the world, whether they’re just competing, their furry friends are competing, or they’re just spectators. Last year’s Wiener Dog race hosted more than 20,000 out-of-towners.

The races are the finale to the Buda County Fair, which happens every year in April. This year over 200 wiener dogs participated in the race. And the winner was Jimmy Dean.

Jimmy Dean was the name of the dog. He’s a little wiener dog named after a sausage. I love it. It doesn’t get any better than that.

You get a trophy and $500 in prize money if you win. The best part is all the money raised from the entries and the registration goes to the Lions Club, which donates money back to the community.

So Buda is a growing town, like all areas around Austin. If you’re thinking about moving here and want to check out other locations nearby, contact me.