10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lockhart, Texas | Is Lockhart, Texas a Good Place To Live?

Lockhart, Texas is a peaceful and affordable place to live outside of Austin. If you’re looking for an alternative to Austin, Lockhart might just be the perfect option for you. As a real estate agent with Rise and Shine Realty, I’ve seen firsthand how Lockhart is becoming a popular destination for people who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. In this article, I’ll share 10 things you probably didn’t know about Lockhart, and why it’s worth considering as your next home.

Lockhart’s History: Named for a Guy Who Was Just Doing His Job

Lockhart was named after Bird Lockhart, who received the land that later became the Lockhart Town site as partial payment for his work serving land for the Mexican government in 1831. The area was limited by the threat of Indian raids during the 1830s settlement, but after the battle of Pung Creek in 1840, more settlers began to arrive. By the mid-1840s, lots of families had made their home near Lockhart Springs. When Caldwell County was established in 1848, the new town of Lockhart became the county seat.

Eugene Clark Library: The Oldest Continuously Operating Library in Texas

The Eugene Clark Library is the oldest continuously operating library in the state of Texas. Dr. Clark was a physician who practiced in Lockhart for 13 years. On his deathbed in 1897, he dictated a will that left $10,000 to the people of Lockhart to build a library and fill it with books. The architecture of this building is a source of curiosity to many professional architects, and it’s visited by lots of amateur and professional architects every year.

Lockhart Supports Local Business: Sip and Stroll Festival

Lockhart is known for its focus on small business, and it’s one of the reasons that people are moving here from Austin. The Sip and Stroll festival is an annual event where you buy tickets and every ticket gets you 10 tastings of beer and wine at participating businesses throughout the city. The cool thing is that this is a fundraiser just to promote and make Lockhart more beautiful.

Lockhart is part of the famous Chisholm Trail

Lockhart is on the famous Chisholm Trail, which Cowboys used in the 1800s to drive cattle from Texas up to Kansas to sell. Lockhart hosts an annual four-day festival, the second weekend in June, to celebrate their place on the trail. This festival offers a fiddling contest for anyone willing to practice in advance.

Lockhart, Texas: A Hidden Gem for Filmmakers 

Lockhart, Texas is a certified film-friendly community approved by the Texas Film Commission. Located just 30 miles south of Austin, Lockhart offers a small-town vibe perfect for filming. Movies like The Getaway, Honeysuckle Rose, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Bernie, and Transformers 4 have been filmed here.

Lockhart: A Growing Small Town Featured in Texas Monthly

Lockhart, Texas was featured on the cover of Texas Monthly in 2018 with the headline “Small Town Revival, Dreaming of Cheaper Rents and a Slower Pace, a New Generation Saying Goodbye to the City Life.” The article describes the fun places to visit in Lockhart, like The Pear, a craft and cocktail bar, and Loop and Lils, an artisan pizza place. Young folks are flocking to small towns outside of Austin for a bigger place to live and a slower pace. These are qualities that appeal to buyers looking for a home in Lockhart.

Lockhart: A Small Town That Offers the Best of Both Worlds

Lockhart, Texas provides the best of both worlds – a small town with a population of about 14,000 people, giving residents a slow, relaxing quality of life and a more affordable way of living. It is also close to Austin, just 30 miles away, so residents can experience city life whenever they want.

Lockhart, Texas: An Up and Coming Place to Live

Lockhart, Texas is an up and coming place to live with an 18% population growth over the last 10 years and more development coming. If you’re looking to get on the ground floor of the next town in Austin that’s growing pretty rapidly, you definitely need to check out Lockhart.

Lockhart: A Growing Small Town with So-So Schools

A mediocre school system, Lockhart Independent School District schools are graded average or below average by greatschools.org. When compared to other suburbs like Round Rock with excellent school ratings, Lockhart falls a little short. Good school ratings are usually tied to the value of your home appreciating or selling at a higher price later down the road.

Lockhart: The Barbecue Capital of Texas

Lockhart, Texas is the official barbecue capital of Texas, according to the Texas Senate’s resolution in 2002. This title is a major honor, as barbecue is a big deal in Texas and is built into the state’s history. Austin, Texas has tons of barbecue joints to check out, including Coits Market and Smitty’s Market. It’s important to note that Texas is a dry rub barbecue state, meaning there’s no sauce served with the meat. Black’s Barbecue is another must-visit spot, known for their huge ribs and being the oldest barbecue joint owned by the same family.

Lockhart is not just known for its barbecue, but is also becoming an artist haven. Many skilled bakers, artists, chefs, and musicians are moving to Lockhart for its cheaper cost of living and old town Austiney vibe. This has created an awesome community for artists and creatives, and more and more people are considering moving to Lockhart. If you’re interested in moving to Lockhart, reach out for more information.