Lockhart is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

Caldwell County, Texas Caldwell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 45,883, and was estimated to be 52,430 in 2024, Its county seat is Lockhart. The county was founded on March 6, 1848 and named after M ...

, United States. According to the 2020 census, its population was 14,379.

History

The city of Lockhart is named after Byrd Lockhart, an assistant surveyor of

Green DeWitt Green DeWitt (February 12, 1787 – May 18, 1835) was an empresario in Mexican Texas. He brought families from the United States to what is now South-central Texas and founded the DeWitt Colony. Missouri Green Dewitt was elected as the first Rall ...

and reportedly the first Anglo to set foot in Caldwell County. Lockhart was the site of a victory of the Texans over the

Comanche The Comanche (), or Nʉmʉnʉʉ (, 'the people'), are a Tribe (Native American), Native American tribe from the Great Plains, Southern Plains of the present-day United States. Comanche people today belong to the List of federally recognized tri ...

, at the

Battle of Plum Creek The Battle of Plum Creek was a clash between allied Tonkawa, militia, and Rangers of the Republic of Texas and a huge Comanche war party under Chief Buffalo Hump, which took place near Lockhart, Texas, on August 12, 1840, following the Great ...

in 1840. Lockhart was originally called "Plum Creek", but the name was later changed to Lockhart. The town's economic growth began with the arrival of the railroad in the late 19th century, when the town became a regional shipping center for local

cotton Cotton (), first recorded in ancient India, is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure ...

. Following the arrival of the railroad, immigrants arrived in Lockhart and opened various businesses. Lockhart has several claims to fame. In 1999, the

Texas Legislature The Texas State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a p ...

proclaimed Lockhart the "Barbecue Capital of Texas"; Lockhart has four major barbecue restaurants. The Dr. Eugene Clark Library is the oldest operating

public library A public library is a library, most often a lending library, that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil servic ...

in Texas. Lockhart was also the subject of an article by the architectural historian and critic Colin Rowe and architect John Hejduk, first published in ''

Architectural Record ''Architectural Record'' is a US-based monthly magazine dedicated to architecture and interior design. Its editor in chief is Josephine Minutillo. ''The Record'', as it is sometimes colloquially referred to, is widely-recognized as an important ...

'' in 1957 and republished in the collection of his writings ''As I Was Saying'' (1996). Rowe and Hejduk see Lockhart as a "curiously eloquent" example of a Victorian post-frontier American town. Lockhart has played host to many film sets, as this quaint, small town is located just south of

Austin Austin refers to: Common meanings * Austin, Texas, United States, a city * Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...

. The 1996

Christopher Guest Christopher Haden-Guest, 5th Baron Haden-Guest (born 5 February 1948), known professionally as Christopher Guest, is a British-American actor, comedian, screenwriter and director. Guest has written, directed, and starred in his series of comedy ...

comedy film ''

Waiting for Guffman ''Waiting for Guffman'' is a 1996 American mockumentary comedy film written by Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy, and directed by Guest. The film's ensemble cast includes Guest, Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Fred Willard, Bob Balaban and Parker Posey ...

'' and the 1993 drama ''

What's Eating Gilbert Grape ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape'' is a 1993 American List of coming-of-age stories, coming-of-age drama film directed by Lasse Hallström, and starring Johnny Depp, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen, Leonardo DiCaprio, John C. Reilly and Darlene Cat ...

'' were filmed partly in Lockhart, including the historic courthouse and the town square. The city's

Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...

store was featured in the 2000 film '' Where the Heart Is''. From 2014-2017, the city was the primary filming location for the second and third seasons of the acclaimed

HBO Home Box Office (HBO) is an American pay television service, which is the flagship property of namesake parent-subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is based a ...

supernatural drama show The Leftovers, with the town square and courthouse featured prominently in several pivotal scenes. On July 30, 2016, a hot air balloon struck a power line and caught on fire, killing all 16 people on board when it crashed near the unincorporated community of

Maxwell Maxwell may refer to: People * Maxwell (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters with the name ** James Clerk Maxwell, mathematician and physicist * Justice Maxwell (disambiguation) * Maxwell baronets, in the Baronetage of N ...

Geography

Lockhart is located near

central Texas Central Texas is a region in the U.S. state of Texas roughly bordered on the west by San Saba, to the southeast by Bryan- College Station, the south by San Marcos and to the north by Hillsboro. Central Texas overlaps with and includes part ...

, south of downtown

on U.S. Highway 183. It is northeast of

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

and west of

Houston Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , of which , or 0.14%, is covered by water.

Climate

Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

subtype for this climate is

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, ''Cfa''.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,379 people, 4,503 households, and 2,944 families residing in the city. As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, 11,615 people, 3,627 households, and 2,691 families were residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was 1,032.7 people per sq mi (398.6/km). The 3,871 housing units averaged 344.2 per sq mi (132.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 65.42% White, 12.68% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 18.00% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 47.41% of the population. Of the 3,627 households, 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were not families. About 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81, and the average family size was 3.28. In the city, the age distribution was 26.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $36,762, and for a family was $41,111. Males had a median income of $29,329 versus $20,923 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $13,621. About 12.2% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 14.8% of those under age 18 and 18.1% of those age 65 or over.

Culture

Lockhart is known as the "barbecue capital" of Texas. Annually th
Chisholm Trail Roundup
is held in June of each year.

Government

Lockhart is served by a seven-person city council. The mayor and two council members are elected at large. The remaining four council members are elected from single-member districts. *Mayor – Lew White *City Council At-Large – Angie Gonzales-Sanchez *City Council At-Large – Brad Westmoreland *City Council District 1 – Juan Mendoza *City Council District 2 – David Bryant *City Council District 3 – Kara McGregor *City Council District 4 – Jeffry Michelson

Education

Lockhart is served by the

Lockhart Independent School District The Lockhart Independent School District is a public school district based in Lockhart, Texas. In addition to Lockhart, the district also serves the portions of Mustang Ridge, Niederwald, and Pettytown in Caldwell County, as well as the uninc ...

and is home to the

Lockhart High School Lockhart High School is a public high school located in Lockhart, Texas, United States and classified as a 5A school by the University Interscholastic League (UIL). It is part of the Lockhart Independent School District located in central Caldwe ...

Lions. The city has a museum, the Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches.

Movies shot in Lockhart

The following are some of the films that have been shot in whole or in part in Lockhart: * (2024) 1923 * (2020) Walker * (2015) '' The Leftovers'' (HBO television series) * (2014) '' Transformers: Age of Extinction'' * (2013) '' Joe'' * (2012) ''The Woodsman'' * (2012) ''A Splice of Life'' * (2011) '' Bernie'' * (2011) ''Hombre & Tierra'' * (2011) ''Abrupt Decision'' * (2010) ''

Temple Grandin Mary Temple Grandin (born August 29, 1947) is an American academic, inventor, and ethologist. She is a prominent proponent of the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter and the author of more than 60 scientific papers on animal behavior. ...

'' * (2010) ''Altitude Falling'' * (2009) ''Secret at Arrow Lake'' * (2008) '' Stop-Loss'' * (2008) ''Le grand Voyage de Giovanni'' * (2007) ''The Trunk'' * (2007) ''Theft'' * (2006) '' The Garage'' * (2006) ''Angora Ranch'' * (2004) '' Ball & Chain'' * (2003) ''

Rolling Kansas ''Rolling Kansas'' is a 2003 independent film directed by Thomas Haden Church, and written by Church and David Denney. Plot 5 men (a T-shirt salesman, his two brothers, a large narcoleptic nursing student, and a dim-witted gas station attendant ...

'' * (2003) ''Screen Door Jesus'' * (2003) ''

Secondhand Lions ''Secondhand Lions'' is a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tim McCanlies. It tells the story of an introverted young boy (Haley Joel Osment) who is sent to live with his eccentric great uncles (Robert Duvall and Michael C ...

'' * (2002) ''Lone Star State of Mind'' * (2001) ''

Waking Life ''Waking Life'' is a 2001 American adult animated surrealist drama film written and directed by Richard Linklater. The film explores a wide range of philosophical issues, including the nature of reality, dreams and lucid dreams, consciousness, ...

'' * (2000) '' Where the Heart Is'' * (1999) ''

A Slipping-Down Life ''A Slipping-Down Life'' is a 1999 romantic drama film directed by Toni Kalem. Based on a novel by Anne Tyler, it stars Lili Taylor and Guy Pearce. Plot Shy loner Evie (Taylor) hears musician Drumstrings Casey (Pearce) on the radio one night and ...

'' * (1999) ''6 Miles of 8 Feet'' * (1998) ''

The Faculty ''The Faculty'' is a 1998 American science fiction horror film directed and edited by Robert Rodriguez with a screenplay by Kevin Williamson. It stars Jordana Brewster in her film debut, Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Josh Hartnett, Shawn Ha ...

'' * (1998) '' The Newton Boys'' * (1998) ''To Live Again'' * (1998) '' Olympia'' * (1998) ''

Home Fries Home fries (US, Canada), gommer fries (Western Canada), house fries (US), American fries (US), fried potatoes (UK, Canada and regional US), Bratkartoffeln (German), or bistro potatoes (southeastern US) are a type of basic potato dish made by pa ...

'' * (1997) ''

The Only Thrill ''The Only Thrill'' is a 1997 film directed by Peter Masterson. It stars Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard. Plot In Lockhart, Texas, circa 1966, Reece McHenry, whose wife is in a coma, owns a clothing store. He hires widow Carol Fritzsimmons as a seams ...

'' * (1996) ''For the Love of Zachary'' * (1996) ''

'' * (1996) '' Tornado!'' * (1995) ''

She Fought Alone ''She Fought Alone'' is a 1995 American television film directed by Christopher Leitch. The film, which is based on a true story, stars Tiffani-Amber Thiessen and Brian Austin Green, who were known for ''Saved by the Bell'' and ''Beverly Hills, 90 ...

'' * (1995) ''Texas Justice'' * (1995) ''

The Big Green ''The Big Green'' is a 1995 family sports comedy film by Walt Disney Pictures written and directed by Holly Goldberg Sloan. The film stars Olivia d'Abo, Steve Guttenberg and Jay O. Sanders. The film is about the antics of a soccer team consis ...

'' * (1995) ''Deadly Family Secrets'' * (1993) ''

A Perfect World ''A Perfect World'' is a 1993 American thriller crime drama film directed by Clint Eastwood. It stars Kevin Costner as an escaped convict who takes a young boy ( T. J. Lowther) hostage and attempts to escape on the road with the child. Eastwo ...

'' * (1993) ''O'Dill and Evett Go to the Edge of the World'' * (1993) '' Flesh and Bone'' * (1993) ''

'' * (1992) ''Bed of Lies'' * (1992) '' Ned Blessing'' * (1991) ''

Hard Promises ''Hard Promises'' is the fourth studio album by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers released on May 5, 1981, on Backstreet Records. History Its working title was ''Benmont's Revenge'', referring to keyboard player Benmont Tench. The album feature ...

'' * (1986) ''The Red Headed Stranger'' * (1981) ''

Deadly Blessing ''Deadly Blessing'' is a 1981 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven. The film tells the story of a strange figure committing murder in a contemporary community that is not far from another community that believes in ancient evil and curses ...

'' * (1981) ''

Raggedy Man ''Raggedy Man'' is a 1981 American drama film based on William D. Wittliff and Sara Clark's 1979 novel, and directed by Jack Fisk. It follows a divorced mother and telephone switchboard operator (Sissy Spacek) living with her two sons in a sma ...

'' * (1980) '' Honeysuckle Rose'' * (1976) ''

A Small Town in Texas ''A Small Town in Texas'' is a 1976 action film directed by Jack Starrett and starring Bo Hopkins, Susan George, and Timothy Bottoms. It was filmed in Wimberley, Texas and Lockhart, Texas. Plot After serving a five-year prison sentence for ma ...

'' * (1975) ''

The Great Waldo Pepper ''The Great Waldo Pepper'' is a 1975 American drama (film and television), drama film directed, produced, and co-written by George Roy Hill. Set during 1926–1931, the film stars Robert Redford as a disaffected World War I veteran Aviator, pi ...

'' * (1972) '' The Getaway'' * (1965) ''

Baby the Rain Must Fall ''Baby the Rain Must Fall'' is a 1965 American drama film directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Lee Remick, Steve McQueen and Don Murray. Dramatist Horton Foote, who wrote the screenplay, based it on his 1954 play ''The Traveling Lady. ...

Significant historic buildings

*Dr. Eugene Clark Library, the "oldest continuously operating library in the state that’s housed in its original building" * Caldwell County Courthouse

Notable people

* Scott H. Biram, musician *

Lily Cahill Lily Cahill (July 17, 1888 – July 20, 1955) was an American stage and screen actress. Early life Lily Cahill was born July 17, 1888, in San Antonio, Texas. She was the granddaughter of Confederate Army Colonel John Jacob Myers. Career She beg ...

, actress *

John Cyrier John Patrick Cyrier (born May 4, 1973) is an American politician who served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 17th district. Cyrier was first elected in a 2015 special election. He made an unsuccessful bid to become Spe ...

, state representative for District 17; Lockhart native * Willie Ellison, professional football player * Maud A. B. Fuller, educator, missionary and community leader *

Billy Grabarkewitz Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz (born January 18, 1946) is an American former professional baseball infielder, who played seven years in Major League Baseball (MLB). Early years Grabarkewitz lettered in baseball, basketball, football, golf and trac ...

, Major League Baseball player *

James McMurtry James McMurtry (born March 18, 1962, in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American rock and folk rock/ americana singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader, and occasional actor ('' Daisy Miller'', '' Lonesome Dove'', and narrator of ''Ghost Town: 24 Hour ...

, musician *

Primo Miller Ralph Edward "Primo" Miller (September 18, 1915 – February 19, 1999) was an American professional football tackle who played two seasons with the Cleveland Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rice Institu ...

, football player *

Robert Schwarz Strauss Robert Schwarz Strauss (October 19, 1918 – March 19, 2014) was an influential figure in American politics, diplomacy, and law whose service dated back to future President Lyndon Johnson's first congressional campaign in 1937. By the 1950s, he wa ...

, politician and diplomat

Gallery

> Image:Emmanuel episcopal church 2011.jpg, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, completed in 1856, is the oldest known unaltered church building in use by Protestants in Texas. Image:First christian church lockhart 2013.jpg, First Christian Church, c. 1898 File:St. Mary's Catholic Church, Lockhart, TX IMG_9174.JPG, St. Mary's

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

in Lockhart File:First United Methodist Church, Lockhart, TX IMG_9173.JPG, First

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant Christian denomination, denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was ...

of Lockhart File:Southwest Museum of Cl;ocks, Lockhart, TX IMG_9196.JPG, Entrance to Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches in downtown Lockhart Image:Eugene clark library 2013.jpg, Dr. Eugene Clark Library, c. 1899 Eugene Clark Library Lockhart interior 2018.jpg, Interior of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library Image:Lockhart post office 2014.jpg, United States Post Office in Lockhart, constructed in 1936

References

External links

City of Lockhart official website

Lockhart Chamber of Commerce

Find-It-In-Lockhart.com
* {{authority control Cities in Texas Cities in Caldwell County, Texas County seats in Texas Cities in Greater Austin