Cedar Park is a city and a suburb of
Austin in the
U.S. state of
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
, approximately northwest of the center of Austin. According to the
2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 77,595, and in 2022 was estimated to be 77,642.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers in the 19th century, the Cedar Park area was inhabited by Native American tribes including the
Tonkawa
The Tonkawa are a Native American tribe from Oklahoma and Texas. Their Tonkawa language, now extinct language, extinct, is a linguistic isolate. Today, Tonkawa people are enrolled in the Federally recognized tribes, federally recognized Tonkawa ...
, the
Lipan Apache
Lipan Apache are a band of Apache, a Southern Athabaskan languages, Southern Athabaskan Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Indigenous people, who have lived in the Oasisamerica, Southwest and Southern Plains for centuries. At the time of European ...
, and the
Comanche. A
Paleoamerican archaeological site (named the Wilson-Leonard site) was discovered in Cedar Park in 1973 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 of land that included the Running Brushy spring. Their ranch formed the core of the community that would one day become Cedar Park.
Ten years later, the railroad came through. The
Austin and Northwestern 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 was built near the train depot. Austinites would ride the train to Cedar Park for day trips to the park.
Cedar Park changed little until the 1950s and 1960s, when the growth of nearby Austin spilled over. On February 24, 1973, the citizens of Cedar Park voted to incorporate. The estimated population was 1,765. A library followed in 1978.
On May 27, 1997, a strong and destructive F3 tornado struck the town. The tornado was one of 20 confirmed tornadoes that occurred during the
1997 Central Texas Tornado outbreak. It devastated the downtown area of the city, killing one person and nearly destroying the Albertson's grocery store.
In December 2007, Cedar Park Regional Medical Center opened becoming the first major medical center in Cedar Park.
In 2013, the US Census Bureau named Cedar Park the 4th fastest growing city in the United States, with a population of 57,957.
On April 4, 2016, the city announced it was collecting submissions for designs for an official city flag. Residents had until April 30 to submit proposed designs. On December 9, 2016, Cedar Park unveiled the flag design that won. On August 8, 2019, the City Council voted to rescind that particular design after "pushback on social media" from residents. As of September 2021, the city has no formal flag.
Demographics
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 77,595 people, 25,061 households, and 18,589 families residing in the city.
According to the U.S. census, in 2010, there were 48,937 people living in the city, comprising 17,817 households and 12,926 families.
The population density was . There were 8,914 housing units at an average density of .
The racial makeup of the city was 81.4%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 4.3%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.5%
Native American, 5.1%
Asian, 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 5.10% from
other races, and 3.4% from two or more races. 19% of the population were
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race.
There were 17,817 total households including 12,926 family households.
45.7% of all households had children under the age of 18 living with them and 13.5% of all households had an individual aged 65 years or older living with them.
21.4% of all households were made up of individuals.
The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.22.
The age distribution included 32.8% aged 0 to 19; 38.8% aged 20 to 44, 21.8% aged 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age or older.
The median age was 33.4 years.
The median income for a household in the city was $87,466.
Geography
Cedar Park lies mostly in Williamson County, although a small amount extends into Travis County.
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 is land and (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. Major east–west routes include RM-1431/Whitestone Boulevard and Cypress Creek/Brushy Creek Road.
Government
Cedar Park was incorporated in 1973 with a
council–manager system of local government. As of the election on May 6, 2017, Cedar Park City Council members are as follows:
The seven members serve two year terms. The mayor and council members place two, place four and place six are elected in even years. Council members place one, place three and place five are elected in odd years.
Cedar Park is represented in
Texas House of Representatives by Democrat
John Bucy III. In the
Texas State Senate, Cedar Park is represented by Republican
Charles Schwertner. In the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
, Cedar Park is represented by Republican
John Carter.
Sports
Cedar Park is home to the
Texas Stars of the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
and the
Austin Spurs of the
NBA G League
The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is a professional basketball league in North America that serves as the Minor league#Basketball, developmental league of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league comprises 31 teams; as of ...
. Both the
Texas Stars and the
Austin Spurs play their home games at the
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
A public skate park facility opened in Cedar Park in July 2010. The 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. Cedar Park won its first football state championship on December 21, 2012. The Timberwolves defeated Lancaster 17–7 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, winning the Class 4A, Division II state title. In 2015, the Timberwolves won both state titles in Band and Football with the latter beating Frisco Lone Star for the Class 5a, Division II state championship. Cedar Park High school is the only Texas high school to win UIL state titles in both band and football in the same year.
Neighborhoods in the southern and easternmost areas of the city are wholly or partially served by the
Round Rock Independent School District. Some of these neighborhoods or the Ranch at Brushy Creek, or Walsh Trails. Some elementary schools that serve these neighborhoods are Old Town, or Patsy Sommer. Walsh Middle School and
Round Rock High School also serve these areas.
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.
The
Texas Psychological Association is located in the city.
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park
The
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park (formerly known as Cedar Park Center) is a multi-purpose indoor arena that was completed in 2009 and hosts a wide array of live entertainment events.
George Strait
George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer.
Strait has sold over 120 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He holds ...
opened the Cedar Park Center as the first event at the Center on September 25, 2009. The H-E-B Center is also home of the
Texas Stars, the AHL affiliate of the
Dallas Stars, and the
Austin Spurs, the G-league affiliate of the
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...
. The center is located at the corner of New Hope Drive and
183A Toll Road.
See also
*
Austin Western Railroad
Notes
References
External links
City of Cedar Park websiteQuick Facts
{{Authority control
Cities in Texas
Cities in Travis County, Texas
Cities in Williamson County, Texas
Cities in Greater Austin