The Small City of Burnet, Texas

Spring is the perfect time of year to discover the small city of Burnet, Texas, which was named the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas by the 67th legislature. The small city is 48 miles northwest of Austin and one mile west of the divide between the Colorado and Brazos River watersheds, in the hills of central Texas.

Burnet was settled in the mid-1800's around Fort Croghan, a military facility. The county of Burnet was formed in 1851, and Burnet was named the county seat, although at the time it was called Hamilton. The town was renamed Burnet in 1858, and built around the historic town square, which still features structures built in the 1800's. Some of the attractions of the Burnet area include the Highland Lakes, Longhorn Cavern and State Park, and the Fort Croghan Museum and Grounds.

In the census of 2000, the population of Burnet was reported to be 4,735 residents, and the city and county were named for the first provisional president of the Republic of Texas, David Gouverneur Burnet, who also was Vice President of the Republic of Texas under Mirabeau Lamar. The name of the city rhymes with "learn it", as that was the pronunciation of David Burnet's name, and the locals frequently advise newcomers that it is pronounced that way, adding "It's Burnet, can't you learn it?", and hoping the rhyming phrase causes the newcomers to pronounce it correctly.

The town was originally called Hamilton after early resident John Hamilton, but when it was discovered that there was another city called Hamilton in East Texas, 35 residents petitioned the state legislature to change it. Early residents made a living by farming, raising livestock, and with the railroad, and the city was incorporated in 1933.

After the construction of the Highland Lakes in the early to mid 20th century, tourism began to flourish in the area, especially around Inks Lake, which is the closest Highland Lake to the city of Burnet, along with Lake Buchanan, which is just a little bit farther away. Another attraction in the Burnet area is the Hill Country Flyer, which is a historic steam train that operates between Burnet and nearby Cedar Park. Burnet is located 35 miles west of Georgetown, and is also 100 miles north of San Antonio, so it is very centrally located.

The median age of Burnet residents is 37 years, and the median income for an average household in Burnet is around $27,000. The city covers an area of 6.8 miles, all of it land, and the two main highways in and out of Burnet are State Highway 29 and State Highway 281, and Burnet is very close to the IH 35 corridor, which travels through nearby Georgetown.

There are numerous other historic and interesting attractions in the Burnet area including the Highland Lakes Air Museum, the Vanishing Texas River Cruise, Inks Lake State Park, the Galloway Hammond Recreation Center, and the Delaware Springs Golf Course, along with the many unique shops and eateries around the historic town square, as well as many quaint bed and breakfast inns in the vicinity.

Another historic event, which is held on a weekly basis in conjunction with the arrival of the historic steam train, is the Old West Town, which feature a mock gunfight between the Burnet Gunfighters at an authentic old west town set in the town square. Frequent shows are held on Saturdays and Sundays in the square, with old west costumes and decorations. Burnet is also on the Texas Hill Country Wine Trail, which is a string of central Texas and hill country wineries in the surrounding communities and hill country area.

Longhorn Cavern State Park is a two mile underground cave, with underground rivers and preserved prehistoric campsites which later became a hideout for confederate soldiers, and is one of the most well-known attractions in the area. Another well known and interesting attraction is Black Rock Park, a public facility on the shores of Lake Buchanan, about 18 miles west of Burnet, which offers boating, swimming, fishing, and other water sports, and Burnet State Park, which is a public fishing camp also on the lake.

One of the most popular yearly events held in Burnet is the Bluebonnet Festival, which is held in mid-April every year, and features games, arts and crafts, food and beverages and other family-friendly fun, and it is just around the corner!

All in all, Burnet has so many nearby attractions and events, both historic as well as interesting, that one has to actually travel to the area to appreciate all of them, so head about half an hour north of Austin and visit scenic Burnet; you'll be glad you did!

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