Round Rock, Texas is a city with a rich and fascinating history. It was originally known as Brushy, and the settlement of Round Rock grew where a stagecoach route crossed Brushy Creek. In 1851, on the banks of Brushy Creek, a small community formed near a large, round rock located in the center of the stream. This round rock marked a convenient low-water crossing for wagons, horses and cattle.
The first postmaster named the community Brushy Creek, but in 1854 the small settlement was renamed Round Rock in honor of this now famous rock.The “round rock” is located near the Chisholm Trail, in the middle of Brushy Creek. After the Civil War, Jesse Chisholm began moving cattle from South Texas through Round Rock, en route to Abilene, Kansas. The route he established, which crossed Brushy Creek in Round Rock, became known as the Chisholm Trail. Most of the old buildings, including the former Saint Charles Hotel, are still there today and this historic area is now called “Old City”.Round Rock is perhaps best known as the international headquarters of Dell, which employs about 16,000 people at its Round Rock facility.
The presence of Dell, along with other major employers, an economic development program, major retailers such as IKEA, a premium mall and the mixed-use La Frontera mall have transformed Round Rock from a quiet bedroom community to its own autonomous supersuburb.Round Rock and Williamson County have been inhabited since at least 9200 BC. The first known inhabitants of the area lived at the end of the Pleistocene (Ice Age) and are linked to the Clovis culture around 9200 BC according to evidence found at the much studied site of Gault, halfway between Georgetown and Fort Cavazos. One of the most important discoveries of recent times is the ancient bone remains nicknamed Lady Leanderthal because of her age and proximity to Leander, Texas. The site is 4 miles (6 km) west of Round Rock and was discovered by accident by Texas Department of Transportation workers while drilling core samples for a new highway.
The site has been studied for many years and carbon samples date from this particular Pleistocene period some 10,500 years ago.Open occupation camps from the prehistoric and archaic period are also found throughout the county along streams and other water sources such as Brushy Creek in Round Rock and the San Gabriel River in Georgetown 16 km to the north. These archaeological excavation sites show a much larger volume of American evidence about inhabitants of the archaic period based on relics and flint tools recovered from burned garbage dumps.The first known Native American historic occupants were the Tonkawa who were hunters and flint workers who followed buffalo on foot and periodically burned down prairie to help them in their hunts. During 18th century Tonkawa made transition to an equestrian culture and used firearms to a limited extent. Apparently a small number of Kiowa, Yojuane, Tawakoni and Mayeye Native Americans lived in county at time of first Anglo-Saxon settlements.
After being displaced by white settlements Comanches raided county's settlements until 1860s. By end of 19th century Native Americans were being driven out of Central Texas as area became rural Anglo-Saxon community with some modern paved roads following original Native American roads.A famous immigration route passed through Round Rock called Double File Trail because it was wide enough for two riders to travel side by side. It forms part of longer trail in North Texas that crossed San Gabriel River in Georgetown, Brushy Creek in Round Rock and Colorado River in Austin. An elementary school in Round Rock school district is named after this trail - Double File Trail Elementary School.In terms of demographics according to United States census data there were 1,438 people living in Round Rock at that time - making it fifth-largest city in Williamson County behind Taylor (9071), Georgetown (4951), Bartlett (1727) and Granger (1637).
Sam Houston campaigned against secession in Texas after nearly receiving Constitutional Union Party's national nomination for president. On April 21st Texas troops defeated General Santa Ana in Battle of San Jacinto gaining independence from Republic of Texas. In September General Adrian Woll from Mexican Army invaded Texas and occupied San Antonio for few days before withdrawing. Officially mission was planned to increase trade between Texas and Mexico although real objective was to acquire region for Texas (Falconer 7).
John Wesley Hardin - famous outlaw who lived for time near Round Rock - enrolled and graduated from Greenwood Masonic Institute same day (Ibid). Missionary Baptist Church built north of Old Round Rock was one of first if not first churches in Round Rock and county. Texas Land Company purchased 127.75 acres from International & Great Northern Railroad which it subdivided & sold in lots on July 4th - nation's centennial anniversary. Main Street downtown Round Rock hosts meetings on second & fourth Thursday every month at 7pm unless otherwise noted.
Henna family played decisive role in founding Texas Baptist Children's Home (DigeSualdo & Thompson 35 State Of Texas) located partly in Williamson County & partly in Travis County.
