Barton Hills, Austin, Texas

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Barton Hills, Austin, Texas
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One of the biggest events in the area is the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival Bartonhillsacl.jpg
One of the biggest events in the area is the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival

Barton Hills is a neighborhood in Austin, Texas. It is located in south Austin, and encompasses part of ZIP code 78704.

Contents

Barton Hills is bounded by South Lamar and Zilker neighborhoods to the east, Barton Springs Road and Zilker Park to the north, Barton Creek and the Spyglass-Barton's Bluff neighborhood to the west and the Capital of Texas Highway to the south.

Barton Hills is primarily residential, with the oldest homes dating back to the 1940s. Additionally, the area is home to several attractions including the Barton Creek Greenbelt nature preserve and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. Just north of the neighborhood are Barton Springs Pool, a natural spring fed by Barton Creek, and the 351-acre Zilker Park. [1]

Barton Hills is located within city council District 5.

History

In 1837, William "Uncle Billy" Barton set up his pioneer homestead near a natural spring on the southern bank of the Colorado River, naming the springs after his daughters Parthenia, Eliza and Zenobia. Their names did not stick, but William's did and 160 years later the springs, the pool, and several popular Austin neighborhoods bear the name "Barton".[ citation needed ]

Established in the 1940s and 1950s with construction continuing through the 1970s to the late 1990s, Barton Hills contains many different styles of single-family homes. In the 1940s, noted Austin-based architect A.D. Stenger designed and built a group of contemporary mid-century modern homes in a section of land bound by Arthur Street and Ariole Way. [2] Barton Hills was featured in Austin's 1956 Parade of Homes as "the world's largest air-conditioned subdivision." Beginning in that year, it was platted as a subdivision in six sections by S.R. Sheppard, Builders Development Corporation and others. Barton Hills eventually had 1,585 lots planned on its 535 acres (0.84 square mile). [3]

During the 1972 presidential election, Barton Hills was labeled a political bellwether, described as being a microcosm of the national population. [3] In the 1970s, much of the lots and streets west of Barton Skyway were re-platted into a subdivision named "Horseshoe Bend". In 1978, City Manager Dan Davidson asked the Austin City Council to authorize preliminary engineering to build a previously proposed bridge over Barton Creek to connect Barton Skyway from Spyglass Drive to Barton Hills Drive. [4] The city also planned to extend Barton Skyway west to Bee Caves Road, along with connecting various gaps east between Lightsey Road to Woodward Street. [4] Residents of Barton Hills and Horseshoe Bend protested the bridge, concerned about increased traffic and damage to Barton Creek. The bridge was eventually shelved and the former right-of-way was absorbed into the Barton Creek Greenbelt. [4]

Demographics

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the area defined as Barton Hills was 7,993 in 2009, across an area of 3.199 square miles. The population density per square miles is 2,499, just below the citywide average of 2,610 people per square mile. The racial breakdown is 80% white, 12% Hispanic/Latino, 4% Asian/Pacific Island, 2% black and 2% other. Median household income in 2009 was $51,930, slightly above the median household income for the city at large. The average estimated value of detached houses in 2009 was $395,682, notably higher than the citywide average of $286,025. [5]

Education

Barton Hills is served by the Austin Independent School District:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin, Texas</span> Capital city of Texas

Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 26th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, the 11th-most populous city in the United States, the fifth-most populous city in the state after Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, and Fort Worth, and the second-most populous state capital city after Phoenix, the capital of Arizona. It has been one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States since 2010. Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along the Interstate 35 corridor. This combined metropolitan region of San Antonio–Austin has approximately 5 million people. Austin is the southernmost state capital in the contiguous United States and is considered a Gamma + level global city as categorized by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zilker Park</span> Historic urban park in Austin, Texas

Zilker Metropolitan Park is a recreational area in south Austin, Texas, at the juncture of Barton Creek and the Colorado River that comprises over 350 acres (142 ha) of publicly owned land. It is named after its benefactor, Andrew Jackson Zilker, who donated the land to the city in 1917. The land was developed into a park during the Great Depression in the 1930s. Today the park serves as a hub for many recreational activities and the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake, both of which run next to the park. The large size of the park makes it a capable venue for large-scale events such as the Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Zilker Park Kite Festival. The park was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Springs</span> United States historic place

Barton Springs is a set of four natural water springs located at Barton Creek on the grounds of Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, resulting from water flowing through the Edwards Aquifer. The largest spring, Main Barton Spring, supplies water to Barton Springs Pool, a popular recreational destination in Austin. The smaller springs are located nearby, two with man-made structures built to contain and direct their flow. The springs are the only known habitat of the Barton Springs Salamander, an endangered species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Springs Pool</span> Outdoor swimming pool in the United States

Barton Springs Pool is a recreational outdoor swimming pool in Austin, Texas, that is filled entirely by natural springs connected to the Edwards Aquifer. Located in Zilker Park, the pool exists within the channel of Barton Creek and uses water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth-largest spring in Texas. The pool is a popular venue for year-round swimming, as its temperature hovers between about 68 °F (20 °C) and 74 °F (23 °C) year-round. The pool's grassy hills are lined with mature shade trees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Creek</span> River in the United States of America

Barton Creek is a tributary that feeds the Colorado River as it flows through the Texas Hill Country. The creek passes through some of the more scenic areas in Greater Austin, surrounded in many parts by a greenbelt of protected lands that serves as a habitat for many indigenous species of flora and fauna. The creek passes through Barton Creek Greenbelt and is fed by Barton Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zilker, Austin, Texas</span> Neighborhood in Austin, Texas, U.S.

Zilker is a neighborhood in south central Austin, Texas. It extends south of Lady Bird Lake, approximately bounded by the Union Pacific Railway to the southeast/south, Barton Skyway to the south, Rabb Road and Azie Morton Road to the west and Lady Bird Lake to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Jackson Zilker</span> American politician and philanthropist (1858 – 1934)

Andrew Jackson Zilker (1858–1934) was an American businessman, political figure and philanthropist. An Indiana native, Zilker settled and established his ice manufacturing business in Austin, Texas. He was a major benefactor of land in and around Austin; most notably he donated the land that eventually became Zilker Park to the city, which was later named in his honor. He was also the last private owner of Barton Springs, which today serves as a public recreational area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Creek Greenbelt</span> Public park in Austin, Texas

The Barton Creek Greenbelt in Austin, Texas is managed by the City of Austin's Park and Recreation Department. The Greenbelt is a 7.25-mile (11.67 km) stretch of public land spanning from Zilker Park west to the Lost Creek neighborhood. The Barton Creek Greenbelt runs parallel to the first 6.5 miles of Barton Creek before ending on a steep .75 mile hill commonly referred to as the hill of life. The Barton Creek Greenbelt consists of three areas: the Barton Creek Wilderness Park, the Upper Greenbelt, and the Lower Greenbelt. It is characterized by large limestone cliffs, dense foliage, and shallow bodies of water.

Williamson Creek Greenbelt is a park and greenbelt located in the south of Austin, Texas, running along Williamson Creek and its tributaries.

Allandale, Austin, Texas is a neighborhood in North Central Austin, in the U.S. State of Texas known for its large lots, mature trees, and central location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Lamar, Austin, Texas</span> Neighborhood in Austin, Texas, United States

South Lamar, Austin, Texas is a neighborhood in south Austin, Texas, United States.

Westgate is a neighborhood in Austin, Texas, located southwest of the city's urban core. It includes ZIP code 78745.

Galindo is a neighborhood in Austin, Texas. The area covers part of ZIP code 78704 in south Austin.

Spyglass-Barton's Bluff is a neighborhood in Austin, Texas. It is located southwest of the city's urban core, and encompasses ZIP codes 78746 and 78704.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montopolis, Austin, Texas</span> Neighborhood in Austin, Texas, United States

Travis County has had two locations named Montopolis. The first was during the Republic of Texas period north of the Colorado River. The second is today's Montopolis neighborhood in Austin, Texas south of the river. Located southeast of the city's urban core, today's neighborhood is in ZIP code 78741. Montopolis is bounded by Lake Lady Bird on the north, by Grove Street and the Pleasant Valley neighborhood on the west, to the south by Texas State Highway 71, and by U.S. Route 183 on the east. The southeast corner abuts Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Montopolis is in City Council District 3.

South River City is a community located in Austin, Texas. Also frequently called Travis Heights, the neighborhood is located south of the city's urban core, just below Lake Lady Bird in South Austin. The area encompasses a portion of ZIP code 78704.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pemberton Heights, Austin, Texas</span> Human settlement in Austin, Texas

Pemberton Heights is a neighborhood of Austin, Texas, and part of the Old West Austin Historic District. The area is bounded by Northwood Road on the north, Lamar Boulevard/Shoal Creek on the east, 24th Street/Windsor Road on the south, and Texas State Highway Loop 1 ("MoPac") on the west. It is Austin's wealthiest and most historic neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Violet Crown Trail</span>

The Violet Crown Trail is a 30-mile (48 km) pedestrian and cycling trail in Austin, Texas. Established in 2006 by the Hill Country Conservancy, the trail follows Barton Creek from Zilker Park and Mopac Expressway southwestward before finally terminating at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The trail is mostly made of decomposed granite but has various links that are only suitable for hiking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Springs Bridge</span> Bridge in Austin, Texas, U.S.

Barton Springs Bridge is a bridge in Austin, Texas, United States that crosses Barton Creek just before its confluence with the Colorado River. The western end of the bride connects to Zilker Park.

References

  1. ↑ "Barton Hills". Austin American-Statesman Classifieds. Archived from the original on 2009-05-31. Retrieved Nov 21, 2011.
  2. ↑ Tompkins, Taylor (September 24, 2016). "What fate awaits two A.D. Stenger homes?". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Kallerman, Dick. "History of Barton Hills". Barton Hills Neighborhood Association Handbook. Retrieved Nov 21, 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 Wear, Ben (September 21, 2012). "Bridge to somewhere went nowhere: the story of Barton Skyway". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Barton Hills Detailed Profile". City-data.com. Retrieved Nov 21, 2011.

30°15′29″N97°46′52″W / 30.25806°N 97.78111°W / 30.25806; -97.78111

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