Did You Know? The Town That Took Its Name From a Rock — Round Rock, Texas

Round Rock, Texas — The name says it all. A distinctive limestone marker in the creek at a natural wagon crossing inspired settlers' naming choice. Settlement began in the late 1830s, with permanent community structure developing after former Austin mayor Jacob Harrell moved there in 1848. A post office opened under "Brushy Creek" in 1851; residents adopted "Round Rock" by 1854. Swedish immigrants and settlers from various states fueled 1850s expansion with stores, churches, and the academy founded in 1862. The 1876 railroad extension transformed the town. A new commercial district emerged along Georgetown Avenue (modern Main Street), featuring limestone storefronts, hotels, cotton gins, blacksmith shops. This growth proved so significant that the original settlement became known as "Old Round Rock." Round Rock briefly rivaled Austin commercially, operating six hotels versus Austin's five. The historic downtown earned National Register listing in 1983. The limestone buildings of its historic downtown still stand as a reminder of where that story began.