History of Round Rock, Texas in Timeline

Round Rock is a city located in Williamson County, Texas, within the Greater Austin metropolitan area. As per the 2020 census, its population stands at 119,468.

August 27, 1904: First Old Settlers Association Reunion

The inaugural reunion of the Old Settlers Association (OSA), initially a gathering of Confederate veterans, took place in Georgetown on August 27, 1904. Originally intended for early settlers of Williamson County and their descendants, the event promised attendees "good music, plenty to eat, and above all a warm welcome." Due to its popularity, the reunion became an annual tradition, eventually relocating to Round Rock, where a dedicated structure and restored log cabins were erected in Palm Valley.

1910: Construction of the Texas Chainsaw House

The Texas Chainsaw House, made famous by the 1974 film, was originally built in 1910.

June 1956: Resolution of Interstate Highway Debate

A 15-year debate regarding the design, funding, and path of the Interstate highway system reached a resolution in June 1956. After extensive lobbying efforts by Round Rock Mayor Louis Henna, the highway was constructed along the Balcones Fault line, passing through Round Rock. The chosen route aimed to appease both Round Rock and the neighboring town of Taylor. However, it faced opposition due to its division of Round Rock's historic "Old Town" from the newer downtown area east of Interstate 35.

October 1977: Formation of Brushy Creek MUD

In October 1977, Round Rock's largest district, Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District (MUD), was initially formed as Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 2, encompassing 725 acres of land.

1983: Annexation Expanding Brushy Creek MUD

In 1983, an annexation significantly expanded Brushy Creek MUD from its original size to 2,210 acres.

1984: Dell Computer Founded

Dell Computer was established in 1984 by University of Texas student Michael Dell, originally operating under the name PC's Limited in Austin, Texas.

August 1990: Renaming of Brushy Creek MUD

In August 1990, Williamson County Municipal Utility District No. 2 was renamed to Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District.

1990: Vision for Round Rock Higher Education Center

In 1990, city leaders, including City Manager Bob Bennett, planning director Joe Vining, and citizen Mike Swayze, envisioned the creation of the Texas State University Round Rock Campus (also known as Round Rock Higher Education Center).

1996: Dell Relocates Headquarters to Round Rock

In 1996, Dell Computer, in need of substantial space for its growing operations, was enticed to relocate its headquarters to Round Rock. The City of Round Rock offered Dell a "Chapter 380" agreement, a pioneering move in Central Texas, to share 50% of sales tax revenue generated from in-state sales. This marked one of the first instances of such an agreement being used in the state for economic development.

1998: Relocation and Restoration of the Texas Chainsaw House

In 1998, the Texas Chainsaw House was carefully disassembled, moved to Kingsland, Texas, and then reassembled and fully restored. Today, it serves as a restaurant at The Antlers Hotel.

1999: Dell's Impact on Round Rock's Economy

By 1999, Dell Computer's presence in Round Rock had a significant impact on the city's finances, with roughly half of the general fund revenue originating from sales taxes generated by the company's headquarters.

November 2006: Opening of Round Rock's First Toll Road System Segment

In November 2006, the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) inaugurated the first segment of the region's first toll road system, marking a significant step in Round Rock's transportation infrastructure.

2006: Retail Hub Opens in Round Rock

A retail-focused development opened in Round Rock in 2006, strategically located at the intersection of IH-35 and Highway 1431, later renamed "University Boulevard." The project, situated across from IKEA, features the Simon Property Group's Premium Outlets Mall alongside various retail stores and dining establishments. The development was a collaborative effort, with Simon Property Group leading the project and contributions from Austin-based developers Barshop and Oles.

2007: Round Rock Opens Public Skate Park

The City of Round Rock celebrated the opening of a free public skate park in 2007. Situated behind the Clay Madsen Recreation Center on Gattis School Road, the skate park quickly became a popular destination for skating enthusiasts.

August 2008: Money Magazine Recognizes Round Rock

In August 2008, Money Magazine recognized Round Rock as the seventh-best small city in America to live in. Round Rock earned the distinction of being the only Texas city to be included in the top 10.

2008: Dell Implements Clean Energy Initiatives

As part of its commitment to clean energy in 2008, Dell transitioned its Round Rock headquarters to more sustainable power sources. The company now sources 60% of its energy from TXU Energy wind farms and the remaining 40% from a gas-to-energy facility operated by Waste Management, Inc. at the Austin Community Landfill.

2008: Opening of Avery Building and Educational Campus

The year 2008 saw the culmination of efforts by Texas State University, Austin Community College, and Temple College with the opening of an educational campus and the first RRC building, the Avery Building.

July 1, 2009: CNN ranks Round Rock Second-Fastest-Growing City

On July 1, 2009, a CNN article named Round Rock the second-fastest-growing city in the United States, boasting a population increase of 8.2% over the previous year.

2009: Enrollment Growth at Round Rock Higher Education Center

By the end of 2009, student enrollment in the programs offered at the Round Rock Higher Education Center had reached 1,700.

2009: Round Rock Independent School District Rated "Academically Acceptable"

In 2009, the Texas Education Agency rated the Round Rock Independent School District as "academically acceptable."

July 30, 2010: Round Rock Independent School District Achieves "Exemplary" Rating

In the annual report released on July 30, 2010, the Round Rock Independent School District reached a milestone by receiving the highest possible rating ("Exemplary") for 25 of its schools, setting a record for suburban districts in Central Texas.

August 2010: Expansion of Round Rock Independent School District

August 2010 marked a period of significant expansion for the Round Rock Independent School District, with the opening of Cedar Ridge High School (the district's fifth high school), the conversion of a ninth-grade center back into a middle school, and the inauguration of the 31st elementary school in the Stone Oak subdivision.

August 2010: Opening of Austin Community College's Largest Campus

August 2010 marked a significant development in Round Rock's educational landscape with the opening of Austin Community College's largest campus at the time, situated adjacent to the Texas State University center.

August 2010: Nolan Ryan Acquires Texas Rangers

In a significant move for Texas baseball, Nolan Ryan, a legendary figure in the sport, became the new owner of the major league team, the Texas Rangers, in August 2010.

December 2010: Opening of Texas A&M Health Science Center Round Rock

The Texas A&M Health Science Center Round Rock opened its doors in December 2010.

2010: Dell's Fortune 500 Ranking

In 2010, Dell secured its position as one of the world's leading technology companies, ranking 38th on the Fortune 500 list. Additionally, Fortune recognized Dell as the 5th most admired company within its industry.

2017: Dell's Global Workforce

By 2017, Dell had grown into a global technology giant, employing approximately 138,000 individuals worldwide. Dell's Round Rock facilities alone housed around 11,500 employees.

April 2018: Round Rock Hosts US Quidditch Cup

Round Rock had the honor of hosting the 11th annual US Quidditch Cup championship tournament in April 2018. The event, held at the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex, drew quidditch teams and fans from across the nation.

March 21, 2022: EF2 Tornado Strikes Round Rock

Round Rock experienced significant damage on March 21, 2022, when a powerful EF2 tornado ripped through the city, injuring sixteen people. The tornado maintained its strength as it moved northeast, causing further damage beyond city limits before eventually dissipating.