Editing Williamson County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county = Williamson County
| state = Texas
| flag = Williamson County, Texas flag.png
| seal = Williamson County TX seal.png
| founded year = 1848
| founded date = March 13
| seat wl = Georgetown
| largest city wl = Round Rock
| area_total_sq_mi = 1134
| area_land_sq_mi = 1118
| area_water_sq_mi = 16
| area percentage = 1.4
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 609017
| pop_est_as_of = 2023
| population_est = 697191 {{increase}}
| density_sq_mi = 378
| ex image = Williamson County Courthouse (1 of 1).jpg
| ex image size = 270px
| ex image cap = The Williamson County Courthouse in 2019
| web = https://www.wilcotx.gov/
| time zone = Central
| named for = [[Robert McAlpin Williamson]]
| district = 10th
| district2 = 17th
| district3 = 31st
| district4 = 37th
}}
[[File:Confederate statue at Williamson County, TX, Courthouse IMG 7113.JPG|right|thumb|[[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] statue at Williamson County courthouse]]
[[File:Part of Courthouse Square, Georgetown, TX IMG 7110.JPG|right|thumb|A part of Courthouse Square in [[Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown]]]]

'''Williamson County''' (sometimes abbreviated as "Wilco")<ref>http://www.wilco.org {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041106010247/http://www.wilco.org/ |date=November 6, 2004 }} --> Williamson County, TX Home Page</ref> is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 609,017.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/williamsoncountytexas/PST045222|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 28, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|archive-date=May 31, 2011}}</ref> The county is named for [[Robert McAlpin Williamson]] ({{Circa|1804}}–1859), a community leader and a veteran of the [[Battle of San Jacinto]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fwi42|title=WILLIAMSON, ROBERT MCALPIN [THREE LEGGED WILLIE]|date=June 15, 2010|website=tshaonline.org|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509195701/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fwi42|archive-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>

Williamson County is part of the [[Greater Austin|Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area]]. It was included with Austin in the Best Cities to Live in for 2009 by the [[Milken Institute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2009.taf?rankyear=2009&type=rank200&ID=1601|title=Austin-Round Rock, Texas MSA|publisher=[[The Milken Institute]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721204904/http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2009.taf?rankyear=2009&type=rank200&ID=1601|archive-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref> Located in [[Central Texas]], it is on both the [[Edwards Plateau]] to the west, rocky terrain and hills, and [[Texas Blackland Prairies]] in the east, rich, fertile farming land. The two areas are roughly bisected by [[Interstate 35 in Texas|Interstate 35]].

==History==

===Prehistoric===
[[File:Clovis Point.jpg|thumb|right|This [[Clovis point]] is from a period of habitation of about 11,200 years ago.]]
Much of Williamson County has been the site of human habitation for at least 11,200 years. The earliest known inhabitants of the area lived during the late [[Pleistocene]] (Ice Age), and are linked to the [[Clovis culture]] around 9,200 BC based on evidence found at Bell County's much-studied Gault Site.<ref>{{cite web|title=Handbook of Texas Online, "Gault Site" entry |url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bbgya |access-date=July 18, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710065631/http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/bbgya |archive-date=July 10, 2011  |date=June 15, 2010}}</ref>  One of the most important discoveries in recent times is the ancient skeletal remains dubbed the "Leanderthal Lady" because of its age and proximity to [[Leander, Texas]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Historical Round Rock Texas |last=Thompson |first=Karen R. |author2=Jane H. Digesualado  |publisher=Nortex Press (Eakin Publications) |location=Austin, Texas |isbn=<!--none -->|pages=4, 7 }}</ref> It was discovered by accident by the [[Texas Department of Transportation]] workers while drilling core samples for a new highway. The site has been extensively studied for many years, and samples from this site carbon date to the Pleistocene period around 10,500 years ago. Prehistoric and [[Archaic period in the Americas|Archaic]] "open occupation" campsites are also found throughout the county along streams and other water sources, including [[Brushy Creek (San Gabriel River tributary)|Brushy Creek]] in Round Rock and the [[San Gabriel River (Texas)|San Gabriel River]] in Georgetown. Such evidence of Archaic-period inhabitants is often in the form of relics and flint tools recovered from burned rock middens. Many such sites were inundated when the San Gabriel River was dammed to create Lake Granger.<ref name="tshaonline2">{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcw11|title=WILLIAMSON COUNTY|first=ODINTZ|last=MARK|date=June 15, 2010|website=tshaonline.org|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509195701/https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcw11|archive-date=May 9, 2018}}</ref>

The earliest known historical Native American occupants, the [[Tonkawa]], were a flint-working, hunting people who followed the [[American bison|buffalo]] on foot and periodically set fire to the prairie to aid them in their hunts. During the 18th century, they made the transition to a horse culture and used firearms to a limited extent. After they were crowded out by white settlement, the [[Comanches]] continued to raid settlements in the county until the 1860s. Also, small numbers of [[Kiowa]], Yojuane, [[Tawakoni]], and Mayeye Indians apparently were living in the county at the time of the earliest Anglo settlements.<ref name="tshaonline2"/>

===Thrall flood===
On September 9 and 10, 1921, the remnants of a hurricane moved over Williamson County. The center of the storm became stationary over [[Thrall, Texas|Thrall]], a small farming town in eastern Williamson County, dropping a storm total of {{convert|39.7|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain in 36 hours.<ref>{{cite web|title=Significant Weather Events of the 1900s |url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ewx/html/wxevent/1997to1999/cen/1900s.htm |publisher=[[National Weather Service]] |access-date=March 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515223135/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ewx/html/wxevent/1997to1999/cen/1900s.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2008 }}</ref> The 24-hour rainfall total ending 7 am on September 10, 1921 ({{convert|38.2|in|mm|abbr=on}}) at a U.S. Weather Bureau station in Thrall remains the national official 24-hour rainfall record. Thrall's rainfall was {{convert|23.4|in|mm|abbr=on}} during 6 hours, {{convert|31.8|in|mm|abbr=on}} during 12 hours, and {{convert|36.4|in|mm|abbr=on}} during 18 hours.<ref name="usgs">{{cite web|title=Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas|url=http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr03-193/cd_files/USGS_Storms/patton.htm|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|access-date=March 22, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511014322/http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2003/ofr03-193/cd_files/USGS_Storms/patton.htm|archive-date=May 11, 2009}}</ref> Eighty-seven people drowned in and near Taylor, and 93 in Williamson County. This storm caused the most deadly floods in Texas, with a total of 215 fatalities.

===1997 tornado outbreak===
On May 27, 1997, Williamson County was hit by the worst tornado outbreak in county history. The [[1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak]] caused 20 tornadoes including an F-5 (the strongest rating used for tornadoes on the [[Fujita scale]]), which remains the only F-5 to strike Williamson County. The F-5 tornado killed 27 people and completely destroyed the Double Creek Estates neighborhood in the city of [[Jarrell, Texas]], located in far northern Williamson County. Another strong tornado, an F-3, struck [[Cedar Park, Texas|Cedar Park]], killing one person. Two F-2 tornadoes also struck Williamson County. The outbreak cost the county over $190 million in damages and a total of 30 fatalities.<ref>{{Cite web|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|title=May 1997 Tornado Outbreak|url=https://www.weather.gov/ewx/wxevent-19970527|access-date=September 10, 2020|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US}}</ref>

===Modern growth===
Williamson County's fast growth rate is due in large part to its location immediately north of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] coupled with Austin's rapid expansion northward; Austin's city limits cross into Williamson County. Most of the growth has been residential, but large employers, such as [[Dell]]'s international headquarters, have also changed Williamson County from a bedroom community into a community where citizens can live and work in the same general vicinity. This has transformed the county over recent years into a dynamic, self-sustaining community with less dependency on Austin. Major retail and commercial developments began appearing from 1999 to present, including the Rivery in Georgetown, and the [[Premium Outlets|Premium Outlet Mall]], the [[IKEA]]-area retail, and the [[La Frontera (Round Rock, Texas)|La Frontera]] mixed-use center in Round Rock. Health care and higher education have also become major factors in the county's growth. Two new colleges and two new hospitals have opened since 2015. Another significant factor has been the opening of the North [[Loop 1]] and [[Texas State Highway 45]] toll roads, which have made Williamson County more accessible to Austin.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|1134|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|1118|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|16|sqmi}}, comprising 1.4%, is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 12, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419031755/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|archive-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref>

The area is divided into two regions by the Balcones Escarpment, which runs through the center from north to south along a line from Jarrell to Georgetown to Round Rock. The county's western half is an extension of the Western Plains and considered to be within the eastern fringes of [[Texas Hill Country]]; it has an average elevation of {{convert|850|ft|m|abbr=on}}. It features undulating, hilly brushland with an abundance of [[Texas live oak]], [[prickly pear cactus]], and [[karst]]. The county's eastern half is part of the Coastal Plains and is flat to gently rolling with an average elevation of {{convert|600|ft|m|abbr=on}}. It has dark clay and rich, fertile soils for agriculture, but is quickly being developed as the county's population continues to increase and expand out.<ref name="tshaonline2"/> Williamson County is drained in the center and south by the San Gabriel River, the county's only river, and in the north by creeks that run into the Lampasas and Little Rivers north of the county line.<ref name="tshaonline2"/>

===Topography===
Williamson County's eastern portion lies within the low-lying prairie areas east of the [[Balcones Escarpment]] (also known as the Balcones Fault, though it is not an [[active fault]]). It begins a piedmont, a foot-friendly fall line of slightly sloping land downward to the coastal area, an area of the [[Blackland Prairie]] consisting of rich, fertile, clay-containing soils, where the land is still used for agriculture, growing cotton and other crops and raising cattle. These prairie lands essentially run from Williamson County to the Gulf Coast, and have a rich heritage of being farmed by German, Polish, and other settlers.

West of the escarpment is the beginning of the "upland" Texas Hill Country, characterized by rocky terrain with thin layers of soil on top of [[limestone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ryh02|title=Hill Country|work=Handbook of Texas Online|access-date=November 7, 2009|author=Jordan, Terry G.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102002535/http://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ryh02|archive-date=November 2, 2010}}</ref> Some ranching occurs in the uplands, but mostly it has been the target of residential development because of the rolling terrain, vistas, hardwood trees, abundant wildlife, and rivers and streams (the same reason early Indians camped in the area). The Hill Country areas are characterized by their porous "vugular" (honeycombed) rock, where rainwater percolates down to replenish the [[Edwards Aquifer]]. For that reason, development restrictions are in place and several endangered species are protected by the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service]] (USFWS).<!-- (See Endangered species section below). -->Interstate 35, the county's main artery, runs along the fault line dividing the two distinct regions.

===Environmentally protected areas===
[[Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge]] is in the Texas Hill Country northwest of Austin, including parts of western Williamson County.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21561|title=Overview|work=Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=March 21, 2010|author=United States Fish and Wildlife Service|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511105217/http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=21561|archive-date=May 11, 2009}}</ref>  The refuge was formed in 1992 to conserve habitat for two endangered songbirds, the [[golden-cheeked warbler]] and the [[black-capped vireo]], and to preserve Texas Hill Country habitat for other wildlife species.<ref>U.S. Senate, Committee on Appropriations. 2006. Prepared statement of Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Senate Hearings, Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations, HR 2361, pp. 174–175.</ref> The refuge augments a similarly named preserve in Austin, the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. The vegetation found in the Hill Country includes various oaks, elms, and [[Juniperus ashei|Ashe juniper trees]] (often called "cedar" in Texas). The golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo depend on different successional stages of this vegetation, and both nest in the Edwards Plateau, the warbler exclusively so.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/balcones/|title=Welcome|work=Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge|access-date=March 20, 2010|author=United States Fish and Wildlife Service|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308195103/http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/balcones/|archive-date=March 8, 2010}}</ref> Some protected areas are open to visitors, such as the [[Berry Springs Park]].

===Endangered species===
Williamson County is home to five endangered species. Two are songbirds protected by the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve in [[Travis County, Texas|Travis]] and Williamson Counties. The other three are invertebrate species found only in Williamson County, which live in the cavelike fissures on the west side of the county. [[Karst topography]] is the name for the honeycomb-type limestone formations (including caves, sinkholes, and fissures) typical of the county's limestone geology west of Interstate 35. In the 1990s, a group of concerned landowners, individuals, and real-estate developers formed the Northern Edwards Aquifer Resource Council with the goal of obtaining a USFWS 10-A permit (known as an [[incidental take permit]]) for the county by identifying and preserving sufficiently many caves with endangered species to ensure survival of the species. These species would be preserved through voluntary donations of land rather than required setbacks, grants,<ref>{{cite news |title= Grant will help creepier residents. $2.35 million to save beetles, spiders and other endangered species| first=Jennifer| last=Barrios| page=A1 | date=September 30, 2004 | newspaper=[[Austin American-Statesman]]}}</ref> and other involuntary means typically enforced on landowners without an incidental take permit. The group transferred its successful work on an [[environmental impact statement]] to the county in 2002 and a county-wide 10-A permit was obtained in October 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plan to protect species gets OK; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service gives approval. |first=David |last=Doolittle |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |date=October 23, 2008 }}</ref> Property owners are able to participate in the county's 10-A permit by applying through the WCCF.

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]] (north)
* [[Milam County, Texas|Milam County]] (northeast)
* [[Lee County, Texas|Lee County]] (southeast)
* [[Bastrop County, Texas|Bastrop County]] (southeast)
* [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]] (south)
* [[Burnet County, Texas|Burnet County]] (west)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1568
|1860= 4529
|1870= 6368
|1880= 15155
|1890= 25909
|1900= 38072
|1910= 42228
|1920= 42934
|1930= 44146
|1940= 41698
|1950= 38853
|1960= 35044
|1970= 37305
|1980= 76521
|1990= 139551
|2000= 249967
|2010= 422679
|2020= 609017
|estyear=2023
|estimate=697191
|estref =  <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2020-2023/counties/totals/co-est2023-pop.xlsx| title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher= United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=May 12, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226003918/http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf|archive-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Williamson County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Williamson County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=0500000US48491&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Williamson County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48491&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P22|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Williamson County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US48491&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|183,847
|269,481
|style='background: #ffffe6; |336,410
|73.55%
|63.76%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |55.24%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|12,444
|24,744
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38,557
|4.98%
|5.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.33%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|759
|1,340
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,659
|0.30%
|0.32%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|6,483
|20,084
|style='background: #ffffe6; |53,982
|2.59%
|4.75%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.86%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|161
|354
|style='background: #ffffe6; |592
|0.06%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.10%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|230
|661
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,124
|0.09%
|0.16%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.51%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|3,053
|7,981
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27,605
|1.22%
|1.89%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4.53%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|42,990
|98,034
|style='background: #ffffe6; |147,088
|17.20%
|23.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |24.15%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''249,967'''
|'''422,679'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''609,017'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="float: right; font-size:90%"
|+ Municipal population history <ref>[https://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf Texas Almanac: City Population History from 1850–2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916051814/http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/CityPopHist%20web.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |date=September 16, 2012}}. ''[[Texas Almanac]]''. Retrieved June 20, 2014.</ref>
|-
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | #
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | <small>Largest Cities in Williamson County</small>
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 1950
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 1960
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 1970
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 1980
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 1990
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 2000
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 2010
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 2020
! style="background-color: #cfb;" | 2022 (estimate)
|----
| align="right"| 1 || align="left" | [[Round Rock, Texas|Round Rock]] || align="right" | 1,438 || align="right"| 1,878 || align="right" | 2,811 || align="right"| 11,812 || align="right"| 30,923 || align="right"| 61,136 || align="right"| 99,887 || align="right"| 119,468 || align="right"| 126,697
|----
| align="right"| 2 || align="left" | [[Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown]] || align="right" | 4,951 || align="right"| 5,218 || align="right" | 6,395 || align="right"| 9,468 || align="right"| 14,842 || align="right"| 28,339 || align="right"| 47,400 || align="right"| 67,176 || align="right"| 86,507
|-----
| align="right"| 3 || align="left" | [[Cedar Park, Texas|Cedar Park]] || align="right" | 202 || align="right"| 385 || align="right" | 692 || align="right"| 3,474 || align="right"| 5,161 || align="right"| 26,049 || align="right"| 48,937 || align="right"| 77,595 || align="right"| 77,642
|----
| align="right"| 4 || align="left" | [[Leander, Texas|Leander]] || align="right" | – || align="right"| – || align="right" | – || align="right"| 2,179 || align="right"| 3,398 || align="right"| 7,596 || align="right"| 26,521 || align="right"| 59,202 || align="right"| 74,375
|----
| align="right"| 5 || align="left" | [[Hutto, Texas|Hutto]] || align="right" | 529 || align="right"| 400 || align="right" | 545 || align="right"| 659 || align="right"| 630 || align="right"| 1,250 || align="right"| 14,698 || align="right"| 27,577 || align="right"| 36,655
|----
| align="right"| 6 || align="left" | [[Taylor, Texas|Taylor]] || align="right" | 9,071 || align="right"| 9,434 || align="right" | 9,616 || align="right"| 10,619 || align="right"| 11,472 || align="right"| 13,575 || align="right"| 15,191 || align="right"| 16,267 || align="right"| 16,975
|----
| align="right"| 7 || align="left" | [[Liberty Hill, Texas|Liberty Hill]] || align="right" | – || align="right"| – || align="right" | – || align="right"| – || align="right"| – || align="right"| 1,409 || align="right"| 967 || align="right"| 3,646 || align="right"| 9,099
|----
| align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| || align="left" style="background-color: #cfb;"| '''Williamson County total''' || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 38,853 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 35,044 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 37,305 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 76,521 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 139,551 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 249,967 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 422,679 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 609,017 || align="right" style="background-color: #cfb;"| 671,418
|}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 422,679 people, 152,606 households, and 111,514 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|373|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. The 162,773 housing units averaged {{convert|144|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 80.9% White, 7.1% African American, 1.3% Native American, 5.8% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 6.9% from other races, and 3.2% from two or more races. About 23.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 111,514 households, 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were not families. Around 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the age distribution was 28.7% under 18, 11.9% from 15 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $60,642, and for a family was $66,208. Males had a median income of $43,471 versus $30,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,547. About 3.40% of families and 4.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.40% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==
[[File:Williamson County precincts.gif|thumb|right|300px|Williamson County Precinct Map&nbsp;– ''Image courtesy of the Williamson County Commissioners Court'']]

{{external links|date=September 2020}}
The [https://web.archive.org/web/20110723142414/http://www.williamson-county.org/CountyDepartments/Commissioners/tabid/207/Default.aspx Commissioners Court] is the overall governing and management body of Williamson County, and is responsible for all budgetary decisions in addition to setting the tax rate each year. Among its duties is the administration of all county business, including the building and maintenance of county roads and bridges. Commissioners' courts are governing bodies of [[Local government in the United States|county government]] in several US states, including Texas. The principal functions of the commissioners' court are legislative and executive. Although called courts, commissioners' courts generally exercise only limited judicial powers. The commissioners' court consists of five members. The county judge presides as chairman, and is elected every four years by voters countywide. Four commissioners are elected by single-member precincts every four years.

=== County government ===

==== Williamson County elected officials ====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Position
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party
|-
| style="background:black;" |&nbsp;
| County Judge
| Steven Snell
| Unknown 
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 1
| Terry Cook
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 2
| Cynthia Long
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 3
| Valerie Covey
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner, Precinct 4
| Russ Boles
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District Attorney 
| Shawn Dick
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District Clerk
| Lisa David
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| County Attorney
| Doyle Hobbs Jr.
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| County Clerk
| Nancy Rister
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Sheriff
| Matthew Lindemann 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Tax Assessor-Collector
| Larry Gaddes 
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Treasurer
| Scott Heselmeyer
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 1
| Mickey Chance
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 2
| Jeff Anderson
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 3
| Kevin Wilkie
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| Constable, Precinct 4
| Paul Leal
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
|}

===Congressional and state representation===
In recent decades, Williamson County has been a strongly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county. Before the 2018 elections, every federal and state elected official from the county was a Republican. It is in Texas Senate District 5, and is represented by State Senator [[Charles Schwertner]] (R). Williamson County includes three Texas House of Representatives Districts: 20, 52, and 136. District 20 is represented by Republican [[Terry Wilson (politician)|Terry Wilson]], 52 by Caroline Harris, and 136 by Democrat [[John Bucy III]].

==== United States Congress ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Representatives
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party
! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | First elected
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District 10
| [[Michael McCaul]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2004
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District 17
| [[Pete Sessions]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2020
|-
| style="background:red;" |&nbsp;
| District 31
| [[John Carter (Texas politician)|John Carter]]
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 2002
|-
| style="background:blue;" |&nbsp;
| District 37
| [[Lloyd Doggett]]
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 1994
|-
|}

===Presidential election results===
Williamson County is currently a swing county since the late 2010s. The county votes well to the left of the state as a whole.

It was once a solidly Democratic county. In [[1976 United States presidential election in Texas|1976 election]], it voted for President [[Jimmy Carter]] by a higher percentage (55%) than did voters in [[Travis County]] (52%). In [[1980 United States presidential election in Texas|1980 election]], however, the county swung dramatically to support [[Ronald Reagan]], giving him 56% of the vote, exceeding Carter's 1976 total. In subsequent years, the county became increasingly Republican, following a pattern similar to those of other suburban Texas counties. In [[2004 United States presidential election in Texas|2004 election]], President [[George W. Bush]] won 68% of the vote in Williamson County. [[John McCain]] received 55% of the vote to [[Barack Obama]]'s 42% in the [[2008 United States presidential election in Texas|2008 election]]. In [[2012 United States presidential election in Texas|2012 election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] defeated Obama, 59% to 38%. In [[2016 United States presidential election in Texas|2016 election]], [[Donald Trump]] beat [[Hillary Clinton]], 51%–41%.

However, the county narrowly swung Democratic in [[2020 United States presidential election in Texas|2020]], with [[Joe Biden]] winning a plurality over Trump, 49% to 48%.<ref name="wilco">{{Cite web|url=https://apps.wilco.org/elections/results/default.aspx?e=346930|title=Election Results|website=apps.wilco.org}}</ref> The county narrowly swung back into the Trump column for the [[2024 United States presidential election in Texas|2024]] election, thereby voting for the presidential election winner in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Democrats [[Beto O'Rourke]] and [[Colin Allred]] won the county against [[Ted Cruz]] in [[2018 United States Senate election in Texas|2018]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Essig |first=Chris |last2=Murphy |first2=Ryan |last3=Formby |first3=Brandon |date=2018-11-07 |title=Where Ted Cruz's close victory over Beto O'Rourke stands among Texas' historical election results |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/07/ted-cruz-beto-orourke-texas-history-election-results/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> and [[2024 United States Senate election in Texas|2024]]. [[James Talarico]] and [[John Bucy III]] both defeating Republican incumbents to win election to the [[2022 Texas House of Representatives election|2022]] in districts mostly in Williamson County.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2019-05-10/turning-williamson-county-a-bluer-shade-of-purple/|title=Turning Williamson County a Bluer Shade of Purple|website=www.austinchronicle.com}}</ref> However, in the same [[2020 United States Senate election in Texas|2020 election]] election, county voters reelected Republican [[John Cornyn]] to the U.S. Senate as well as Republican [[John Carter (Texas politician)|John Carter]] to the U.S. House of Representatives.<ref name="wilco" /> Republican governor [[Greg Abbott]] won the county in [[2022 Texas gubernatorial election|2022]] by only one point, further showing that county has moved away from being safely Republican and become a competitive battleground.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khatib |first=Alexa Ura, Caroline Covington and Jade |date=November 11, 2022 |title=Republicans rebounded in some suburban counties that had been drifting blue |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/11/11/texas-voter-turnout-suburbs/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 2022 |title=Texas Governor Election Results |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/11/08/us/elections/results-texas-governor.html |access-date=July 16, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Election turnout reflects the county's tremendous growth. In [[1960 United States presidential election in Texas|1960]], only 7,870 votes were cast, compared to 289,555 in 2020.
{{PresHead|place=Williamson County, Texas|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|155,310|147,766|6,439|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|139,729|143,795|6,644|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|104,175|84,468|16,016|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|97,006|61,875|4,923|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|88,323|67,691|3,152|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|83,284|43,117|1,797|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|65,041|26,591|4,303|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|36,836|24,175|5,511|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|26,208|19,437|15,609|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|27,322|19,589|319|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|25,774|9,911|99|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|15,035|10,408|1,218|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|7,481|9,355|174|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,998|3,806|63|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,923|5,528|1,672|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,766|7,430|6|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,429|5,410|31|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|2,947|4,402|18|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,646|5,010|7|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,094|5,638|294|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,239|5,284|908|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,714|5,944|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|375|4,995|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|418|6,783|13|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,833|3,689|9|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|934|6,324|320|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|819|2,677|1,555|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|656|2,701|94|Texas}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|246|2,014|310|Texas}}

==Sun City Texas==
One of the most significant growth factors of modern Williamson County is the location of a new Sun City community in Georgetown. Opened in June 1995, and originally named "Sun City Georgetown", [[Sun City Texas]] is a 5,300-acre (21-km<sup>2</sup>) age-restricted community about {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on}} west of IH-35 on Andice Road (RR 2338). It is part of the chain of Sun City communities started by [[Del E. Webb Construction Company]] (now a division of [[PulteGroup]]).<ref>{{cite journal | title=Builders Pulte, Centex to combine in deal with national significance: Merger might be sign of industry rebound | url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=list&p_topdoc=31 | last= Novak | first=Shonda | journal=[[Austin American-Statesman]] | pages=B–07}}</ref> Residency is restricted to persons over age 55 (at least one person in a couple has to be 55 or older) and the community is generally oriented toward retirees.<ref name=Ward>{{cite journal | title = On course for a grand opening in sun city | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&s_hidethis=no&p_field_label-0=Author&p_field_label-1=title&p_bool_label-1=AND&s_dispstring=Sun%20City%20Georgetown%20AND%20date(01/01/1995%20to%2001/01/1997)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=01/01/1995%20to%2001/01/1997)&p_field_advanced-0=&p_text_advanced-0=(Sun%20City%20Georgetown)&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no | last=Ward | first=Pamela | journal=[[Austin American-Statesman]] | pages = B–1| date=December 29, 1996}}</ref>
[[File:Sun City Texas pool.jpg|thumb|right|Sun City Texas pool at one of several recreation centers]]
As originally planned, the project would double the size of Georgetown's population.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.delwebb.com/communities/tx/georgetown/sun-city-texas/index.aspx|title= Del|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120618093700/http://www.delwebb.com/communities/tx/georgetown/sun-city-texas/index.aspx|archive-date= June 18, 2012|df= mdy-all}}</ref> Sun City Texas is made up mostly of single-family dwellings, but also has duplexes. The Sun City project includes three golf courses (Legacy Hills, White Wing, and Cowan Creek).<ref name="Ward"/> Although the community attracts residents from all over, most come from within Texas to stay close to their original homes. Vocal opposition to the project has occurred, especially at the start during the zoning process, with arguments against the size of the community, its effect on Georgetown as a family-oriented town, concerns about the costs of providing city utilities, concern about lowered city and Williamson County property taxes, which are fixed for retirees under Texas law, and the disproportionate effect of city voting.

By and large, though, the community has been welcomed and accepted by the Georgetown populace. In the 2008 city elections, for example, two residents of Sun City were the only candidates for mayor of Georgetown. They also were both formerly elected city council members.<ref>{{Cite news | first = Bob | last = Banta | title = Mayoral hopefuls let their work talk | date = April 10, 2008 | work = Austin American-Statesman | pages = W–01}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:CottonPlant.JPG|thumb|Cotton bolls ready for harvest]]

===Agriculture===
Williamson County was an agrarian community for most of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cotton was the dominant crop in the area between the 1880s and the 1920s, and Williamson County was the top producer of cotton in Texas.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cotton County |first=Andrew |last=McLemore |newspaper=Williamson County Sun |date=August 15, 2010 }}</ref>  Primarily to transport bales of cotton, the county was served by two national railroads, the [[International-Great Northern Railroad]], which eventually merged into the Missouri Pacific, and the [[Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad]]. The town of [[Taylor, Texas|Taylor]] in eastern Williamson County became the primary center for cotton production, [[cotton gin]]ning, and compressing cotton into bales to transport by rail.

Other agriculture activities, farming, and dairying were also a part of rural Williamson County east of the Balcones Fault, and ranching occurred to the west in the Hill Country area. Both gradually gave way to more modern business, services, and retail as the area became more urban, but cattle ranching is still a major business in some areas of the county, and cotton is still a significant crop eastward toward [[Hutto, Texas|Hutto]] and Taylor.

===Business===
Williamson County's largest employer was once [[Dell]] Computer in Round Rock, employing roughly 16,000 employees.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}} Retail and health care, including St. David's Hospital, Scott & White, Seton Medical Center Williamson hospital (a level II certified trauma center), and the A&M Health Science Center are among the area's largest employers. Other than Dell, retail is the second-most significant business group in the county. The new [[IKEA]] store and [[Simon Property Group|Premium Outlet Mall]] in Round Rock, as well as those in the La Frontera mixed-use project in Round Rock are significant to the county. Wolf Ranch and The Rivery are also major retail centers in Georgetown. In addition, higher education has a large positive effect on the county with the opening of the Texas State University Campus in Round Rock and the [[Austin Community College]] campus. The Round Rock campus is the single largest campus in the ACC system, providing two-year degrees and training in the high-tech sector, nursing, and other specialties.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

==County courthouse==
[[File:Williamson County, Texas flag.png|thumb|right|Williamson County flag – ''Image courtesy of the Williamson County Commissioner's Court'']]
The current courthouse, built in 1911, is an example of [[Neoclassical Revival]] architecture.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/Courthouse/COURTHOUSE_OF_WILLIAMSON_COUNTY_corrected.pdf|title=THE COURTHOUSE OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Georgetown, Texas|website=williamson-county-historical-commission.org|access-date=May 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304033033/http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/Courthouse/COURTHOUSE_OF_WILLIAMSON_COUNTY_corrected.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> The courthouse has had a tumultuous past, surviving three major renovations and many modifications, including the demolition of its key architectural features in 1966. With the assistance of the Texas Historical Commission and preservation-minded county citizens and officials, the courthouse was returned to its original 1911 state during a major 2006–2007 renovation, once again becoming a focal point of the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513151035/http://www.williamson-county-historical-commission.org/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2008|title=Williamson County Courthouse|publisher=Williamson County Historical Commission|access-date=July 16, 2010}}</ref>

==Flag==
The stars on the flag surrounding the state of Texas represent the 33 viable communities identified by Clara Stearns Scarbrough in her 1973 book, ''Land of Good Water''. {{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} In 1970, these communities ranged in population from 20 people in Norman's Crossing to more than 10,000 residents in Taylor. Establishing how many communities exist in Williamson County today is difficult, because the determination of "community" is subjective and without set criteria. However, in Williamson County as of 2004, 11 towns had populations over 1,000 people, and seven towns had populations above 5,000.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

==Education==
These school districts serve Williamson County:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48491_williamson/DC20SD_C48491.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48491_williamson/DC20SD_C48491.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Williamson County, TX|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} – [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48453_travis/DC20SD_C48453_SD2MS.txt List]</ref>
* [[Bartlett Independent School District|Bartlett ISD]] (partly in Bell County, small portion in Milam County)
* [[Burnet Consolidated Independent School District|Burnet Consolidated ISD]] (mostly in Burnet County, small portion in Llano County)
* [[Coupland Independent School District|Coupland ISD]] (very small portion in Travis County)
* [[Florence Independent School District|Florence ISD]] (small portion in Bell County)
* [[Georgetown Independent School District|Georgetown ISD]]
* [[Granger Independent School District|Granger ISD]]
* [[Hutto Independent School District|Hutto ISD]]
* [[Jarrell Independent School District|Jarrell ISD]]
* [[Leander Independent School District|Leander ISD]] (partly in Travis County)
* [[Lexington Independent School District|Lexington ISD]] (mostly in Lee County, very small portion in Milam County)
* [[Liberty Hill Independent School District|Liberty Hill ISD]]
* [[Pflugerville Independent School District|Pflugerville ISD]] (mostly in Travis County)
* [[Round Rock Independent School District|Round Rock ISD]] (small portion in Travis County)
* [[Taylor Independent School District|Taylor ISD]]
* [[Thorndale Independent School District|Thorndale ISD]] (mostly in Milam County)
* [[Thrall Independent School District|Thrall ISD]]

===Higher education===
* [[Southwestern University]] (Georgetown)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2010/11/12/southwestern-univ-to-grow.html |title=Southwestern University in Georgetown to grow &#124; Austin Business Journal |access-date=November 15, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110901181710/http://bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2010/11/12/southwestern-univ-to-grow.html |archive-date=September 1, 2011  }}''Austin Business Journal'', Austin, Texas, November 11, 2010, by Sandra Zaragosa,</ref>
* [[Texas State University Round Rock Campus]]<ref>[http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/09/01/daily22.html "Plans revealed for Austin Community College."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917200509/http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/09/01/daily22.html |date=September 17, 2008 }} ''Austin Business Journal'', Austin, Texas, September 3, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2010.</ref>
* [[Texas A&M Health Science Center]] (Round Rock)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kbtx.com/money/headlines/98976534.html |title=Texas A&M; Health Science Center Campus Opening |access-date=November 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108054045/http://www.kbtx.com/money/headlines/98976534.html |archive-date=November 8, 2010  }} "Texas A&M Health Science Center Opens" KBTX-TV, Retrieved July 21, 2010</ref>
* [[National American University]] (Georgetown)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://impactnews.com/blogs/georgetown/now-open:-national-american-university/ |title=Impacts |access-date=August 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716051404/http://impactnews.com/blogs/georgetown/now-open%3A-national-american-university |archive-date=July 16, 2012  }} "Now Open – National American University" Community Impact Newspaper, Retrieved August 2, 2012</ref>
* [[Temple College]] (Hutto and Taylor)

[[Austin Community College]] is the designated community college for most portions of the county.<ref name=CC>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.166. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.168. BLINN JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.171. CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA. Sec. 130.202. TEMPLE JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref>
* Sites: Round Rock, Cedar Park<ref>[http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/09/01/daily22.html "Plans revealed for Austin Community College."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917200509/http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/09/01/daily22.html |date=September 17, 2008 }} ''Austin Business Journal'', Austin, Texas, September 3, 2008. Retrieved July 7, 2010.</ref> and Leander<ref>{{cite web | title=San Gabriel Campus | website=Austin Community College District | url=https://www.austincc.edu/campuses/san-gabriel-campus | access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref>
* Austin Community College also purchased a site in [[Leander, Texas]], in 2010 for an additional future Williamson County campus.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

Areas in Granger, Hutto, Taylor, and Thrall ISDs are within [[Temple Junior College District]]. Areas in Florence ISD are within [[Central Texas College District]]. Areas in Lexington ISD are within [[Blinn Junior College District]].<ref name=CC/>

==Media==
The newspapers that serve Williamson County include the ''Round Rock Leader'', ''Williamson County Sun'' (Georgetown), ''Taylor Press'', ''Hutto News'', ''Hill Country News'' (Leander), ''Liberty Hill Independent'', and ''Tribune-Progress'' (Bartlett).<ref>Trollinger, Ben. Cox to purchase Round Rock Leader, ''The Williamson County Sun'', October 18, 2006. Retrieved July 16, 2010.</ref>  In 2005 ''[[Community Impact Newspaper]]'' was founded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://impactnews.com/contact-us/about-us |title=Community Impact Newspaper, About Us |publisher=JG Media |access-date=July 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326161408/http://impactnews.com/contact-us/about-us |archive-date=March 26, 2010 }}</ref>  The ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'' also has significant coverage in Williamson County.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Austin American Statesman |title=Rates and Circulation |url=http://www.statesman.com/services/print-rate-card/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120703045220/http://www.statesman.com/services/print-rate-card/ |archive-date=July 3, 2012 }}</ref>

==Transportation==
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break}}

===Major highways===
* [[File:I-35 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 35 in Texas|Interstate 35]]
* [[File:US 79.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 79 in Texas|U.S. Highway 79]]
* [[File:US 183.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 183#Texas|U.S. Highway 183]]
* [[File:Texas 29.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 29 (Texas)|State Highway 29]]
* [[File:Toll Texas 45.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 45 (Texas)|State Highway 45]]
* [[File:Texas 95.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 95 (Texas)|State Highway 95]]
* [[File:Toll Texas 130.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 130 (Texas)|State Highway 130]]
* [[File:Toll Texas 1 new.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway Loop 1|State Highway Loop 1]]
* [[File:Toll Texas 183A.svg|20px]] [[183A Toll Road]]
* [[File:Texas 195.svg|20px]] [[State Highway 195 (Texas)|State Highway 195]]
{{Col-break}}

===Roads===
* [[File:Texas RM 620.svg|20px]] [[Ranch to Market Road 620|RM 620]]
* [[File:Texas FM 970.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 970|FM 970]]
* [[File:Texas FM 971.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 971|FM 971]]
* [[File:Texas FM 972.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 972|FM 972]]
* [[File:Texas FM 973.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 973|FM 973]]
* [[File:Texas FM 1325.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 1325|FM 1325]]
* [[File:Texas RM 1431.svg|20px]] [[Ranch to Market Road 1431|RM 1431]]
* [[File:Texas RM 2243.svg|20px]] [[Ranch to Market Road 2243|RM 2243]]
* [[File:Texas RM 2338.svg|20px]] [[Ranch to Market Road 2338|RM 2338]]
* [[File:Texas FM 3405.svg|20px]] [[Farm to Market Road 3405|FM 3405]]
{{col-end}}

==Communities==
===Cities (multiple counties)===
{{div col}}
* [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] (mostly in [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]] and a small part in [[Hays County, Texas|Hays County]])
* [[Bartlett, Texas|Bartlett]] (partly in [[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]])
* [[Cedar Park, Texas|Cedar Park]] (small part in [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]])
* [[Leander, Texas|Leander]] (partly in [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]])
* [[Pflugerville, Texas|Pflugerville]] (mostly in [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]])
* [[Round Rock, Texas|Round Rock]] (small part in [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]])
* [[Thorndale, Texas|Thorndale]] (mostly in [[Milam County, Texas|Milam County]])
{{div col end}}

===Cities===
{{div col}}
* [[Coupland, Texas|Coupland]]
* [[Florence, Texas|Florence]]
* [[Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown]] (county seat)
* [[Granger, Texas|Granger]]
* [[Hutto, Texas|Hutto]]
* [[Jarrell, Texas|Jarrell]]
* [[Liberty Hill, Texas|Liberty Hill]]
* [[Taylor, Texas|Taylor]]
* [[Thrall, Texas|Thrall]]
* [[Weir, Texas|Weir]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Brushy Creek, Williamson County, Texas|Brushy Creek]]
* [[Jollyville, Texas|Jollyville]] (former; annexed by Austin)
* [[Santa Rita Ranch, Texas|Santa Rita Ranch]]
* [[Serenada, Texas|Serenada]]
* [[Sonterra, Texas|Sonterra]]

===Unincorporated communities===
* [[Jonah, Texas|Jonah]]
* [[Macedonia, Williamson County, Texas|Macedonia]]
* [[Norman's Crossing, Texas|Norman's Crossing]]
* [[Rice's Crossing, Texas|Rice's Crossing]]
* [[Schwertner, Texas|Schwertner]]
* [[Walburg, Texas|Walburg]]

===Ghost towns===
* [[Palm Valley, Williamson County, Texas|Palm Valley]]

==Notable people==
[[File:Chain Saw Massacre House3.jpg|thumb|The original Chainsaw Massacre movie house was moved in 1993{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}} and restored to become a restaurant at [[Antlers Hotel (Kingsland, Texas)|The Antlers Hotel]] in Kingsland]]
* [[Sam Bass (outlaw)|Sam Bass]] (1851–1878), outlaw and train robber, was killed in a famous shootout in Round Rock in 1878. The shootout is re-enacted once a year as part of the Old Settlers Day celebration in Round Rock.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
* [[King Fisher]] (1854 – March 11, 1884) was a Texas rancher and gunfighter who lived in Williamson County during his boyhood.
* [[Dan Moody]], a native of Taylor, was the 30th Governor of Texas from 1927 to 1931; he is remembered as a reformer and an opponent of the Ku Klux Klan and as the [[district attorney]] for Williamson County.
* [[Nolan Ryan]] is a retired [[Major League Baseball]] [[pitcher]] and current president and majority owner of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. Ryan played in a major league record 27 seasons for the [[New York Mets]], [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]], [[Houston Astros]], and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], from 1966 to 1993. He was inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1999.
* [[Paul Wall]], rapper, born in Georgetown.

==In popular culture==
* The television show ''[[Kevin (Probably) Saves the World]]'' is set in Williamson County.
* Williamson County is depicted in the Coen Brothers movie ''[[Blood Simple]]''.
* The 1996 Nora Ephron film ''[[Michael (1996 film)|Michael]]'' was shot principally in Georgetown and in and around Williamson County.
* ''[[The Texas Chain Saw Massacre]]'', original 1974 version, primary filming occurred at a dilapidated [[Texas Chainsaw House|farmhouse]] on the site of what is now La Frontera.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.theantlers.com| title=The Antlers| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711015752/http://theantlers.com/| archive-date=July 11, 2013| df=mdy-all}}</ref>  In 1993,{{Citation needed|date=December 2012}} the house was moved to [[Kingsland, Texas]], and restored to become a restaurant at [[Antlers Hotel (Kingsland, Texas)|The Antlers Hotel]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Killing Fields: A culinary history of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' farmhouse |first=MM |last=Pack |newspaper=[[The Austin Chronicle]] |date=October 23, 2003 |url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A184100 |access-date=February 2, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105160235/http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A184100 |archive-date=January 5, 2014  }}</ref>  <!-- See for more details. -->

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of museums in Central Texas]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Williamson County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Trinity-Zavala)#Williamson County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Williamson County]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Williamson County, Texas}}
{{Library resources box |onlinebooks=yes |lcheading=Williamson County (Tex.) – History |label=Williamson County, Texas History}}
* [http://www.wilco.org/ Williamson County government's website]
* [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827:330 Robert M. Williamson's entry] in the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/permalink/meta-pth-5827 Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas] hosted by the [http://texashistory.unt.edu/ Portal to Texas History].
* {{Handbook of Texas|id=hcw11|name=Williamson County}}

{{Coord|30.66|-97.61|region:US-TX_type:adm2nd|display=title}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Williamson County, Texas
|North     = [[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]]
|Northeast = [[Milam County, Texas|Milam County]]
|East      = [[Lee County, Texas|Lee County]]
|Southeast = [[Bastrop County, Texas|Bastrop County]]
|South     = [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Burnet County, Texas|Burnet County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Williamson County, Texas}}
{{Greater Austin}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Williamson County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1848 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1848]]
[[Category:Texas Hill Country]]