The Walker House at Block House Creek (Judge A.S. Walker acquired this land after the civil war) This restored home is the site of the original homestead and is over a century old. |
Block House Creek so named because one of the first Texas Rangers companies were responsible (in 1835, just four months prior to the Declaration of Texas Independence from Mexico) for building Tumlinson Block House Fort here and defending the area from hostile indians (Probably from the Comanche Tribes), outlaws and raiders. This fort was one of the first buildings in Williamson County commissioned to protect "Waterloo" now known as Austin. A large live oak tree at the site of the Walker house was used as a lookout tree by the Texas Rangers. At the time there were few trees in Williamson County, except alongside creeks and streams. Rangers could get a good view of the countryside from the "Lookout Tree". A cloud of dust on the horizon warned the rangers of impending indian attacks. Block House Creek now has a Leander address but is not part of the city. It is a Governmental entity called a MUD (Munincipal Utility District). M.U.D.'s are used by developers in Texas to install infrastructure (mostly water and sewer services). Block House Creek is |
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Cedar Park Town Center - one of the central housing subdivisions in the area features a large clock tower as its landmark. |
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Like so many areas in Williamson County, the railroad development in the 1870's and 1880's brought booms to area economies. The town of Leander was originally called Bagdad. However, when the railyroad planned to build tracks right through downtown Bagdad the inhabitants protested, fearing the disruption of their country lifestyle. Therefore, to accomodate the inhabitants, the railroad was built one mile to the east of Bagdad! Area business and farmers quickly realized the importance of the railroad to the economy and moved the town alongside the tracks. The new town, relocated one mile to the east was named after Leander "Catfish" Brown who was instrumental in the railroad lines completion. (Note: Round Rock relocated one mile to the east at almost the same time because of the Railroad Boom Economy). |
Granite Shoals |
Pictured are granite boulders that fell off the trains as they crossed the trestle over Brushy Creek during construction of Austin Capital Building from 1882 -1888. The granite came from Marble Falls in the Highland Lakes Region to the west of Austin. |
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Cedar Park Regional Medical Center has recently completed construction of its facilities which include 150 beds and 300 hospital employees. |
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Light Rail (ON LINE AND RUNNING!) to help commuters move quickly from Leander and North West Austin to downtown Austin locations! |