Johnson City, Texas

Johnson City is a Texas Hill Country town 48 miles west of Austin and 60 miles north of San Antonio. Johnson City is 25 miles south of the Highland Lakes community of Marble Falls and 30 miles east of Fredericksburg, so Johnson City is very centrally located and easily accessible from two large metropolitan areas, as well as numerous Hill Country resort destinations.

Johnson City was established on the site of the Johnson Ranch on Town Creek, and in 1879, three sites were considered for settling a community on the shores of the Pedernales River, one being the site of the Johnson Ranch. The site submitted by James Polk Johnson, a 320 acre plot of land owned by the Johnson Family, was chosen at the gathering and accepted by a vote of the first settlers during a celebration and meal held alongside the creek. James Polk Johnson was a nephew of Sam Ealy Johnson and Tom Johnson, both of whom had originally been cattlemen who drove herds on the Chisholm Trail until it became unprofitable, and Sam Ealy Johnson was Lyndon Baines Johnson's grandfather as well.

James Polk Johnson was a natural organizer, and after changing from a ranching career to a career in business, his organizational talents served him and the community well. James Polk Johnson died prematurely at the age of forty in 1885, but prior to his death, he built a gristmill on the creek as well as a hotel, named the Pearl Hotel, and another project was under construction at the time of his demise which later became the Johnson City Bank.

There were a substantial number of farmers in the early days of Johnson City, most of which raised corn and cotton, and the mill continued operation until the 1970s, producing cotton after being bought by George Croft after James Polk Johnson's death.

The population of Johnson City during the census of 2000 was just over 1990, and the city is the county seat of Blanco County. There are many schools, libraries, museums, and other attractions in Johnson City today, including the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park and the Benini Foundation Galleries and Sculpture Ranch. In addition, there is a newly remodeled historical museum called the Captain Perry Texas Ranger Museum which was just reopened after extensive renovations. There is also an exotic animal zoo and refuge a few miles north of Johnson City on Highway 281, and the establishment on 137 wooded acres of land which include educational facilities, replete with lakes, hiking trails, and creeks, offers various school programs, petting zoos, guided tours, and luxury safari-style accommodations for visitors.

Pedernales Falls State Park with its 5,212 acres of woodlands, waterfalls, campsites, shorelines and water sports opportunities is also very accessible, and is just a few miles east of the city, as well as Reimer's Ranch, a pristine nature preserve on the shores of the Pedernales, which offers 2,427 acres of recreational facilities and parklands, and is one of the largest nature preserves in Texas.
Some of the accommodations for visitors to the town include Chantilly Lace Bed and Breakfast and Country Cabins Bed and Breakfast, and a few notable restaurants and bars include the Friendly Bar Bistro and the Armadillo Icehouse, as well as the El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, among others.

Johnson City is centrally located and offers so many scenic recreational as well as historic attractions that it is a must-see for visitors to central Texas and the Hill Country, and considering its proximity to Austin, it is well worth the drive, so be sure to visit this jewel of central Texas when planning a day trip to the Hill Country!

Escapeso Realty is a group of central Texas realtors. Their site has a search for Austin homes along with general statistics on the Austin real estate market. Their site also provides information on current mortgage rates.