Hutto, Texas, Williamson County. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

Although the area had been settled earlier, things didn�t really get started until the International-Great Northern Railroad arrived here in 1876. The name comes from a local rancher (James Emory Hutto) who sold the railroad its right-or-way. Initially the name was Hutto Switch but that name survived only a year.

In less than 10 years the population grew to 200 residents. In the mid 1880s Hutto had five cotton gins. In the 1890s the town acquired a bank and hotel and was firmly established as a cotton shipping point.

The community was comprised mainly of German, Danish, and Swedish immigrants. The population reached 900 just as the 1920s were closing. Falling cotton prices and the boll weevil and in just three years the population fell to only 538.

By the 1960s, the population hit a low of 400 � but rebounded to 842 by 1990, 1,250 by 2006 and hit a new high of 16,927 by 2010.

Hutton Chronicles

Hutto Hippo Mike Cox

The hippopotamus is a large, aggressive herbivore indigenous to equatorial Africa. Oh, and Hutto, Texas.

Of course, the sub-species Lone Star hippo exists only as the mascot for Hutto High School. In recent years, as Hutto's proximity to Austin has caused it to boom, Hippos have been showing up painted on walls or in statuary form as public art. So, other than the happy alliteration, both Hutto and hippo beginning with an "h" and each containing four other letters, how did Hutto and hippo become connected? more

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories and recent/vintage/historic photos, please contact us.