Central allandale By Jackie Potts

Liberty Hill

Driving from the Congress Avenue Bridge to the edge of Liberty Hill takes about 40 minutes on a holiday. That's 33 miles and a world away from downtown Austin.

Sitting a few miles from the western edge of Williamson County, Liberty Hill has gained plenty of attention from Central Texas residents seeking a small-town atmosphere in the increasingly urban Austin area. Liberty Hill is a small town with a long history. People have been living in the town for well over 100 years. However, the town was only incorporated a few years ago. Today there is a mayor and city council.

"Most of the people we sell homes to today like the fact that this is a small town," says Shane White, broker/owner of Re/Max Town & Country. "The school district is a huge selling point. The test scores are consistently good and the class sizes are relatively small."

Numerous small businesses are clustered along the Liberty Hill stretch of Texas 29. This is some of the town's more valuable real estate. "We've seen prices of property on anything with 29 frontage go up in last couple of years," White says. While there are plenty of businesses on the highway, there aren't many big name retailers. White attributes this to the fact that Liberty Hill's sewer system is still a few years away from creation. He says many franchises won't open stores unless a septic system is available.

Despite a busy presence on the four-lane Texas 29, the town's quiet-side lies just off the shoulder of the highway. The center of the old town of Liberty Hill features quaint buildings made of native stone some of which are probably a hundred years old. A railroad track runs through Liberty Hill. These tracks carry the Austin Steam Train Association's sightseeing train. There's a trackside restaurant near downtown that had a good breakfast crowd on a recent morning.

White says many of the people moving to Liberty Hill today want a home that sits on an acre or more. The Sundance Estates and Sundance Ranch neighborhoods feature homes with brick or stone exteriors and traditional designs on large lots. Reytex Homes, Mercedes Homes and several custom builders build new homes in the neighborhoods. The Sundance neighborhoods are on the north side of Texas 29 while the older part of Liberty Hill is on the south side of Texas 29. This part of town is surrounded by small homes of varying ages and designs.

Because homes in Liberty Hill can range from small and manufactured to spacious and site-built, the range is great.

"Some of the smaller houses and manufactured houses start at $50,000 or $60,000 and go up to $100,000," White says. "If it's site-built, prices start around $100,000 and go up to $500,000. The majority of homes sold are between $150,000 and $250,000."

White says the majority of homes that are sold in Liberty Hill range from 1,700 square feet to 2,700 square feet.

Foundation Park is near the Liberty Hill Junior High School and features baseball fields, walking, jogging tracks and a playscape. There are basketball courts and soccer fields near Sundance Ranch. None of the subdivisions have community pools. Liberty Hill has a public library.

For outdoor enthusiasts, the Highland Lakes are nearby. Marble Falls is 25 to 30 minutes away and Burnet is 10 to 20 miles away. Lake Georgetown is less than 15 minutes away.

Area students attend Liberty Hill Elementary, Liberty Hill Intermediate, Liberty Hill Middle School and Liberty Hill High School.

Garbage collection is handled by independent contractors. Information is available at www.ci.liberty-hill.tx.us/. A volunteer fire department assists with emergency services in Liberty Hill. It is part of the Williamson County Emergency Service District #4. Electricity is provided by Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Water service for residents inside the city is handled by Liberty Hill Water Supply and outside the city limits it is handled by Chisolm Trail Water Supply.

Zone: NW
MLS Area: LH

Zip Code 78642

Foundation Park is near the Liberty Hill Junior High School and features baseball fields, walking, jogging tracks and a playscape. There are basketball courts and soccer fields near Sundance Ranch.