Smithville, Texas
According to Construct Countries, Smithville, Texas is located in Bastrop County, about thirty miles east of Austin. The city is situated on the Colorado River and has a humid subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are mild with occasional cold fronts coming through.
Smithville was founded in 1827 after Mexican independence and has a rich history of Native American settlement. It was part of Stephen F. Austin’s original colony and was known as the “Gem of the Colorado”. The area was a major trading post for settlers in the area, with cotton, corn, and pecans being some of the main crops grown there.
Politically, Smithville is run by a mayor-council form of government with five council members representing each district in the city. The economy is largely based on agriculture and tourism due to its proximity to Austin and San Antonio. There are also several small businesses located within Smithville that provide goods and services to residents.
The city is served by Smithville Independent School District which includes two elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, as well as an alternative education center. The district is highly rated due to its focus on providing quality education for students from all walks of life.
When it comes to landmarks Smithville has plenty to offer visitors including historic buildings such as the Old Town Hall which dates back to 1874; Fort Croghan which was built in 1849; and many other sites that reflect its rich history including cemeteries with graves dating back to early settlers and Native Americans who once lived there. The city also boasts several parks offering activities like camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking trails and more for those seeking outdoor recreation opportunities.
Population: 3,901. Estimated population in July 2020: 4,370 (+12.0% change)
Males: 1,829 (46.9%), Females: 2,072 (53.1%)
Zip code: 78957
Median resident age: 36.8 years
Median household income: $35,586
Median house value: $82,200
Races in Smithville:
- White Non-Hispanic (69.0%)
- Hispanic (15.4%)
- Black (14.5%)
- Other race (5.1%)
- Two or more races (1.6%)
- American Indian (0.8%)
(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)
Ancestries: German (17.5%), United States (11.8%), Irish (10.3%), English (9.1%), Czech (3.3%), Scotch-Irish (3.2%).
Land area: 3.5 square miles
Population
Smithville, Texas is a small town located in Bastrop County, roughly 30 miles southeast of Austin. The population of Smithville is estimated to be about 3,500 people, which is a decrease from the 4,000 people who were counted during the 2010 census. The majority of Smithville’s population is White (64%), with the next largest group being Hispanic or Latino (30%). The remaining 6% includes African American, Native American and Asian.
The median household income in Smithville is $45,414 according to 2019 estimates. This number is slightly lower than the median income for Bastrop County as a whole which was reported at $50,837 in 2017. However, it should be noted that this number has been steadily increasing over the past several years due to an influx of new businesses and industries coming into town. The median home value in Smithville was estimated at $188,800 in 2019 which reflects an increase since the 2010 census when it was reported as $164,200. This increase can likely be attributed to the new businesses and industries that have recently come into town.
In terms of education level attainment among adults aged 25 and older living in Smithville, 48% hold a high school diploma or equivalent while 22% have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. This indicates that there are plenty of opportunities for adults looking to further their education within Smithville’s city limits or nearby communities.
When it comes to employment opportunities within Smithville itself many citizens find employment with local businesses such as grocery stores and restaurants as well as working in one of the many manufacturing plants located nearby. There are also numerous job openings available through state agencies like Texas Department of Transportation and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department that are based out of nearby cities like Austin and San Marcos making it easy for citizens to find employment close by if they choose not to stay within city limits for work purposes.
For population 25 years and over in Smithville
- High school or higher: 74.9%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.8%
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7%
- Unemployed: 4.3%
- Mean travel time to work: 29.5 minutes
For population 15 years and over in Smithville city
- Never married: 21.8%
- Now married: 55.4%
- Separated: 3.5%
- Widowed: 9.6%
- Divorced: 9.8%
3.7% Foreign born (2.3% Latin America, 0.7% Europe, 0.4% Asia).
Population change in the 1990s: +641 (+19.7%).
Hospitals
Hospital/medical center in Smithville:
- SMITHVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL (NINTH AND MILLS PO BOX 359)
Other hospitals/medical centers near Smithville:
- FAYETTE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 21 miles; LA GRANGE, TX)
- COLORADO FAYETTE MEDICAL CENTER (about 35 miles; WEIMAR, TX)
- GONZALES WARM SPRINGS REHAB HOSPITAL (about 40 miles; GONZALES, TX)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Smithville:
- AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL (about 38 miles; AUSTIN, TX; Abbreviation: AUS)
- EASTERWOOD FIELD (about 69 miles; COLLEGE STATION, TX; Abbreviation: CLL)
- DRAUGHON-MILLER CENTRAL TEXAS REGIONAL (about 81 miles; TEMPLE, TX; Abbreviation: TPL)
Other public-use airports nearest to Smithville:
- SMITHVILLE CRAWFORD MUNI (about 2 miles; SMITHVILLE, TX; Abbreviation: 84R)
- FAYETTE REGIONAL AIR CENTER (about 16 miles; LA GRANGE, TX; Abbreviation: 3T5)
- GIDDINGS-LEE COUNTY (about 18 miles; GIDDINGS, TX; Abbreviation: 62H)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Smithville:
- AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 45 miles; AUSTIN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 12,819)
- THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN (about 45 miles; AUSTIN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 46,503)
- SAINT EDWARD’S UNIVERSITY (about 46 miles; AUSTIN, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,870)
- BLINN COLLEGE (about 54 miles; BRENHAM, TX; Full-time enrollment: 8,448)
- SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY (about 56 miles; SAN MARCOS, TX; Full-time enrollment: 18,822)
- TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY (about 72 miles; COLLEGE STATION, TX; Full-time enrollment: 41,117)
- TEMPLE COLLEGE (about 77 miles; TEMPLE, TX; Full-time enrollment: 2,054)
Schools
Public high school in Smithville:
- SMITHVILLE H S (Students: 519; Location: 901 NE 6TH ST; Grades: 09 – 12)
Public primary/middle schools in Smithville:
- BROWN PRI (Students: 474; Location: 901 NE 6TH ST; Grades: PK – 02)
- SMITHVILLE J H (Students: 444; Location: 901 NE 6TH ST; Grades: 06 – 08)
- SMITHVILLE EL (Students: 421; Location: 901 NE 6TH ST; Grades: 03 – 05)
- WOODSIDE TRAILS (Students: 46; Location: 1302 PARK RD 1C; Grades: 01 – 12)
Libraries
Library in Smithville:
- SMITHVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $167,192; Location: 507 MAIN ST; 31,051 books; 340 audio materials; 794 video materials; 40 serial subscriptions)