Wimberley, Texas

History

Wimberley started as a trading post settlement near Cypress Creek in 1848, the year Hays County was organized. After William Carvin Winters built a gristmill at the site in 1856, it took on the name "Winters' Mill". When the mill was sold in 1864 to the Cude family, its name was changed to "Cude's Mill". It was sold again in 1874 to Pleasant Wimberley and took on his name. Over the years, the mill was expanded to process lumber, shingles, flour, molasses, and cotton.

The mill is gone, but Winter's home survives and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1880, Alfred vom Stein, a postmaster from San Marcos, applied to have a post office established in the community, calling it "Wimberleyville". The application was granted, but the name was shortened to Wimberley. Although the mill was shut down in 1925, the community was established and grew, becoming known as a resort town and popular with tourists. Prior to its incorporation in May 2000, it was a census-designated place (CDP).

On May 25, 2015, the town was hit by flooding during the 2015 Texas–Oklahoma floods, along the Blanco River, which flows through the town. The river crested at an estimated 41.5 ft, which was almost 30 ft above flood stage.

Tourism

While the city is small, it boasts many shops and restaurants. It is known for its wineries, breweries, and distilleries. Wimberley Square has various locally owned businesses, including boutiques, art galleries, antique shops, and eateries. The buildings surrounding the square have limestone facades and give a rustic atmosphere. Cypress Creek runs through the Square, allowing for a scenic area for recreation and relaxation. A few restaurants sit along the creek, with areas to sit and eat while enjoying nature.

Inside the Square is the Wimberley Valley Museum, with displays about the city's rich history, including its Native American and pioneer heritage.

Wimberley is also known for its natural beauty, like Cypress Creek and the Blanco River. Additionally, Wimberley is home to Jacob's Well and the Blue Hole, where anyone can swim and relax. There are also many places for hiking, such as Mount Old Baldy, which sits within Old Baldy Park. Climbing the 208 steps to the top gives visitors a full 360-degree view of the Wimberley Valley and is best enjoyed during sunrise. It is important to note that there are some rules and regulations regarding Mount Baldy, such as the prohibition of fire, littering, drones, loud music, alcohol, glass and styrofoam, and tree climbing. Visitors should be careful not to disturb the wildlife, trespass onto adjacent land, and not to take anything from the park. Wimberley also hosts the Wimberley Zipline, which offers 10 lines, or a 1 mi of line. The longest is 900 ft long. While on the zipline, visitors may go up to 30 mph and will experience a panoramic view of the Wimberley Valley, seeing as far as 15 mi.

Geography

Wimberley is located in western Hays County 38 mi via road southwest of Austin and 58 mi northeast of San Antonio.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 23.2 km2, all land.

Cypress Creek joins the Blanco River in Wimberley; the Blanco then empties into the San Marcos River near the city of San Marcos, 16 mi southeast of Wimberley. Blue Hole and Jacob's Well are located along Cypress Creek.

Climate

The climate in the Wimberley area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Wimberley has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1850–1901 1910 1920 1930 1940

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,839 people, 1,428 households, and 896 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,626 people, 1,145 households, and 726 families residing in the city. There were 1,482 housing units, of which 337, or 22.7%, were vacant. 245 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% white, 0.5% African American, 1.5% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.8% some other race, and 1.5% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,145 households, 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were headed by married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.72.

In the city, 16.8% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.8% were from 18 to 24, 16.0% from 25 to 44, 35.4% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 52.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

For the period 2012–2016, the estimated median annual income for a household was $68,359, and the median income for a family was $88,958. Male full-time workers had a median income of $61,429 versus $38,611 for females. The per capita income for the city was $44,219. 8.8% of the population and 7.5% of families were below the poverty line. 17.3% of the population under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.

Education

Wimberley Public Schools are part of the Wimberley Independent School District. The district has one primary school, one elementary school, one junior high school, and two high schools (Wimberley High School and Katherine Anne Porter School, a public charter high school). Students attend Wimberley High School or Katherine Anne Porter School (HS), Scudder Primary School, Jacob's Well Elementary School and Danforth Junior High School.

Notable people

• Nathan Brown (born 1969), formerly Poet Laureate of Oklahoma, lives in Wimberley
• Bob Decker (1922–1967), Minnesota state senator and educator
• Ray Wylie Hubbard (born 1967), Texas music legend, moved to Wimberley in his early forties
• Sarah Jarosz (born 1941), bluegrass singer-songwriter, was raised in Wimberley
• Leon Jaworski (1905–1982), special prosecutor in the Watergate Scandal, died in Wimberley
• Philip McKeon (1964–2019), former child actor, moved to Wimberley in the 2000s
• Buck Meek (born 1987), singer-songwriter and guitarist in Big Thief
• Rupert Neve (1926–2021), British creator of audio recording equipment
• Paul Simon and his Dallas-born wife, singer Edie Brickell, have a home in Wimberley
• Lathan Mckay (born 1979),Film, television, documentary producer, actor, historian, writer and Co founder of the Evel Knievel Museum. Has lived in Wimberley since 2015.
• Willie Nelson, Grammy Award-winning icon, has a home in Wimberley.
• Kevin Welch (born 1955), singer-songwriter, moved to Wimberley in his early fifties

References

References

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36. [https://theeagle.com/news/state-and-regional/paul-simon-s-new-house-in-wimberley-texas-has-made-him-the-talk-of-the/article_5c10b5ce-4b3e-11ed-8251-3feb637c73c3.html Dallas Morning News. "Paul Simon’s new house in Wimberley, Texas, has made him the talk of the town" by Michael Granberry. Oct 15, 2022.]