Dripping Springs is a small city in Hays County which is located 21 miles west of Austin. In the census of 2000, Dripping Springs reported a population of 1,548 inhabitants and 554 households, and among them 418 families. The population density of Dripping Springs was 468.07 people per square mile at the time of the census, and the city currently has an area of 3.3 square miles, all of it land. 41% of the households in Dripping Springs have children under the age of 18 living at home, and 61% include married couples. The median income in the small city is roughly $47,000, and the populace is primarily White, with about 86% reporting Caucasian heritage, and various other ethnicities comprising the difference, including a Hispanic population of 18%, along with many citizens reporting mixed ancestry.
There are a slightly higher percentage of women than men in the city of Dripping Springs, and the average household size is 2.79 people, with families reporting roughly 3.24 members on average. In 2005, the population had expanded and the figure of 1,666 occupants was reported for the city of Dripping Springs.
Dripping Springs is located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, and the city offers majestic views of the hill country, rolling hills, abundant foliage and wildlife, and clear water creeks, most with rock bottoms. The rural areas outside of the city limits are also highly populated, and with these residents included, the area claims over 20,000 inhabitants. The students of Dripping Springs attend schools in the Dripping Springs Independent School District, and there are many noteworthy attractions in or near the city, including Hamilton Pool, which is a scenic natural pool, grotto, and waterfall formed from the collapse of an underground river due to erosion thousands of years ago.
The park is now considered to be a nature preserve, and swimming is allowed when the water quality meets safe standards. Nature study, hiking and picnicking are permitted on the numerous trails and grounds alongside the pool and 45 foot waterfall year round, and the park is open from 9:00am to 5:30pm daily, although pets are prohibited at all times, even on leashes. The waters of Hamilton Pool eventually flow into the waters of the Pedernales River, and all of the Highland Lakes are reasonably close to Hamilton Pool and Dripping Springs, along with Canyon Lake and many other nearby lakes, creeks, and streams.
Two more nearby attractions are the Pound House Museum and the Westcave Preserve. The Pound House Museum is the oldest structure in Dripping Springs, and it was originally the home of Dr. Pound, the first doctor to practice in the area, and the home was built in 1855 and is located in Founder's Park. The Westcave Preserve is a limestone grotto and natural terrarium, and the lush, green canyon is shaded by a canopy of cypress trees, and offers tours, birding, and programs for local school children.
HDr. Pound and his family came to the Dripping Springs area from Mississippi in 1854, along with the Moss and Wallace families, and descendants of the Pound family lived in the original Pound home, which is now the Pound House Museum, until 1893. Many early settlers to the area gravitated to Dripping Springs due to the abundance of trees and water, and the city wasn't incorporated until 1981, when the residents feared being annexed by the city of Austin.
In 1998, Dripping Springs opened a community library, and the Dripping Springs Chamber of Commerce is currently active in preserving the historic elements of the community with library exhibits and other displays of memorabilia. An interesting bit of trivia about the city is the fact that cyclist Lance Armstrong was born and raised in the small community, and he is now one of the area's most well-known and respected native sons.
There are many resorts, R.V. parks, bed and breakfast inns and restaurants in or near Dripping Springs, including restaurants such as the Canyon Grill, Bert's Barbecue Roadhouse, the Cafe Lago, and the Salt Lick, as well as the Cypress Springs Ranch Bed and Breakfast, and the Exotic Sunset Bed and Breakfast in nearby Wimberley, among choices for lodging. Dripping Springs is frequently referred to as the Gateway to the Hill Country, and with its natural beauty, many attractions, and proximity to both San Antonio and Austin, it is a must-see community for those interested in rural, peaceful living.
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Springs ISD, earned the ratings of Exemplary in 2008.
