Buda ( ) is a city in Hays County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,108 in 2020, an increase over the figure of 7,295 tabulated in 2010. Buda is part of the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area and is one of Austin's fastest growing suburbs.

History

thumb|left|The former Carrington House Hotel

The town of Buda sprang up along the route of the International-Great Northern Railroad, which was extended from Austin to San Antonio in 1880. Buda bore the name of "Du Pre" from its birth in 1881 until the autumn of 1887, when postal officials became aware that another Texas town was also named Du Pre. Cornelia Trimble platted the town of Du Pre on April 1, 1881, establishing streets and a wide "Reservation" between the lots and the railroad right of way, which allowed the railroad to place buildings on the parkland, including the depot that would become the lifeblood of the town over the next few decades. Several businesses sprang up, including the Carrington Hotel, which served meals to railroad travelers. By the time Du Pre found a new name for itself, the Carrington hotel was known as the "Buda House". The "Dupre Notes" column of the Sept. 25, 1886, edition of the Hays County Times and Farmer's Journal notes that "The Buda House is one of the best hotels in the state. The polite and entertaining hostess, Mrs. Carrington, meets all with a courteous welcome." According to the town's oral tradition, "Buda" is a corruption of the Spanish word viuda, or "widow", referencing the widows who supposedly worked as cooks at the Carrington Hotel. Others suggest that like the town of Buda, Illinois, the town name is a nod to the exiles of the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1848 who settled in the area.

Buda was incorporated in 1948. By the mid-1980s it had attracted a cement plant and some craft industry.

Geography

Buda is in northeastern Hays County. It is southwest of downtown Austin and northeast of San Antonio on Interstate 35. Just to the north of Buda is Texas State Highway 45, a major toll loop of Austin. Almost immediately north of Buda is the county line bordering Travis County and the Austin city limits.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Buda has a total area of , of which , or 0.11%, are water. The median age was 36.2 years, 28.7% of residents were under the age of 18, and 11.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older.

There were 5,273 households in Buda, of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 60.0% were married-couple households, 12.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Race

!Number

!Percentage

|-

|White (NH)

|8,499

|56.25%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|5,275

|34.92%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|397

|2.63%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|36

|0.24%

|-

|Asian (NH)

|254

|1.68%

|-

|Pacific Islander (NH)

|5

|0.03%

|-

|Some Other Race (NH)

|58

|0.38%

|-

|Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)

|584

|3.87%

|-

|Total

|15,108

|

|}

2000 census

As of the census

Arts and culture

thumb|The Weiner Dog Races in Buda is a popular area event.

Buda is a commuter town south of Austin. Commercial development along the I-35 corridor, such as the Cabela's sporting goods store, has increased city sales tax revenue, and city leaders hope that further revitalization of downtown Buda will attract tourists and residents to the Main Street area.

Buda attracts national attention for its lighthearted wiener dog races, organized every April by the Buda Lions Club. Rooster Teeth Productions, the creators of the machinima series Red vs. Blue and The Strangerhood, had its office in Buda until moving back to Austin.

Government

Buda is a home rule city with a council-manager form of government. Other governmental entities include the Buda Planning and Zoning Commission, the Historical Commission, the Parks Commission, the Board of Adjustments and the Economic Development Corporation. Citizen Groups active in local politics include the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce and the Buda Downtown Merchants Association.

In November 2007, Buda citizens adopted a home rule charter by a margin of 77.85 percent, allowing the city to transition from general law to home rule.

Education

Buda is served by the Hays Consolidated Independent School District. Buda Elementary, built in 1885, sits just outside Main Street and serves 500 students from the Buda area. Buda students attend Carpenter Hill Elementary School, Elm Grove Elementary School, Dahlstrom Middle School, Jack C. Hays High School, and Moe and Gene Johnson High School.

Notable people

  • Gary Clarke, retired actor, co-starred on The Virginian, 1962–1964
  • Jen Hatmaker, author, blogger
  • Tex Hughson, Boston Red Sox pitcher
  • Samuel Ealy Johnson Jr., Texas state legislator and father of President Lyndon Johnson
  • Donald K. Muchow, Rear Admiral and former U.S. Navy Chief of Chaplains (1994–1997)
  • Tommy Shannon, musician and former bass player of Stevie Ray Vaughan Double Trouble.

See also

  • Garlic Creek

Notes

References

  • City of Buda official website
  • Buda Area Chamber of Commerce