WHAT
The Charm of the Hill Country
MAKES TEXAS
The Texas Hill Country encompasses approximately 25 million acres in Central and South Texas. Characterized by rolling hills, limestone bedrock, and unique vegetation, the area stretches across several counties, mainly west of Austin and north of San Antonio, and includes a mix of natural landscapes, state parks, rivers, and historic towns.
“TEXAS”? by Ann Marie Kennon
T
he Texas Hill Country is more than a distinctive topographical feature of the Lone Star State; it’s a place where scenic beauty meets modern living. The unique blend of landscapes, history, and community life makes it an increasingly desirable place to live, as many national surveys of “fastest growing counties” have shown. Whether you’re drawn to outdoor adventures, cultural legacies, or burgeoning business communities, the Hill Country embodies the heart and soul of Texas, making it an essential part of the state’s identity.
WHAT IS IT? Sprawling across the central and southern parts of Texas, the Hill Country is the virtual boundary where the American Southeast meets the Southwest. As a blended frontier, it combines the ecosystems of both to create a biologically significant region and creates a microcosm of the map of the United States as a whole. Starting with lush rolling terrain in the east, the land gently rises to sharp and rocky landscapes in the Edwards Plateau in the west, evoking romantic images of the Old West when it existed as a frontier. Deep underground, the plateau itself is made up of vast amounts of limestone, which has eroded over time to create the region’s characteristic APRIL 2024
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