Entries for the 'Relocating to the Hill Country' Category
Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables Can Be Found at Local Farmers’ Markets – Kendall County, Texas
April 3rd, 2009 categories: Places to Go & Things to Do, Relocating to the Hill Country
If you are looking for fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods or other homemade products in Kendall County, check out our local farmers’ markets:
The Comfort Area Farmers’ Market is open on Saturdays (beginning April 4) at 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 Noon (or until sold out) in the Comfort Park. They have seasonal vegetables, baked goods, fresh eggs, plants, herbs, jellies, preserves, homemade soap and crafts.
Boerne Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays (April 8 to November 18) from 2 to 6p.m. at the Kendall County Fairgrounds. They have fresh vegetables, peaches, local pecans, honey, eggs, brick-oven baked breads,plants, canned fruits and vegetables, aromatherapy and other fresh seasonal products.
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WHERE TO FIND COMFORT IN TEXAS – STAR OF THE HILL COUNTRY
September 8th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
COMFORT, TEXAS – Comfort is an unincorporated community in Kendall County, Texas just 45 miles from San Antonio. It was established in 1854 by predominantly “Freethinker” German immigrants.
There are well over 100 structures in the area dating back to the 1800s. Seven of them were designed by the noted architect, Alfred Giles.
The Downtown is filled with antique shops, restaurants, and B&B’s. The Kendall County Water District (which services the approximate boundaries of what is commonly called the Town of Comfort) estimates a population of about 2,500 in the water district which expands about 1.5 square miles or 1,000 Acres. 5,000+ people live within a three to five-mile surrounding area.
Comfort rests in the Guadalupe River Valley with beautiful Texas hills surrounding. The climate is slighly milder as the Guadalupe River and Cypress Creek merge just on the edge of town.
It has been called the “Star of the Hill Country” due, in part, to its location mid-point along the I-10 Corridor of the Hill Country.
Summer camps, wineries, and resorts are located in the area. It is quite a lovely town drawing young and old, shoppers, vacationers, cyclists, wine enthusiasts, bikers and those just looking to enjoy the charm of a Small Town in Texas. Comfort is known for its friendly people.
Some also might say that a feeling of peace and contentment can be sensed in this small community.
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Thinking About Relocating to Texas? Texas Has Just About Everthing!
August 15th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
I thought this was a funny compilation of Texas names. Source: http://unsexy.net/2008/08/14/texas-has-some-interesting-city-names/
Texas Has Some Interesting City Names
Why We Love Texas
Pep, Texas 79353
Smiley, Texas 78159
Paradise, Texas 76073
Rainbow, Texas 76077
Sweet Home, Texas 77987
Comfort, Texas 78013
Friendship, Texas 76530
Love The Sun?
Sun City, Texas 78628
Sunrise, Texas 76661
Sunset, Texas 76270
Sundown, Texas 79372
Sunray, Texas 79086
Sunny Side , Texas 77423
Want Something To Eat?
Bacon, Texas 76301
Noodle, Texas 79536
Oatmeal, Texas 78605
Turkey, Texas 79261
Trout, Texas 75789
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
Salty, Texas 76567
Rice, Texas 75155
And Top It Off With
Sweetwater, Texas 79556
Why travel to other cities? Texas has them all!
Detroit, Texas 75436
Colorado City, Texas 79512
Denver City, Texas 79323
Klondike, Texas 75448
Nevada, Texas 75173
Memphis, Texas 79245
Miami, Texas 79059
Boston, Texas 75570
Santa Fe, Texas 77517
Tennessee Colony , Texas 75861
Reno, Texas 75462
Feel like traveling outside the country? Don’t bother buying a plane ticket!
Athens, Texas 75751
Canadian, Texas 79014
China, Texas 77613
Egypt, Texas 77436
Ireland, Texas 76538
Turkey, Texas 79261
London, Texas 76854
New London, Texas 75682
Paris, Texas 75460
Palestine, Texas 75080
No need to travel to Washington D.C.
Whitehouse, Texas 75791
We even have a city named after our planet!
Earth, Texas 79031
And a city named after our State!
Texas City, Texas 77590
Exhausted?
Energy, Texas 76452
Cold?
Blanket, Texas 76432
Winters, Texas
Like to read about History?
Santa Anna, Texas
Goliad, Texas
Alamo, Texas
Gun Barrel City, Texas
Robert Lee, Texas
Need Office Supplies?
Staples, Texas 78670
Men are from Mars, women are from
Venus, Texas 76084
You guessed it. It’s on the state line.
Texline, Texas 79087
For the kids...
Kermit, Texas 79745
Elmo, Texas 75118
Nemo, Texas 76070
Tarzan, Texas 79783
Winnie, Texas 77665
Sylvester, Texas 79560
Other city names in Texas , to make you smile…..
Frognot, Texas 75424
Bigfoot, Texas 78005
Hogeye, Texas 75423
Cactus, Texas 79013
Notrees, Texas 79759
Best, Texas 76932
Veribest, Texas 76886
Kickapoo, Texas 75763
Dime Box , Texas 77853
Old Dime Box , Texas 77853
Telephone, Texas 75488
Telegraph, Texas 76883
Whiteface, Texas 79379
Twitty, Texas 79079
And our favorites…
Cut n Shoot, Texas 77303
Gun Barrell City, Texas 75147
Hoop And Holler, Texas 77369
Ding Dong, Texas (no zipcode found)
Muleshoe, Texas 79347
And last but not least, the Anti-Al Gore City
Kilgore, Texas 75662
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TEXAS HILL COUNTRY VIEWS – SUNSET THANKS TO HURRICANE DOLLY
July 24th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
One of the best aspects of living in the Hill Country are the views. The effects of Hurricane Dolly were making their way into the Hill Country last evening and provided a grand display of color variation in the sky. This was last night’s sunset from our back porch. In the lower left hand corner is the “Old Comfort Black School House” that we recently have renovated as a Guest House.
If you have interest in finding your “Hill Country Home”, we would love to help you.
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Retiring in the Hill Country: The Secret is Out!
May 6th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
Check out this story from the Dallas Morning News about retiring in the Texas Hill Country:
Boomer retirees are loving what Texas Hill Country affords them
12:21 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Baby boomers’ growing desire to retire to small towns is turning the Texas Hill Country into one of the nation’s hot spots for the silver-haired set.
Also Online
Aging special focus: How to live a longer, healthier life
The natural beauty and relative affordability of the area west of Austin and San Antonio have put towns such as Fredericksburg, Kerrville and Marble Falls on national lists of popular retirement places.
“The secret’s out,” said Frederick Day, a demographer at Texas State University-San Marcos. “If you’re approaching retirement, head for the hills.”
ERICH SCHLEGEL/DMN
Jim and Pam Spruiell went from a duplex in Dallas to 30 acres and a 3,700-suare-foot limestone house just west of Fredericksburg when they eased into retirement.
View larger More photos Photo store
With the oldest boomers now eligible for Social Security, many are moving to smaller communities on the outskirts of metropolitan areas.
“The Hill Country fills the bill, with its lakes, rivers and rolling hills, for city-weary retirees, but also its proximity to Austin and San Antonio for those who want to hop in the car for an evening or weekend on the town,” Dr. Day said.
Perennial favorites Florida and Arizona have become too crowded for many retirees’ liking and are losing out to places like the Hill Country, said Gene Warren, head of the Thomas, Warren and Associates consulting firm in Phoenix.
“The Hill Country has joined the upper tier of retirement destinations, and its success shows every sign of building on itself in the next decade,” said Mr. Warren, who advises communities across the country on how to attract retirees.
A longtime retirement haven for Texans, the quaint towns west of Austin and San Antonio now also draw older residents from beyond the Lone Star State.
Kerrville real estate agent Ricki Eichler says more than half of her clients come from out of state, including California, Florida and New York. “There’s something for everyone here – from upscale active-adult developments to very affordable mobile home communities,” she said.
Though the weakened national economy has lately forced a few Hill Country-bound retirees to delay their moves until they can sell their current homes, Austin real estate analyst Mark Sprague remains bullish about the region.
“The relatively low cost of living, relaxed environment and pleasant weather are big pluses among homebuyers from other parts of the country,” he said. “People from the East Coast ask, ‘What do you mean you don’t have hurricanes every year?’ ”
Affordability a key
Prices have escalated in pockets of the Hill Country – some lakefront property at Horseshoe Bay went for $1 million last year.
But much of the area is still seen as a bargain, especially among retirees from pricey housing markets.
Del Webb, the nation’s largest builder of active-adult communities, is developing its second project in the region, Hill Country Retreat, on the west side of San Antonio. And it’s expanding its first project, Sun City Texas in Georgetown.
ERICH SCHLEGEL/DMN
Jim Fox, a former Dallas principal, retired to Frederickburg, a top Hill Country haven.
View larger More photos Photo store
Hill Country Retreat will have 2,000 homes when complete. Sun City Texas has 5,100 homes and will get 2,400 more.
Gillespie County’s economic development director, Greg Snelgrove, said many retirees moving to Fredericksburg build custom homes. Others buy older bungalows and remodel them.
“Many retirees take the equity from their previous homes and pay cash here,” he said. The median price for an existing home in the town named after Prince Frederick of Prussia was $236,000 last year.
Former Dallas residents Jim and Pam Spruiell bought 30 acres just west of Fredericksburg and built a 3,700-square-foot limestone house where they can sit on their patio and enjoy the deer, rabbits and turkeys that happen by.
“It’s a far cry from the duplex we had back in Dallas,” Mrs. Spruiell said.
The 60-something couple had been frequent weekend visitors to the area when they worked full time in Dallas, so settling in Fredericksburg seemed the natural thing to do when they decided to ease into retirement several years ago.
“Everything’s laid back here,” she said. “We let our two cows cut our grass.”
A boon to towns
Officials say retiree migration is an economic blessing for Hill Country towns, as the new arrivals spend an average of $36,000 on goods and services and pay $3,000 in local taxes each year.
Retiree couples moving into a community each create about three jobs, Mr. Warren said. Besides employing builders and Realtors, they use service providers such as financial planners, doctors, lawyers and veterinarians.
“For retirees, pets are simply kids in fur coats. Older people spend almost as much money on their pets as they do on their grandchildren,” he said.
Fredericksburg’s banks see green when new retirees walk through the door, Mr. Snelgrove said. Gillespie County ranks 103rd among Texas’ 254 counties in terms of population but scores 59th in bank deposits.
Fredericksburg also has six Edward Jones brokerage offices, far more than anyone would expect in a community of 10,000 residents, he said.
Kerrville’s former mayor, Joe Herring Jr., says his town doesn’t promote itself as a retirement haven because it doesn’t need to.
“I suppose we might do some marketing if things ever slowed down,” he said. “Mostly, we just try to be ready for our new retirees when they arrive.”
Kerrville, with a population of 22,000, boasts a symphony orchestra, two live theater companies and a number of fine restaurants. The town recently celebrated the opening of the 125-bed Peterson Regional Medical Center.
Many of the recent retirees become engaged in their new communities. Some take part-time jobs, while others volunteer at churches, hospitals, museums and schools.
Jim Fox, a former Dallas principal, retired to Fredericksburg only to realize he had more time on his hands than he wanted. As he put it, “I married my wife for better or worse but not for lunch every day.”
He manages a photo gallery two days a week, does photography work, volunteers at church and sings in a choir. “When you get involved, you’re treated like you’ve been here forever,” he said.
In Marble Falls, Chamber of Commerce director Christian Fletcher said the governing boards of local nonprofit groups are filled with former corporate executives.
One area retiree who was a co-founder of America Online established a Boys & Girls Club and helped create an endowment for scholarships, Mr. Fletcher said.
Mr. Warren said retirees have sometimes been wrongly portrayed as economic burdens on communities. “If you look at the jobs they create, the taxes they pay and the experience they bring, a town can’t get too many of them,” he said.
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KERR COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS
April 30th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
Information Source: Kerr County Official Public Records
Kerr County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 43,653. Its county seat is Kerrville.
Kerr County is named for James Kerr, a congressman of the Republic of Texas
As of the census² of 2000, there were 43,653 people, 17,813 households, and 12,308 families residing in the county. The population density was 15/km² (40/mi²). There were 20,228 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (18/mi²).
The racial makeup of the county was 88.89% White, 1.78% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 6.60% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 19.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 17,813 households out of which 25.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 22.20% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 24.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 92.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $34,283, and the median income for a family was $40,713. Males had a median income of $27,425 versus $21,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,767. About 10.30% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 8.40% of those age 65 or over.
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WHY THE HILL COUNTRY APPEALS TO BABY BOOMERS (PART 1)
April 15th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
1. BEAUTY OF THE HILL COUNTRY.
The views of the hills of the Hill Country along with the beauty of the rivers, creeks and wildlife delight just about anyone visiting here and are drawing an increasing number of people wanting to relocate and/or retire here. There is great variety in the landscape … each hill you climb providing yet a new view to discover. The Guadalupe River and all the creeks that feed into it are lined with large cypress trees and the the river basins provide flatland with good soils for hay production and cattle grazing. Wildlife abounds including a growing number of exotic ranches interspersed throughout the hill country. It’s a far cry from what most people think about Texas.
2. CLOSE TO A BIG CITY (SAN ANTONIO)
San Antonio, with its shopping, business opportunities, and cultural activities, is an easy drive East down I-10. Kerrville is just 60 miles to downtown San Antonio (45-50 miles to its outskirts), Comfort – 45 miles, and Boerne, just 30 miles to downtown. San Antonio has a healthy economy and is growing this way … so much so that many locals complain that San Antonio now extends to Boerne.
3. MANY COMMUNITIES WITH THAT “SMALL TOWN FEEL”
Luckenbach, Texas is probably the most well known “small town” in 
the Hill Country (it’s known because Waylon Jennings sung about it). It lies between Fredericksburg and Boerne, two of the larger communities along the I-10 corridor of the Hill Country. Fredericksburg draws thousands of tourists each year due to its well preserved German character and shopping. Boerne has a similar calling although somewhat smaller and, due to its closer proximity to San Antonio, is more “citified.” Kerrville lies on the Guadalupe River and has for many years been the leading place to retire in the Hill Country due to its hospitals and milder climate. In Kendall County, there are numerous small communities each with their own quaint appeal: Comfort, Sisterdale, Waring, Welfare, and Kendalia to name a few. Kerr County has Center Point, Mountain Home, Ingram, and Hunt. Gillespie county has Harper. Tivydale, Stonewall, and Albert. Each of these communities has its own history to tell and is worth a drive to see its sights. (See upcoming articles on various communities and their local events.) Add to the appeal of each small town, numerous vineyards are popping up along Hwy 290 outside of Fredericksburg and down Hwy 1376 through Sisterdale and into Comfort. This wine trail is becoming another outstanding local attraction.
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WANTED! COWFOLK THAT STILL RAISE THEIR HATS!
April 14th, 2008 categories: Relocating to the Hill Country
I was watching an old western the other day. The cowboy hero 
raised his hat to the rancher’s wife who was providing lodging for him and said,
“I’m much obliged, Ma’am.”
I’ve been thinking about his statement. It’s something we don’t hear too often anymore. We just say, “Thank you” and move on our merry way. But think about the words, “I’m much obliged.”
Obliged … HMMM!
It would seem that the word “obliged” would have to be related to the word “obligated” … huh?
In our modern culture, that word certainly has a negative conotation. Obligated? That means HAVE to do something … I don’t want to be told to do any thing.
However, if you think about it, in the culture of the cowboy,
it wasn’t an obligation that he was speaking of. Actually, it was an honor. People gave with a sense of honor and others received what was given with great appreciation … So much so … They wanted to give back. Thus, the saying, “I’m much obliged to you.”
So, here’s my point … what I am calling for … Remember, this blog site is a relocation/hill country community site. The assumption is that people are looking to relocate to the hill country and trying to decide where. So, I’m heralding the relocation cry for a new (or maybe old) kind of people.
WANTED! COMMUNITY MINDED PEOPLE LOOKING TO CULTIVATE A KINDLER, GENTLER WORLD!
Community is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as “a group of people living in the same locality, … having common interests … the same identity … sharing, participation and fellowship.” It implies 1st) We know eachother, 2nd) We care for one another (e.g., honor) and 3rd) We desire the success of ALL. That means the current American mindset of “survival of the fittest” just has to go. Self seeking at another’s expense just doesn’t fit in a kindler, gentler world.
Regardless of whether you choose the Hill Country or not as your place of relocation (community), think about cultivating a kindler, gentler world where ever you may be.
But if you do end up here, I say,
“WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY!”
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