Burnet County, one could say, played a big part in creating the "foundation" of Texas. During the late 1800s, the granite in the region was quarried and shipped to Austin to create the state's Capitol building. The county is home to a variety of outdoor recreation. The Colorado River and the Highland Lakes make up the county's western border, providing many water recreation opportunities including boating and fishing on Lake Buchanan or swimming and jet-skiing at Lake LBJ. The county also is home to Longhorn Caverns, which has a colorful historical and prehistorical past, including the legend of Sam Bass stashing millions of dollars of gold in the caverns. Along with golf, tennis, and hunting, Burnet County, besides being a place to live, is also a great destination to enjoy.
Burnet County has experienced strong population growth within the last decade. The county's population grew by 50 percent between 1990 and 1999, ranking it second highest in the region behind Williamson County. Housing starts in the county have been exceptional for a nonmetropolitan county. While ranking fourth behind the IH- 35 corridor counties, Burnet County's housing starts have surpassed Bastrop and Caldwell Counties' housing starts, both counties being part of the Austin MSA. However, with the county's growth rate and the ensuing development to meet that growth, the county will need to provide the necessary services and infrastructure to meet the needs of this increasing population.
While the county's population is growing, its income levels are not. Between 1994 and 1998, Burnet County registered a six percent growth rate in per capita income, the lowest in the CAHFC region. Contributing to the problem is the increase of retirement-age persons, many of whom are on fixed incomes. The population of individuals age 75 and up, which makes up over 10 percent of the county's population, increased 40 percent between 1990 and 1998. This growth, combined with low growth in wages, creates a threat to the county's tax base, potentially rendering it unable to keep up with the infrastructure and service needs of the population.
The income situation may be turning around as Burnet County is joining the Austin area in high tech employment, which pays some of the highest wages in the region. ATMI, which currently has a facility of 45 people in Burnet, has decided to construct a 120,000 square foot facility in Burnet, which is anticipated to house 450 employees. The facility, which will combine existing operations in Burnet with those in Austin, Carrollton, and Milpitas, California, will consist of a clean room, manufacturing facility, research and development center, and administrative facilities.
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