City of  Round Rock


MLS Area; RR

"Round Rock has no problem maintaining its identity," says Charlie Dromgoole, President of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce. "We've worked hard for years and years to see to that. A lot of the growth that has come to this area is because of the people of this community putting their efforts and resources together. We truly are a city in our own right."

Dromgoole believes Round Rock's success lies in its ability to plan for its future needs, and not just applying a band-aid approach to current problems. "Our economic base is due to a lot of hard effort by the local leadership, as well as significant planning by the City and the business attitude they've exhibited for a number of years. Our leaders are concerned with today's environment, and have implemented a capital improvement plan dedicating $147 million in near-term road projects to help with traffic congestion."

This ability to forecast for the future has helped Round Rock handle its population boom. "Our population went from 30,923 in 1990 to 61,136 in 2000," says Dromgoole. "Our growth is attributed to Dell and other high tech firms that decided to locate here, our superb school system, and the quality of life people enjoy here."

"Round Rock Independent School District is excellent, and has been named one of the nations' top school districts. Eleven campuses have been named national blue ribbon schools since 1990, and continue to receive high marks all across the nation and state," says Dromgoole.

A recent addition to the city includes a medical center that completed a $30 million expansion project in 2000, and is undergoing another $25 million expansion. This latest expansion project will give Round Rock Medical Center state of the art cardiac and intensive care facilities.

Round Rock has plenty to brag about. The Round Rock Express, a AAA Baseball team owned by Nolan Ryan, plays in the Dell Diamond-one of the finest stadiums in the nation. Round Rock also boasts of one of the lowest crime rates for a city of its size, with its own police and fire departments. Golf enthusiasts can take advantage of five different golf courses, with several more under development.

"We're still building and planning for the future," says Dromgoole. "This is a very vibrant area that maintains its own charm and small town atmosphere with a high tech presence. We're one of the first communities in the nation to build an infrastructure to handle digital communication with wire to every household. We're really willing to figure out how to make things happen-it's an attitude that permeates not just City Hall, but the entire community."

And for those who are wondering, there really is a round rock in Round Rock. It still stands in Brushy Creek as a tribute to the weary pioneers who forded the creek, looking for a better life in the west. The town was named Round Rock when settlers tried to opened the first Post Office in 1854 ? and found out that the name "Brushy" was already taken.