Old Town Round Rock Grew Around the Actual Round Rock

The City of Round Rock says its earliest settlement is the area now known as Old Town, west of Interstate 35 along Chisholm Trail Road. It grew up around the actual round rock that marked a low-water crossing on Brushy Creek.

The city's history page says Chisholm Trail Road began as a military road in the early 1840s and was, for a time, known as the Austin-Georgetown Highway. The round rock itself became the landmark at the crossing.

The settlement was first called Brushy, and the city says the Round Rock name was adopted in 1854, after that creek-crossing rock. Knowing this ties today's city name, the road names, and the Old Town layout back to one spot in the creek. Check Round Rock's historic preservation pages for walking context and project updates.