Williamson County

Williamson County, Texas also known as “Wilco,” is in Central Texas, on the Balcones Escarpment just north of Austin. The western half of the 1,123-square-mile county is an extension of the Western Plains, while the eastern region is part of the Coastal Plains. Wilco is known for its sunny weather, low crime rate, and friendly, neighborly people.

Georgetown, TX, the county's largest town, serves as the county seat. Georgetown, TX provides many recreational opportunities for area residents and visitors. Self-guided walking tours of the historic Victorian homes downtown are just one of the family-friendly activities available in the area.

Williamson County, TX is bordered by Bell County to the north, Milam County to the northeast, Lee County to the east, Bastrop County to the southeast, Travis County to the south and Burnet County to the west. In 2004, Williamson County contained 11 towns with populations of more than 1,000 people and seven towns with populations above 5,000.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Williamson County had 394,193 residents in 2008, almost a 58 percent increase in population from 2000. Major industries in Williamson County include electronics and semiconductor manufacturing and support, insurance, plastics, minerals, transportation equipment, tourism and agriculture. Almost one-third of Williamson County, mostly in the east, is used as farmland. The leading crops are corn, oats, sorghum, cotton and wheat.

The earliest known occupants of the county, the Tonkawa Indians, were considered friendly towards the early settlers of Williamson County. In 1848, citizens of western Milam County petitioned the Texas State Legislature to form a new county. The legislature chose to honor “ Three-Legged-Willie,” aka Robert McAlpin Williamson, who was a Republic of Texas Supreme Court Justice, state lawmaker and Texas Ranger.

Williamson County Texas is also famous for its numerous educational opportunities. The following colleges and universities are all in Williamson County or less than an hour away: Austin Community College, Baylor University, Central Texas College, Concordia University, Huston-Tillotson University, Round Rock Higher Education Center, Southwestern University, St. Edward's University, Temple College, Texas A&M University, Texas Lutheran University, Texas State Technical College, Texas State University at San Marcos, University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Mary Hardin Baylor.

U.S. Highway 183, Interstate Highway 35, and State Highway 95 are the major north-south roads in Williamson County, Texas. U.S. Highway 79 and State Highway 29 cross the county east and west. Four railroad lines cross Williamson County: the Southern Pacific, the Missouri-Kansas-Texas, the Missouri Pacific and the Georgetown.

The St. Davids Georgetown Hospital, Scott & White Health Care and the St. Davids Round Rock Medical Center are the major health care facilities in the area.

The Williamson County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services to the citizens of Williamson County, TX. The department also maintains the County Jail, and provides traffic control and animal control. The Sheriff's Office keeps order in the District and County courts. The Williamson County Courthouse is located at 405 Martin Luther King St, Georgetown, TX. Cities in Williams County have their own Municipal Courts to handle class "C" misdemeanors that originate from traffic citations, citizen complaints, code violations, and misdemeanor arrests occurring within their territorial limits.