Elgin, TX (Austin, Lockhart, Fredericksburg: home, private schools, living)

[y7longhorn]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Manor is a dump.

Good luck.

That's rather harsh. This forum doesn't have an esteemed opinion of Manor for many valid reasons. But it is a nice little town not too far from Austin and it's experiencing growth. Folks are plenty friendly the many times I've been through. I went once to the annual Quicksand Farm square dance which is rather great of the community to put on and support. I don't see why people dismiss it so quickly.

[hound 109]

Just calling it like I see it.

On the plus side, they're empty nesters.....so the awful schools wouldn't directly affect them.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by Tralfaz

I've been pretty happy in Cedar Creek/Wyldwood over the last 2yr or so.. West of Bastrop on 71, unincorporated, no HOA, high-speed internet available, fairly low taxes/few taxing entities. Lockhart's just a BIT too far away from Austin, and north/south driving just SUUUCKKSSSS, especially if you EVER have to go near I-35. 71 E/W is not nearly so bad (yet).

Why would someone who lives in Lockhart & works at the Airport have to travel on I 35? If I lived in Lockhart I would never/ever have to get on I 35 if I was visiting anywhere in the Austin metro.

It's a straight 20 mile, 22-25 min. shot up US 183 (or up the toll road if 183 is backed up for some reason).

[winkosmosis]

It's flat, there is a freeway running through town, the housing developments are indistinguishable from the ones in Katy and Sugarland, and there is good BBQ. That's about it-- You can think of it as far West Houston

There are far nicer places like Bastrop and Marble Falls

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by winkosmosis

It's flat, there is a freeway running through town, the housing developments are indistinguishable from the ones in Katy and Sugarland, and there is good BBQ. That's about it-- You can think of it as far West Houston

There are far nicer places like Bastrop and Marble Falls

Elgin or Lockhart?

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Elgin or Lockhart?

I was wondering the same, and thinking for either, that description pretty much means winkosmosis hasn't gotten off the highway by more than a block or two. In either town you can get the vaunted BBQ that way and never have a clue what the community is really like, just like you can drive on I35 - oops, the highway that runs right through the middle of town - and decide you know what Austin is like and not have a clue.

[from nv]

Thanks everyone for the feedback & suggestions. I've viewed the wiki links to the cities mentioned of Bastrop, Lockhart, Camp Swift, Cedar Creek, Elgin & Manor, and have tried to make some comparisons. How built up are these cities, like in regards to grocery stores, restaurants, etc.? We don't mind eating & shopping at the small mom & pop shops & roadside style diners at all, but if larger stores (chains) are available, it's nice as well.

Since I would primarily be there alone most of the time, how would you rank them in regards to safety? How are the roads (183 from Lockhart, 110/535 from Cedar Creek, 71 from Bastrop, 20- from Elgin, 130/45 from Manor)? Google Maps is outdated, I'm sure!

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by from nv

Thanks everyone for the feedback & suggestions. I've viewed the wiki links to the cities mentioned of Bastrop, Lockhart, Camp Swift, Cedar Creek, Elgin & Manor, and have tried to make some comparisons. How built up are these cities, like in regards to grocery stores, restaurants, etc.? We don't mind eating & shopping at the small mom & pop shops & roadside style diners at all, but if larger stores (chains) are available, it's nice as well.

Since I would primarily be there alone most of the time, how would you rank them in regards to safety? How are the roads (183 from Lockhart, 110/535 from Cedar Creek, 71 from Bastrop, 20- from Elgin, 130/45 from Manor)? Google Maps is outdated, I'm sure!

In order (rank) of availability of larger chain stores, grocery stores / restaurants etc.

- Bastrop (county seat, a nice town, lots of new (smallish) national chain stores & fast food restaurants, Seems to be growing quite a bit which is good or bad depending on your perspective).
- Lockhart (county seat, a little slower paced & smaller than Bastrop, a few smallish national chain store & restaurnts.....plus 2 (or 3) of the best (or at least most revered) BBQ restaurants in the solar system.
- Elgin (not a county seat, smaller still than Lockhart...but getting smallish national chain stores & restaurants because of it's proximity to NE Austin) But they got a brand new Walmart.
- Cedar Creek is more of an area (than a town) on a heavily traveled road between Bastrop & SE Austin.
- Manor (I already commented on...it's becoming a lower middle class suburb of NE Austin).
- Camp Swift (more of an area than a town & kind of out in the middle of nowhere)

Where would my 54 y/o wife feel safest &/or enjoy?

- The nicer (safer) areas of Bastrop or Lockhart she would enjoy equally (probably Lockhart because it's slower paced). These two would be 1 & 2. Or 2 & 1. (For your data points of safety, shopping & quality of life).

- Elgin would come in a distant 3rd.
- Don't know enough about Cedar Creek or Camp Swift....but since there isn't any there there, so she'd knock them off the list. (Tied for 4th)
- Manor would be last.

I wonder why no one's piped in with a Smithville recommendation (or La Grange?)

[Tralfaz]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Why would someone who lives in Lockhart & works at the Airport have to travel on I 35? If I lived in Lockhart I would never/ever have to get on I 35 if I was visiting anywhere in the Austin metro.

It's a straight 20 mile, 22-25 min. shot up US 183 (or up the toll road if 183 is backed up for some reason).

It's pick-your-poison if you ever want to go downtown, frustration on 183 -> 71 -> I-35 (slightly less so now that the fustercluck that was Ben White + E. Riverside is mostly fixed) vs. stoplights and slow speeds on 183 -> Airport -> 7th ..

Thankfully, 71 hasn't been a problem so far for me.

[arowhen1]

Hello. My family and I are considering buying a home in Elgin as well but I don't know much about Elgin. We are deciding to bypass Manor because of the views on the school district. I would like to know (from people who live in Elgin currently and have school aged children) how are the schools in Elgin; specifically the middle school? Is Elgin a nice place to live?