Smithville, TX (Houston, San Antonio, Austin: schools, closing, tax)

[Frodo2008]

Lately Smithville seems to be growing a little bit. For several decades it didn't grow any hardly. So my question is do you think this is just temporary or do you think this is long term, sustained growth. I'm curious if Smithville will revert back to its old self or if this will be a new Smithville from here on out.

[centralaustinite]

New Smithville!

I know owners of several iconic Austin businesses eying Smithville for expansion. Smithville is adjacent to some of the fasting growing counties in America (Hays), the town will not stay the same.

[cBach]

Smithville got on the map with "Hope Floats".

It remained a sleepy town, but it is in the Austin metro area. It is bound to grow at some point and I reckon will do well.

[Frodo2008]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

New Smithville!

I know owners of several iconic Austin businesses eying Smithville for expansion. Smithville is adjacent to some of the fasting growing counties in America (Hays), the town will not stay the same.

Yeah it would be nice if Smithville boomed like Bastrop did. I guess it will be hard for it to grow that much since Bastrop is closer to Austin. Any growth would be better than nothing.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Frodo2008

Yeah it would be nice if Smithville boomed like Bastrop did. I guess it will be hard for it to grow that much since Bastrop is closer to Austin. Any growth would be better than nothing.

Why? Why must every community grow and grow and grow in order to be "nice"?

[katiev111]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Why? Why must every community grow and grow and grow in order to be "nice"?

Agreed. Bigger doesn't always equal better.

[Austinite76]

Cities are, generally speaking, growing or dying. They have to grow - the key is how to do so and still retain their character and/or evolve maintaining a core.

If hipsters aren’t involved, cities can manage their growth and retain their culture. Those leeches kill everything.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Austinite76

Cities are, generally speaking, growing or dying. They have to grow - the key is how to do so and still retain their character and/or evolve maintaining a core.

If hipsters aren’t involved, cities can manage their growth and retain their culture. Those leeches kill everything.

But Smithville (and similar towns) is not a "city". You truly believe that every single small town should strive to become a city like Austin, Waco, San Antonio, etc.? You think that is good for everyone (including the original residents of such small towns)?

I really want to know what the OP, living as they do in Houston, has as an answer to that question, though.

[Danbo1957]

We know that Smithville floods.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

But Smithville (and similar towns) is not a "city". You truly believe that every single small town should strive to become a city like Austin, Waco, San Antonio, etc.? You think that is good for everyone (including the original residents of such small towns)?

I really want to know what the OP, living as they do in Houston, has as an answer to that question, though.

Not the OP, but yes, even small towns need to keep some level of growing economic activity! Managing growth is so much better than managing decline. My inlaws have lived in a series of tiny Iowa towns, some that peaked in population in 1896 -- and it is a hard hard place to be. Shrinking tax base, very limited services, empty storefronts, closing churches, consolidated schools. They recently retired to an Iowa town that is small but not tiny AND GROWING and their lives are so much better! Local stores, expanding businesses, municipal services, a thriving community with new people coming in -- and yes, it means change and no that town isn't the same as it was 30 years ago, it is bigger and supports a more diverse tax base.

Smithville and most central Texas towns are on a growth trajectory -- and of course, there are trade-offs and problems to be managed -- but it is much better than the problems of contracting, declining towns.