MOVING WITH A PURPOSE

Out-of-state families seeking solace in Liberty Hill

BY SCOTT AKANEWICH

STAFF WRITER

Blake and Taylor Stevens grew up in Riverside, California, a city with a six-figure population 50 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles – a densely-populated area to be sure.

During recent years, the continued congestion began to wear on the Stevens, so they began to seek refuge from a place that seemed to be degenerating before their very eyes.

“We wanted to get out of California because we were seeing it slowly decline,” said Blake Stevens. “We wanted to give our kids a better life.”

The Stevens searched far and wide to find a new home, considering places from coast to coast including Arizona, Idaho, Nevada and South Carolina, but soon felt themselves gravitating toward Texas as their destination.

“At first, we looked around the Dallas area,” said Stevens, an electrician by trade. “But, then we found Liberty Hill, which seemed like it was small enough, but still close to places like Austin, Georgetown and Leander.”

So, this past summer, the Stevens took a leap of faith and traded the Golden State for the Lone Star variety, settling in Santa Rita Ranch as their new home.

“Now, we live in a place with beautiful new schools and where our kids can go down the street to play at the park and we don’t have to worry,” said Stevens. “Here in Texas, we just feel a lot more safe.”

Despite the rapid growth of Liberty Hill, it’s still at a point that appeals to the Stevens from a nostalgic perspective.

“What we really wanted was to have a smaller life – so to speak – like the one my wife and I grew up with,” said Stevens. “You always hear about having a community you want to be part of and Santa Rita has everything we were looking for.”

Midwest to Southwest

Jennifer Thalmann, along with husband Nathan and the couple’s three children have called Liberty Hill home since July 2021 after moving south from the Chicago area after Nathan had been introduced to the area during the course of his work bringing him to Central Texas.

“Nathan works for Dell and came down here for training,” said Jennifer. “He would come home and always tell me how great and beautiful it was.”

Eventually, the Thalmanns realized making the move was in their best interests.

“We were really over it with Illinois,” she said. “Nathan was able to keep his job while moving to another state, so we took that as an opportunity to do this.”

Currently, the Thalmanns are renting a house in Stonewall Ranch with plans to build one of their own in Clearwater Ranch and couldn’t be happier with the choice they made.

“I’m a big people person and Liberty Hill has family-oriented people,” said Thalmann. “So, that’s the kind of neighborhood we want to be in due to our Christian and conservative values.”

When it came time for the Thalmanns to choose a school for their children, Jennifer said initially they considered private schooling – a notion that quickly evaporated once they realized the quality educational experience the Liberty Hill Independent School District offers.

“We’re really comfortable with the public schools here,” she said. “Our kids were really excited for a fresh start.”

According to Thalmann, the weather in Texas has matched the disposition of her new neighbors.

“Back in Illinois, we had so many gray days, but here it seems like it’s always sunny skies,” said Thalmann, who works for the U.S. Department of Labor. “Also, with how many people we’ve already met, it feels like we’ve been here for years. We’ve been able to develop relationships so quickly – which was the one thing I was worried about. Everyone is so warm and I can’t imagine ever moving away.”

There is certainly no doubt in the Thalmanns’ minds they made the right choice in making Liberty Hill their new home, she said.

“It’s been a great experience and I’m so glad we did it,” said Thalmann. “This has been great for our family.”

More families, more students

Perhaps the local institution that has been impacted most by the large influx of families moving to Liberty Hill is the school district.

As recently as 2019, there were only five

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 (Above) Blake and Taylor Stevens moved to Liberty Hill with children Reese, 3; Reagan, 10; and Colt, 6, after becoming disillusioned with their former home in California. (Below) Jennifer and Nathan Thalmann and their three children Jace, 2; Noah, 8; and Luke, 6, chose Liberty Hill after moving south from the Chicago area. (Courtesy Photos)