2 History 2.1 EARLY SETTLEMENT ERA AND THE GROWTH OF PFLUGERVILLE Agricultural use has remained important to this site since settlement activity began. The land is still primarily zoned for agriculture and has changed very little since after the Civil War.2 Additionally, the history of the site is intimately tied to that of Austin and especially Pflugerville. Settlement in and around Pflugerville began in the 1840s when Henry Pfluger purchased a large tract of land northeast of the then nascent City of Austin3. During the Antebellum years, Pflugerville remained relatively undeveloped, and was utilized as a site of farming by Pfluger himself. However, development in the Postbellum period began to take off in the fledgling city. By 1875, the area had a school and church.4 Eventually a railroad was established, and the city continued to grow slowly until it was incorporated in 1965.5 In more recent years, the City of Pflugerville has experienced rapid growth mirroring that of the greater Austin area Figure 2. It is the third fastest growing city in Central Texas and grew by 21.7% between 2010 and 2015. This growth has put tremendous pressure on the City of Pflugerville both from a municipal services perspective and from a community perspective. Increasing amounts of farmland are being converted into single family housing and shopping centers, straining the city’s ability to provide services to these new residents.6 By 2030, the city projects will add over 41,000 new residents and further exacerbate the issues associated with rapid development. This
Smyrl, “History of Plugerville.” Barnes, “Prospecting Pflugerville’s Past.” 4 Smyrl, “History of Plugerville.” 5 Smyrl. 6 Parker, “Pflugerville 11th-Fastest Growing in Nation.” 2 3
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