Where People Live

Bastrop County's residential geography is loose by metro standards. There are master-planned communities, but most of the county's housing is in older subdivisions, rural acreage, downtown historic districts, or the fringes of the four named towns. What follows is a rough guide to the major residential areas, organized roughly west-to-east by location, with a brief note about who tends to end up where.

The Bastrop Side

Tahitian Village

Large, wooded subdivision west of downtown along the Colorado bluffs. Big lots, mature pines, the Lost Pines Golf Club at the center. Mix of original 1970s and 1980s homes and newer custom builds. The classic Bastrop "in the trees" neighborhood. Lost a substantial number of homes in the 2011 fire and has been rebuilding ever since — the rebuilds are visible if you know what to look for, and the brush-management standards have changed accordingly.

Pine Forest

Master-planned community organized around Pine Forest Golf Club, west of Bastrop. Established, walkable, with deed restrictions and a real homeowners' association. Popular with families and retirees who want a country-club feel without the country-club price. Less burn damage in 2011 than Tahitian Village had, and a more conservative pace of growth.

ColoVista

Gated golf community south of Bastrop on the Colorado River bluffs. Custom homes, big lots, semi-private golf, river-canyon views. Higher price band than the rest of the county, with a lifestyle-amenities orientation. The clubhouse and golf course are central to the community's social life.

Riverside & Downtown Bastrop

The historic core. Walking distance to Main Street, the river, and Fisherman's Park. Older homes, smaller lots, the highest concentration of historic-character houses in the county. Not for everyone — downtown noise during festivals, smaller bedrooms by modern standards, sometimes-difficult parking — but unmatched walkable urbanism by Bastrop County standards.

Forest Hills

Established mid-century neighborhood north of downtown. Mature trees, mid-size lots, mid-range pricing, schools-zoned for Bastrop ISD's main campuses. The classic suburban-in-Bastrop neighborhood.

Pecan Park

Newer master-planned community east of town. Suburban feel, modern amenities, fast-growing, family-skewed. Most of the homes are post-2010, with some as recent as the last few years.

Cedar Creek & the 71 Corridor

Cedar Creek

Unincorporated area along Highway 71 between Austin and Bastrop. Mix of acreage, ranch homes, and newer subdivisions. Closer-in commute to Austin, near the Hyatt resort and the new tech corridor along the river. The fastest-changing part of the county.

Circle D and KC Estates

Historic subdivisions at the edge of the Lost Pines, south of Highway 71. Wooded lots, deeply established, small-community feel. Lost a number of homes in 2011 and has been rebuilding with fire-aware construction since.

Heritage Oaks & Riverwood

Newer master-planned communities along the 71 corridor. Suburban-style, amenities, family-targeted, growing.

Smithville & East

Downtown Smithville

Small-town historic core. Walkable Main Street, antique shops, restored homes. Slower pace than Bastrop, lower prices, longer commute to Austin. The 1998 film Hope Floats location homes are mostly still standing in this neighborhood.

Riverbend

Wooded subdivision along the Colorado near Smithville. River access, large lots, established trees.

Buescher Foothills

Acreage tracts south of Smithville near Buescher State Park. Country lots, no HOA, real privacy. The version of Bastrop County most people imagine when they imagine living near a state park.

Elgin & the 290 Corridor

Downtown Elgin

Historic brick downtown, walkable, with newer infill. Growing food and arts scene. Closer to Austin via Highway 290 than Bastrop is via Highway 71, which has shaped the kind of newcomer Elgin has been attracting.

Northern Elgin Subdivisions

Newer subdivision development along Highway 290 toward Manor. Faster Austin commute, suburban feel, growing fast.

South County & Ranchland

Red Rock & Rosanky

Working ranchland. 5-to-100+ acre tracts. Cattle, hay, family land. Long drives to anywhere, but the version of Bastrop County most people picture when they imagine the country. No HOAs, no deed restrictions, very few neighbors.

McDade and Surrounding

Tiny rural community. Historic downtown, watermelon farms, small-acreage rural homes. McDade ISD is the smallest school district in the county and the campus serves all grades on one site.