Visit Hill Country TX

Hill Country Texas sits on Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. The plateau has eroded into hilly terrain over millions of years. Hill Country is named after the rolling hills of the region. To learn more about how to purchase properties in Hill Country, reach out to an agent with West and Swope Ranches and we'll answer all your Texas ranch real estate questions.

Geography & Economy 

The karst topography of Hill Country TX includes limestone and granite hills that stand 400-500 feet over the plains and valleys. There are numerous karst caverns in the region, many of which are open to commercial tourism. The deepest caverns form aquifers, providing drinking water to residents. Several tributaries of the Colorado River bring water into various parts of the region. The major rivers running through Hill Country include the Colorado River, Guadalupe, and Nueces. 

Rich soils are found in the valleys and river bottoms. The majority of the counties in Hill Country rely on agriculture and ranching as their primary economy. The major crops include grains, oilseeds, dry beans, dry peas, cotton, and cottonseed. The majority of livestock includes cattle and calves, goats, horses, ponies, broilers, and layers. There are also over 50 wineries in the region. In fact, the Hill Country area was ranked number three in USA Today’s top 10 wine regions of the United States in 2021. 

Wildlife 

Local wildlife includes the Guadalupe bass (the official state fish) and bluebonnets (the official state flower). White-tailed deer are abundant and hunted from November through December. Wild turkeys are hunted in the spring and fall. Brazilian free-tailed bats enjoy living in area caves during spring and early summer before migrating back to Mexico and South America in mid-July. Tarantulas, muskrats, raccoons, and armadillos are common. There are 15 venomous snakes found in Texas, rattlesnakes and cottonmouths are among those that call Hill Country home. 

Culture & History 

Humans have occupied the Hill Country for 10,000 years. Native Americans hunted deer and turkey in the hills and fished the streams. The Edwards Chert stone (flint) needed to craft arrow points and knives were abundant in the area. A mission was built for the Apaches in the 1700s by soldiers and missionaries from San Antonio and Mexico. The mission did not last long, as it was burned down by Apaches and other Native Americans who were not looking to change their way of life. German immigrants populated the region in the 1800s and the language is still spoken in some of the regional towns present day. 

The culture of Hill Country TX revolves around the rolling hills, rivers, creeks, springs, wildflowers, and wildlife. The landscape, water, and soil of the region have attracted Indian, Spanish, German, African American, and Czech people over the years. The architecture, music, food, and beer of the region reflect a rich amalgam of the people, creating a very unique Texan culture. 

Counties & Cities 

There are 25 counties that cover approximately 24 million acres: Bandera, Bell, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Coryell, Crockett, Edwards, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Real, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Travis, Val Verde, and Williamson. 

The major cities of Hill Country include: Austin, Big Lake, Blanco, Boerne, Brackettville, Brady, Camp Wood, Del Rio, Fredericksburg, Junction, Rocksprings, San Saba, and Sonora. 

Ranch Living 

Ranch living provides families with an opportunity to work, play, and thrive in wide open spaces. You, your partner, and your family will learn the value of hard work growing crops, raising livestock, and all the rewards that follow. With a large range of skills to learn and master, each family member will need to fill several roles, but everyone will sleep well after a day well spent working to live off the fat of the land. 

There are a number of tourist ranches in the region. To give your family a brief sample and feel of what to expect before moving to your new Texas ranching paradise, you should visit a local tourist ranch. You’ll need to make arrangements to do some work, so be sure to discuss the details with the tourist ranch manager. Working in the stables or mending fences will ease family members into the idea of ranch living as they enjoy the other aspects of ranch living: fishing, horseback riding, fishing, river swimming, and fossil hunting.

Find Ranches in Hill Country

Interested in moving to the Hill Country Texas region, or just want to learn more about the area? Our agents with West and Swope Ranches are experts in the local Hill Country real estate market and are ready to help you find the land, ranch, or farm property to meet your needs.

Contact us online or call 844-888-3384 to start your search for Hill Country ranches and land today. To learn more about ranch living in Texas, you can find local information and real estate news on our blog or discover more with our Coordinates Land Magazine.