# Circle C Ranch

Circle C Ranch (also known as Circle C) is a large master-planned community in southwest Austin, Texas, USA. Development of Circle C Ranch began in 1982, with the first homes in the community in built in 1986. During development, the subdivision was featured prominently in a long and contentious environmental legal battle regarding urban development in the vicinity of Barton Springs and over Edwards Aquifer. The controversy surrounding its development and later annexation by the city of Austin was a landmark in municipal annexation rights in Texas. Today, Circle C Ranch includes more than 5,620 homes.

## History

Development of Circle C Ranch began in 1982 when Gary Bradley, at the time a part-owner of the Schlotzsky's restaurant chain, and his development partners began to earn development permits and acquire land in southwest Austin, Texas. However, several local environmentalist groups including the Save Our Springs Alliance (SOS) were strongly opposed to the development due to the subdivision's planned location over the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer. Despite the strong opposition, the first homes in Circle C were built in 1986. In 1988, the Save Barton Creek Association filed a lawsuit against the Texas Highway Department in order to stop the extension of Texas State Highway Loop 1 into southwest Austin and to halt further development of Circle C Ranch. However, the subdivision's homeowner association was able to defend its rights to the land, and thus development continued.
By 1990, Circle C Ranch was considered the top selling subdivision in Central Texas. However, in the same year, the Gibraltar Savings and Loan bank based in California failed to pay off its debts, and all of its assets were transferred; at the time, this was one of the largest insolvencies in American history. Since the savings and loan company was the source for much of the money and resources involved in the development of Circle C Ranch, the subdivision went bankrupt and entered Chapter 11 reorganization status; reorganization was completed in 1992. Over the following years, several ordinances and lawsuits were filed in relation to Circle C Ranch and its environmental implications, resulting in the creation of the Southwest Travis County Water and Reclamation District in 1996 and the Slaughter Creek Water Protection Zone the following year. However, both the water district and protection zone were found unconstitutional because they were located within the City of Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction and conflicted with the City's powers. On December 18, 1997, Circle C Ranch was involuntarily annexed by the City of Austin after roughly 15 years of development.

## Schools

All of Circle C Ranch is served by the Austin Independent School District. Portions of the Avaña section in Hays County are located in the Hays Consolidated Independent School District, but students there are allowed to attend AISD schools.
Circle C Ranch Zoned Public Schools :
| School | District | Established | Principal | Enrollment | Coordinates |
| Bear Creek Elementary | Austin ISD | 2020 | David Crissey | 603 | 30°10′16.13″N 97°54′36.24″W﻿ / ﻿30.1711472°N 97.9100667°W﻿ / 30.1711472; -97.9100667 |
| Clayton Elementary | Austin ISD | 2006 | Karen McCollum | 718 | 30°11′42.24″N 97°54′23.51″W﻿ / ﻿30.1950667°N 97.9065306°W﻿ / 30.1950667; -97.9065306 |
| Kiker Elementary | Austin ISD | 1992 | Cory Matheny | 789 | 30°11′29.59″N 97°52′53.49″W﻿ / ﻿30.1915528°N 97.8815250°W﻿ / 30.1915528; -97.8815250 |
| Mills Elementary | Austin ISD | 1997 | Angela Frageman | 776 | 30°12′39.52″N 97°52′41.62″W﻿ / ﻿30.2109778°N 97.8782278°W﻿ / 30.2109778; -97.8782278 |
| Gorzycki Middle | Austin ISD | 2009 | Cathryn Mitchell | 1,286 | 30°12′51.84″N 97°53′30.86″W﻿ / ﻿30.2144000°N 97.8919056°W﻿ / 30.2144000; -97.8919056 |
| Bowie High | Austin ISD | 1988 | Mark Robinson | 2,782 | 30°11′13.44″N 97°51′31.44″W﻿ / ﻿30.1870667°N 97.8587333°W﻿ / 30.1870667; -97.8587333 |
| Carpenter Hill Elementary | Hays CISD | 2010 | Ginger Bordeau | 606 | 30°5′48.85″N 97°53′47.77″W﻿ / ﻿30.0969028°N 97.8966028°W﻿ / 30.0969028; -97.8966028 |
| Dahlstrom Middle | Hays CISD | 1985 | Dedrah Ginn | 955 | 30°5′51.69″N 97°52′55.08″W﻿ / ﻿30.0976917°N 97.8819667°W﻿ / 30.0976917; -97.8819667 |
| Johnson High | Hays CISD | 2019 | Brett Miksch | 2,452 | 30°5′57.29″N 97°53′33.37″W﻿ / ﻿30.0992472°N 97.8926028°W﻿ / 30.0992472; -97.8926028 |

## In popular culture

The reality television series Welcome to the Neighborhood was set in Circle C Ranch, in which five families competed to win a house in the neighborhood.