# Hutto, Texas

Hutto is a city in Williamson County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Austin–Round Rock metropolitan area. The population was 42,326 at the 2024 census.

## History

Hutto was established in 1855 when the International-Great Northern Railroad passed through land owned by John Hutto (1824–1914), for whom the community is named. Railroad officials designated the stop Hutto Station. James Hutto was born in Alabama on June 8, 1824; he came to Texas in 1847 and moved his family to Williamson County in 1855. A slave, Adam Orgain, was the first person to live in the immediate Hutto vicinity, having been placed out on the Blackland prairie by his owner to watch after the cattle and livestock holdings. In 1876, James Hutto sold 50 acres (200,000 m$^2$) to the Texas Land Company of New York for a town site and railroad right of way. Hutto became a wealthy cattleman in Williamson County, but in 1885, he left Hutto for Waco, and entered the hardware business. Other early settlers in the area were the Carpenter, Davis, Evans, Farley, Goodwin, Highsmith, Johnson, Magle, Payne, Saul, Weight, Womack, and Wright families. Other people living in Hutto during the 1890s included the Armstrongs, the Ahlbergs, M. B. Kennedy, the Hugh Kimbro family, William McCutcheon, Green Randolph, J. B. Ross, and the Tisdales. The area attracted Swedish and German immigrants, who established farms and ranches in Hutto.

## Mascot

Hutto's mascot comes from a local legend related to the International-Great Northern Railroad. The legend traces its roots back to 1915, when a circus train stopped at Hutto to pick up passengers and let the animals out to feed. One of their hippos ran loose towards Cottonwood Creek, causing the train to be delayed and other trains to be stopped. The hippo was eventually herded back onto the train.

## Geography

Hutto is located seven miles (11 km) east of Round Rock and 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Austin.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.75 square miles (20.1 km$^2$), all land.

## Demographics

Hutto racial composition as of 2020 (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Number | Percentage |
| White (NH) | 12,036 | 43.65% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 3,459 | 12.54% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 63 | 0.23% |
| Asian (NH) | 561 | 2.03% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 41 | 0.15% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 145 | 0.53% |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 1,449 | 5.25% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 9,823 | 35.62% |
| Total | 27,577 | |
As of the 2020 United States census, 27,577 people, 8,106 households, and 6,219 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,896.5 inhabitants per square mile (732.2/km$^2$). The 4,917 housing units averaged 634.5 per square mile (1,021.1/km$^2$).
In 2000, of the 398 households, 52.3% had children under 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were not families. About 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.14 and the average family size was 3.48.
In the city, the population was distributed as 35.0% under 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 37.0% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,295, and for a family was $55,769. Males had a median income of $33,125 versus $28,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,113. About 3.8% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

Hutto is served by the Hutto Independent School District.

### Public schools

* Hutto High School
* Hutto Ninth Grade Center
* Hutto Middle School
* Farley Middle School
* Gus Almquist Middle School
* Cottonwood Creek Elementary
* Hutto Elementary
* Nadine Johnson Elementary
* Ray Elementary
* Legacy Early College High School
* Veterans Hill Elementary
* Howard Norman Elementary
* Kerley Elementary

### Higher education

Hutto is home to the Eastern Williamson County Higher Education Center, which is a partnership between Temple Junior College, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, and Texas State Technical College.