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The history of Cedar Park
Cedar Park grew from the Running Brushy community into a city northwest of Austin. Brushy Creek, local shops and restaurants, and events at the H-E-B Center offer different ways to plan time in town.
People who shaped Cedar Park
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
City of Cedar Park 40th Anniversary: 40 Years and Beyond
A local history film shared by City of Cedar Park.
Watch on YouTube ↗- 1871
Up the Chisholm Trail
George Cluck drove cattle up the Chisholm Trail. His wife Harriet made the trip too and is remembered as the first woman to make the drive.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 1873
The Cluck ranch
George and Harriet Cluck bought land rich in cedar and limestone. Their ranch and home became the center of a new community.
Texas Historical Commission ↗ - 1874
Running Brushy post office
A post office opened for the Running Brushy settlement, named for a strong local spring. Harriet Cluck became postmaster that December.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 1882
The railroad arrives
The Austin and Northwestern Railroad was built across the Cluck land, and the railroad company gave the community a new name.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 1887
The name Cedar Park
Emmett Cluck, son of George and Harriet, renamed the town Cedar Park after the parklike setting of his home.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 1890s
Limestone and cedar posts
Building limestone became a major local product and stayed important until about 1970. Cedar fence posts were another key product.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 1973
Incorporation
As Austin's growth reached the area, Cedar Park residents voted on February 24, 1973, to incorporate.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 1980
Ranch land to suburbs
Local ranch land turned to housing, and the population grew from 125 in 1970 to more than 3,000 by 1980.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 2000
A fast-growing city
Cedar Park counted 26,049 residents and 862 businesses in 2000.
Handbook of Texas ↗ - 2009
H-E-B Center opens
The H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, a multi-purpose arena, opened on September 25, 2009, with a George Strait concert.
H-E-B Center at Cedar Park ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Brushy Creek Historic District, one of Cedar Park’ oldest residential neighborhoods, where houses date from around 1880. Check current opening hours before visiting the Cedar Park local view.
For deeper research, the Cedar Park library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.