Among the newest of U.S. towns · #618 of 642 in Texas. What drives it
Most of Horseshoe Bay was built recently: 0.0% of its homes predate 1940 and the median home dates from 1995. Below: maps from 1929 on and the census since 1990.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Horseshoe Bay is among the newest of U.S. towns, #618 of 642 in Texas. Its National Register listings hold the grade up; its age pulls it down.
D−
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Horseshoe Bay’s overall grade.
Few Texas towns list much on the Register (a typical Texas town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Horseshoe Bay’s 0.0 sits below most of its state (34% of Texas towns have fewer) while its 0 listings outnumber those of 23% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 2005.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from D− to D. The pre-1940 share (±0.4 points) is firm at this size.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Horseshoe Bay’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Horseshoe Bay yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.
Horseshoe Bay is a city in Llano and Burnet counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Situated on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson and the south branch of the Colorado River, it is known in the region for its golf courses, hotel and resort, and water sports. Prior to its incorporation in September 2005, it was a census-designated place (CDP). The CDP population was 3,337 at the 2000 census. The 2010 census put the population at 3,418. The 2020 Decennial Census reported population was 4,257.
Horseshoe Bay was established in 2005. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 3,418 to 4,257 (+25%).
Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.
Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Horseshoe Bay. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.
1929Marble Falls sheet · 1:62,500
U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Horseshoe Bay.
People over time
Horseshoe Bay, census by census
Grew from 1,546 people in 1990 to 4,257 in 2020.
4 censuses, 1990–2020.
U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Horseshoe Bay’s Wikipedia page.
Famous people
Famous people close to Horseshoe Bay
Nobody well known was born in Horseshoe Bay itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.
In 2005, according to Wikidata. the census of 1990 counted 1,546 people here.
How does Horseshoe Bay rank for history?
Horseshoe Bay is among the newest of U.S. towns, #618 of 642 in Texas. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
How old are the homes in Horseshoe Bay?
0.0% of Horseshoe Bay’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate), against a typical 1.6% for a Texas town; the median home was built in 1995.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (4), U.S. Geological Survey historical maps and U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
2024
2021
2016
2004
