Hutto, Texas Travel Guide
Nearby towns: Round Rock, Taylor

Above: Historical marker in downtown Hutto.

Above: East Street in downtown Hutto.

Above: "Henrietta the Hippo" at Hutto High School.

The town of Hutto started off small, just a little farming community located northeast of Austin on US 79 between Round Rock and Taylor. Surrounded by blackland farms consisting of mostly cotton fields, the community remained pretty quiet for years, home to a cotton gin and a few stores. In 2000, the population was just over 1000 residents.

In the last few years, however, Hutto has become a boomtown, thanks to growing demand for housing near Austin (just 25 minutes away) and the construction of the new Highway 130. Today Hutto is one of the country's fastest growing communities.

Today you'll still find a small town atmosphere in "downtown" Hutto and you'll find something else very unusual: hippos...or hippo statues to be more precise. This town is home to over 150 hippos statues ranging from the 14,000-pound"Henrietta" at the Hutto High School to small yard hippos.

Why the hippos? According to local legend, a hippo escaped from a circus train while in Hutto around 1915. The residents seemed to fall in love with the idea of hippos and soon named their football team the Hutto Hippos (complete with the only hippo football mascot in Texas.) Later, residents started adding hippo statues to their yards and businesses.

Hutto Photos

Hutto Photo Gallery

Hutto TexasTripper Minute A one-minute video shot in Hutto about the Hutto hippos.

Attractions

Hutto Historic Museum Located in the Chamber of Commerce office at 122 East Street, the museum traces local history through photos and documents. Open weekdays, 9am-5pm.

Special Events

Olde Tyme Days Held in late October, this annual event fills East Street with live music, a parade, food booths, shopping, and more.

For More Information: Hutto Travel Resources, City Information