Georgetown: Red Poppy Capital of Texas

Georgetown is one of those fortunate small American cities that has managed to balance modern growth with preservation of its historic downtown core.  The seat of Williamson County, its downtown is still centered on the original Williamson County Courthouse built in 1911.  The preservation of such history is a rarity in modern small town America.

Georgetown's downtown is still a vital area, unlike so many small town downtowns these days. Filled with busy stores and shops as well as being the seat of town and county government, downtown remains the heart and soul of Georgetown.  Gold's Department Store is one of the oldest still active stores in town, having been there for decades.  The downtown also hosts Hill Country Book Store, a locally owned store that prides itself on featuring local and Texas writers, unlike the other book stores in town. Every Thursday morning the local farmer's market comes to town, bringing with it a wonderful collection of fresh fruits, vegetables and breads.

The courthouse gives residents a dramatic retelling of history every year with its production of "You Can't Do That Dan Moody!" This play commemorates the work of Dan Moody, the 1920's era District Attorney of Travis and Williamson Counties who took on and defeated the Ku Klux Klan in central Texas.

As the Red Poppy Capital of Texas, Georgetown hosts the Red Poppy Festival every year.  Each spring at the end of April this festival is put on, celebrating the gorgeous red poppies which litter the landscape every year, making the town and the rest of the hill country come alive.

But Georgetown's historic downtown is not the only major business section of town.  Along I-35, the major highway running almost directly through the middle of town, one finds a variety of large modern stores such as Wal-Mart, H-E-B, Albertson's, Hobby Lobby, Beall's and many more.  There are also a number of fast food restaurants, such as Dairy Queen, McDonald's and Jack-in-the-Box.