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Circle C Ranch | |
|---|---|
 Map of Circle C Ranch in Southwest Austin | |
  Circle C Ranch Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:30°11′15″N97°53′27″W / 30.18750°N 97.89083°W /30.18750; -97.89083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Travis |
| City | Austin |
| Developed | 1983 |
| Founded by | Gary Bradley |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.244 sq mi (18.76 km2) |
| Population | |
• Total | 15,197 |
| • Density | 1,826/sq mi (705/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−05:00 (CDT) |
| Zip code | 78739 |
| Area code | 512 |
| Website | www |
Circle C Ranch (also known asCircle C) is a large master-planned community in southwestAustin, Texas, USA. Development of Circle C Ranch began in 1982, with the first homes in the community in built in 1986. During development, the subdivision was featured prominently in a long and contentious environmental legal battle regarding urban development in the vicinity ofBarton Springs and overEdwards Aquifer. The controversy surrounding its development and laterannexation by the city of Austin was a landmark in municipal annexation rights inTexas. Today, Circle C Ranch includes more than 5,620 homes.
Development of Circle C Ranch began in 1982 when Gary Bradley, at the time a part-owner of theSchlotzsky's restaurant chain, and his development partners began to earn development permits and acquire land in southwestAustin, Texas. However, several local environmentalist groups including theSave Our Springs Alliance (SOS) were strongly opposed to the development due to the subdivision's planned location over therecharge zone of theEdwards Aquifer. Despite the strong opposition, the first homes in Circle C were built in 1986. In 1988, theSave Barton Creek Association filed a lawsuit against theTexas Highway Department in order to stop the extension ofTexas State Highway Loop 1 into southwest Austin and to halt further development of Circle C Ranch. However, the subdivision's homeowner association was able to defend its rights to the land, and thus development continued.[1]
By 1990, Circle C Ranch was considered the top selling subdivision inCentral Texas. However, in the same year, theGibraltar Savings and Loan bank based in California failed to pay off its debts, and all of its assets were transferred; at the time, this was one of the largest insolvencies in American history. Since the savings and loan company was the source for much of the money and resources involved in the development of Circle C Ranch, the subdivision went bankrupt and enteredChapter 11 reorganization status; reorganization was completed in 1992. Over the following years, several ordinances and lawsuits were filed in relation to Circle C Ranch and its environmental implications, resulting in the creation of the Southwest Travis County Water and Reclamation District in 1996 and the Slaughter Creek Water Protection Zone the following year. However, both the water district and protection zone were found unconstitutional because they were located within the City of Austin'sextraterritorial jurisdiction and conflicted with the City's powers.[2] On December 18, 1997, Circle C Ranch was involuntarily annexed by the City of Austin after roughly 15 years of development.[1]
All of Circle C Ranch is served by theAustin Independent School District. Portions of the Avaña section in Hays County are located in theHays Consolidated Independent School District, but students there are allowed to attend AISD schools.[3]
Thereality television seriesWelcome to the Neighborhood was set in Circle C Ranch, in which five families competed to win a house in the neighborhood.[22]
30°11′49″N97°54′14″W / 30.197°N 97.904°W /30.197; -97.904