Bastrop, TX

Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, on the Colorado River southeast of Austin. Its history reaches back to Spanish-era activity where the Old San Antonio Road crossed the river, and the town still has one of the more memorable historic cores in Central Texas. Bastrop State Park and nearby pine woods add a landscape that feels different from much of the Austin region, though the area has also faced major wildfire risk. Bastrop feels historic, outdoorsy, and increasingly pulled into Austin's growth.