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.
Since then, however, Hutto has become a boomtown, thanks to a growing demand for housing near Austin (just 25 minutes away) and the construction of the SH-130 tollway. Today, Hutto is one of the country’s fastest growing communities.
Attractions
Hippos, hippos, hippos.
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 including the Henrietta the Hippo Statue (above) on East Street. It’s not just anyplace you can pose with a 14,000-pound hippo statue, but here’s your chance. This concrete hippopotamus in downtown Hutto was placed here by the chamber of commerce and serves as the town’s most popular photo op.
If Henrietta the Hippo isn’t enough for you, enjoy a self-guided tour of the 300-plus hippo statues in Hutto, including Farmer Hippo, Dalmatian Hippo, and even Army Hippo. You’ll find a map to hippos on city website.
Why all the hippos? According to local legend, around 1915 a hippopotamus escaped from a circus train while in Hutto. The residents seemed to fall in love with the idea of hippos and soon named their football team the Hutto Hippos (the only hippo football mascot in Texas.)
Later, residents started adding hippo statues to their yards and businesses. The Texas Legislature recognized Hutto as the “Official Hippo Capital of Texas.” in 2003.