Market Overview for Hornsby Bend
There are 47 active listings in Hornsby Bend with a median list price of $290K and a median sold price of $280K.
Homes average 67 days on market.
Over the past 30 days, 12 homes have sold, with 133 sales in the past 12 months.
The average price per square foot is $181.
About Hornsby Bend
Hornsby Bend is a census-designated place (CDP) in eastern Travis County, Texas, situated along the Colorado River approximately 10 miles east of downtown Austin. The CDP had a population of 12,168 according to the 2020 U.S. Census and covers approximately 9.4 square miles. The CDP boundary was expanded significantly between the 2010 and 2020 censuses (the 2010 boundary covered only 1.7 square miles with a population of 6,791).
Hornsby Bend is the oldest Anglo settlement in Travis County. Reuben Hornsby settled the area in July 1832, securing a grant in the upper Austin colony's Mina District from Stephen F. Austin. A U.S. post office operated from 1856 until the Civil War, reopened in 1886, and was discontinued in 1901 when mail was routed through Austin.
The community is served by FM 973, FM 969, and the SH 130 toll road. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is approximately 4 miles to the southwest. The Colorado River forms much of the western and southern boundary of the CDP.
Hornsby Bend is home to the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory, a 1,200-acre site operated by Austin Water that has recorded more than 350 bird species. The site is part of Austin Water's Center for Environmental Research, which has operated on the property since 1957 in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.
The CDP sits within Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) and is part of the Del Valle area of eastern Travis County. Tesla's Gigafactory Texas, one of the company's largest manufacturing facilities, is located approximately 2.5 miles southwest of Hornsby Bend along the Colorado River.
Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park, a 1,200-acre lake park at 6614 Blue Bluff Road, is adjacent to the CDP and provides boating, fishing, swimming, volleyball, picnic areas, and trails. FM 973 serves as the primary north-south road through the community, connecting to US 290 northward and to Del Valle and SH 71 southward. The SH 130 toll road passes through the eastern portion of the CDP and provides high-speed connections to north Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown without using I-35.
Living in Hornsby Bend
Hornsby Bend residents commute via FM 973 and SH 130 toll road. Downtown Austin is approximately 10 miles west (20 to 30 minutes in light traffic). SH 130 provides connections to north Austin, Round Rock, and Georgetown without using I-35. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is approximately 4 miles to the southwest.
Students attend Del Valle Independent School District schools. The district operates 15 campuses with approximately 11,300 students. Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary serves the community, with students feeding into Del Valle middle schools and Del Valle High School. The district also includes multiple elementary campuses, three middle schools, and an opportunity center.
Primary healthcare is available at the Hornsby Bend Health & Wellness Center at 3700 Gilbert Road, opened in October 2023 and operated by CommUnityCare in affiliation with Central Health. The facility provides primary care, behavioral health, and wellness programs. The nearest full-service hospital is St. David's South Austin Medical Center, approximately 15 miles west.
Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park, a 1,200-acre lake park at 6614 Blue Bluff Road, provides boating, fishing, swimming, volleyball, and trail access adjacent to the community. The Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory offers free dawn-to-dusk access year-round, with monthly birding field trips on the third Saturday of each month.
Things to Do in Hornsby Bend
- Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory: 1,200-acre site at 2210 South FM 973 with more than 350 recorded bird species. Free admission, open dawn to dusk daily. Monthly birding field trips on the third Saturday.
- Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park: 1,200-acre lake park at 6614 Blue Bluff Road with boating, fishing, swimming, volleyball, picnic areas, and trails.
- Austin Water Center for Environmental Research: Research and education facility on the Hornsby Bend property, partnering with UT Austin and Texas A&M. Hosts workshops and community events.
- Webberville Park: Travis County park on the Colorado River with fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, and picnic areas. Nearby along FM 969.
- McKinney Falls State Park: 744-acre TPWD park with hiking trails, swimming holes, and camping. Approximately 10 miles southwest via SH 71.
Major Employers in Hornsby Bend
- Tesla Gigafactory Texas (Manufacturing / Technology): Large-scale electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facility on approximately 2,500 acres along the Colorado River, approximately 2.5 miles southwest of Hornsby Bend.
- Austin Water (Municipal Utilities): Operates the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant and Center for Environmental Research on 1,200 acres within the CDP. In operation since 1957.
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (Transportation): Regional airport hub approximately 4 miles southwest, employing airline, concession, and government operations staff.
- Del Valle Independent School District (Education): Public school district serving approximately 11,300 students across 15 campuses in eastern Travis County.
Hornsby Bend Schools
Hornsby Bend is served by Del Valle Independent School District, which operates 15 campuses in eastern Travis County with approximately 11,300 students.
School District: Del Valle ISD
Public Schools
- Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary - Approximately 712 students. Serves the Hornsby Bend community.
- Del Valle Middle School - Approximately 911 students.
- Del Valle High School - Approximately 3,589 students. UIL 6A classification.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hornsby Bend known for?
Hornsby Bend is the oldest Anglo settlement in Travis County, dating to Reuben Hornsby's 1832 arrival. It is home to the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory, a 1,200-acre site with more than 350 recorded bird species, and is adjacent to Tesla's Gigafactory Texas.
What school district serves Hornsby Bend?
Hornsby Bend is served by Del Valle Independent School District. Students attend Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary, then Del Valle middle schools and Del Valle High School (UIL 6A).
How far is Hornsby Bend from downtown Austin?
Hornsby Bend is approximately 10 miles east of downtown Austin via FM 973 and SH 130, a drive of 20 to 30 minutes in light traffic.
Is Hornsby Bend inside Austin city limits?
No. Hornsby Bend is an unincorporated census-designated place within Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). It is part of the Del Valle area of eastern Travis County.
What is the population of Hornsby Bend?
The 2020 U.S. Census recorded a population of 12,168 for the Hornsby Bend CDP. The boundary was expanded between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, making direct comparison with the 2010 figure (6,791) imprecise.
