Taylor, Texas, is a small city about a half hour's drive north of Austin near Interstate 35 and Highway 79, and the city was originally named Taylorville, in honor of Edward Moses Taylor, who was a well known railroad official. Taylor was founded in 1876 when the Texas Land Company auctioned lots in anticipation of the arrival of the railroad. The town was founded primarily by Czechoslovakian immigrants, along with mostly German and Austrian immigrants who purchased the land, most of which was being used by the railroad since the city was becoming a shipping point for cattle, grain and cotton. In 1882, the town was incorporated, and a public school system was built, and in the same year, the Taylor, Bastrop and Houston Railway reached the small community, allowing for more trade. The city had about 1,000 residents at the time, although today, the population is estimated to be over 15,000 residents. In 1890, there were two banks in Taylor, along with a cotton compress, electric company, and a savings and loan, which was the first in Texas. There were around 3,400 families in the city of Taylor in the census of 2000, and just over 4,700 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18, and 52.6% were married couples living together. The median income for a household in Taylor was about $38,000, and the median income for an individual was around $17,000 in the census of 2000. Taylor is in the county of Williamson, and the railroad still traverses through the city, although now it is passenger rail, Amtrak. Taylor is located at the intersection of Highway 79 and Highway 95, and is dotted with numerous quaint, historic buildings, such as the St. James Episcopal Church and the Immanuel Lutheran Church, although many of the 19th century structures were destroyed in a fire in 1879. Some of these historic structures were renovated and restored, such as the Victorian House, which was the birthplace of Governor Dan Moody. Moody was well known for prosecuting the Ku Klux Klan and restoring honesty to state government after Ma and Pa Ferguson had both been governor and accused of corruption, and his re-structuring of government saved the state hundreds of thousands of dollars by eliminating the corrupt.
Nowadays, Taylor has many popular events and attractions, and one such well known event is the yearly Taylor Rattlesnake Sacking Championships, which are held every March. There is also the Moody Museum on 9th, formerly the Victorian House, which is the site of the home of former Governor Dan Moody. The downtown area of Taylor, especially Main Street, is replete with historical structures, including Taylor City Hall, which is on Porter Street, as well as the city library, which is on Vance. Lodging in Taylor includes the Talbot Street Bed and Breakfast, the Hidden Cove Cabin, and the Rodeway Inn at Silver Creek, as well as the Blackland Farms RV Park and the Best Western Taylor, among others. For dining out, Louie Mueller's Barbecue,Bob's Backyard Cafe, and Snuffy's Grill and Bar all offer a choice of good eats, and golfers can choose between the Mustang Creek Golf Course in Taylor, or the Golf Club at Star Ranch in nearby Hutto, or even the Blackhawk Golf Club in nearby Pflugerville.
For a night out on the town, those interested in libations can try the Cactus Rose, the Brushy Creek Bar and Grill, or Randy's Ice House, along with the Over the Hill Beer Joint and Casper's.
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