Hutto, a community of 17,000 friendly people, is located in Williamson County, Texas
on the eastern edge of the famous Hill Country Region. Hutto has exploded from a small
town of 630 residents in 1990 to an economically vibrant community that expects to grow
to 30,000 citizens within the next decade. Less than 30 miles from downtown Austin
and only 10 miles from Round Rock’s high tech manufacturing and assembly center,
Hutto is the ideal lower cost alternative for many small and mid-size companies. Hutto is
where site selection consultants and their clients have already discovered affordable real
estate, a dynamic workforce at the ready, safe neighborhoods, quality schools, abundant
recreational opportunities and an overall family and business friendly environment.
Hutto is the only community in the United States to use the hippo as its mascot. There are several stories that explain how the hippopotamus because Hutto’s official mascot. The most popular tells of a circus train that stopped at the depot in 1915 most likely to take on passengers, pick up mail and water and feed the animals. During this historic stop, it is said that a hippo escaped and made its way to nearby Cottonwood Creek. Farmers and merchants watched in amusement as unsuccessful efforts were made to extricate the troublesome hippo from the muddy waters. Soon after the incident, the Hutto School adopted the hippo as its mascot.
In 2003, the Texas Legislature recognized Hutto as the “Official Hippo Capital of Texas.” The Hutto Chamber of Commerce arranged for a seven-ton concrete hippo named “Henrietta” to be placed along East Street in 1986. The fast-growing city of Hutto is also home to a herd of smaller concrete hippos which stand outside homes, businesses and public buildings as a symbol of community pride. Many are painted to reflect the unique character of the owner or business it represents.
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