Set in the heart of Hill Country, Gillespie County rests on the Edwards Plateau in central Texas. Covering 1,061 square miles, Gillespie County is home to the city of Fredericksburg (the county seat), the census-designated places (CDP) of Harper and Stonewall, and a range of small, unincorporated communities – combining to a population of nearly 25,000 people. The county is named for Robert Addison Gillespie, a soldier in the Mexican-American War.
Gillespie County is home to abundant wildlife, from turkey, quail, doves, and other fowl to bobcats, coyotes, foxes, ringtail cats, and Texas whitetail deer. This native population of game animals makes this region of central Texas a popular hunting destination, and deer hunting remains one of the area’s largest industries.
Livestock – particularly cattle and sheep – account for Gillespie County’s other major industry, with 573,000 acres of rangeland throughout the county, much of which is dedicated to pasture and hay. Agriculture also plays a role in the Gillespie economy, with crops like peaches, wine grapes, nuts, and feed crop common throughout the region.
Gillespie County’s rural communities focus on a mixture of tourist/hospitality attractions (the county boasts 14 wineries and 850 hotel rooms) and agricultural products, making cattle ranching, farming, hunting excursions, and stocked fishing spots all important parts of the local economy – and the popular attractions that draw visitors from near and far.
Gillespie County is rich with opportunities, with a range of properties to meet acreage, budgetary, and resource needs. Whatever you envision for your new venture in Texas Hill Country, Gillespie County has the landscape to make it a reality!