Burnet County is a county in Texas, United States, on the Edwards Plateau northwest of Austin. It had a population of 49,130 at the 2020 census and covers 1,021 square miles (2,640 km2) centred near 30°47′N 98°11′W.
Burnet is the county seat, and its postal code is 78611. The county has nine incorporated cities and towns and about a dozen unincorporated communities. It observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Burnet County
Burnet County has nine incorporated places and roughly a dozen unincorporated communities. Cities and towns hold local elections and city services; CDPs (Census-Designated Places) are statistical areas only; Unincorp. communities have no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burnet | City · seat | — | 78611 |
| Marble Falls | City | — | 78654 |
| Granite Shoals | City | — | 78654 |
| Horseshoe Bay | City | — | 78657 |
| Bertram | City | — | 78605 |
| Cottonwood Shores | City | — | 78654 |
| Meadowlakes | City | — | 78611 |
| Highland Haven | City | — | 78654 |
| Double Horn | City | — | 78645 |
| Spicewood | Unincorp. | — | 78669 |
| Briggs | Unincorp. | — | 78608 |
| Smithwick | Unincorp. | — | 78657 |
| Shovel Mountain | Unincorp. | — | 78645 |
| Silver Creek Village | Unincorp. | — | 78654 |
| Sherwood Shores | Unincorp. | — | 78654 |
| Lake Victor | Unincorp. | — | 78611 |
| Fairland | Unincorp. | — | 78611 |
| Naruna | Unincorp. | — | 78611 |
| Oakalla | Unincorp. | — | 78605 |
| Oatmeal | Unincorp. | — | 78611 |
| Joppa | Unincorp. | — | 78654 |
| Mahomet | Unincorp. | — | 78611 |
| Watson | Unincorp. | — | 78611 |
Double Horn, on the county’s southern edge near Spicewood, incorporated as a city in 2023 to fend off annexation by nearby Bee Cave in neighboring Travis County — it did not appear on older lists of the county’s municipalities. Granite Shoals and Highland Haven sit on the shore of Lake LBJ alongside Horseshoe Bay, and the three are frequently confused by visitors; each is a separate incorporated city with its own government.
ZIP Codes
- 78611 — Burnet (also serves Meadowlakes, Lake Victor, Fairland, Naruna, Oatmeal, Mahomet, Watson)
- 78654 — Marble Falls (also serves Granite Shoals, Cottonwood Shores, Highland Haven, Silver Creek Village, Sherwood Shores, Joppa)
- 78657 — Horseshoe Bay (also serves Smithwick)
- 78605 — Bertram (also serves Oakalla)
- 78608 — Briggs
- 78645 — Spicewood extends into Burnet County and also covers Double Horn and Shovel Mountain
- 78669 — Spicewood’s main ZIP straddles the Burnet–Travis county line
Geography
Burnet County sits on the Edwards Plateau, Texas’s Hill Country, where limestone hills and spring-fed creeks give way to the Highland Lakes chain on the Colorado River. Lake Buchanan and Lake LBJ, both Colorado River reservoirs, form much of the county’s eastern and southern shoreline and anchor its tourism economy. Water covers 27 square miles (70 km2) of the county’s 1,021 square miles (2,640 km2). Burnet County borders Lampasas County to the north, Bell County to the northeast, Williamson County to the east, Travis County to the southeast, Blanco County to the south, Llano County to the west, and San Saba County to the northwest.
Demographics
Burnet County had 49,130 residents at the 2020 census. Marble Falls and Burnet are the two largest communities, followed by fast-growing Horseshoe Bay. Median household income in the county trails the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting a mix of retirees on Lake LBJ and a lower-wage rural workforce elsewhere in the county. Population density is about 48 people per square mile, well below the statewide average, though the Marble Falls–Horseshoe Bay lake corridor is much denser than the county’s ranching interior.
Economy & Local Life
Tourism around Lake LBJ, Lake Buchanan, and Inks Lake State Park drives much of the local economy, alongside retirement and second-home communities at Horseshoe Bay Resort. Burnet is home to Fort Croghan Museum and the county courthouse; Marble Falls anchors retail and healthcare for the county via Baylor Scott & White Medical Center. Ranching and limestone quarrying remain active in the county’s rural stretches. The Highland Lakes Balloon Fest and the annual Bluebonnet Festival in Burnet draw regional visitors each spring.
History
Burnet County was created in 1852 from Bell and Travis counties and organized in 1854. It is named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first provisional president of the Republic of Texas. Fort Croghan, established near the town of Burnet in 1849, protected settlers on the Texas frontier and predates the county’s formal organization. Indigenous peoples occupied the region for thousands of years before Anglo-American settlement; artifacts in the area date back to roughly 4500 BC.
Getting There
U.S. Highway 281 runs north–south through Burnet and Marble Falls, while State Highway 29 crosses the county east–west connecting to Llano and Georgetown.
- Austin — 47 miles southeast
- Georgetown — 33 miles east
- Llano — 24 miles west
- San Antonio — 100 miles south
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, about 55 miles southeast of Burnet, is the nearest major commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Burnet County?
It is in central Texas on the Edwards Plateau, about 47 miles northwest of Austin, in the Texas Hill Country.
What is the population of Burnet County?
49,130 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Burnet County?
1,021 square miles (2,640 km2), including 27 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Burnet County?
Burnet is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Burnet County?
Nine incorporated cities and towns, plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Burnet County?
Main ZIP codes include 78611 (Burnet), 78654 (Marble Falls), 78657 (Horseshoe Bay), 78605 (Bertram), and 78608 (Briggs).
What are Burnet County’s biggest lakes?
Lake Buchanan and Lake LBJ, both reservoirs on the Colorado River, form the eastern half of the Texas Highland Lakes chain.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.