Буда, Техас: История и современность города

City in Texas, United States

Buda ('/b//juː//d//ə/ BYOOdə) is a city in Hays County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,108 in 2020, an increase over the figure of 7,295 tabulated in 2010. Buda is part of the Austin Round Rock San Marcos metropolitan statistical area and is one of Austin's fastest growing suburbs. Residents of Buda are referred to as Budans.

The town of Buda sprang up along the route of the International Great Northern Railroad, which was extended from Austin to San Antonio in 1880. Buda bore the name of "Du Pre" from its birth in 1881 until the autumn of 1887, when postal officials became aware that another Texas town was also named Du Pre. Cornelia Trimble platted the town of Du Pre on April 1, 1881, establishing streets and a 150 feet (46 m) wide "Reservation" between the lots and the railroad right of way, which allowed the railroad to place buildings on the parkland, including the depot that would become the lifeblood of the town over the next few decades. Several businesses sprang up, including the Carrington Hotel, which served meals to railroad travelers. By the time Du Pre found a new name for itself, the Carrington hotel was known as the "Buda House". The "Dupre Notes" column of the Sept. 25, 1886, edition of the Hays County Times and Farmer's Journal notes that "The Buda House is one of the best hotels in the state. The polite and entertaining hostess, Mrs. Carrington, meets all with a courteous welcome." According to the town's oral tradition, "Buda" is a corruption of the Spanish word viuda, or "widow", referencing the widows who supposedly worked as cooks at the Carrington Hotel. Others suggest that like the town of Buda, Illinois, the town name is a nod to the exiles of the failed Hungarian Revolution of 1848 who settled in the area. Buda was incorporated in 1948. By the mid 1980s it had attracted a cement plant and some craft industry.

Buda is in northeastern Hays County, at (30.084229, −97.839081). It is 15 mile (24 km) southwest of downtown Austin and 65 mile (105 km) northeast of San Antonio on Interstate 35. Just to the north of Buda is Texas State Highway 45, a major toll loop of Austin. Almost immediately north of Buda is the county line bordering Travis County and the Austin city limits. According to the United States Census Bureau, Buda has a total area of , of which , or 0.11%, are water. Buda students attend Carpenter Hill Elementary School, Elm Grove Elementary School, Dahlstrom Middle School, Jack C. Hays High School, and Moe and Gene Johnson High School.

Buda is home to numerous fast growing small to medium sized businesses.

Buda is a commuter town south of Austin. Commercial development along the I 35 corridor, such as the Cabela's sporting goods store, has increased city sales tax revenue, and city leaders hope that further revitalization of downtown Buda will attract tourists and residents to the Main Street area. Buda attracts national attention for its lighthearted wiener dog races, organized every April by the Buda Lions Club. Rooster Teeth Productions, the creators of the machinima series Red vs. Blue and The Strangerhood, had its office in Buda until moving back to Austin. In 2009, Buda joined the Film Friendly Texas Program, which trains community leaders about the film production process and how to effectively facilitate filming requests.

Buda is a home rule city with a council manager form of government. Other governmental entities include the Buda Planning and Zoning Commission, the Historical Commission, the Parks Commission, the Board of Adjustments and the Economic Development Corporation. Citizen Groups active in local politics include the Buda Area Chamber of Commerce and the Buda Downtown Merchants Association. In November 2007, Buda citizens adopted a home rule charter by a margin of 77.85 percent, allowing the city to transition from general law to home rule.