• Quick Facts:

• City Website: www.ci.marble-falls.tx.us
• 2000 Population: 4,959
• 2009 Estimated Population: 7,485
• Median Family Income: $61,091
• Median Home Value: $131,800
• 2010 Tax Rate: 2.3135 per $100
• ZIP: 78654

There are few better places to spend a cool evening in the dwindling days of summer than dining at Marble Falls' waterfront restaurants. The sun lowers behind purple hills, limning wispy lazy cirrus clouds with mellow gold. A boat ripples across still water, headed home, while lights wink on along the edge of the lake.

A spectacular natural setting tucked among gentle hills divided by Lake Marble Falls makes life in this community - with its shops and galleries, good schools, churches and restaurants and the attractions of a big city less than an hour away - an exceptional find.

The falls that gave the city its name were submerged when the Colorado River was impounded here in 1951, but are revealed just west of the US 281 bridge when the constant-level lake is lowered for cleanup. That graceful arched four-lane bridge, by the way, is to be replaced with a new four-lane structure beginning in 2011.

The real game changer for the area is coming a few miles south of the bridge at US 281's intersection with SH 71.

Lake of the Hills Regional Medical Center is to be operated by Scott & White - whose century of quality medical care has made it almost venerated in Texas. With about 100 beds, the hospital is to offer a variety of specialty services and is expected to be a powerful economic force, attracting more professionals, retirees and others seeking a quality lifestyle.

Art and music are important elements of life here. The Austin music scene spills into Marble Falls, where live performances can be found most days downtown or at the River City Grille, whose deck can be reached by either land or water. Nearby, the outstanding Riverbend Fine Art Gallery hosts special exhibits and always features a variety of works by well-recognized artists while small galleries offer other quality work by local artisans elsewhere, including downtown.

Historic Downtown Marble Falls, a compact area just northwest of the US 281 bridge embracing shops and boutiques in vintage buildings, complements the city's national chain stores. Granite Mountain - just west of town - is the source of stone found in some local buildings, the Texas Capitol in the late 1800s and the Galveston Seawall in 1902.

Lakeside Park - with an event center, swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts - is the site of the LakeFest Drag Boat Races in the summer and the Walkway of Lights during the Christmas Season.

Rolling green hills and miles of sparkling blue shoreline have made Marble Falls a favorite Central Texas destination since its founding in 1887.
Nestled along the banks of the Lower Colorado River and named for a roaring waterfall that once rushed over enormous marble boulders, the town is known not only for its natural beauty, but also for its colorful Texas history, celebrated in the Downtown Historic District, where Main Street has been restored to its original grandeur and updated to include charming boutiques, bistros, and numerous large-scale sculptures crafted by local artists.
Founded in 1887 by Adam Rankin Johnson, a former Comanche fighter and Confederate general, Marble Falls grew quickly with the construction of a rail yard to transport the unique pink granite from nearby Granite Mountain, some of which was used to construct the capitol building in Austin.
With the completion of Max Starcke Dam and creation of Lake Marble Falls in 1951, the falls the city was named for were submerged, and the city's economy emerged, evolving from industrial-based granite mining to tourism and retirement.
While Marble Falls is still a favorite tourist destination, the city's natural beauty also draws new residents, businesses and master-planned communities such as Falling Waters and Flatrock Springs, along with a planned 100-bed Scott & White hospital complex and a galleria-style shopping center.
The rugged beauty of the lake country inspires artists, authors, musicians and artisans, and live music venues serve up delicious music on decks overlooking the lake.
Marble Falls is less than an hour away from Austin - known as the Live Music Capital of the World - and many musicians meander to the river city to play in the lake-friendly atmosphere.
Because Lake Marble Falls is "constant level" and water levels rarely fluctuate, visitors and residents have endless opportunities for water sports, swimming, fishing, bird watching, hiking, boating and camping.
Charming boutiques offer an array of shopping, and area attractions include wine tasting tours, horseback riding, museums, five city parks, and five golf courses. The city's skate park and a disc golf course are especially popular with teenagers.
The city supports popular annual events, including the LakeFest drag boat races of August.
From the sunny beaches of summer to the twinkling Christmas Walkway of Lights, Marble Falls is the place to be year 'round.

Emergency: 911

City Hall: 800 Third St.
830.693.3615
Commissioners: Pct. 1, Bill Neve; Pct. 2, Russell Graeter; Pct. 3, Ronny Hibler; Pct. 4, Joe Don Dockery
Constables: Pct. 1, Mike Harnisch, Pct. 2, Chuck Caraway; Pct. 3, Jimmy Ballard; Pct. 4, Chris Jett
JPs: Pct. 1, Calvin Boyd; Pct. 2, Lisa Whitehead; Pct. 3, Peggy Simon; Pct. 4, Edward Cutchin
Mayor: George Russell
Council: Dave Rhodes, Alan Garrett, David Ives, Richard Lewis, John Packer, Sharon Pittard
City Manager: Ralph Hendricks
830.798.7051
Planning & Zoning: 830.798.7060
Electric: PEC
830.868.7155/888.554.4732
Gas: Atmos Energy 800.460.3030
Newspaper: The Highlander
830.693.4367
Cable, Internet, Phone: Northland Cable 830.693.7500
Internet/Phone:
Verizon 800.922.0204
AT&T 800.288.2020
Internet: Zeecon 830.798.9388
CTECS 325.247.4191
ERF 888.534.9911
281 Communications 830.798.9041
Blue Mountain 800.485.5006
Phone: Sprint 866.866.7509
Post Office:
1212 US 281, Marble Falls
830.693.3531
School Enrollment:
MFISD, http://marble.tx.schoolwebpages.com 830.693.34357
Trash: Allied Waste 830.693.3513
Water/Sewer: City of Marble Falls
830.693.3513

NON-EMERGENCY

Police: Chief Mark Whitacre
830.693.3611
Fire: Chief Larry Wright
830.693.4060;
MFVFD: Chief Terry White
830.637.7128
EMS: Marble Falls Area EMS
830.693.7277