Manor, Texas

Manor is just a short distance from the state capital and is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. The City of Manor was the first government agency in the United States to deploy a QR Code program to disseminate information to residents and tourists and there are currently 24 fixed mounted QR Code signs placed throughout the city on various landmarks and structures. Although Manor has been sort of a sleepy town for many years, it is now one of the faster-growing communities in the Austin area.

History

The city was named for James B. Manor, one of the earliest settlers of Travis County. His family had known Sam Houston back in Tennessee and in 1832 Manor came with Houston to Texas. He settled on Gilleland Creek just west of present day downtown Manor while Texas was in its earliest days of the Republic. In late 1871, as the Houston and Texas Central Railway constructed the first railroad link to the Texas capital, James Manor made a donation of right-of-way which brought the line through what is now the town. The inaugural train arrived in Austin on Christmas Day 1871. The following year the community of Manor was laid out and named.

Manor has been the location for a number of movies. Perhaps the most notable was “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” starring Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. The old water tower featured in the movie, though no longer used, remains a landmark in the downtown district.

Parks and Recreation

Jennie Lane Park in downtown Manor is a “Smart Park” with WiFi access and coded signage accessible by photo and web-enabled cell phones for retrieving historical and other information. The park has restroom facilities, a covered picnic area, and a gazebo. This park is the center of most community-oriented events and can also be reserved for private events.

East Metro Park is a multiple-use recreational area with ball fields, soccer fields, basketball court, playscapes, hiking trails, stock ponds, and both free and fee reserved pavilions. The park also includes a swimming pool managed by the YMCA of Austin and is just five minutes southeast of Manor.

Wildhorse Creek and ShadowGlen subdivisions include parks, playscapes, and multi-use fields. ShadowGlen amenities also include a water park and junior Olympic-size pool as well as the ShadowGlen Golf Club.

Events

• AManor Heritage Festival
• Manor Fest
• Manor Farmers Market
• Summertime Movie Series
• Christmas in the Park

For an up to date look at what’s going on, check out manorchamberofcommerce.com

With Austin just minutes away, residents of Manor also have easy access to events such as the Republic of Texas Biker Rally, the Annual Austin Hot Sauce Festival, and the Austin Film Festival. Manor is also just minutes from the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, the Pecan Street Festival, SXSW and the Austin Reggae Festival.