Marble Falls seeing 'healthy growth' as more people, businesses pick the Hill Country

MARBLE FALLS, Texas (KXAN) — While Austin continues to see more and more people moving to the city, some of the surrounding communities are seeing growth as well.

Marble Falls is one of those communities that is seeing more and more people call the small town home.

Danna Laine Doremus owns "The Oil Tap" on main street. She said with many people visiting Marble Falls, along with continued growth, she brought her business here and is excited about the future.

"We have been down here three years and in that three years I saw the need to open a second location," said Doremus.

When driving into Marble Falls from Austin, many developments are popping up with for sale signs posted all over.

"Lots of movement, lots of growth," said Kelcei Shaver, who lives in one of the new developments just south of town.

Shaver said she loves the small town feel and charm and hopes it stays that way.

"Slower pace, people know my coffee order," she said.

The Marble Falls Economic Development corporation said about 150 to 200 people are moving to Marble Falls each year. The most recent data shows that from 2022 to 2023 almost 500 new people moved to the area.

"We knew it was going to be a matter of time before the residential growth on the south side of the lake would bring enough activity there, that would finally start driving some of the retail there," said Christian Fletcher with The Marble Falls Economic Development corporation.

While the growth has not been anything like some of the communities closer to Austin, growth is still happening.

"Not being on the I-35 corridor allows Marble Falls to retain some of its charming character to where we aren't being steam rolled by growth," said Fletcher. "We are seeing growth, and it is healthy."

While growth can be good, many people we spoke to tell KXAN they hope Marble Falls doesn't lose that small town feel.

"I love it because it is a small town," Shaver said.

Marble Falls has a population of about 8,000 people.