Home > Your Personal Side > City Guides > Austin > Neighborhoods > South Austin

South Austin

Photo Credit: Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau

South Austin is known for its historic neighborhoods. Life in this relaxed area is characterized by evenings on the porch and a strong community bond. Eclectic shopping areas such as South Congress Avenue are right at home in this diverse community. Children in South Austin attend schools in the highly acclaimed Austin Independent School District. There are seven colleges and universities in the area, including the state’s premier institute of higher education, the University of Texas at Austin.

South Austin neighborhoods include:

Barton Hills | Bradfield Village | Castlewood-Oak Valley | Cherry Creek | Shady Hollow | Onion Creek

Barton Hills
Nestled in the hills just above Zilker Park and Barton Springs lies a slice of gracious neighborhood living called Barton Hills. It’s off the beaten path, so many people don’t know about the neighborhood.

The area is very hilly which gives it a real feeling of privacy. The hills and big trees add to the aesthetics. It's a physically beautiful neighborhood. In addition to this, Barton Hills is centrally located to downtown and cheaper than most neighborhoods in the area.

Getting around Austin from Barton Hills is relatively easy. Lamar Boulevard and MoPac Boulevard can take motorists north or south. Interstate 35 also is easily accessible, and Capital Metro riders have several bus routes from which to choose.

Many residents enjoy walking down their backyards and hiking the Barton Creek greenbelt. Because the greenbelt is so close by, a lot of people are concerned about maintaining the environment. There are a lot of environmentally active people here because the quality of life issues are around us. That concern makes for an extremely active neighborhood association. It also makes for a very close-knit neighborhood as well.

Back to top

Bradfield Village
Clark Wilson built this community with the idea of keeping it compact, so that people can get to really know their neighbors, have community events, and their kids can play with their friends and be close to home.

The homes in the area are an older style, with front porches and a breezeway instead of a driveway with a big garage. The lots the homes are built on are smaller-without sprawling lots to keep folks apart people are encouraged to make friends and get to know each other. There's a common area with a gazebo that the neighborhood is centered around, and it's here where you'll find people getting together for everything from annual community events to just talking and watching their kids play together.
Bradfield Village itself is appealing to people working in the Austin area because the big attraction to living here is getting out of the big city. Part of that small town feeling is reflected in the events sponsored here-like the annual Halloween celebration with its hayride, kids activities, face painting-it's really family oriented, and everyone comes out to participate.

Back to top

Castlewood Forest - Oak valley
This is an established neighborhood, with good space between homes and lots of privacy. The neighborhood originated as Castlewood Forest during the Seventies, and later grew to include the Oak Valley neighborhood.

Populated mostly by military retirees who settled in during Bergstrom AFB's heyday. Most folks living here have raised their kids and stayed on, which contributes to this being such a quiet place to live. Another reason why the Castlewood Forest-Oak Valley area is so quiet is the lack of through streets. The lack of through traffic makes this a great place to walk around, without any speeding cars to worry about.

Back to top

Cherry Creek
Driving along quiet neighborhood streets, it's easy to forget the hustle-and-bustle just minutes away on the major roadways. Stately trees provide shade for children riding their bicycles on the sidewalks and couples who enjoy a stroll on a weekend afternoon.

Residents don't have to travel far for shopping. Barton Creek Square mall is close by and major retailers are flocking to the new shopping centers around MoPac and Brodie. West Gate and William Cannon are lined with retail establishments ranging from fast food to grocery stores, dry cleaners, movie theaters and day care centers. Apartments are also concentrated along the major thoroughfares in the neighborhood. 90 percent of the homes in the neighborhood are owner-occupied. Many are first-time home buyers.

Back to top

Shady Hollow
“Shady Hollow is a good family neighborhood,” says Alice Niven with JB Goodwin Realtors. This is an established neighborhood built in the early 1980s that remains popular because of its large lots, huge shady trees and proximity to good schools.

Shady Hollow is home to mostly families. “The pool and park are big selling points for people with kids,” Niven said. The neighborhood has a clubhouse used for neighborhood and private events. It also has tennis courts and bicycle lanes.

The community center and pool are the focal point of the neighborhood. Many youngsters are on the neighborhood swim team. The community center is also the gathering point for events such as the 4th of July parade, the Memorial Day celebration, Easter egg hunt, scouting and Fall Fajita Fest. Residents say that their neighbors are great. They are willing to get involved in events and help you out. It really feels like a community.

Back to top

Onion Creek
Getting more value for less money is Onion Creek's best-kept not-so-secret secret, says real estate broker Sheila Mustin of Mustin and Porter Company. In addition to the country club with its facilities and fine restaurant; Onion Creek features 24-hour private security.

“The country club is the center of Onion Creek,” says Mustin. “And it’s one of the nicest country clubs in the Austin area, especially for the price. We have our golfers who decide to live here for the wonderful 27-hole golf course, but not everyone here plays golf. Club membership isn’t required when you purchase a home here in Onion Creek, however, the country club offers a way for people to meet other people, and become involved with what’s going on.”

Mustin says that the majority of Onion Creek is populated by “Empty Nesters” such as the Briefsteins, whose children are grown and moved away, although she has noticed home sales with 30-something single men has definitely increased recently. “They’re usually golfers, and love the value they get with living here,” she notes, while the other 40% are families, usually with young children.

Chris Ahrens, with wife Alma and their two children, 10-year-old Caleb Ellis and baby Sophia, have lived in Onion Creek for three years and are typical of most of the subdivision’s families. Ahrens believes living in a community where families are in the minority can have definite perks.

“The older folks are very sweet and caring and are neighbors like you used to have in the 50’s…you know they will keep an eye on things, say hello every morning, support your kid’s fund raiser, are always at home, give house warming gifts, and stop and chat since they have time,” Ahrens says, adding, “We really love it.”

Back to top