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History of Castle Hills
The city has undergone many changes since its incorporation in 1951, when water fees were $1 each month, soda pop was $0.05, Northwest Military Highway was a peach orchard, and City Hall (which was then located at the intersection of West Avenue and Northwest Military Highway) was the City Garage.
Beginnings
Castle Hills like many other cities enjoyed a simple beginning. The earliest inhabitants of the area were the Native Americans who settled and occupied the region between 1600 and 1875. The tribes that called this area home included the Coahuiltecans, Apaches, and later the Comanches. The occasional unearthed arrowhead or piece of pottery serve as evidence of their settlement near the intersection of what is now West Avenue and Loop 410. Here they fashioned flint arrowheads, tomahawks, and other implements from the flint rock that was plentiful in this area. In the early 1900s this location became a productive gravel pit. However, it has since been filled in and leveled as it appears today.
Early Settlements
The area was originally settled in the early 1920s by a handful of families attracted by the plentiful water supply provided by the Olmos Creek. Many of these 1st families of Castle Hills were tied to the oil industry. Perhaps most notable the Slimp Family, whose house was set atop a hill for which the City was named. The town quickly grew into a cohesive, thriving community. In fact, the development of some of today’s thoroughfares and public facilities was provided through the generosity of its early citizens.
Original Council Members
The City’s 1st elected Council members were:
The following is from Birth of a City by Leonard Yeckel, the 1st Mayor of Castle Hills:
“The success of the development and growth of our City cannot be credited to any one person. Each person who has served the City, each resident that has lived here has contributed to our success in one way or another.”
Beginnings
Castle Hills like many other cities enjoyed a simple beginning. The earliest inhabitants of the area were the Native Americans who settled and occupied the region between 1600 and 1875. The tribes that called this area home included the Coahuiltecans, Apaches, and later the Comanches. The occasional unearthed arrowhead or piece of pottery serve as evidence of their settlement near the intersection of what is now West Avenue and Loop 410. Here they fashioned flint arrowheads, tomahawks, and other implements from the flint rock that was plentiful in this area. In the early 1900s this location became a productive gravel pit. However, it has since been filled in and leveled as it appears today.
Early Settlements
The area was originally settled in the early 1920s by a handful of families attracted by the plentiful water supply provided by the Olmos Creek. Many of these 1st families of Castle Hills were tied to the oil industry. Perhaps most notable the Slimp Family, whose house was set atop a hill for which the City was named. The town quickly grew into a cohesive, thriving community. In fact, the development of some of today’s thoroughfares and public facilities was provided through the generosity of its early citizens.
Original Council Members
The City’s 1st elected Council members were:
- Adolph Dolch
- Leslie Dunn
- Harold Grist
- Jimmy Hanning
- Jim Sierdevan
- Leonard Yeckel (as their 1st Mayor)
The following is from Birth of a City by Leonard Yeckel, the 1st Mayor of Castle Hills:
“The success of the development and growth of our City cannot be credited to any one person. Each person who has served the City, each resident that has lived here has contributed to our success in one way or another.”