BASTROP, Texas — A historic small Texas town is getting recognized as one of the best places to live in Texas.
American Planning Association - Texas Chapter announced Monday that Bastrop is one of its "2019 Great Places in Texas." The group put Bastrop on the list because of its great downtown neighborhood.
Great Places in Texas highlights the authentic characteristics found in three components of all communities: streets, neighborhoods and public spaces.
According to APA, a "Great Place in Texas" offers better choises for where and how people work and live every day, as well as places that are enjoyable, safe and desirable.
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Only five other cities in the state were on the list, including the following:
- Downtown Nacogdoches - Nacogdoches, Texas (Great Neighborhood)
- Downtown Bastrop – Bastrop, Texas (Great Neighborhood)
- Levitt Pavilion - Arlington, Texas (Great Public Space)
- Discovery Green - Houston, Texas (Great Public Space)
- San Jacinto Plaza – El Paso, Texas (Great Public Space)
- Hill Country Mile – Boerne, Texas (Great Street)
KVUE spoke to several residents on Main Street to ask why.
“It’s kid-friendly, but it’s also – there’s enough to do without the kids, you know; there’s places to go get a drink and to just have a nice night on the town," said Sara Waldmann, who lives in Bastrop with her family. “It seems like the community is inclusive and there’s always just something going on.”
Some people who live nearby say it's super clean.
"It's pretty clean ... it's a wonderful place for commerce ... all the shops are amazing, the food is great and the people are just friendly overall so," said Ben Harris, who lives in Elgin but is in Bastrop often for trivia shows and local spots.
People from out of town even think so too.
"We loved it; we've been shopping here all day," said Marie Trice, visiting from Fort Worth. "The people were really friendly everywhere we went."
"It's the perfect town to visit," said Ann Welding, who was also visiting from Forth Worth.
For more information about the 2019 Great Places in Texas, as well as a list of the Great Places in America designees located in the state, click here.