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JUNCTION TEXAS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION (JTEDC)
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Community Profile – City of Junction, Texas Located in Kimble County, the City of Junction, with a population of 2,618, is a very business friendly place. It offers businesses a low tax environment, with minimal regulatory and other governmental requirements. The Junction AreaLocated on the western edge of the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Junction and the surrounding area are an increasingly popular get-away for residents from large cities. With its easy access, reasonable cost of living, beautiful rural scenery, and abundance of wildlife, Junction has become a place where many individuals take their vacations or maintain second homes. The hunting in the Junction area is excellent, and deer hunters are major contributors to the area’s economy. Fishing is also excellent. Bird watching and eco-tourism are becoming increasingly popular. Junction is located on Interstate Highway 10, and is also served by U.S. Highways 83 and 377. The town is a short distance from the U.S. 290 intersection on 1-10. Junction is 120 miles northwest of San Antonio, 150 miles west of Austin, 260 miles southwest of Dallas, and 450 miles east of El Paso. San Angelo is 90 miles to the northwest. The Kimble County Airport is a frequent stopover for cross-country fliers of small aircraft. Area EmployersThe majority of the area’s employees are concentrated in retail, public administration, and precision products. The area labor force is around 2,400. Employers range from wood products and cedar wood oil firms, to metal building manufacturers, to advertising specialty companies. Pedernales Electric Cooperative also maintains an office in Junction to serve its members in Kimble and surrounding counties. EducationTexas Tech University has a Learning Center in Junction. The diverse 400-acre campus provides a natural landscape for academic learning, recreation, and solitude. The richness of the flora and fauna and the beauty of the physical surroundings create an unusually relaxing atmosphere while also providing the opportunity for intensive academic study. The Center is the site of many ongoing research projects. It also hosts meetings and conferences throughout the year. Other options for higher education include San Angelo State University and Schreiner University in Kerrville, approximately 53 miles to the southeast. Junction supports one elementary, middle, and high school. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) most recently rated the middle and high schools as “Academically Acceptable”, with the elementary school receiving a “Recognized” rating. Total enrollment among all grades is approximately 739 students, and they are served by a 20,000-volume public library. GovernmentAn elected mayor and city council administer the City of Junction, which is a “Type A General Law Municipality” under Texas law. The city’s annual budget is approximately $2 million. A four-member police force and the County Sheriff’s Office serve the community. Junction has a highly trained 30-member Volunteer Fire Department (VFD). The Kimble County Ranch Fire Association also has firefighting personnel and equipment. The city and surrounding area are served by ambulance and rescue services. The city also has a local economic development corporation that offers financial incentives to bring new private sector jobs to the community. The City also works closely with the Chamber of Commerce to promote business in the area. Community’s Tax Structure Junction's 2008 tax structure per $100 property valuation is as follows:
Retail sales tax is set at the following rates:
Junction is served by 1-10, U.S. 83 and 377, and County Road 2169. The Kerrville Bus Company provides transcontinental bus service, with interstate and overnight courier service provided by Federal Express, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Air service
utilizes the Kimble County Airport’s 5,000-foot paved and lighted
runway. Commercial air service is available from San Antonio
International Airport and San Angelo’s Mathis Field, which receives
flights from American and Continental Airlines. Infrastructure (Continued) Verizon is the primary provider of telephone service, and there are a number of Internet Service Providers serving the area. Numerous cell phone companies operate in the area. Residents of Junction receive their water from the city's reservoir. The water treatment plant's capacity is two million gallons per day, with average consumption of one million gallons per day. Peak daily water consumption, during the summer, is approximately 1.85 million gallons. The city’s water supply and treatment facilities are in the process of being modernized.
Junction and environs provide an outstanding quality of life for residents and visitors, with ample opportunities for recreation, including hunting, fishing, hiking, and bird watching. Kimble County has more miles of running water than any other county in Texas. The region’s climate is moderate with an annual average temperature of 64.7 degrees and annual average rainfall of approximately 24 inches. Residents can relax in any of three parks: a 13-acre city park, a 34-acre county park, and the scenic and highly popular 2,630-acre South Llano River State Park. There is a public swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, and tennis courts, as well as two museums in the area. Residents and visitors can dine in any of 18 restaurants. Because of its proximity to I-10, there are 10 hotels and motels offering 310 rooms. Fifteen “bed and breakfasts” and cabin lodgings also serve the area. There are two grocery stores in the community, as well as a dry cleaner and washaterias.
Quality of Life (Continued) Prescriptions may be filled locally. Specialized medical facilities are easily accessible in San Antonio, San Angelo, Fredericksburg and Kerrville. Veterinarian services are locally available.
Banking services
are available from Junction National Bank and First State Bank, both
locally owned and operated. A branch of the Kerr County Federal Credit
Union is also located in Junction. Community-Related Websites County of Kimble: http://www.co.kimble.tx.us/ City of Junction: http://www.cityofjunction.com/ Junction Chamber of Commerce: http://www.junctiontexas.net/index.htm Junction Texas Economic Development Corporation: http://www.junctionedc.org/ Texas Tech University – Junction: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/hillcountry/junction/ South Llano River State Park: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/south_llano_river/ |
