Region: Hill Country
The city was formally established on April 1, 1881, when Cornelia Trimble
donated land for a town site at an International-Great Northland Railroad depot
there. The area had earlier been settled as part of a Mexican land grant. The
common explanation for the city's name is that it derives from the Spanish word,
viuda, meaning widow. The town had gathered a reputation as a popular eating
stop for travelers (at the Carrington House) and the name may refer to a pair of
widows who cooked at the establishment in the late 1800s.
Buda is 17 miles from Austin on I-35. Its growth has paralleled Austin's
since the 1980s.
As the Outdoor Capital of Texas, Buda recently opened a 52-acre Buda
Sportsplex park that features a lengthy trail system, a fishing pond, playground
and xeriscape. 512/312-0084.
The city also is known as the Wiener Dog Capital of Texas. Annual events
include the Buda County Fair and Wiener Dog Races in April; Red, White and Buda
in July and Budafest in December.