Jonestown, Texas

History

Jonestown was developed by brothers Warren and Emmet A. Jones in the 1930s when they recognized the opportunity presented by the upcoming Mansfield Dam on the Colorado River. Once the dam was complete, Jonestown would become waterfront property along the Sandy Creek Arm and Big Devil's Hollow of the newly formed Lake Travis. The Jones brothers initially sold waterfront lots for $50 in 1939, raising the price to $100 and offering financing after complaints the original cost was too high.

The area had less than 1,000 residents until the late 1980s and residences were mostly weekend cabins. However, during this time the remote location also attracted "bike gangs, drug dealers and other ne'er-do-wells", according to a 1999 Austin American-Statesman article.

The city officially incorporated in 1985, with city leaders encouraging growth in an attempt to leave the settlement's less savory history behind. Following incorporation, growth was initially rapid, with the 1988 population of 683 growing to 1,250 by 1990 but a regional real estate bust brought it to a halt circa 1990.

From the History section of Jonestown, Texas on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.