The rancher’s life in Ballinger
Texas living doesn’t get much more rural than the city of Ballinger. Originally established as a railroad town in 1886, Ballinger went through significant changes in the 1980s when the Mueller steel manufacturer and Buddy’s Plant Plus fertilizer plant brought hundreds of jobs to the area and revitalized the economy after the Great Depression. Today, business continues to drive the economy with local shops and restaurants, recreational amenities and rural attractions that speak to its Texas country roots. “It’s mostly a farming and ranching community,” Smith Real Estate agent Tyler Smith says. “It’s just your quintessential small Texas town and a good place to raise children.”
Family-style and fast-food restaurants
Most shops and restaurants are centrally located by both of the city’s major highways. Beefmaster Steakhouse has offered an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet since 1987, while Alejandra’s is a Texas-themed Mexican restaurant with enchiladas, tacos and nachos. The Main Street Soda Fountain is well-known for its specialty deli sandwiches, and Grumpy Dave’s is the local burger joint that also has chicken and steak finger baskets. Fast food restaurants are situated further south by Tractor Supply Co., while small businesses include boutiques, gift and antique shops and hardware stores. Local grocery stores include Walmart, Spring Market and Allsup’s.
Ranch-style homes with barns and RVs
Homes are primarily clustered on the northwestern end past Hutchings Avenue. City blocks are lined with sidewalks, small trees and chain link fences, with some homes having sheds and extra space to park their RVs. Many smaller ranch-style houses are made with brick and stucco with up to half-acre lots and range between $50,000 and $200,000. Larger two-story homes will have their own barns and lots ranging from an acre to 10 acres and cost $300,000 to $500,000.
City parks, community spaces and local landmarks
Ballinger has several parks and community spaces within the city limits. The Ballinger City Park has a playground and walking trails by Elm Creek, while special events and celebrations are held at the city community center. Book lovers can check out their newest reads at the Carnegie Library, which was recorded as a Texas landmark in 1962. Locals like to watch the ducks swim near Willow Pond Drive, while additional play areas and sports fields are found west in the Ballinger school park. “We got a lot of hunting and fishing,” Smith says. “We’ve got a lot of people that come in from out of town that lease land to deer hunt, duck hunt or turkey hunt.”
Bearcat country in Ballinger High
The city has its own school district in Ballinger ISD, which has a B-plus rating on Niche. Ballinger Elementary has a Gifted & Talented program and a B-plus, while Ballinger Junior High has a 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio and a B-minus. Ballinger High School also has a B-plus, with families packing into Bearcat Stadium or Chandler Field to cheer on the high school football or baseball teams.
Public transportation between San Angelo and Abilene
U.S. Highway 67 and Texas State Highway 158 serve as the main roads in and out of Ballinger. The city offers public transportation over 30 miles southwest to San Angelo or over 50 miles north to Abilene through the City and Rural Rides program, which runs until 5 p.m. every weekday. The Ballinger Memorial Hospital is open for 24 hours, with the rest of the city amenities within walking distance. “You can go to city hall, the post office and the courthouse – you can do everything you need to do in Ballinger in 30 minutes," Smith says.
