Hallettsville’s strong heritage roots
Hallettsville is in between three major metropolitan areas in South Texas. Less than two hours from Houston, Austin and San Antonio, Hallettsville was originally a trading post in the late 19th century before the arrival of German and Czech immigrants transformed the rural town into the agricultural center of Lavaca County. “We fell in love with it because it’s beautiful, quiet and peaceful,” says Missy Henderson, an 18-year resident and Welcome Home Real Estate agent. “It’s very much a family-oriented place to live.” With local restaurants, low-cost housing and its own school district, Hallettsville is a little town in Texas well-known for its heritage and hospitality.
Family-owned restaurants with a Czech twist
Most restaurants are based in the downtown area around the historic courthouse. One of the more popular restaurants is Jalisco, a family-owned and operated restaurant that’s been in the area since 1999. “There’s a lot of Mexican food,” Henderson says. “If you like Mexican restaurants, come to Hallettsville – we’ve got one on every corner.” Cabos San Lucas is another Mexican grill that also serves steak, seafood and pasta specials. Vicenza’s Italian Restaurant is well-known for its pizza pockets and New York-style slices, and Novosad’s BBQ & Sausage Market is a Czechoslovakian establishment that makes its own hot links in-house. There are also several chain and fast-food restaurants by the highway, as well as a thrift store and garden shop. Local grocery stores include Brookshire Brothers and Walmart.
Older homes with acreage and backyard amenities
Hallettsville has mostly older homes built between the '40s and '60s lining its city blocks. Many of the small fixer-uppers are from the 1920s and sit on quarter-acre lots, costing $12,000 to $95,000. The main architectural styles are traditional, craftsman and contemporary homes, and many houses have landscaped bushes, gated entrances and two-car garages. Lot sizes range greatly from a few thousand square feet to 3 acres, with prices ranging from $150,000 to $335,000. A few larger homes have amenities such as backyard decks, fire pits and in-ground pools, costing between $475,000 and $650,000.
A hole-in-one for Hallettsville’s city park
There are several recreational facilities on the north side of the city. The city park has playgrounds, beach volleyball courts and a half-mile walking trail, while golfers can practice their strokes at the nine-hole municipal golf course. Small events and celebrations are held at the community pool and youth center, and Little League is in full swing every summer at the city’s baseball and softball fields.
A local school district with career and technical education
Hallettsville has its own independent school district that earns a B-plus on Niche and offers career and technical education courses such as agriculture, animal sciences and welding. “You could already have or be very close to acquiring your vocational license through the high school,” Henderson says. “You could go out into the world and start making a living the day you graduate.” Hallettsville Elementary has a Gifted and Talented program and a B-plus, while Hallettsville Junior High has a 12-to-1 student-teacher ratio and an A-minus. Hallettsville High School offers advanced placement courses and also has a B-plus. The Sacred Heart Catholic School is a private institution that provides a faith-based curriculum for preschool through high school.
Fiddling festivals, domino tournaments and kolache days
Texas 42 players kick off every year with the straight domino tournament, while in the spring, the annual South Texas Polka & Sausage Fest comes to the Knights of Columbus Hall. Fiddlers come from across the state to play in the three-day Texas state championship for cash prizes, and Czech heritage is celebrated alongside food trucks, yard games and a parade at the Kolache Fest. Hallettsville Market Days also spotlights over 90 vendors at four annual shows every season.
Highway travel between Houston and San Antonio
Two main highways run through the city into Central Texas. La Grange is over 33 miles north when driving on U.S. Route 77, while Victoria is around 45 miles south. Going 38 miles east on the alternate route for U.S. Highway 90 leads to Eagle Lake, and Shiner is just 14 miles west. Lavaca Transit provides one-way rides to city essentials, including the 24-hour Lavaca Medical Center. Interstate 10 is roughly 17 miles north and connects around 100 miles west toward San Antonio and east toward Houston.
