The City of Wimberley addressed the State of the City during a luncheon hosted by the Wimberley Chamber of Commerce last week. Mayor Jim Chiles gave residents an overview of the city’s population and economic growth, advancements in the realms of culture, quality of life and infrastructure, and shared a vision of the future.
According to Chiles, Wimberley’s population grew a modest 11 percent from 2,598 in 2000 to 2,881 in 2024. The number of children in the Wimberley Independent School District rose 19 percent from 2000 to 2,485 students.
In terms of economic growth, the city’s sales tax revenue, used for running the city and making road repairs and other improvements, rose approximately 350 percent since 2002.
Cultural growth made significant strides in the form of the city’s designations as a Dark Sky Community, a film and music friendly city, and in 2025, a Bird City Texas.
The city retained traditional events such as the VFW’s July 4 rodeo, which will celebrate 79 years in 2026, the Chamber of Commerce’s twenty-third July 4 parade, and the fiftieth anniversary of the Wimberley Village Library. They also paid tribute to the tenth anniversary of the 2015 Memorial Day flood.
Mayor Chiles spoke at length about the city’s priority to enhance the quality of life in Wimberley. From the creation of a historical district, to sidewalk projects along FM2325 and FM3237, to an urban trails initiative and a program of public art, the city committed to enrich the experience of Wimberley for residents and visitors alike.
City achievements in 2025 included the opening of the Welcome Center on Old Kyle Road, the launch and success of the Hometown Holidays campaign which garnered more sales tax revenue in one month than any month in Wimberley history, the adoption of the Resilient Community Comprehensive Plan, and in 2024, the adoption of the Parks Master Plan.
Road and infrastructure improvements completed this year and in recent years were the revitalization of the downtown square, the Blue Heron, Spoke Hollow and Masonic Lodge Roads, as well as Oak Drive.
While the county project to enhance Old Kyle Road has lagged, Mayor Chiles told listeners that improvements are now scheduled for 2027.
Emergency Communications were addressed and improved as residents signed up for City of Wimberley and Hays Informed emergency notifications. The city also confirmed their current contact information for key city officials with the Texas Department of Emergency Management. Their emergency notification agenda will be furthered by two citizen groups in the Fall with roundtable discussions in September and October.
Blue Hole again garnered acclaim as a prime natural destination in international polls with a Trip Advisor award that put it in the top ten percent of attractions worldwide. In addition, Blue Hole Regional Park received a $3M grant from the 2020 county bond fund to build a nature center and attendance at major park programs and events increased dramatically from previous years.
The city formed strategic collaborations with the City of Woodcreek, the Wimberley Independent School District and Hays County Commissioners and strengthened their partnerships with nonprofit organizations, such as Wimberley Arts.
As a guide for the future, Wimberley will adopt a Resilient Community Comprehensive Plan in December that will study population, housing and land use; review zoning ordinances; determine infrastructure and capital improvements; and apply One Water strategies where feasible.
The city will also implement the 10-year Parks Master Plan, adopted in 2024, by enhancing existing parks, updating the community center and coordinating an aquatic feasibility study.
Next month, as Wimberley celebrates 25 years as an incorporated city, the Mayor Chiles encouraged residents to help shape the city by volunteering for city boards and commissions. The mayor also urged citizens to weigh in on the Resilient Community Comprehensive plan to guide Wimberley’s growth, resilience, and character for years to come. To provide feedback, community members can go to https://langfordplanning. com/wimberley- rcp or use the QR code above.
