Georgetown (population 28,339) was founded as the county seat of Williamson County in 1848. The Williamson County Courthouse (1910) anchors Georgetown's central square, which is lined with over 50 Victorian-era buildings, including one of Texas' oldest department stores. The square is the centerpiece of the County Courthouse Historic District, one of three historic districts in the community.
The Belford District showcases turn-of-the-century homes, while the University Avenue/Elm Street District includes the elegant Gothic Revival style buildings of Texas' oldest university, Southwestern University.
Georgetown has been a Main Street Community since 1986, which has spurred many redevelopment projects. The Farmers State Bank Building (1911) has been rehabilitated and reopened as the Williamson County Historical Museum.
The Palace Theater (1925), the city's only example of Art Deco architecture, has been rehabilitated with city assistance as a performing arts center and meeting facility. The Main Street program receives funding support from Georgetown's annual Red Poppy Festival, which celebrates the spring blossoming of the colorful wildflower that was first brought to Georgetown from France by a soldier returning from World War I.
Designated a Preserve America Community in August 2004.