Road, River, and Ol’ Boy Politics: A Texas County’s Path from Farm to Supersuburb

by Linda Scarbrough

Winner of the 2006 National Council on Public History Book Award for the best work published about or growing out of public history, Road, River, and Ol' Boy Politics has quickly established its reputation as the definitive source on the subject of the growth of supersuburbs.

In 1946 Williamson County was profoundly rural, centered on an agricultural economy, ethnically diverse, and Democratic. Half a century later, it was one of the five fastest-growing counties in the United States, staunchly Republican, and culturally homogeneous.

Linda Scarbrough presents the story of how this came about through the machinations of a handful of local political and economic "bosses" who brought Williamson County two federal public works Interstate Highway 35 and a dam on the San Gabriel River.

Genres: History

300 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2005

Reviews

[Ashley Hobgood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read this book for a history class in college. I liked the book because I learned more about the growth of Williamson County. I thought the book was slow at times. It was okay but not a favorite.

[Russell Belding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed local history on the political battles over dams and the Interstate Highway System in Williamson County, home to some of Austin's suburbs. One of Scarbrough's main points is that local people can sometimes make a difference, even when the federal government is the ultimate "decider." Of course, having a relatively "local" boy (LBJ) as President couldn't have hurt either. The author details how a small, rural county became home to some of the fastest-growing communities in the country (savvy Round Rock is the home of, most notably, Dell Computers), but is careful not to harshly judge any of the major players (local historians who wish to continue publishing in their field tend to follow this practice).

[Talyseon Talyseon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to understand why it takes fourty years to dam a damn river, this book clearly illustrates the tug of war between special interest groups and the politicians sucking up to them. Road, River, and Ol' Boy Politics.

[Bea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of good information. Sometimes felt a bit repetitive.