Burnet is the county seat of Burnet County, Texas, situated on the Edwards Plateau in the central Texas Hill Country about 54 miles northwest of Austin. It is a small city of roughly 6,500 residents that serves as the civic and commercial hub for the surrounding Highland Lakes region. The town's origins reach back to the Texas frontier. In 1849, Fort Croghan was established near the site of present-day Burnet as one of a line of posts protecting settlers, and the community grew up around it. The fort remained active until 1852, and today the Fort Croghan Museum preserves that heritage with restored buildings and artifacts. Burnet County was founded in 1852 and organized in 1854, with Burnet as its seat. Burnet's modern identity is tied to its Hill Country setting and its proximity to two distinctive state parks. Longhorn Cavern State Park, with its limestone cavern and guided tours, and Inks Lake State Park, known for camping, hiking, and swimming, both lie nearby. The Highland Lakes — a chain of reservoirs on the Colorado River that includes Lake Buchanan and Inks Lake — frame the region's recreation economy and attract residents and visitors alike. The city is served by Burnet Consolidated ISD and is positioned on US 281, about 100 miles north of San Antonio and roughly 36 miles west of Georgetown and Interstate 35. Its location puts it within commuting range of the Austin metro while keeping it rooted in Hill Country small-town life. Burnet suits residents drawn to lake recreation, state parks, and a quieter rural pace, as well as those seeking acreage or second homes in the Hill Country. Its combination of frontier history, natural attractions, and highway access gives it a distinct place within one of Texas's most scenic regions.