Round Rock wasn’t always the thriving hub it is today. When Charlie Culpepper first arrived in 1977, it was a town of just 5,000 people, one traffic light, and plenty of open fields. Fast forward to today, and it is part of the fastest growing county in the country. How did that happen? That is the story Bryan Eisenberg unpacks with Charlie on the Rock Solid podcast.
The conversation pulls back the curtain on decisions that shaped the city’s future. Take Dell, for instance. When the tech giant considered leaving Austin in the early 1990s, Round Rock did not just hope they would stay nearby. They came up with a bold plan. Instead of telling Dell how to spend tax incentives, the city trusted the company to grow in its own way. That trust sealed the deal and changed Round Rock’s economic trajectory forever. Within a year of signing the contract, Dell had broken ground on what had once been nothing but a field.
Then there is Dell Diamond and the Round Rock Express. Culpepper shares how the stadium almost never happened. An earlier attempt to finance baseball with sales tax failed miserably. But the city’s leaders kept thinking creatively. By tying hotel occupancy taxes to the project, they found a way to build a first class stadium without placing the burden on residents. Today, Dell Diamond is not just home to baseball. It brings in tournaments, concerts, and visitors who eat, stay, and spend in Round Rock.
What stands out through the episode is not just the big wins. It is the mindset. Culpepper credits a culture of collaboration between city leaders, staff, businesses, and nonprofits. Decisions were not made in silos. They were rooted in a shared vision: create opportunities so kids who grew up in Round Rock could get an education, come home, and find meaningful work here.
Listening to Culpepper’s stories, you realize Round Rock’s growth was not an accident. It was the product of foresight, teamwork, and a willingness to take risks when others hesitated. Even today, the challenge is the same: keep that spirit alive while balancing the demands of growth.
If you are a longtime resident, you will enjoy hearing how the city you love was built one bold choice at a time. And if you are newer to Round Rock, this episode gives you the backstory behind the community you have joined.
The Rock Solid podcast episode with Charlie Culpepper is more than local history. It is a playbook on vision, leadership, and community. Do not just read about it. Listen in and hear firsthand how Round Rock became what it is today.
Round Rock did not just hope Dell would stay nearby. They came up with a bold plan and trusted the company to grow in its own way. That trust sealed the deal and changed Round Rock’s economic trajectory forever.
Charlie Culpepper, Former Mayor, City of Round Rock
By tying hotel occupancy taxes to the project, they found a way to build a first-class stadium without placing the burden on residents.
Charlie Culpepper, Former Mayor, City of Round Rock
Create opportunities so kids who grew up in Round Rock could get an education, come home, and find meaningful work here.
Charlie Culpepper, Former Mayor, City of Round Rock
Episode Chapters
- [00:00] 1977: One Traffic Light, 5,000 People — Charlie Culpepper arrives in Round Rock and describes what the city looked like before any of what exists today was built.
- [04:00] The Dell Decision [VERIFY] — How Round Rock convinced Dell not to leave Austin — and why trusting the company to grow its own way was the key move.
- [08:30] Dell Diamond and the Baseball Story [VERIFY] — An earlier attempt to fund a stadium failed. Then someone figured out how to use hotel occupancy taxes. Everything changed.
- [13:00] The Collaboration Culture [VERIFY] — Why Round Rock’s growth was never a solo act. City leaders, staff, businesses, and nonprofits made decisions together.
- [17:00] The Vision Behind It All [VERIFY] — Build a place where kids who grew up here could get educated, come home, and find real work. That was the goal.
- [20:30] What the Rapid Growth Era Teaches Us [VERIFY] — The challenge that never goes away: how do you keep the spirit of a small community alive as the population doubles?
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Charlie Culpepper and what did he do for Round Rock?
Charlie Culpepper is a former Mayor of Round Rock, Texas, who arrived in the city in 1977 when it had just 5,000 residents and one traffic light. Over the following decades he was involved in many of the pivotal decisions that shaped Round Rock’s growth, including attracting Dell’s headquarters, building Dell Diamond, and developing the economic and community infrastructure that made the city one of the fastest-growing in the country.
How did Round Rock convince Dell to stay in Texas?
When Dell considered leaving Austin in the early 1990s, Round Rock developed a bold incentive plan that trusted Dell to grow on its own terms rather than dictating how to spend tax incentives. Within a year of signing the agreement, Dell had broken ground on what had been an empty field. That decision changed Round Rock’s economic trajectory permanently.
How was Dell Diamond financed in Round Rock?
An earlier attempt to fund the stadium through sales tax failed. The eventual solution was tying hotel occupancy taxes to the project, which meant visitors and tourism — rather than residents — bore the primary cost. Dell Diamond opened as a first-class minor league baseball facility that now hosts concerts, tournaments, and events year-round.
What is the history of Round Rock Texas growth?
Round Rock grew from a town of 5,000 people in 1977 to part of the fastest-growing county in the United States. Key milestones include the Dell headquarters relocation in the early 1990s, the opening of Dell Diamond, and a culture of deliberate, collaborative governance that prioritized long-term vision over short-term political wins. Charlie Culpepper walked through this full history on the Rock Solid podcast.
About Charlie Culpepper
Charlie Culpepper is a former Mayor of Round Rock, Texas, and one of the key figures in the city’s transformation from a small community of 5,000 into one of America’s fastest-growing cities. He arrived in 1977, got involved in local government, and helped shape decisions around economic development, infrastructure, and community culture that still define Round Rock today. He remains active in the community he helped build.
Connect: Listen to the full episode
More From Rock Solid
If this episode resonated, hear Mayor Craig Morgan on the future of Round Rock and Bill Gravell on growing up in Round Rock and leading through crisis — both carry the same thread of community-first leadership that defines this city. Browse all Rock Solid episodes.
