Cedar Creek is a census-designated place in Bastrop County, Texas, positioned along State Highway 71 in the corridor between Austin and Bastrop. It takes its name from Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Colorado River, and the community stretches across a landscape of blackland prairie, oak and cedar woodlands, and the river's floodplain. With about 3,100 residents at the 2020 census, it is a spread-out, largely rural place that has been absorbing residential growth from Austin's eastward expansion. The area's history is among the oldest in the county. Cedar Creek was settled as early as 1832, when Addison Litton received a land grant on both sides of the creek, establishing one of the region's early homesteads. For most of its history the community remained agricultural and thinly populated, but its location along Highway 71 and its proximity to Austin have gradually drawn new residents seeking space and more attainable housing. Today Cedar Creek blends rural acreage with newer subdivisions. Riverfront communities such as Cedar Shores and Lakeside Meadows offer dock and boat access, while developments like Cielo Vista Ranch and other subdivisions provide newer single-family homes on more compact lots. Around them, large-lot and acreage properties preserve the area's country character, and the community's housing often features Hill Country-style stone and contemporary designs set among native trees. The community's signature asset is McKinney Roughs Nature Park, a 1,140-acre park along the Colorado River with more than 17 miles of hiking, mountain-biking, and equestrian trails and a zip-line course. The Capital of Texas Zoo and Cedar Creek Park add family-oriented recreation, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport lies roughly 13 miles to the west. Bastrop ISD serves local students through elementary, middle, and high school campuses in the community. For residents, Cedar Creek offers a genuine rural-suburban compromise: country space and outdoor access, with Austin's economy and airport within a short drive.