Llano is located southwest of Temple and west of Georgetown on Hwy 29 where it meets Hwys 16 and 71 on the banks of the Llano River.
It is the largest town in, and seat of, Llano County.
In the 1920s Llano was a major shipping point for cattle; the cotton industry flourished in the county through the 1930s but declined thereafter into insignificance. Granite quarrying and finishing retained their importance, amounting to a million-dollar-a-year industry by the 1950s.
By 1964, Llano was an important link in the Highland Lakes chain of tourist areas and attracted many hunters during the deer season. A winery, feed processing, and insecticide and commercial talc production represented new industry.
The population of Llano was 2,960 in 1950, 3,071 in 1980, and 2,962 in 1990.