Kyle is a city located in eastern Hays County, Texas, within the United States. It sits approximately 22 miles southwest of downtown Austin and 58 miles northeast of San Antonio along Interstate 35. The city forms part of the Greater Austin area and is bordered to the south by San Marcos and to the northwest by Mountain City. Its geographic setting includes the Blanco River running through the western side, while central and eastern parts drain east toward Plum Creek, both serving as tributaries to the San Marcos River.

The town originated from railroad expansion along the International-Great Northern Railroad, where entrepreneur Jay Gould selected a route through the private lands of Fergus Kyle and his wife, Anne Moore. The Texas Land Company plotted the town, filing plans with the county clerk on September 7, 1880, following an agreement for one dollar and land value. Kyle was incorporated in 1928 as a general-law city, and notably elected Mary Kyle Hartson as mayor in 1937, creating the only Texas town with an all-woman government at that time.

Historically, Kyle began with six by three city blocks for commercial and residential zoning, featuring a combination train depot and cotton platform. The area retains heritage connections to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Katherine Anne Porter, who lived there from 1892 to 1901; her former home is now a public writer's residence. The city also hosts the Katherine Anne Porter Literary Center, which hosts readings by visiting writers, preserving the literary legacy associated with the town's early twentieth-century residents.

Cultural life in Kyle includes the annual Pie in the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival, held on Labor Day weekend since 2017 to celebrate the city's designation as the Pie Capital of Texas. Although the council discontinued the event in 2024 due to budget constraints, the town maintains a vibrant community spirit through its trail system and educational institutions. The presence of the Hays campus of the Austin Community College District and proximity to Texas State University further define its local character and appeal.

As of 2020, Kyle had a population of 45,697, reflecting rapid growth from 28,016 in 2010. The economy is supported by the Hays Consolidated Independent School District and the Kyle Unit prison, which became the second-largest employer in the city. Residents access transportation via Interstate 35, State Highway 45, and nearby airports in Austin and San Marcos. The city covers 19.3 square miles, with land comprising the vast majority of its total area.