Region: Hill Country
In 1839, five mounted scouts searched a broad area of wilderness seeking a site for a new capital city for the Republic of Texas. They chose this location on the north bank of Colorado River, where rich blacklands meet scenic hills. At the time, the site was occupied by a four-family settlement called Waterloo. It was renamed to honor Stephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas." In early September 1839, archives and furniture of the Texas government were transported from Houston to Austin by 50 ox-drawn wagons.
Today, the city bills itself as the "Live Music Capital of the World." Austin has it all—blues, country, reggae, jazz, conjunto, Tejano, swing and rock—performing in nearly 200 live music venues around the city including nightspots along Sixth Street and the Warehouse District. The music reputation is further solidified with major annual events including South by Southwest Music, Film and Interactive conferences in March and the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September.
The outdoors also play an important role, with 206 parks including more than 16,682 acres of land, most notably Zilker Park in the heart of the city. Popular amenities offer easy access to hike and bike trails in scenic areas along Barton Creek, Lady Bird Lake, Shoal Creek and Blunn Creek, as well as mountain biking trails in areas like Emma Long Metropolitan Park along Lake Austin.
There also are many opportunities for water-based fun, including canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing and more.
City tours available in many options, including by cycle, train, Segway, horse-drawn carriage, water or on foot. Visit www.austintexas.org for details.
Austin is a starting point for the Presidential Corridor via U.S. 290, Texas 21 to Texas 6 connecting the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Bryan/College Station with the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum in Austin.
Austin is the upbeat and high-tech home to many computer-chip makers and other computer industries.
Institutions of higher learning include Austin Community College, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Concordia University at Austin, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Huston-Tillotson College, St. Edward's University and The University of Texas at Austin.