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Austin is the capital of the U.S. state
of Texas and the seat of Travis County. Situated in Central
Texas, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 16th-largest
in the United States of America, as well as the third fastest
growing large city in the nation from 2000 to 2006.
As of the 2006 U.S. Census estimate, Austin has a population
of 709,893.] The city is the cultural and economic center
of the Greater Austin metropolitan area with a population
of 1.6 million people.
Austin was selected as the No. 1
Best Big City in "Best
Places to Live" by Money magazine in 2006, and the "Greenest
City in America" by MSN. Also, according to
CNN Headline News and travel and leisure Austin ranks #2
on the list of cities with the best people referring to
the personalities and attributes of the citizens.
Residents of Austin are known as "Austinites," and
include a mix of university professors, students, politicians,
lobbyists, musicians, state employees, high-tech workers,
blue-collar workers, and white-collar workers. The main
campus of the University of Texas is located in Austin.
The city is home to enough large sites of major technology
corporations to have earned it the nickname "Silicon
Hills." Austin's official slogan promotes the city
as "The Live Music Capital of the World", a reference
to its status as home to many musicians and music venues.
In recent years, many Austinites have also adopted the
unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird"; this refers
partly to the eclectic and progressive lifestyle of many
Austin residents, but is also the slogan for a campaign
to preserve smaller local businesses and resist excessive
commercialization.
History
Stephen F. Austin.Before the arrival of settlers from the
United States, the area that later became Austin was inhabited
by a variety of nomadic Native American tribes, including
the Tonkawa tribe, the Comanches, and the Lipan Apaches.
Edward Burleson laid out the town of Waterloo in the mid-1830's.
In 1838 Mirabeau Lamar, vice-president of the Republic
of Texas, visited Waterloo, where he stayed with one of
the earliest settlers, Jacob Harrell. Lamar was elected
president shortly thereafter. When the Texas Congress formed
a commission to seek a site for a new capital to be named
Austin, Lamar advised the commissioners to investigate
Waterloo, which was then indeed chosen. In May 1839 Lamar's
designated government agent Edwin Waller organized and
led a workforce of about 200 men from Houston to Waterloo
to construct the new city.
At first, the new capital thrived. By the early 1840's
the population stood at about 850 people. But when Lamar's
political enemy Sam Houston regained the presidency in
1841, he used two Mexican army incursions to San Antonio
as an excuse to move the government to Washington (now
known as Washington-on-the-Brazos). Within months Austin's
population had shrunk to about 200, and many Texans assumed
that the city would die. Remaining Austin residents responded
to the threat by forcibly keeping the national archives
in their city in defiance of President Houston's attempts
to bring them to Washington.
Anson Jones became president in 1844. The following year
he called a convention in Austin to discuss annexation
to the United States as well as to consider a new constitution.
Once annexation became official, delegates wrote a new
state constitution in which Austin was again named the
seat of government.
The Texas State Capitol was completed in 1888 advertised
as the 7th largest building in the world. Funded by the
famous XIT Ranch, the building still remains part of the
Austin skyline. The state capitol is slightly smaller than
the United States capitol.
In September of 1881, Austin public schools held their
first classes. The same year, Huston-Tillotson College
opened its doors. The University of Texas at Austin held
its first classes in 1883.
In the 1950s, Austin's first research labs and think tanks
were built. As Austin's economy prospered, several movie
theaters, public pools, and a local library system were
opened.
The Austin music scene was born in the 1970s when artists
such as Willie Nelson and venues such as the Armadillo
World Headquarters brought national attention.
Today, Austin is known as much for its
cultural life as its high-tech innovations. It is also
known for the senators and schoolteachers who shaped its
beginnings. The same success that has gained the city a
national reputation has brought with it many difficult
choices.
Geography
Hill CountryAustin is located at 30°16′N 97°45′W / 30.267,
-97.75 . and is approximately 541 feet (165 m) above
sea level. According to the 2000 census, the city has a
total area of 258.4 square miles (669 km²). 251.5
square miles (651 km²) of it is land and 6.9 square
miles (18 km²) (2.67%) is water.
Austin is situated on the Colorado River, with three man-made
(artificial) lakes wholly within the city limits: Lady
Bird Lake, Lake Austin, and Lake Walter E. Long. Additionally,
the foot of Lake Travis, including Mansfield Dam, is located
within the city's limits. Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin,
and Lake Travis are each on the Colorado River. The city
is also situated on the Balcones Fault, which, in much
of Austin, runs roughly the same route as the State Highway
Loop 1 (Texas) or Mopac Expressway. The eastern part of
the city is relatively flat, whereas the western part and
western suburbs consist of scenic rolling hills on the
edge of the Texas Hill Country. Because the hills to the
west are primarily limestone rock with a thin covering
of topsoil, portions of the city are frequently subjected
to flash floods from the runoff caused by thunderstorms.
To help control this runoff and to generate hydroelectric
power, the Lower Colorado River Authority operates a series
of dams that form the Texas Highland Lakes. The lakes also
provide venues for boating, swimming, and other forms of
recreation within several parks located on the lake shores.
Austin is located at the intersection of four major ecological
regions and is consequently mostly a temperate-to-hot green
oasis but has some characteristics of the desert, the tropics,
and a wetter climate. It is very diverse ecologically/biologically
and the home of a variety of beautiful animals and plants,
notably the wildflowers that blossom throughout the year
but especially in the spring, including the popular bluebonnets,
some planted in an effort by Lady Bird Johnson.
The view from Mount BonnellA popular point of prominence
in Austin is Mount Bonnell. At about 780 feet (238 m)
above sea level, it is a natural limestone formation
overlooking Lake Austin on the Colorado River, about
200 feet (61 m) below its summit. From the observation
deck, many homes are visible.
The soils of Austin range from shallow gravelly clay loams
over limestone in the western outskirts to deep fine sandy
loams, silty clay loams, silty clays or clays in the city's
eastern part. Some of the clays have pronounced shrink-swell
properties and are difficult to work under most moisture
conditions. Many of Austin's soils, especially the clay-rich
types, are slightly to moderately alkaline and have free
calcium carbonate.
Climate
Austin has a humid subtropical climate, characterized by
hot summers and mild winters. On average, Austin receives
33.6 inches (853.4 mm) of rain per year, with most of the
precipitation in the spring, and a secondary maximum in
the fall.[14] During springtime, severe thunderstorms sometimes
occur, though tornadoes are rare in the city. Austin is
usually at least partially sunny.
Austin summers are usually hot and
humid, with average temperatures of approximately 90
degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) from June until September.
Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are common. The highest recorded
temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) on September 5,
2000. For the entire year there is an average
of 111 days above 90 °F (32 °C) and 198 days above
80 °F (27 °C).
Winters in Austin are mild and dry.
For the entire year, Austin averages 88 days below 45 °F (7 °C) and
24 days when the minimum temperature falls below freezing.
The lowest recorded temperature was −2 °F (−19 °C)
on January 31, 1949. Snowfall is rare in Austin, but
approximately biannually Austin may suffer an ice storm
that freezes roads over and shuts down much of the city
for 24 to 48 hours.[
Economy
Southward view of downtown Austin from The Capitol Grounds
on 11th Street.Thousands of graduates each year from the
engineering and computer science programs at The University
of Texas at Austin provide a steady source of employees
that help to fuel Austin's technology and defense industry
sectors. The metro Austin area has much lower housing costs
than Silicon Valley, but much higher housing costs than
many parts of rural Texas. As a result of the relatively
high concentration of high-tech companies in the region,
Austin was strongly affected by the dot-com boom in the
late 1990s and subsequent bust. The general consensus is
that high-tech recovery is proceeding rapidly. Austin's
biggest employers include the State of Texas, The University
of Texas, the SETON Healthcare Network, Dell, IBM and Freescale
Semiconductor (spun off from Motorola in 2004). Other high-tech
companies with operations in Austin include 3M Company,
Apple Inc., Hewlett-Packard, AMD, Applied Materials, Cirrus
Logic, Cisco, eBay/PayPal, Google, Hoover's, Inc., Intel,
National Instruments, Samsung, Silicon Laboratories, Sun
Microsystems and United Devices. The proliferation of technology
companies has led to the region's nickname, "the Silicon
Hills," and spurred development that greatly expanded
the city to the north, south, east, and west.
In addition to global companies,
Austin features a strong network of independent, locally-owned
firms and organizations such as the Austin Independent
Business Alliance. The success of these businesses reflects
the high level of commitment by the citizens of Austin
to preserving the unique spirit of the city, and has
been tied to the "Keep Austin
Weird" campaign. Small businesses from restaurants
to clothing shops to salons to arts companies in Austin
enjoy a lively existence gained by direct competition with
large national and global rivals. The state government,
non-profits, and schools (the university and colleges,
preschool-12th grade) also provide many jobs. Whole Foods,
a market/grocery store specializing in organic, local,
and natural foods and other goods (now a corporation) started
in and is based in Austin, and work in the food industry/farming/culinary
arts also provides a surprisingly high amount of employment/income
for many people.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 656,562 people,
265,649 households, and 141,590 families residing in
the city (roughly comparable in size to San Francisco,
Memphis, and Columbus). The population density was 2,610.4
people per square mile (1,007.9/km²). There were
276,842 housing units at an average density of 1,100.7/sq
mi (425.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was
65.36% White, 10.05% Black or African American, 4.72%
Asian, 0.59% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander,
16.23% from other races. 2.99% were from two or more
races. 30.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino,
who can be of any race. 52.94% of the population were
Whites of non-Hispanic ancestry.
There were 265,649 households out of which 26.8% had children
under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married
couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder
with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 32.8%
of all households were made up of individuals and 4.6%
had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.40 and the average family
size was 3.14.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.5% under
the age of 18, 16.6% from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44,
17.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% who were 65 years of age
or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females
there were 105.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,689,
and the median income for a family was $54,091. Males had
a median income of $35,545 vs. $30,046 for females. The
per capita income for the city was $24,163. About 9.1%
of families and 14.4% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and
8.7% of those age 65 or over. From the year 2000 to 2005,
the median house price in Austin grew 34 percent.
The Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Area had 1,513,565
people as of 2006. If combined with the population of the
San Antonio metropolitan area (over 80 miles (129 km) to
the southwest) the region is home to about 3.6 million
people.
Austin is consistently ranked among the three safest cities
per capita of any size in many categories and for many
reasons, especially because annually, per 100,000 people
there are fewer than 5 people murdered.
Culture
The sights of Austin's nightlife on 6th Street.As Austin's
official slogan is The Live Music Capital of the World,
the city has a vibrant live music scene with more music
venues per capita than any other U.S. city. Austin's music
revolves around the many nightclubs on 6th Street and an
annual film/music/multimedia festival known as South by
Southwest. The city also has a burgeoning circle of live
performance theater venues such as: Zachary Scott Theatre
Center, Vortex Repertory Company, Salvage Vanguard Theater,
Arts on Real, Scottish Rite Children's Theater, Hyde Park
Theatre, and Esther's Follies, a comedy and magic show.
The longest-running concert music program on American television,
Austin City Limits, is videotaped on the University of
Texas at Austin campus. Austin City Limits and Capital
Sports & Entertainment run the Austin City Limits Music
Festival, an annual music and art festival held at Zilker
Park in Austin. The long-running outdoor musical, the Zilker
Park Summer Musical, expects to celebrate its 50th anniversary
in 2008. The Urban Music Festival is held during the Texas
Relays weekend every April. Other annual events include
Eeyore's Birthday Party, Spamarama, and the Austin Reggae
Festival in April and Carnaval in February. Halloween,
St Patrick's Day, Independence Day, and Juneteenth (Emancipation
Day) are all widely celebrated, in addition to two important
Mexican holidays, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) and September 16.
Austinites take pride in eccentricities
and celebrate differences and being different (in lifestyle,
character, beliefs, etc.). "Keep Austin Weird" has
become a local motto in recent years, featured on innumerable
bumper stickers and t-shirts. This motto has not only been
used in promoting Austin's eccentricity and diversity,
but is also meant to bolster support of local and independent
businesses.
According to the Nielsen Company, adults
in Austin read and contribute to blogs more than those
in any other U.S. metropolitan area.
Austin is also home to the O. Henry House Museum. O. Henry
lived in a house built in Austin in 1891. The O. Henry
House Museum hosts the annual O. Henry Pun Off, which is
a pun contest where the contestants exhibit amazing wit.
Ballet Austin is the fourth largest ballet
academy in the country. Each year Ballet Austin's twenty
member professional company performs ballets from a wide
variety of choreographers, including their international
award winning artistic director, Stephen Mills. Ballet
Austin has traveled around the world performing in Europe,
the Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), and New York City's
Joyce Theatre.
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