Austin

I

Introduction

Austin, capital city of Texas, located in the central part of the state. The Colorado River of Texas flows through Austin, and dams on the river have created artificial lakes within the city. The city is situated where the Colorado River emerges from the Texas Hill Country to the west and crosses a ridge called the Balcones Escarpment. The escarpment separates the Hill Country from the Gulf Coastal Plain to the east of Austin.

Austin is the northern hub of a major economic and population region in Texas that extends southward along the Balcones Escarpment to include the San Antonio metropolitan area. Austin houses major state and federal government offices and serves as a manufacturing, commercial, recreational, educational, and convention center. The city is home to the main campus of the University of Texas System.

II

The People of Austin

Austin’s population increased significantly in recent decades, largely because of the city’s economic diversification, especially into high-technology fields. In 1980 the city had a population of 345,496; by the 2000 census, it had grown to 656,562. According to the 2000 census, whites constituted 65.4 percent of Austin’s population; blacks, 10 percent; Asians, 4.7 percent; Native Americans, 0.6 percent; and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, 0.1 percent. People of mixed racial heritage or not reporting a race were 19.2 percent of inhabitants. Hispanics, who may be of any race, made up 30.5 percent of the population. In 2006, Austin's population was estimated at 709,893.

Austin is the seat of Travis County. In addition to Travis County, the Austin metropolitan area includes Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson counties and covers a land area of 10,945 sq km (4,226 sq mi). Notable cities besides Austin included in the metropolitan area are San Marcos and Round Rock. The metropolitan area population grew from 585,000 in 1980 to 1,513,565 in 2006.

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III

Economy of Austin

For much of Austin’s history, the city’s economy was dominated by the state and federal government and the University of Texas. Beginning in the 1980s, the arrival of several computer technology corporations and research organizations helped diversify the economy. Since 1990 additional high-tech companies have moved to the city, as have firms engaging in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Austin’s other manufactured goods include food products, printed materials, furniture, and office supplies. In the early 1970s many country-and-western musicians moved to Austin (see Country Music). The city has since assumed the nickname “The Live Music Capital of the World,” and each March it hosts the South by Southwest music festival, which serves as a venue for new bands of various musical styles.

The city is served by several railroads, an interstate highway, a municipal airport, and an international airport. As a state capital close to Mexico, Austin benefited from increased international trade resulting from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which eliminates most tariffs and trade barriers among the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

IV

Points of Interest in Austin

Among Austin’s points of interest are the State Capitol Building, constructed of Texas pink granite between 1882 and 1888, and the Governor’s Mansion (1856). Several buildings reflect Austin’s early architecture, including the French Legation (1841), the residence of the French ambassador to the Republic of Texas, which existed from 1836 until 1845; and the Driskill Hotel (1886).

Austin is home to the largest colony of urban bats in North America. Between April and September more than 1 million Mexican free-tailed bats congregate under the Congress Avenue Bridge in the city. These bats migrate each spring from central Mexico to various roosting places in the southwestern United States.

Natural landmarks in the Austin region include Barton Springs, a spring-fed swimming hole that maintains a constant temperature of 20°C (68°F); Mount Bonnell; and Lake Austin. The city also has an extensive system of parks, nature preserves, and greenbelts. Hiking and bicycle trails are plentiful. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in southwest Austin is a conservation and research facility that also displays the native plants of Texas. The Zilker Botanical Garden is located in Zilker Park near the city center.

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