Residents of Austin are known as Austinites.[16] They include a diverse mix of government employees, college students, musicians, high-tech workers, andblue-collar workers. The city's official slogan promotes Austin as "The Live Music Capital of the World", a reference to the city's many musicians and live music venues, as well as the long-runningPBS TV concert seriesAustin City Limits.[17][18] Austin is the site ofSouth by Southwest (SXSW), an annual conglomeration of parallelfilm,interactive media, andmusic festivals. The city also adopted "Silicon Hills" as a nickname in the 1990s due to a rapid influx of technology and development companies. In recent years, some Austinites have adopted the unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird",[19] which refers to the desire to protect small, unique, and local businesses from being overrun by large corporations.[20] Ongoing rapid development andgentrification challenge itsbohemian roots and fuel nostalgia for “Old Austin.” Since the late 19th century, Austin has also been known as the "City of the Violet Crown", because of the colorful glow of light across the hills just after sunset.[21]
Austin, Travis County and Williamson County have been the site of human habitation since at least 9200 BC. The area's earliest known inhabitants lived during the latePleistocene (Ice Age) and are linked to theClovis culture around 9200 BC (over 11,200 years ago), based on evidence found throughout the area and documented at the much-studiedGault Site, midway betweenGeorgetown andFort Cavazos.[25][26][failed verification]
When settlers arrived from Europe, theTonkawa tribe inhabited the area. TheComanches andLipan Apaches were also known to travel through the area.[27] Spanish colonists, including theEspinosa-Olivares-Aguirre expedition, traveled through the area, though few permanent settlements were created for some time.[28] In 1730, threeCatholic missions fromEast Texas were combined and reestablished as one mission on the south side of the Colorado River, in what is nowZilker Park, in Austin. The mission was in this area for only about seven months, then was moved toSan Antonio de Béxar and split into three missions.[29]
Statue of the Goddess of Liberty on theTexas State Capitol grounds, prior to installation atop the rotunda
In 1835–1836, Texans fought and wonindependence from Mexico. Texas thus became an independent country with its own president, congress, and monetary system. In 1839, the Texas Congress formed a commission to seek a site for the new capital of theRepublic of Texas to replaceHouston.[33] When he was Vice President of Texas,Mirabeau B. Lamar had visited the area during abuffalo-hunting expedition between 1837 and 1838. He advised the commissioners to consider the area on the north bank of theColorado River (near the present-dayCongress Avenue Bridge), noting the area's hills, waterways, and pleasant surroundings.[34] It was seen as a convenient crossroads for trade routes betweenSanta Fe andGalveston Bay, as well as routes between Northern Mexico and theRed River.[35] In 1839, the site was chosen, and briefly incorporated under the name "Waterloo".[36] Shortly afterward, the name was changed to Austin in honor ofStephen F. Austin, the "Father of Texas" and the republic's first secretary of state.
Edwin Waller was picked by Lamar to survey the village and draft a plan laying out the new capital.[33] The original site was narrowed to 640 acres (260 ha) that fronted the Colorado River between two creeks,Shoal Creek andWaller Creek, which was later named in his honor. Waller and a team of surveyors developed Austin's firstcity plan, commonly known as theWaller Plan, dividing the site into a 14-block grid plan bisected by a broad north–south thoroughfare, Congress Avenue, running up from the river to Capital Square, where the new Texas State Capitol was to be constructed. A temporary one-story capitol was erected on the corner of Colorado and 8th Streets. On August 1, 1839, the first auction of 217 out of 306 lots total was held.[33][35] The Waller Plan designed and surveyed now forms the basis of downtown Austin.
In 1840, a series of conflicts between theTexas Rangers and theComanches, known as theCouncil House Fight and theBattle of Plum Creek, pushed the Comanches westward, mostly ending conflicts in Central Texas.[38] Settlement in the area began to expand quickly. Travis County was established in 1840, and the surrounding counties were mostly established within the next two decades.[32]
Initially, the new capital thrived but Lamar's political enemy,Sam Houston, used two Mexican army incursions toSan Antonio as an excuse to move the government. Sam Houston fought bitterly against Lamar's decision to establish the capital in such a remote wilderness. The men and women who traveled mainly from Houston to conduct government business were intensely disappointed as well. By 1840, the population had risen to 856, nearly half of whom fled Austin when Congress recessed.[39] The residentAfrican American population listed in January of this same year was 176.[40] The fear of Austin's proximity to the Indians and Mexico, which still considered Texas a part of their land, created an immense motive for Sam Houston, the first and third President of the Republic of Texas, to relocate the capital once again in 1841. Upon threats of Mexican troops in Texas, Houston raided the Land Office to transfer all official documents to Houston for safe keeping in what was later known as theArchive War, but the people of Austin would not allow this unaccompanied decision to be executed. The documents stayed, but the capital would temporarily move from Austin to Houston toWashington-on-the-Brazos. Without the governmental body, Austin's population declined to a low of only a few hundred people throughout the early 1840s. The voting by the fourth President of the Republic,Anson Jones, and Congress, who reconvened in Austin in 1845, settled the issue to keep Austin the seat of government, as well as annex the Republic of Texas into the United States.
In 1860, 38% of Travis County residents wereslaves.[41] In 1861, with the outbreak of theAmerican Civil War, voters in Austin and other Central Texas communities voted against secession.[30][33] However, as the war progressed and fears of attack byUnion forces increased, Austin contributed hundreds of men to theConfederate forces. The African American population of Austin swelled dramatically after the enforcement of theEmancipation Proclamation in Texas byUnion GeneralGordon Granger atGalveston, in an event commemorated asJuneteenth. Black communities such asWheatville, Pleasant Hill, and Clarksville were established, with Clarksville being the oldest surviving freedomtown ‒ the original post-Civil War settlements founded by former African-American slaves ‒ west of theMississippi River.[33] In 1870, blacks made up 36.5% of Austin's population.[42]
An 1873 illustration ofEdwin Waller's layout for Austin
The postwar period saw dramatic population and economic growth. The opening of theHouston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC) in 1871[43] turned Austin into the major trading center for the region, with the ability to transport both cotton and cattle. TheMissouri, Kansas & Texas (MKT) line followed close behind.[44] Austin was also the terminus of the southernmost leg of theChisholm Trail, and "drovers" pushed cattle north to the railroad.[45] Cotton was one of the few crops produced locally for export, and acotton gin engine was located downtown near the trains for "ginning" cotton of its seeds and turning the product into bales for shipment.[46] However, as other new railroads were built through the region in the 1870s, Austin began to lose its primacy in trade to the surrounding communities.[33] In addition, the areas east of Austin took over cattle and cotton production from Austin, especially in towns likeHutto andTaylor that sit over theblackland prairie, with its deep, rich soils for producing cotton and hay.[47][48]
In September 1881, Austin public schools held their first classes. The same year, Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute (now part ofHuston–Tillotson University) opened its doors. TheUniversity of Texas held its first classes in 1883, although classes had been held in the original wooden state capitol for four years before.[49]
During the 1880s, Austin gained new prominence as thestate capitol building was completed in 1888 and claimed as the seventh largest building in the world.[33] In the late 19th century, Austin expanded its city limits to more than three times its former area, and the first granite dam was built on the Colorado River to power a new street car line and the new "moon towers".[33] The first dam washed away in a flood on April 7, 1900.[50]
In the late 1920s and 1930s, Austin implemented the1928 Austin city plan through a series of civic development and beautification projects that created much of the city's infrastructure and many of its parks. In addition, the state legislature established theLower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) that, along with the city of Austin, created the system of dams along the Colorado River to form theHighland Lakes. These projects were enabled in large part because thePublic Works Administration provided Austin with greater funding for municipal construction projects than other Texas cities.[33]
During the early 20th century, a three-way system of social segregation emerged in Austin, with Anglos, African Americans and Mexicans being separated by custom or law in most aspects of life, including housing, health care, and education. Deed restrictions also played an important role inresidential segregation. After 1935 most housing deeds prohibited African Americans (and sometimes other nonwhite groups) from using land.[51] Combined with the system of segregated public services, racial segregation increased in Austin during the first half of the twentieth century, with African Americans and Mexicans experiencing high levels of discrimination and social marginalization.[52]
In 1940, the destroyed granite dam on the Colorado River was finally replaced by a hollow concrete dam[53] that formed Lake McDonald (now calledLake Austin) and which has withstood all floods since. In addition, the much larger Mansfield Dam was built by the LCRA upstream of Austin to form Lake Travis, a flood-control reservoir.[54]
In the early 20th century, theTexas Oil Boom took hold, creating tremendous economic opportunities in Southeast Texas and North Texas. The growth generated by this boom largely passed by Austin at first, with the city slipping from fourth largest to tenth largest in Texas between 1880 and 1920.[33]
After a severe lull in economic growth from theGreat Depression, Austin resumed its steady development. Following the mid-20th century, Austin became established as one of Texas' major metropolitan centers. In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Austin's population as 14.5% Hispanic, 11.9% black, and 73.4% non-Hispanic white.[42] In the late 20th century, Austin emerged as an important high tech center forsemiconductors and software. TheUniversity of Texas at Austin emerged as a major university.[55]
The 1970s saw Austin's emergence in the national music scene, with local artists such asWillie Nelson,Asleep at the Wheel, andStevie Ray Vaughan and iconic music venues such as theArmadillo World Headquarters. Over time, the long-running television programAustin City Limits, its namesake Austin City Limits Festival, and theSouth by Southwest music festival solidified the city's place in the music industry.[23]
Austin, the southernmost state capital of the contiguous 48 states, is located inCentral Texas on theColorado River. Austin is 146 miles (230 km) northwest ofHouston,[56] 182 miles (290 km) south ofDallas[57] and 74 miles (120 km) northeast ofSan Antonio.[58]
Austin occupies a total area of 305.1 square miles (790.1 km2). Approximately 7.2 square miles (18.6 km2) of this area is water.[7] Austin is situated at the foot of theBalcones Escarpment, on theColorado River, with three artificial lakes within the city limits:Lady Bird Lake (formerly known as Town Lake), Lake Austin (both created by dams along the Colorado River), and Lake Walter E. Long that is partly used for cooling water for the Decker Power Plant.Mansfield Dam and the foot ofLake Travis are located within the city's limits.[33] Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis are each on the Colorado River.[33]
The elevation of Austin varies from 425 feet (130 m) to approximately 1,000 feet (305 m) above sea level.[59] Due to the fact it straddles theBalcones Fault, much of the eastern part of the city is flat, with heavy clay and loam soils, whereas the western part and western suburbs consist of rolling hills on the edge of theTexas Hill Country.[60] Because the hills to the west are primarilylimestone rock with a thin covering of topsoil, portions of the city are frequently subjected toflash floods from the runoff caused by thunderstorms.[61][62] To help control this runoff and to generate hydroelectric power, theLower Colorado River Authority operates a series of dams that form theTexas Highland Lakes. The lakes also provide venues for boating, swimming, and other forms of recreation within several parks on the lake shores.[63]
Austin is located at the intersection of four major ecological regions, and is consequently a temperate-to-hot green oasis with a highly variable climate having some characteristics of the desert, the tropics, and a wetter climate.[64][65] The area is very diverse ecologically and biologically, and is home to a variety of animals and plants.[66] Notably, the area is home to many types of wildflowers that blossom throughout the year but especially in the spring. This includes the popularbluebonnets, some planted by"Lady Bird" Johnson, wife of former PresidentLyndon B. Johnson.[67]
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 freecalcium carbonate.[68]
Downtown Austin, Texas from across the Colorado River, October 2022
Austin's skyline historically was modest, dominated by the Texas State Capitol and the University of TexasMain Building. However, since the 2000s, many new high-rise towers have been constructed.[69] Austin is currently undergoing a skyscraper boom, which includes recent construction on new office, hotel and residential buildings. Downtown's buildings are somewhat spread out, partly due to a set ofzoning restrictions that preserve the view of theTexas State Capitol from various locations around Austin, known as theCapitol View Corridors.[70]
At night, parts of Austin are lit by "artificial moonlight" frommoonlight towers built to illuminate the central part of the city.[71] The 165-foot (50 m) moonlight towers were built in the late 19th century and are now recognized as historic landmarks. Only 15 of the 31 original innovative towers remain standing in Austin, but none remain in any of the other cities where they were installed. The towers are featured in the 1993 filmDazed and Confused.
In December 2023, amid rising home prices, the Austin City Council loosened the city's zoning rules to permit by-right development of triplexes on each lot and loosened restrictions on tiny homes.[72]
The central business district of Austin is home to the tallest condo towers in the state, withThe Independent (58 stories and 690 ft (210 m) tall) andThe Austonian (topping out at 56 floors and 685 ft (209 m) tall). The Independent became the tallest all-residential building in the U.S. west ofChicago when topped out in 2018. In 2005, then-Mayor Will Wynn set out a goal of having 25,000 people living downtown by 2015.[73] Although downtown's growth did not meet this goal, downtown's residential population did surge from an estimated 5,000 in 2005 to 12,000 in 2015.[74] The skyline has drastically changed in recent years, and the residential real estate market has remained relatively strong. As of December 2016[update], there were 31 high rise projects either under construction, approved or planned to be completed in Austin's downtown core between 2017 and 2020. Sixteen of those were set to rise above 400 ft (120 m) tall, including four above 600', and eight above 500'. An additional 15 towers were slated to stand between 300' and 399' tall.
Austin is located within the middle of a unique, narrow transitional zone between the dry deserts of the American Southwest and the lush, green, more humid regions of the American Southeast. Its climate, topography, and vegetation share characteristics of both. Officially, Austin has ahumid subtropical climate (Cfa under theKöppen climate classification,Cfhl under theTrewartha climate classification). This climate is typified by long, very hot summers, short, mild winters, and warm to hot spring and fall seasons in-between. Austin averages 34.32 inches (872 mm) of annual rainfall distributed mostly evenly throughout the year, though spring and fall are the wettest seasons. Sunshine is common during all seasons, with 2,650 hours, or 60.3% of the possible total, of bright sunshine per year.[75]
Summers in Austin are very hot, with average July and August highs frequently reaching the high-90s (34–36 °C) or above. Highs reach 90 °F (32 °C) on 123 days per year, of which 29 days reach 100 °F (38 °C); all years in the 1991-2020 period recorded at least 1 day of the latter.[76] The average daytime high is 70 °F (21 °C) or warmer between March 1 and November 21, rising to 80 °F (27 °C) or warmer between April 14 and October 24, and reaching 90 °F (32 °C) or warmer between May 30 and September 18.[76] The highest ever recorded temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) occurring on September 5, 2000, and August 28, 2011.[77][78] An uncommon characteristic of Austin's climate is its highly variable humidity, which fluctuates frequently depending on the shifting patterns of air flow and wind direction. It is common for a lengthy series of warm, dry, low-humidity days to be occasionally interrupted by very warm and humid days, and vice versa. Humidity rises with winds from the east or southeast, when the air drifts inland from theGulf of Mexico, but decreases significantly with winds from the west or southwest, bringing air flowing fromChihuahuan Desert areas ofWest Texas or Northern Mexico.[76]
Winters in Austin are mild, although occasional short-lived bursts of cold weather known as "Blue Northers" can occur. January is the coolest month with an average daytime high of 62.5 °F (17 °C). The overnight low drops to or below freezing 12 times per year,[76] and sinks below 45 °F (7 °C) during 76 evenings per year, mostly between mid-December and mid-February. The average first and last dates for a freeze are December 1 and February 15, giving Austin an average growing season of 288 days, and the coldest temperature of the year is normally about 24.2 °F (−4 °C) under the 1991-2020 climate normals, putting Austin in USDA zone 9a.[76]
Conversely, winter months also produce warm days on a regular basis. On average, 10 days in January reach or exceed 70 °F (21 °C) and 1 day reaches 80 °F (27 °C); during the 1991-2020 period, all Januarys had at least 1 day with a high of 70 °F (21 °C) or more, and most (60%) had at least 1 day with a high of 80 °F (27 °C) or more.[76] The lowest ever recorded temperature in the city was −2 °F (−19 °C) on January 31, 1949. Roughly every two years Austin experiences anice storm that freezes roads over and cripples travel in the city for 24 to 48 hours.[79] When Austin received 0.04 inches (1 mm) of ice on January 24, 2014, there were 278 vehicular collisions.[80] Similarly, snowfall is rare in Austin.[81] A snow event of 0.9 inches (2 cm) on February 4, 2011, caused more than 300 car crashes.[82] The most recent major snow event occurred February 14–15, 2021, when 6.4 inches (16 cm) of snow fell at Austin'sCamp Mabry, the largest two-day snowfall since records began being kept in 1948.[83][84]
Typical ofCentral Texas, severe weather in Austin is a threat that can strike during any season. However, it is most common during the spring. According to most classifications, Austin lies within the extreme southern periphery ofTornado Alley, although many sources place Austin outside of Tornado Alley altogether.[85] Consequently, tornadoes strike Austin less frequently than areas farther to the north.[85] However, severe weather and/orsupercell thunderstorms can occur multiple times per year, bringing damaging winds, lightning, heavy rain, and occasional flash flooding to the city.[86] The deadliest storm to ever strike city limits was thetwin tornadoes storm of May 4, 1922, while the deadliesttornado outbreak to ever strike the metro area was theCentral Texas tornado outbreak of May 27, 1997.
Climate data forCamp Mabry, Austin, Texas (1991–2020 normals,[b] extremes 1897–present)[c]
The 2011 Texas drought dried up many of central Texas' waterways. This boat was left to sit in the middle of what is normally a branch ofLake Travis, part of theColorado River.
From October 2010 through September 2011, both major reporting stations in Austin, Camp Mabry and Bergstrom Int'l, had the least rainfall of awater year on record, receiving less than a third of normal precipitation.[76] This was a result ofLa Niña conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean where water was significantly cooler than normal. David Brown, a regional official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explained that "these kinds of droughts will have effects that are even more extreme in the future, given a warming and drying regional climate."[91] The drought, coupled with exceedingly high temperatures throughout the summer of 2011, caused many wildfires throughout Texas, including notably theBastrop County Complex Fire in neighboring Bastrop, Texas.
In the fall of 2018, Austin and surrounding areas received heavy rainfall andflash flooding followingHurricane Sergio.[92] TheLower Colorado River Authority opened fourfloodgates of theMansfield Dam after Lake Travis was recorded at 146% full at 704.3 feet (214.7 m).[93] From October 22 to October 29, 2018, the City of Austin issued a mandatory citywideboil-water advisory after theHighland Lakes, home to the city's main water supply, became overwhelmed by unprecedented amounts of silt, dirt, and debris that had washed in from theLlano River.[94] Austin Water, the city's water utility, has the capacity to process up to 300 million gallons of water per day; however, the elevated level ofturbidity reduced output to only 105 million gallons per day. Since Austin residents consumed an average of 120 million gallons of water per day, the infrastructure was not able to keep up with demand.[92]
Austin covered in snow on February 15, 2021. Photo fromESA.
In February 2021,Winter Storm Uri dropped prolific amounts of snow across Texas and Oklahoma, including Austin. The Austin area received a total of 6.4 inches (160 mm) of snowfall between February 14 and 15, with snow cover persisting until February 20.[95] This marked the longest time the area had had more than 1 inch (25 mm) of snow, with the previous longest time being three days inJanuary 1985.[96]
Lack ofwinterization innatural gas power plants, which supply a large amount of power to theTexas grid, and increased energy demand caused ERCOT andAustin Energy to enactrolling blackouts in order to avoid total grid collapse between February 15 and February 18.[97] Initial rolling blackouts were to last for a maximum of 40 minutes, however lack of energy production caused many blackouts to last for much longer, at the peak of the blackouts an estimated 40% of Austin Energy homes were without power.[98]
Starting on February 15, Austin Water received reports of pipe breaks, hourly water demand increased from 150 million gallons per day on February 15 to a peak hourly demand of 260 million gallons per day on February 16. On the morning of February 17 demand increased to 330 million gallons per day, the resulting drop of water pressure caused the Austin area to enter into aboil-water advisory which would last until water pressure was restored on February 23.[99]
Beginning January 30, 2023 the City of Austin experienced a winter freeze which left 170,000 Austin Energy customers without electricity or heat for several days. The slow pace of repairs and lack of public information from City officials frustrated many residents.[100] A week after the freeze and when Austin City Council members were proposing to evaluate his employment, City Manager Spencer Cronk finally apologized.[101] On Thursday February 16, 2023, Cronk was fired by the Austin City Council for the city's response to the winter storm.[102] Former City Manager Jesus Garcia was named Interim City Manager.[103]
To strengthen the region's parks system, which spans more than 29,000 acres (11,736 ha), The Austin Parks Foundation was established in 1992 to develop and improve parks in and around Austin. APF works to fill the city's park funding gap by leveraging volunteers, philanthropists, park advocates, and strategic collaborations to develop, maintain and enhance Austin's parks, trails and green spaces.
Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake)[106] is a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River. The lake is a popular recreational area forpaddleboards,kayaks,canoes,dragon boats, androwing shells. Austin's warm climate and the river's calm waters, nearly 6 miles (9.7 km) length and straight courses are especially popular withcrew teams and clubs. Other recreational attractions along the shores of the lake include swimming inDeep Eddy Pool, the oldest swimming pool in Texas, and Red Bud Isle, a small island formed by the 1900collapse of the McDonald Dam that serves as a recreation area with a dog park and access to the lake for canoeing and fishing.[107] The 10.1 miles (16.3 km) Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail forms a complete circuit around the lake. A local nonprofit, The Trail Foundation, is the Trail's private steward and has built amenities and infrastructure including trailheads, lakefront gathering areas, restrooms, exercise equipment, as well as doing Trailwideecological restoration work on an ongoing basis. The Butler Trail loop was completed in 2014 with the public-private partnership 1-mile Boardwalk project.[108]
TheBarton Creek Greenbelt is a 7.25-mile (11.67 km) publicgreen belt managed by the City of Austin's Park and Recreation Department. The Greenbelt, which begins atZilker Park and stretches South/Southwest to the Woods of Westlakesubdivision, is characterized by largelimestone cliffs, dense foliage, and shallow bodies of water. Popular activities includerock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. Some well known naturally forming swimming holes along Austin's greenbelt include Twin Falls, Sculpture Falls, Gus Fruh Pool, and Campbell's Hole. During years of heavy rainfall, the water level of the creek rises high enough to allowswimming,cliff diving,kayaking,paddle boarding, andtubing.
Austin is home to more than 50 public pools andswimming holes. These includeDeep Eddy Pool, Texas' oldest human-made swimming pool, andBarton Springs Pool, the nation's largest natural swimming pool in an urban area.[114][115] Barton Springs Pool is spring-fed while Deep Eddy is well-fed. Both range in temperature from about 68.0 °F (20.0 °C) during the winter to about 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) during the summer.[116][117][118]Hippie Hollow Park, a county park situated along Lake Travis, is the only officially sanctionedclothing-optional public park in Texas.Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. The pool, located about 23 miles (37 km) west of Austin, is a popular summer swimming spot for visitors and residents. Hamilton Pool Preserve consists of 232 acres (0.94 km2) of protected natural habitat featuring a jade green pool into which a 50-foot (15 m) waterfall flows.[119]
In May 2021, voters in the City of Austin reinstated a public camping ban.[120] That includes downtown green spaces as well as trails and greenbelts such as along Barton Creek.[d]
Covert Park, located on the top ofMount Bonnell, is a popular tourist destination overlooking Lake Austin and the Colorado River. The mount provides a vista for viewing the city of Austin, Lake Austin, and the surrounding hills.[123] It was designated aRecorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1969, bearing Marker number 6473,[124] and was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2015.
TheLouis René Barrera Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the north shore of Lake Walter E. Long, is a park managed by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department with the goal of restoring theBlackland Prairie. While not open to the public, it is accessible through guided tours.
In2000 there were 656,562 people, 265,649 households, and 141,590 families residing in the city.[128] In 2000, the population density was 2,610 inhabitants per square mile (1,010/km2). There were 276,842 dwelling units at an average density of 1,101 per square mile (425/km2). There were 265,648 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, 22.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 16.6% was from 18 to 24, 37.1% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.8 males.
The 2000 census found that the median income for a household in the city wasUS$42,689, and the median income for a family was $54,091. Males had a median income of $35,545 compared to $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. The median house price was $185,906 in 2009, and it has increased every year since 2004.[needs update][129] The median value of a house which the owner occupies was $318,400 in 2019—higher than the average American home value of $240,500.[130]
Map of racial distribution in Austin, 2010 U.S. census. Each dot is 25 people:⬤ White⬤ Black⬤ Asian⬤ Hispanic⬤ Other
A 2014University of Texas study stated that Austin was the only U.S. city with a fast growth rate between 2000 and 2010 with a net loss in African Americans. As of 2014[update], Austin's African American and non-Hispanic white percentage shares of the total population were declining despite the total populations of both ethnic groups increasing, as their rate of growth was slower than that of the city's Asian and Hispanic or Latino communities. Austin's non-Hispanic white population dropped below 50% in 2005.[135][136][137]
As of 2019, there were 2,255 individuals experiencing homelessness in Travis County. Of those, 1,169 were sheltered and 1,086 were unsheltered.[143] In September 2019, the Austin City Council approved $62.7 million for programs aimed at homelessness, which includes housing displacement prevention, crisis mitigation, andaffordable housing; the city council also earmarked $500,000 for crisis services and encampment cleanups.[144]
In June 2019, followingMartin v. Boise, a federal court ruling on homelessness sleeping in public,[145] the Austin City Council lifted a 25-year-old ban on camping, sitting, or lying down in public unless doing so causes an obstruction. The resolution also included the approval of a new housing-focused shelter in South Austin.[146] In early October 2019, Texas GovernorGreg Abbott sent a letter to Mayor Steve Adler threatening to deploy state resources to combat the camping ban repeal.[147] On October 17, 2019, the City Council revised the camping ordinance, which imposed increased restrictions on sidewalk camping.[147] In November 2019, the State of Texas opened a temporary homeless encampment on a former vehicle storage yard owned by theTexas Department of Transportation.[148]
In May 2021, the camping ban was reinstated after aballot proposition was approved by 57% of voters. The ban introduces penalties for camping, sitting, or lying down on a public sidewalk or sleeping outdoors in or near Downtown Austin or the area around theUniversity of Texas campus. The ordinance also prohibits solicitation at certain locations.[149]
Whole Foods Market, an international grocery store chain specializing in fresh and packaged food products, was founded and is headquartered in Austin.[155]
In 2018, Austin metro-area companies saw a total of $1.33 billion invested. In 2018, Austin's venture capital investments accounted for more than 60 percent of Texas' total investments.[156]
In 2009, 72.7% of Austin (city) commuters drove alone, with othermode shares being: 10.4% carpool, 6% wereremote workers, 5% use transit, 2.3% walk, and 1% bicycle.[158][159] In 2016, theAmerican Community Survey estimated modal shares for Austin (city) commuters of 73.5% for driving alone, 9.6% for carpooling, 3.6% for riding transit, 2% for walking, and 1.5% for cycling.[160] The city of Austin has a lower than average percentage of households without a car. In 2015, 6.9 percent of Austin households lacked a car, and decreased slightly to 6 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Austin averaged 1.65 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.[161]
Central Austin lies between two major north–south freeways:I-35 to the east and theMopac Expressway (Loop 1) to the west.US 183 runs from northwest to southeast, andSH 71 crosses the southern part of the city from east to west, completing a rough "box" around central and north-central Austin. Austin is the largest city in the United States to be served by only one Interstate Highway.
US 290 enters Austin from the east and merges into I-35. Its highway designation continues south on I-35 and then becomes part of SH 71, continuing to the west. US 290 splits from Highway 71 in southwest Austin, in an interchange known as "The Y." SH 71 continues toBrady, and Highway 290 continues west to interchange forI-10 nearJunction. I-35 continues south throughSan Antonio toLaredo on the Mexican border. I-35 is the highway link to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Northern Texas. There are two links to Houston (US 290 and SH 71/I-10). US 183 leads northwest of Austin towardLampasas.
In the mid-1980s, construction was completed onLoop 360, a scenic highway that curves through the hill country from near the 71/Mopac interchange in the south to near the US 183/Mopac interchange in the north. The iconicPennybacker Bridge, also known as the "360 Bridge," crosses Lake Austin to connect the northern and southern portions of Loop 360.
SH 130 is a bypass route designed to relievetraffic congestion, starting from I-35 just north of Georgetown and running along a parallel route to the east, where it bypassesRound Rock, Austin,San Marcos andNew Braunfels before ending atI-10 east ofSeguin, where drivers could drive 30 miles (48 km) west to return to I-35 inSan Antonio. The first segment was opened in November 2006, which was located east ofAustin–Bergstrom International Airport at Austin's southeast corner onSH 71. Highway 130 runs concurrently with SH 45 fromPflugerville on the north until it reachesUS 183 well south of Austin, at which pointSR 45 continues west. The entire route of SH 130 is now complete. The final leg opened on November 1, 2012. The highway is noted for having a maximum speed limit of 85 mph (137 km/h) for the entire route. The 41-mile (66 km) section of the toll road between Mustang Ridge and Seguin has a posted speed limit of 85 mph (137 km/h), the highest postedspeed limit in the United States.
SH 45 runs east–west from just south of US 183 inCedar Park to 130 insidePflugerville (just east of Round Rock). A tolled extension of State Highway Loop 1 was also created. A new southeast leg of SH 45 has recently been completed, running from US 183 and the south end of Segment 5 of TX-130 south of Austin due west to I-35 at theFM 1327/Creedmoor Road exit between the south end of Austin andBuda. The 183A Toll Road opened in March 2007, providing a tolled alternative to US 183 through the cities ofLeander andCedar Park. Currently under construction is a change to East US 290 from US 183 to the town of Manor. Officially, the tollway will be dubbed Tollway 290 with "Manor Expressway" as nickname.
Despite the overwhelming initial opposition to the toll road concept when it was first announced, all three toll roads have exceeded revenue projections.[162]
Amtrak'sAustin Station is located in west downtown and is served by theTexas Eagle which runs daily between Chicago and San Antonio, continuing on to Los Angeles several times a week.[164]
Railway segments between Austin and San Antonio have been evaluated for a proposed regional passenger rail project called "Lone Star Rail". However, failure to come to an agreement with the track's current owner,Union Pacific Railroad, ended the project in 2016.[165]
Greyhound Lines operates the current Austin Bus Station at the Eastside Bus Plaza[166] Grupo Senda's Turimex Internacional service operates bus service from Austin to Nuevo Laredo and on to many destinations in Mexico from their station in East Austin.[167]Megabus offers daily service to San Antonio, Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston.[168]
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) provides public transportation to the city, primarily with itsCapMetro Bus local bus service, theCapMetro Express express bus system, as well as abus rapid transit service,CapMetro Rapid. CapMetro opened a 32-mile (51 km)hybrid rail system,CapMetro Rail, in 2010.[169] The system consists of a single line serving downtown Austin, the neighborhoods of East Austin,North Central Austin, and Northwest Austin plus the suburb ofLeander.
Since it began operations in 1985, CapMetro has proposed addinglight rail services to its network. Despite support from the City Council, voters rejected light rail proposals in 2000[170] and 2014.[171] However, in 2020, voters approved CapMetro'sUS$10 billion transit expansion plan,Project Connect, by a comfortable margin. The plan proposes 2 new light rail lines, an additional bus rapid transit line (which could be converted to light rail in the future), a second commuter rail line, several new MetroRapid lines, more MetroExpress routes, and a number of other infrastructure, technology and service expansion projects.[172]
Austin is served by severalride-sharing companies includingUber andLyft.[173][174][175] On May 9, 2016, Uber and Lyft voluntarily ceased operations in Austin in response to a city ordinance that required ride sharing company drivers to get fingerprint checks, have their vehicles labeled, and not pick up or drop off in certain city lanes.[176][177] Uber and Lyft resumed service in the summer of 2017.[178] The city was previously served byFasten until they ceased all operations in the city in March 2018.[179]
Carsharing serviceZipcar operates in Austin and, until 2019, the city was also served byCar2Go which kept its North American headquarters in the city even after pulling out.[181]
The Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge over the Colorado River
The city's bike advocacy organization is Bike Austin.[182] BikeTexas, a state-level advocacy organization, also has its main office in Austin.[183]
Bicycles are a popular transportation choice among students, faculty, and staff at the University of Texas. According to a survey done at the University of Texas, 57% of commuters bike to campus.[184]
The City of Austin and CapMetro jointly own abike-sharing service,CapMetro Bike, which is available in and around downtown. The service is a franchise ofBCycle, a national bike sharing network owned byTrek Bicycle, and is operated by local nonprofit organization Bike Share of Austin.[185] Until 2020 the service was known as Austin BCycle.[186] In 2018,Lime began offeringdockless bikes, which do not need to be docked at a designated station.[187]
In 2018,scooter-sharing companiesLime andBird debutedrentable electric scooters in Austin. The city briefly banned the scooters — which began operations before the city could implement a permitting system — until the city completed development of their "dockless mobility" permitting process on May 1, 2018.[188] Dockless electric scooters and bikes are banned from Austin city parks and theAnn and Roy Butler Trail and Boardwalk.[189] For the 2018Austin City Limits Music Festival, the city of Austin offered a designated parking area for dockless bikes and scooters.[190]
In November 2023, Austin became the largest city in the US that has abolishedparking mandates. It did so to encourage walking, biking, and public transit use, as well as to lower the cost of housing and increase the amount of housing units that can be built in the city.Portland andMinneapolis also took this action.[191]
Museum of the Weird on Sixth StreetThe Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, located on Lady Bird Lake at 600 River Street
"Keep Austin Weird" has been a localmotto for years, featured on 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 independent businesses.[20] According to the 2010 bookWeird City the phrase was begun by a local Austin Community College librarian, Red Wassenich, and his wife, Karen Pavelka, who were concerned about Austin's "rapid descent into commercialism and overdevelopment."[16] The slogan has been interpreted many ways since its inception, but remains an important symbol for many Austinites who wish to voice concerns over rapid growth and development. Austin has a long history of vocal citizen resistance to development projects perceived to degrade the environment, or to threaten the natural and cultural landscapes.[192]
According to theNielsen Company, adults in Austin read and contribute to blogs more than those in any other U.S. metropolitan area and have the highest Internet usage in all of Texas.[193] In 2013, Austin was the most active city onReddit, having the largest number of views per capita.[194]
South Congress is a shopping district stretching down South Congress Avenue from Downtown. This area is home to coffee shops, eccentric stores, restaurants, food trucks, trailers, and festivals. It prides itself on "Keeping Austin Weird," especially with development in the surrounding area(s). Many Austinites attribute its enduring popularity to the unobstructedview of the Texas State Capitol.[34]
TheRainey Street Historic District is a neighborhood in Downtown Austin formerly consisting ofbungalow style homes built in the early 20th century. Since the early 2010s, the formerworking class residential street has turned into a popular nightlife district. Much of the historic homes have been renovated into hotels, condominiums, bars and restaurants, many of which feature large porches and outdoor yards for patrons.[195] The Rainey Street district is also home to the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center.
"Old Austin" is anadage often used bynostalgic natives.[197] The term "Old Austin" refers to a time when the city was smaller and morebohemian with a considerably lower cost of living and better known for its lack of traffic,hipsters, andurban sprawl.[198] It is often employed by longtime residents expressing displeasure at the rapidly changing culture,[199] or when referencing nostalgia of Austin culture.[200]
The growth and popularity of Austin[201] can be seen by the expansive development taking place in its downtown landscape.[202] This growth can have a negative impact on longtime small businesses that cannot keep up with the expenses associated withgentrification and the rising cost of real estate.[203] A former Austin musician,Dale Watson, described his move away from Austin, "I just really feel the city has sold itself. Just because you're going to get $45 million for a company to come to town – if it's not in the best interest of the town, I don't think they should do it. This city was never about money. It was about quality of life."[204] Though much is changing rapidly in Austin, businesses such as Thundercloud Subs are thought by many to maintain classic Austin business cultural sentiments unique to the history of the city; as Diana Burgess stated, "I definitely appreciate that they haven't raised their prices a ton or made things super fancy. I think it speaks to thatoriginal Old Austin vibe. A lot of us that grew up here really appreciate that."[205] Aaron Franklin, owner ofFranklin Barbecue, credited the Old Austin cultural mindset and community support with the success of his barbecue restaurant and the long lines that have supported his business since starting it out of a food trailer in 2009.[206]
Other annual events includeEeyore's Birthday Party,Spamarama, AustinPride Festival & Parade in August, the Austin Reggae Festival in April,[207] Kite Festival, Texas Craft Brewers Festival in September,[208] Art City Austin in April,[209] East Austin Studio Tour in November,[210] andCarnaval Brasileiro in February. Sixth Street features annual festivals such as thePecan Street Festival and Halloween night. The three-dayAustin City Limits Music Festival has been held inZilker Park every year since 2002. Every year around the end of March and the beginning of April, Austin is home to "Texas Relay Weekend."
Austin's Zilker Park Tree is a Christmas display made of lights strung from the top of aMoonlight tower in Zilker Park. The Zilker Tree is lit in December along with the "Trail of Lights," an Austin Christmas tradition. The Trail of Lights was canceled four times, first starting in 2001 and 2002 due to the September 11 Attacks, and again in 2010 and 2011 due to budget shortfalls, but the trail was turned back on for the 2012 holiday season.[211]
From 1962 to 1998, theAustin Aqua Festival, or "Aqua Fest", took place on the shores of Town Lake (now known asLady Bird Lake). Originally conceived as a summer tourism draw, the multi-day event evolved from water-themed activities to a broader civic festival due to growth and community interest. Eventually attendance and financial solvency began to dwindle as larger music and summer festivals grew in prominence.
Notable Austin cuisine includesTexas barbecue andTex-Mex;Franklin Barbecue in Austin's has sold out ofbrisket every day since its establishment.[212][213]Breakfast tacos andqueso are popular food items in the city; Austin is sometimes called the "home of the breakfast taco."[214]Kolaches are a common pastry in Austin bakeries due to the largeCzech andGerman immigrant population in Texas.[215] TheOasis Restaurant is the largest outdoor restaurant in Texas, which promotes itself as the "Sunset Capital of Texas" with its terraced views looking West overLake Travis.[216]Birdie's, acounter-service restaurant and wine bar that opened in 2021, wasFood & Wine's 2023 Restaurant of the Year.[217][218][219]
Austin is also home to a large number offood trucks, with 1,256 food trucks operating in 2016.[225] The city of Austin has the second-largest number of food trucks per capita in the United States.[225] Austin's firstfood hall, "Fareground," features a number of Austin-based food vendors and a bar in the ground level and courtyard ofOne Congress Plaza.[226]
As Austin's official slogan isThe Live Music Capital of the World, the city has a vibrant livemusic scene with more music venues per capita than any other U.S. city.[17][18] Austin's music revolves around the manynightclubs on 6th Street and an annual music/film/interactive festival known asSouth by Southwest (SXSW). The concentration of restaurants, bars, and music venues in the city's downtown core is a major contributor to Austin's live music scene, as the ZIP Code encompassing the downtown entertainment district hosts the most bar or alcohol-serving establishments in the U.S.[228]
The State Theater andParamount Theatre on Congress Avenue in Downtown Austin
Austin has a strong theater culture, with dozens of itinerant and resident companies producing a variety of work. A volunteer-run arts organization supporting creative expression and counter-culture community - Church of the Friendly Ghost (COTFG) helped many experimental programs get their start in Austin, TX.[citation needed] The city also has live performance theater venues such as theZachary Scott Theatre Center, Vortex Repertory Company, Salvage Vanguard Theater, Rude Mechanicals' the Off Center, Austin Playhouse, Scottish Rite Children's Theater,Hyde Park Theatre, the Blue Theater, The Hideout Theatre, andEsther's Follies.[235] TheVictory Grill was a renowned venue on theChitlin' Circuit.[236] Public art and performances in the parks and on bridges are popular. Austin hosts the Fuse Box Festival each April featuring theater artists.[237]
TheParamount Theatre, opened in downtown Austin in 1915, contributes to Austin's theater and film culture, showing classic films throughout the summer and hosting regional premieres for films such asMiss Congeniality.[238] TheZilker Park Summer Musical is a long-running outdoor musical.[239]
Ballet Austin is among the fifteen largest ballet academies in the country.[240] Each year Ballet Austin's 20-member professional company performs ballets from a wide variety of choreographers, including their artistic director,Stephen Mills. The city is also home to theBallet East Dance Company, a modern dance ensemble, and theTapestry Dance Company which performs a variety of dance genres.
The Austinimprovisational theatre scene has several theaters: ColdTowne Theater, The Hideout Theater, and The Fallout Theater. Austin also hosts the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival, which draws comedic artists in all disciplines to Austin.
View of Austin Central Library from César Chávez Street
TheAustin Public Library is operated by the City of Austin and consists of the Central Library onCésar Chávez Street, theAustin History Center, 20 branches and the Recycled Reads bookstore andupcycling facility.[241] The APL library system also has mobile libraries – bookmobile buses and a human-powered trike and trailer called "unbound: sin fronteras."[242][243]
The Central Library, which is an anchor to the redevelopment of the formerSeaholm Power Plant site and theShoal Creek Walk, opened on October 28, 2017.[244] The six-story Central Library contains a livingrooftop garden, reading porches, an indoor reading room,bicycle parking station, large indoor and outdoor event spaces, a gift shop, an art gallery, café, and a "technology petting zoo" where visitors can play with next-generation gadgets like3D printers.[245] In 2018,Time magazine named the Austin Central Library on its list of "World's Greatest Places."[246]
TheDriskill Hotel, built in 1886, once owned byGeorge W. Littlefield, and located at 6th and Brazos streets, was finished just before the construction of the Capitol building.Sixth Street is a musical hub for the city. The Enchanted Forest, a multi-acre outdoor music, art, and performance art space in South Austin hosts events such as fire-dancing and circus-like-acts.[247] Austin is also home to theLyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, which houses documents and artifacts related to the Johnson administration, including LBJ's limousine and a re-creation of theOval Office.
TheHOPE Outdoor Gallery, overlooked by the historic Texas Military Academy building, the oldest standing educational building in Texas; the gallery has since been demolished.
Locally produced art is featured at theSouth Austin Museum of Popular Culture. TheMexic-Arte Museum is a Mexican and Mexican-American art museum founded in 1983. Austin is also home to the O. Henry House Museum, which served as the residence ofO. Henry from 1893 to 1895. Farmers' markets are popular attractions, providing a variety of locally grown and often organic foods.[248]
TheAnn W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge houses the world's largest urban population ofMexican free-tailed bats. Starting in March,[250][251] up to 1.5 million bats take up residence inside the bridge's expansion and contraction zones as well as in long horizontal grooves running the length of the bridge's underside, an environment ideally suited for raising their young. Every evening around sunset, the bats emerge in search of insects, an exit visible onweather radar. Watching the bat emergence is an event that is popular with locals and tourists, with more than 100,000 viewers per year. The bats migrate to Mexico each winter.[252]
The HOPE Outdoor Gallery was a public, three-story outdoorstreet art project located on Baylor Street in theClarksville neighborhood.[253] The gallery, which consisted of the foundations of a failed multifamily development,[254] was a constantly-evolving canvas ofgraffiti andmurals. Also known as "Castle Hill" or simply "Graffiti Park", the site on Baylor Street was closed to the public in early January 2019 but remained intact, behind a fence and with an armed guard, in mid-March 2019.[255] The gallery will build a new art park at Carson Creek Ranch in Southeast Austin.[256]
Natural features like the bicycle-friendlyTexas Hill Country and generally mildclimate make Austin the home of several endurance and multi-sport races and communities. The Capitol 10,000 is the largest10 k race in Texas, and approximately fifth largest in the United States.[264] TheAustin Marathon has been run in the city every year since 1992. Additionally, the city is home to the largest 5 mile race in Texas,[265] named the Turkey Trot as it is run annually on Thanksgiving. Started in 1991 by Thundercloud Subs, a local sandwich chain (who still sponsors the event), the event has grown to host over 20,000 runners. All proceeds are donated to Caritas of Austin, a local charity.
The Austin-founded American Swimming Association hosts several swim races around town. Austin is also the hometown of several cycling groups and the disgraced cyclistLance Armstrong.[266] Combining these three disciplines is a growing crop of triathlons, including the Capital of Texas Triathlon held everyMemorial Day on and around Lady Bird Lake,Auditorium Shores, andDowntown Austin.[267]
In 2017,Precourt Sports Ventures announced a plan to move theColumbus Crew SC soccer franchise fromColumbus, Ohio to Austin.[274] Precourt negotiated an agreement with the City of Austin to build a $200 million privately funded stadium on public land at 10414 McKalla Place,[275] following initial interest in Butler Shores Metropolitan Park and Roy G. Guerrero Colorado River Park.[276] As part of an arrangement with the league, operational rights of Columbus Crew SC were sold in late 2018,[277] and Austin FC was announced as Major League Soccer's 27th franchise on January 15, 2019, with the expansion team starting play in 2021.[278]
TheAustin Country Club is a private golf club located along the shores of the Colorado River, right next to thePennybacker Bridge. Founded in 1899, the club moved to its third and present site in 1984, which features a challenging layout designed by noted course architectPete Dye.[279][280]
Austin is administered by an 11-membercity council (10 council members elected by geographic district plus a mayor elected at large). The council is accompanied by a hiredcity manager under themanager-council system of municipal governance. Council and mayoral elections are non-partisan, with a runoff in case there is no majority winner. A referendum approved by voters on November 6, 2012, changed the council composition from six council members plus a mayor elected at large to the current "10+1" district system. Supporters maintained that the at-large system would increase participation for all areas of the city, especially for those which had lacked representation from City Council.[282]
November 2014 marked the first election under the new system. TheFederal government had forced San Antonio and Dallas to abandon at-large systems before 1987; however, the court could not show a racist pattern in Austin and upheld the city's at-large system during a 1984 lawsuit. In five elections between 1973 and 1994 Austin voters rejected single-member districts.[283]
Austin formerly operated its city hall at 128 West 8th Street.[284] Antoine Predock and Cotera Kolar Negrete & Reed Architects designed a new city hall building, which was intended to reflect whatThe Dallas Morning News referred to as a "crazy-quilt vitality, that embraces everything from country music to environmental protests and high-tech swagger."[285] The new city hall, built from recycled materials, has solar panels in its garage.[286] The city hall, at 301 West Second Street, opened in November 2004.[287]Kirk Watson is the current mayor of Austin, assuming the office for a second non-consecutive term on January 6, 2023.
In the 2012 elections, City Council elections were moved from May to November and City council members were given staggered term limits[288] In 2022 Proposition D moved the term of the Austin Mayor to coincide with Presidential election years, soKirk Watson would only serve two years unlike his predecessorSteve Adler[289]
Fire protection within the city limits is provided by theAustin Fire Department, while the surrounding county is divided into twelve geographical areas known as emergency services districts, which are covered by separate regional fire departments.[290] Emergency medical services are provided for the whole county by Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.[291][292]
In 2003, the city adopted a resolution against theUSA PATRIOT Act that reaffirmed constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The current mayor of Austin isKirk Watson.[293] As of 2025, though positions are officiallly nonpartisan, all elected member of the city council areDemocrats.[294]
As of 2019, Austin is one of the safest large cities in the United States.[301] In 2019, the FBI named Austin the 11th safest city on a list of 22 American cities with a population above 400,000.[302]
FBI statistics show that overall violent and property crimes dropped in Austin in 2015, but increased in suburban areas of the city.[303] One such southeastern suburb,Del Valle, reported eight homicides within two months in 2016.[304] According to 2016APD crime statistics, the 78723 census tract had the most violent crime, with 6 murders, 25 rapes, and 81 robberies.[305] The city had 39 homicides in 2016, the most since 1997.[306][307]
In 2010, Andrew Joseph Stack III deliberately crashed hisPiper PA-28 Cherokee into Echelon 1, a building in which theInternal Revenue Service was a lessee of, housing 190 employees.[315] The resulting explosion killed one and injured 13 IRS employees, partially damaged the building and cost the IRS a total of $38.6 million.[316](see2010 Austin suicide attack)
Aseries of bombings occurred in Austin in March 2018. Over the course of 20 days, fivepackage bombs exploded, killing two people and injuring another five. The suspect, 23-year-old Mark Anthony Conditt ofPflugerville, Texas,blew himself up inside his vehicle after he was pulled over by police on March 21, also injuring a police officer.[317][318]
A mass shooting took place in the early morning of June 12, 2021, onSixth Street, which resulted in 14 people injured and one dead. The man killed was believed to be an innocent bystander who was struck as he was standing outside a bar. A 19-year-old suspect, De'ondre "Dre" White, was formally charged and arrested inKilleen nearly two weeks after the shooting.[326][327][328]
In 2024, Zacharia Doar, a 23-year old Palestinian-American man, was attacked and stabbed in the chest on West 26th Street,West Campus, after returning from a rally in support of Palestinian human rights. The assailant, 36-year old Bert James Baker was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.[329][330]
On August 11, 2025, amass shooting occurred outside aTarget store in North Austin, killing three people. The suspect fled the Target byhijacking acar belonging to one of the victims. After leaving the Target area, the suspect crashed the stolenvehicle and proceeded to steal another vehicle from acar dealership. The suspect was later taken into custody after being subdued with aTaser. He was later identified as a 32-year-old male.[331][332][333]
Former GovernorRick Perry had previously referred to it as a "blueberry in the tomato soup", meaning, Austin had previously been a Democratic city in a Republican state.[337] However, Texas currently has multiple urban cities also voting Democratic and electing Democratic mayors in elections.[338]
A controversial turning point in the political history of the Austin area was the2003 Texas redistricting. Before then, Austin had been entirely or almost entirely within the borders of a single congressional district–what was then the 10th District–for over a century. Opponents characterized the resulting district layout as excessively partisangerrymandering, and the plan was challenged in court by Democratic and minority activists. TheSupreme Court of the United States has never struck down a redistricting plan for being excessively partisan. The plan was subsequently upheld by a three-judge federal panel in late 2003, and on June 28, 2006, the matter was largely settled when the Supreme Court, in a 7–2 decision, upheld the entire congressional redistricting plan with the exception of a Hispanic-majority district in southwest Texas. This affected Austin's districting, as U.S. Rep.Lloyd Doggett's district (U.S. Congressional District 25) was found to be insufficiently compact to compensate for the reducedminority influence in the southwest district; it was redrawn so that it took in most of southeastern Travis County and several counties to its south and east.[340]
The distinguishing political movement of Austin politics has been that of theenvironmental movement, which spawned the parallel neighborhood movement, then the more recent conservationist movement (as typified by the Hill Country Conservancy),[341] and eventually the current ongoing debate about "sense of place" and preserving the Austin quality of life. Much of the environmental movement has matured into a debate on issues related to saving and creating an Austin "sense of place."[192] In 2012, Austin became just one of a few cities inTexas to ban the sale and use of plastic bags. However, the ban ended in 2018 due to a court ruling that regarded all bag bans in the state to contravene the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act.[342] In 2016, Austin became the first Gold designee of theSolSmart program,[343] a national program from theU.S. Department of Energy that recognizes local governments for enacting solar-friendly measures at the local level.[344][345]
According to the 2015–2019 Census estimates, 51.7% of Austin residents aged 25 and over have earned at least abachelor's degree, compared with the national figure of 32.1%. 19.4% hold agraduate orprofessional degree, compared with the national figure of 12.4%.[346]
The Austin metropolitan area is also served by 27 charter school districts and over 100 private schools.[349] Austin has a large network of private and alternative education institutions for children in PreK–12th grade exists. Austin is also home to several child developmental institutions.
Austin's main daily newspaper is theAustin American-Statesman.The Austin Chronicle is Austin'salternative weekly, whileThe Daily Texan is the student newspaper of theUniversity of Texas at Austin. Austin's business newspaper is the weeklyAustin Business Journal.The Austin Monitor is an online outlet that specializes in insider reporting on City Hall, Travis County Commissioners Court,AISD, and other related local civics beats. TheMonitor is backed by the nonprofit Capital of Texas Media Foundation. Austin also has numerous smaller special interest or sub-regional newspapers such as theOak Hill Gazette,Westlake Picayune,Hill Country News,Round Rock Leader,NOKOA, andThe Villager among others.Texas Monthly, a major regional magazine, is also headquartered in Austin. TheTexas Observer, a muckraking biweekly political magazine, has been based in Austin for over five decades. The weeklyCommunity Impact Newspaper published by John Garrett, former publisher of theAustin Business Journal has five regional editions and is delivered to every house and business within certain ZIP codes and all of the news is specific to those ZIP codes.[350] Another statewide publication based in Austin isThe Texas Tribune, an on-line publication focused on Texas politics.[351] TheTribune is "user-supported" through donations, a business model similar to public radio.[352] The editor isEvan Smith, former editor ofTexas Monthly. Smith co-founded theTexas Tribune, a nonprofit, non-partisan public media organization, with Austin venture capitalist John Thornton and veteran journalist Ross Ramsey.[351][353]
Network television stations (affiliations in parentheses) includeKTBC (FoxO&O),KVUE (ABC),KXAN (NBC),KEYE-TV (CBS),KLRU (PBS),KNVA (The CW),KBVO (MyNetworkTV), andKAKW (UnivisionO&O). KLRU produces several award-winning locally produced programs such asAustin City Limits.[357] Despite Austin's explosive growth, it is only a medium-sized market (currently 38th) because the suburban and rural areas are not much larger than the city proper. Additionally, the proximity of San Antonio truncates the potential market area.
Alex Jones, journalist, radio show host and filmmaker, produces his talk showThe Alex Jones Show in Austin which broadcasts nationally on more than 60 AM and FM radio stations in the United States,WWCR Radio shortwave andXM Radio: Channel 166.[358]
The cities ofBelo Horizonte, Brazil andElche, Spain were formerly sister cities, but after an Austin City Council vote in 1991, their statuses were deactivated.[360]Orlu,South East, Nigeria became a sister city in 2000, but was downgraded to emeritus status later.[361]
^All elected officials in the city of Austin are officially nonpartisan; party affiliation is for informational purposes only.
^Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.
^Official records for Austin were kept at downtown from September 1897 to July 1942,Mueller Airport from August 1942 to June 1999, and at Camp Mabry since July 1999. For more information, seeThreadex
^Although Council's attempt to address homelessness and the cost of living had prohibited camping in certain areas of the city, very lax enforcement of that policy frustrated the public and led to reinstatement of the widespread ban.[121]
^ab Cecil, Paul F.; Greene, Daniel P.: Hays County from theHandbook of Texas Online. Retrieved February 17, 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
^Ryan, Steven (June 9, 2010)."Austin, Catholic Diocese of".Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. RetrievedMay 28, 2011.
^abc Marks, Paula Mitchell: Bastrop, Texas from theHandbook of Texas Online. Retrieved Feb 17, 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
^ Garrett, Daphne Dalton: Fayette County from theHandbook of Texas Online. Retrieved Feb 17, 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
^ab Smyrl, Vivian Elizabeth: Travis County from theHandbook of Texas Online. Retrieved February 17, 2010. Texas State Historical Association.
^Tretter, Eliot (2016).Shadows of a Sunbelt City - The Environment, Racism, and the Knowledge Economy in Austin. The University of Georgia Press. p. 126.ISBN978-0-8203-4489-8.
^McDonald, Jason (2012).Racial Dynamics in Early Twentieth-Century Austin, Texas. Lexington Books. ISBN/9780739170977
^"Water Quality Records"(PDF).Water-Data Report 2007, 08155500 Barton Springs at Austin, Texas. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 2007. p. 4.Archived(PDF) from the original on September 9, 2008. RetrievedAugust 19, 2008.
^Wear, Ben (September 28, 2009)."Positive signs for financial future of Texas 130 tollway".Austin American-Statesman. p. B1. RetrievedSeptember 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.Report on the tollway...has been making more money than projected.
^"About Us".BikeTexas. October 12, 2018. RetrievedSeptember 10, 2021.
^"Bike Survey Results".The University of Texas at Austin Parking and Transportation Services. Archived fromthe original on February 2, 2017. RetrievedJanuary 31, 2017.
^O'Connell, Joe (February 8, 2008)."No. 1 Austin does the Sundance".The Austin Chronicle.Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. RetrievedJanuary 13, 2017.
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