Austin is the capital of Texas and the county seat of Travis County. Situated in Central Texas, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 16th largest in the United States. It is also home to the University of Texas at Austin.
Austin is hip and trendy, yet in a vintage sort of way. It's high-tech and laid-back. It's politically charged and culturally rich. It's eclectic by nature and creative by design. Most of all, it's a place where people like to have a good time.
Residents of Austin are known as "Austinites" and include a mix of university professors, students politicians, lobbyists, musicians, state employees, high-tech workers, and blue-collar workers. 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.
This is a city with a heart and with a soul. Cosmopolitan, yet unpretentious. Thriving cultural scene and vibrant nightlife. High-tech, low-key. Big city, college town. Quirky and far from ordinary, it's the kind of place where you check your worries at the city limits sign, trade in suits for something a bit more casual and prepare for experiences you'll find only in Austin.
Austinites take pride in eccentricities and celebrate the differences between themselves and other U.S. cities. "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.
The 10-mile long Town Lake Trail is one of Austin's favorite recreational destinations. It is estimated that over 1 million people visit the trail every year. The trail is used for recreation, exercise, socializing, and to enjoy a beautiful natural setting in the middle of the City.
Most people that use the trail are locals, but the number of out of town visitors on the trail is significant. Almost as many women use the trail, as do men. The age range distribution is amazingly equal among adults. Fewer people under the age of 21 use the trail. This may be attributed to the fact that most teenagers are more actively involved with organized sports associated with school.
Austin is also home to a lot of artists. They can be seen selling their art at the Renaissance Market on Guadalupe, across the street from the University. Every first Thursday of the month, during what is known as First Thursdays, the eclectic shops on South Congress stay open late, artists sell their works on the sidewalks, and musicians play in the streets. This is truly a spectacle of Austin, and exemplifies its cultural side.
The Texas State Capitol, an imposing pink granite structure, commands a stately presence in downtown. Actually 14 feet taller than the nation's capitol, the Texas Statehouse is the largest domed statehouse in the country.
Housing Cost
Average Price $138,000.
Price Range $90,000 - $5,000,000
Demographics
Estimated population in July 2005: 690,252. Austin covers 251.1 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 501 feet above sea level.
Climate
Austin, TX climate is hot during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 80's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.
The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 95.60 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 37.30 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 24 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 24 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Austin is 34.04 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 4.83 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
ustinites take pride in eccentricities and celebrate the differences between themselves and other U.S. cities. "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.