Austin General Information

Austin, the state capitol of Texas and home to University of Texas, is more than just a college town that is a great place to hang out. Austin is making a name for itself in the High-Tech industry. So many companies have moved here that Austin is becoming known as the Texas Silicon Valley.

But for all its changes, Austin is still a town with roots. Chartered in 1839 as the capital of the Republic of Texas, Austin became the state capital when Texas admitted to the Union in 1846 as the twenty-eighth state. Austin is now the fourth largest city in the state and the sixteenth most populous city in the nation.
Located in the Central Texas Hill Country, Austin is approximately 230 miles from Mexico and less than 200 miles from 3 of the 10 largest U.S. cities (192 miles from Dallas to its north, 79 miles from San Antonio south, and 162 miles from Houston to its southeast).

In recent years, the entertainment industry has discovered Austin and it is common now to see film crews blocking off its oak-lined streets. Austin is a great city to have fun in. Widely known for its diverse music community and live music scene, Austin has it all - blues, country/western, reggae, jazz, swing and rock performed in various clubs around city and at night spots along Sixth Street (see below). In March Austin plays host to the annual South X Southwest music conference. A weeklong event with many venues featured in different areas of central Austin, SXSW has become one of the nations most famous and influential showcases for both new bands and star attractions.

Spring is the rainy season, especially later spring. Temperatures are fairly mild. Summers can be humid due to the spring rains, often reaching the low 100s. Temperatures drop considerably through the fall and winter settles in the low 60s. The late fall and early winter are known as flu season, and travelers headed to Austin during this time are advised to be sure their shots are up to date.
There are more restaurants capita than any other city in the US, so visitors are guaranteed to find something appealing. There are also more movie screens per capita here than anywhere else in America, so it is not surprising that the annual Austin Film is so popular with locals and tourists alike. In addition there is a variety of great museums, parks and shopping.

If you prefer outdoors activies, The Highland Lake region is a popular place for leisure recreation in the Austin area. This chain of lakes grew out of the dam projects of the early 1900s, and are especially well liked during Austin's mild winters. Swimming, scuba diving, boating and water-skiing rate highly among the favorite activities in this scenic paradise. The lakes are also a big draw for hikers and campers, and backcountry guides are available to show new visitors the beauty of the Austin area.
With all there is to see and do in Austin, this city on the move is a great place to live.