Austin Guide/Links

If you've never considered that Austin might be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt. After all, plenty of people still think Texas is full of tumbleweeds, gunslingers and hot, thirsty afternoons, right? Well, something of the frontier quality still exists in this neck of the oak – and pecan-filled woods, but Austin is really an oasis in the middle of all that "high lonesome" – a city nestled among the rolling hills and lake of Central Texas, the seat of state government, an educational Mecca with seven area universities and an entertainment complex that includes the best of live music, the arts and all the fun of the great outdoors.

As for the frontier quality, you don't have to be all that intrepid to find anything your heart desires in exceptional city – from a gorgeous new home to a terrific meal, to a gig on stage at any of hundreds of musical spots. Austin is full of movers and shakers, so move in and shake with the best of them.

Austin Facts

• History: Founded in 1838
• Population: 1,249,763 people in the metropolitan area; 656,562 in Austin city limits.
• 16th largest city in the country
• Elevation: ranges from 425 feet above sea level to the highest point on Mt. Bonnell at 785 feet.
• Area: 2,705 square miles in the metro areas; 232 square miles within city limits
• Weather: 300 days of sunshine annually; 68.5 degrees average year-round temperature; 32" annual rainfall
• Time Zone: Central Time
• Taxes: 8.25 percent sales tax; no state income tax
• Area Code: 512
• "Best Place for Business" (Forbes, May 2000) with more than 1,330 tech companies.
• Newspapers: The daily paper is the Austin American-Statesman.
• Telephone and Utility: Service provided by Southwestern Bell Time Warner Telecom.
• Public Transportation: Area bus service is provided by Capital Metro (542-474-1200)
• Live Music Capital of the World: with more the 100 live music venues throughout the city
• Natural Beauty: Recreational opportunities abound with 198 parks, including 360-acre Zilker Park, and three major lakes – Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Town Lake
• Film Capital: The top location for movie making in Texas
• State Capital: The seat of government for the Lone Star State, Austin is home to the State higher than the nation's capitol in Washington, D.C.
• A Little Batty: Home to the North America's largest urban bat population
• Grammy Winners: Home to Grammy Award winning musicians The Dixie Chicks, Shawn Colvin, Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Don Walser, Fastball, and the late Stevie Ray Vaughn
• Major Employers: Austin has a strong high-tech presence with giants Dell, Motorola, and IBM who employ over 40,000 Austinites followed closely by the University of Texas at Austin.

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