Austin, Texas

History

A Rich and Distinguished History

Austin, Texas is a city rich with history. The small village of Waterloo was settled in the 1830’s by community members from areas such as Germany, Mexico and Sweden and was named state capital in 1839. A brand new city was built and named after Stephen F Austin – “The Father of Texas”. After the construction of a railroad, Texas experienced a boom in the 1870’s, with Austin expanding to a bustling city.

In 1888, a grand capital building was built, called “the 7th largest building in the world”, and this building remains a famous and distinctive cultural landmark within Austin. The capital building has remained the centre of government for the state through to today.

A further two milestones in the growth of this great city were the establishment of the University of Texas in 1883 and the construction of the Great Granite Dam on the Colorado River in 1893. By 1938 this dam had been replaced with a series of seven further dams. Lyndon Baines Johnson – the 36th President of the United States, a Texan native, played a role in this developmental work.

The late 1970’s saw plenty of political, social and cultural growth, with many historic and cultural preservation communities developing in Austin. The musicians David Rodriguez and Willie Nelson, both Texans, drew plenty of crowds to Austin during this time and have helped solidify Austin’s reputation as a hub of musical excellence.

Climate

A Perfect Place for Sun Lovers

Austin, Texas has an enviable climate, with mild winters where the weather only drops below zero for around 25 days of each year. Summers are warm in this subtropical humid climate, with temperatures often rising above 90°F, which is great for sun lovers! In fact, sun tends to be abundant during all seasons in Austin, with over 2,650 hours of bright sunshine per year. If you aren’t keen on heat, don’t worry – there are plenty of natural swimming pools in Austin and most buildings and real estate have relieving AC to see you through the hottest part of the day.

Transitional periods between the mild, short winters and longer, hot summers tend to be warm and pleasant. Humidity and precipitation can vary throughout the year, with some very dry low-humidity days interspersed with high-humidity. Rainfall is around 34.32 inches per year, much lower than the national average of 63.7 inches.

Overall, Austin’s climate is warm, dry, and pleasant.

Education

Excellent Education – and a Wealth of Highly-Skilled Graduates

Austin enjoys a great reputation for education – so whether you are looking for excellent schools for your family, or want to take advantage of the wealth of smart millennial graduates hungry to add to your business, Austin scores highly in this sector.

CNN ranked Austin 6th in its America’s Smartest Cities list (2010) and the University of Texas has also been named on the 2011 ‘”Best Values in Education” by Kiplinger’s Personal finance. The value Austin places on business can be seen in its education system, with the business community being an active partner in the education of students, with partnerships such as the Skillpoint Alliance – a program to promote workforce development in industries such as tech, healthcare and construction.

Austin’s reputation for producing highly-skilled graduates is underscored by the 8 top-ranked colleges and universities, including Texas State University, Southwestern University and the University of Texas.

If you want top-notch education for younger students, Austin can provide a range of highly-rated independent schools, as well as charter schools, and public schools.

Recreation

A Thriving Music Scene and Plenty of Entertainment to Enjoy

Austin is famous for its incredible music scene – both historically and through today. It’s often referred to as the Live Music Capital of the World. There are more than 250 live music bars in the city to visit, with eclectic music ranging from jazz to blues, hip hop and Latino. The legendary Continental Club is known as “The Granddaddy of Austin Music Venues” and has showcased blues, rock and folk music since 1957.

Austin is renowned for its creative scene and has world-class museums, such as the Blanton Museum and the Harry Ransom Center – featuring the Gutenberg Bible. It also boasts museums such as the Austin Museum of Art, the Austin Nature and Science Center, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden, and a host of others.

There are also several festivals and street fairs throughout the year, as well as art galleries and local filmmaking events.

Austin has a vast range of quality eateries, ranging from water-front local restaurants on the large Lake Austin & Travis, through regional Mexican cuisine and high-end restaurants.

If sports and physical activity are more your thing, then Austin has many large sporting venues to attract you; such as the Circuits of the Americas (Formula 1 United States Grand Prix) and is home to the Texas Stars (AHL Ice Hockey Team), the Texas Longhorns and the Austin Spurs (NBA Basketball).

There are beautiful parks which span more than 29,000 acres, and numerous hiking trails. Lakes and creeks such as Lady Bird Lake and Barton Creek allow you to enjoy swimming, kayaking, tubing and cliff diving. On Mount Bonnell in Austin, you can enjoy a great view of the Texas Country Hills for free admission.