Interesting Facts About the City of Austin

• Austin's 2016 population is 931,830, which makes it the 11th largest city in the US, but its 5-county metropolitan area has an estimated population of over 2 million.
• Currently our population is 50% bigger than Atlanta, which is the 43rd largest city.
• Austin is the youngest big city in the US per capita with 90,000 total college and university students. Over 50,000 students are at The University of Texas, 33,000 students are at Austin Community College and the rest are spread among the remaining institutions of higher learning.
• Austin's land mass comprises 280 square miles.
• Austin ranks as the safest big city in the US. In 2006 we had 19 murders. In the 1970s when Austin had one-third the population it now has we averaged 50 murders a year.
• 70% of the city's $600 million dollar budget is spent on police, fire and emergency services.
• Austin is the fastest growing big city in the US. In 1990 were ranked 27th largest city. In 2011 we are ranked 14th.
• For the past eleven decades --- since 1895 --- Austin has grown EACH year by 3.5% population. That means every 20 years Austin has doubled in population.
• In 2012 we added over 12,800 new jobs. The CEO of Angelou Economics forecast 45,000 new jobs will be added to Austin's five-county metro area in 2012 and 2013, more than doubling the job expansion of the past two years.
• In 2006 the sales tax revenue was up 12% and hotel occupancy was up 25%.
• Every day 85 new residents are added to Austin. This includes new people moving to town ---- and births / deaths.That equates to 70 more cars on the road each day.
• Texas is the fastest growing State in the US. Texas adds 500,000 people to the State each year. Austin is the fastest growing city in the fastest growing State in the US. Austin is a very economically attractive location and environment.

Austin is the capital of Texas, the second most populous state. The Austin metropolitan area serves as a center for academic, political, research and technological activities. Sparkling lakes and dramatic terrain make Austin an oasis for sports and recreation. The University of Texas at Austin (UT) and its 48,000 students influence the character of the community toward education and achievement.

At a Glance:

• No corporate income tax- state or local
• No personal income tax- state or local
• Most highly educated community in the U.S. (with 250,000+ population)
• Highest bookstore sales in the U.S. ($195 per household)
• 150 miles chain of lakes wind through the Texas Hill Country into Austin
• Within 200 miles of three of the 10 largest cities in the U.S. (Houston, Dallas, San Antonio)

Founded in 1839, Austin was chosen as the capital of the Republic of Texas because of its central location, fresh water, natural beauty and the proximity of limestone and timber. Austin was named for Stephen F. Austin, a colonizer of the area. Austin has seven historical districts and 210 historical structures, including the Capital and the Governor's Mansion.

Austin is located in Central Texas along the Colorado River.

• Highways serving Austin include Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 183 and Texas Highway 71.
• Altitude ranges from 425 feet at lakeside to 1,000 feet in the northwest hills.
• Within 200 miles of Austin are nearly 12 million people, 70 percent of the Texas population.
• Austin is 225 miles from the U.S./Mexico border.
• Austin has a temperate climate, with 300 days of sunshine annually.
• Average temperatures range from 42-62° in the winter and 75°-95° in the summer.
• Average annual rainfall is 32.49 inches.
• Austin ranks first in Texas and sixth in the U.S. in the number of artists and musicians per capita.
• Recognized as the "Live Music Capital of the World", Austin has spawned a multitude of Grammy winning performers. PBS's "Austin City Limits" is viewed by as many as five million people weekly worldwide.
• With a population of approximately 1.4 million, the Austin area is known for many of its wonderful historical landmarks, live music venues, nationally recognized film festivals, and highly acclaimed resorts, spas and golf courses.
• Austin's region features miles of beautiful landscapes, fields of colorful wildflowers, gorgeous lakes and rolling hills. The climate is made for outdoor enjoyment and recreation almost year round.
• Professional and amateur sports venues and events include the Austin Ice Bats, Texas Wranglers Football and the Round Rock Express.
• Austin has more fine restaurants and clubs per capita than any other U.S. city.
• Austin is home to the University of Texas, one of the top schools in the US as well as many other acclaimed colleges such as St. Edwards and Concordia University.

All About the Lakes:

The Highland Lakes were formed by a series of six dams to control flooding of the Colorado River and to provide water supplies, produce electricity, and for recreation. The Lower Colorado River Authority is the governing overseer of these lakes and dams. A map of the entire Highland Lakes chain gives a good overview of this extensive area. The Highland Lakes are wonderful recreation lakes and beautiful places to live.

The lakes are:

Lake Buchanan is 30 miles long and its maximum length is 4.92 miles. It's water level fluctuates due to its purpose of flood control. There are several communities and subdivisions along the vast shoreline of Lake Buchanan.
Inks Lake is 4 miles long with a maximum width of 3000'. Much of the shoreline of the lake is within Inks Lake State Park, although there are a few subdivisions.
Lake LBJ is 21 miles long with a maximum width of 10,800'. This lake remains near a constant level and has many wonderful waterfront communities along its shore, such as Horseshoe Bay, Sunrise Beach, Kingsland, Granite Shoals, Highland Haven, and Blue Lake/Deer Haven.
Lake Marble Falls is 5.75 miles long with a maximum length of 108'. This lake runs through Marble Falls and Meadowlakes.
Lake Travis is 63.75 miles long with a maximum width of 4.5 miles. The lake levels on Lake Travis fluctuate because it is a flood control lake. Go to the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce for more information. Communities along Lake Travis include Lago Vista, Lakeway, The Reserve, Ridge Harbor, and Briarcliff.
Lake Austin is 20.25 miles long with a maximum width of 1300'. Communities along Lake Austin include Steiner Ranch and River Place. Lake Austin is the sixth lake down in the chain of Highland Lakes on the Colorado River in central Texas. The lake starts at the Mansfield Dam and ends at the Tom Miller Dam in the city of Austin.

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