The city was founded in 1835 and was first named Waterloo. In 1838 he was renamed Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin, the founder of the Republic of Texas, which was then independent and not a member state of the United States. Since 1839, Austin has been the capital of Texas, which joined the United States in 1845. Connected to the Houston and Texas Central Railway in 1871, Austin made it an important transshipment point in the livestock and cotton trade. From 1882 to 1888, the vast state capital was built, the seventh largest building in the world.

By the end of the 19th century, Austin had less than 20,000 inhabitants. Since then, however, the city has grown continuously. A particularly large population boom occurred in the 1920's-1940's, when the population grew by more than 100,000. In the 1990s, the half-million mark was exceeded. Austin is still one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, now scratching the millions.

The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883 and is now one of the largest and most prestigious state universities in the USA. The more than 50,000 students give the city a young, intellectual and culturally diverse image. Nowhere in the USA is there such a high concentration of music clubs and concerts, which is why Austin is called the capital of live music. The population of Austin is considered to be very liberal, progressive and non-conformist for American conditions. The slogan Keep Austin Weird - "Austin should stay oblique" also corresponds to this. But it also expresses the fear that rapid growth and migration from other, more conservative parts of the US may make Austin less special. Politically, Austin is a stronghold of Democrats, an exception in otherwise Republican-dominated Texas.

Austin is an important center of the semiconductor and IT industry. Freescale Semiconductor and National Instruments are headquartered here, and other major local employers are Dell, IBM, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Samsung. Austin is therefore called "Silicon Hills," similar to Silicon Valley in California.

By plane

the 30/1944444444444-97.673 Austin-Bergstrom International Airport       (IATA: from) (IATA Code: AUS) is a Category C international airport with around 14 million passengers per year, the fourth most frequented airport in Texas. The airlines with the most connections to/from Austin are Southwest, American, United and Delta Air Lines.

There is a direct connection with Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Austin. British Airways also operates intercontinental services to and from London. You can also take a bus to Atlanta, Chicago or Dallas. Within the US, the most popular connections are Atlanta (Southwest, Delta, Frontier), Dallas (American), Denver (Southwest, United, Frontier), Los Angeles (American, Delta, Southwest, United) and Houston (United).

Bus number 20 runs every quarter of an hour from the airport to the city center. The journey takes about 35 minutes and a single journey costs $1.25. Alternatives are car rental (all major American car rental companies are present at the airport), taxi (about $25 to the city center), applet-based car sharing (Uber, Lyft, Wingz and the local App RideAustin; 15 $) and shuttles that several passengers drop off at the desired address (e.g. B. Super Shuttle, about $19).

by train

at 30,2696-97,7572 Austin station       The Amtrak Texas Eagle (Chicago-St. Louis Dallas-San Antonio-Phoenix-Los Angeles). The journey from San Antonio takes 2½ hours, from Dallas 6½ hours, from El Paso 18, from St. Louis 22½, from Chicago 28½ hours, from Los Angeles 33½ hours.

By bus

Greyhound buses connect Austin with San Antonio several times a day (journey time 1½-1:45 hours). from $7), Waco (1:40 hrs; from $21), Houston (2:50-3 hours; from $10) and Dallas (3-3:40 hrs; from $14). From New Orleans and Baton Rouge you have to change trains to Houston.

• 30.321973-97.710393 3 Austin Bus Station, 916 E King Lane. Tel: (512) 458-4463. On the northern outskirts of the city, 5 miles north of the city center. You can get to downtown by bus #7. last amendment: no

On the street

By ship

MetroRail

Public transport in the greater Austin area is operated by the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro). This includes the Capital MetroRail, inaugurated in 2010, a regional train that links the city center and the Plaza Saltillo to the northern suburbs of Crestview, Lakeline and Leander (a total of 51 km, a journey time of about an hour). However, most of the traffic is managed by buses: There are regular 49 bus lines in the city, 12 special lines that only operate at certain times of the day or at night, eight express lines that stop at a few stops and 19 shuttle lines for the University of Texas.

If you use only the regular bus lines, a single trip costs $1.25, a day ticket $2.50, a 7 day card $11.25. If you also want to use the express bus lines and the MetroRail, the single trip costs $3.50, the day ticket $7, the 7-day card $27.50. Children and teenagers up to the 12th grade (with appropriate ID) are free.

Austin is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the USA. The city is also relatively pedestrian-friendly, at least if you are in downtown, West Campus and East Austin.

Texas State Capitol

structures

• 30,274722-97,7405561 Texas State Capitol.       . Huge Parliament and government building of the state of Texas. Built between 1882 and 1888, it is built in the architectural style of the Italian Renaissance. At 92 meters, it's higher than the capital of the United States in Washington. last amendment: no

• 30,2727-97,7429972 Texas Governor's Mansion, 1010 Colorado St. . Residence of the governors of Texas, built in 1854 in a classical style. last amendment: no

Driskill Hotel lobby

• 30,268056-97,7416673 Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos Street.       . Built in 1886 in a neo-Romanesque style, it was considered the most prestigious hotel in the south of St. Louis and is today the oldest still operating hotel in Austin. last amendment: no

• 30,22944444-97,75472222Main building of 4 St. Edward's University.       . A representative, castle-like neo-Gothic building, built in 1887-88 and rebuilt in 1903 after a fire. last amendment: no

museums

• 30,2857-97,72925 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.       . The Presidential Library and the Museum are dedicated to the life and work of the 36th century. President of the USA, who after the murder John F. Kennedy ruled from 1963 to 1969. last amendment: no

streets and squares

• 30,267222-97,7397226 Sixth Street (Pecan Street).       . Historic Main Street and main nightlife and entertainment mile in Downtown Austin. It is surrounded by numerous bars, clubs, music clubs and shops. This is particularly true of the section between Congress Avenue and Interstate 35, which is usually closed to traffic on the evenings of the weekend and then populated by the celebratory public. The street is also worth seeing in the daylight, as it is bordered by several listed commercial buildings dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. last amendment: no

park

Texas State Cemetery

• 30,266944-97,7261117 Texas State Cemetery.       . Honorary cemetery of the State of Texas, where the founding fathers of the Republic of Texas (including Stephen F. Austin), governors, other well-deserved politicians and soldiers as well as prominent figures. last amendment: no

• 30,321084-97,7735668 Mount Bonnell (Covert Park).     . Park and viewpoint above the Colorado River, about 9 km northwest of the city center, with great views over the city. last amendment: no

Zilker Park

• 30,263611-97,7766679 Zilker Park.       . 142 hectares of recreational area in the south of the city, at the mouth of the Barton Creek in the Colorado River. There are sports fields, picnic areas, walking and cycling paths, a botanical garden and a sculpture garden, a swimming pool, which can be used all year round from natural sources (Barton Springs) and a 12-inch track. Canoeing is also available at the Barton Creek. In Christmas time there is a 47 meter high light tree here. last amendment: no

• 30,1808-97,721910 McKinney Falls State Park.       . 300 hectares of natural park in the south-east of the city at the Onion Creek. The trees are there. a. is characterized by pecanus, ebony and zedrach trees, marsh cypresses, American platans, elms and oaks. There are also several cactus, in particular opuntias. In spring there are a lot of wild flowers to see, especially the blue-blooded Texan lupin, which is a symbol of this state. This habitat is home to white-tailed deer, laundry bears, coyotes, squirrels and goats, mockingbirds, tockucks, red cardinals and blue hogs, various species of turtles and rattlesnakes. last amendment: no

• 30,413-97,88311 Hippie Hollow Park (on the north-western outskirts of town, 27 km from the city center).       . Located on Lake Travis, it is the only park in Texas where clothing is officially optional. From the 1960s on the site was popular with hippies, who bathed naked here. Although there were complaints from the public, the reef decided that there were worse offenses and tolerated the activity. In 1985 an official clothing optional park was established and warning signs were put in place. Since the prudent laws of Texas state apply in Austin, the park can only be accessed by adults. last amendment: no

Texas Longhorns football match

• Texas Longhorns.       . This is the name of the sports teams at the University of Texas. They play at the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. last amendment: no
  • Texas Longhorns Football.       . Home games are played in the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium ("DKR"). last amendment: no
  • Texas Longhorn's men's basketball.       . Home is the Frank Erwin Center. last amendment: no
  • Texas Longhorn's women's basketball.     . Home is the Frank Erwin Center. last amendment: no

Regular events

ACL Music Festival

• South by Southwest. A highlight in Austin’s calendar is the annual music and film festival South by Southwest (short SXSW or South By), which takes place in March during the Spring Break of the University and around St. Patrick’s Day. More specifically, it is a whole conglomerate of festivals and conferences of different music, film and media scenes taking place in parallel. Numerous prominent artists then come to Austin to present their works and exchange their experiences. Over 50,000 subscribers have been registered in recent years. last amendment: no

• Republic of Texas Biker Rally. End of May or June (after Memorial Day) - large motorcycle corso with 35,000 participants and 200,000 spectators. last amendment: no

• Austin City Limits Music Festival. On the first and second weekend in October - large music festival in Zilker Park (Rock, Indie, Country, Folk, Elektro and Hip-Hop). last amendment: no