Misplaced Pages

#716283

108-628: Headquartered in Austin, Texas , the association is governed by a Council that meets at the TLA Annual Conference and the Officer Governance Training and Workshop (formerly known as Annual Assembly). The executive board serves as the central management board and recommends matters of policy, budget, and operations to the council. Board members are elected annually by the membership. In the fall of 2021, TLA released

216-714: A boil-water advisory which would last until water pressure was restored on February 23. Beginning January 30, 2023 the City of Austin experienced a winter freeze which left 170,000 Austin Energy customers without electricity or heat for several days. The slow pace of repairs and lack of public information from City officials frustrated many residents. A week after the freeze and when Austin City Council members were proposing to evaluate his employment, City Manager Spencer Cronk finally apologized. On Thursday February 16, 2023, Cronk

324-443: A cotton gin engine was located downtown near the trains for "ginning" cotton of its seeds and turning the product into bales for shipment. However, as other new railroads were built through the region in the 1870s, Austin began to lose its primacy in trade to the surrounding communities. In addition, the areas east of Austin took over cattle and cotton production from Austin, especially in towns like Hutto and Taylor that sit over

432-499: A Texas state demographer, following an analysis of census data in the smaller urban areas situated between Austin and San Antonio, identified the potential emergence of a substantial metropolitan region incorporating both cities, similar to the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex . This phenomenon was attributed to the growth experienced by smaller towns that were evolving into independent urban cores. Between 2010 and 2015, Austin witnessed

540-635: A diverse mix of government employees, college students, musicians, high-tech workers, and blue-collar workers . The city's official slogan promotes Austin as "The Live Music Capital of the World", a reference to the city's many musicians and live music venues, as well as the long-running PBS TV concert series Austin City Limits . Austin is the site of South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual conglomeration of parallel film , interactive media , and music festivals . The city also adopted " Silicon Hills " as

648-468: A documentary titled San Antonio – Austin: The Emerging Mega-Metro . The documentary featured interviews with the mayors of Austin and San Antonio, alongside other prominent business and political figures. The discussions centered around the emergence of the San Antonio–Austin metroplex. The collective sentiment expressed by those interviewed suggested that the metroplex was "already here", emphasizing

756-592: A facility to produce its Selectric typewriters. Texas Instruments was set up in Austin two years later, and Motorola (now NXP Semiconductors) started semiconductor chip manufacturing in 1974. A number of Fortune 500 companies have headquarters or regional offices in Austin, including 3M , Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) , Agilent Technologies , Amazon , Apple , Dell , Facebook (Meta) , General Motors , Google , IBM , Intel , NXP Semiconductors , Oracle , Tesla , and Texas Instruments . With regard to education, Austin

864-485: A flood on April 7, 1900. In the late 1920s and 1930s, Austin implemented the 1928 Austin city plan through a series of civic development and beautification projects that created much of the city's infrastructure and many of its parks. In addition, the state legislature established the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) that, along with the city of Austin, created the system of dams along

972-544: A freeze are December 1 and February 15, giving Austin an average growing season of 288 days, and the coldest temperature of the year is normally about 24.2 °F (−4 °C) under the 1991-2020 climate normals, putting Austin in USDA zone 9a. Conversely, winter months also produce warm days on a regular basis. On average, 10 days in January reach or exceed 70 °F (21 °C) and 1 day reaches 80 °F (27 °C); during

1080-733: A live call-in program, featured TLA member Sara Stevenson and author Ashley Hope Pérez discussing the GOP-fueled fight over kid-appropriate library books. TLA President-Elect Mary Woodard spoke to the Dallas Morning News. Librarians could search for topics flagged by the legislator — such as human sexuality and sexually transmitted diseases — through subject headings in the Library of Congress Classification system used by most districts, Woodard said. But determining which items might cause students distress because of their race or sex

1188-667: A major university. The 1970s saw Austin's emergence in the national music scene, with local artists such as Willie Nelson , Asleep at the Wheel , and Stevie Ray Vaughan and iconic music venues such as the Armadillo World Headquarters . Over time, the long-running television program Austin City Limits , its namesake Austin City Limits Festival, and the South by Southwest music festival solidified

SECTION 10

#1732793403717

1296-512: A nickname in the 1990s due to a rapid influx of technology and development companies. In recent years, some Austinites have adopted the unofficial slogan " Keep Austin Weird ", which refers to the desire to protect small, unique, and local businesses from being overrun by large corporations. Since the late 19th century, Austin has also been known as the " City of the Violet Crown ", because of

1404-683: A part of their land, created an immense motive for Sam Houston, the first and third President of the Republic of Texas, to relocate the capital once again in 1841. Upon threats of Mexican troops in Texas, Houston raided the Land Office to transfer all official documents to Houston for safe keeping in what was later known as the Archive War , but the people of Austin would not allow this unaccompanied decision to be executed. The documents stayed, but

1512-503: A population exceeding 2.6 million people. Discussions regarding connectivity between San Antonio and Austin have been ongoing since 1984 when the Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council was established to promote economic and political unity between the two cities. Census projections estimate that San Antonio–Austin metroplex will experience rapid population growth in the upcoming decades and

1620-687: A population increase that surpassed the growth observed in Dallas and San Antonio, both of which stand among the top 10 most populated cities in the US. In 2021, former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros published a book titled The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy , where he discussed the emerging San Antonio–Austin metroplex. In 2023, the PBS station based in San Antonio premiered

1728-682: A sandy beach along the river, and a disc golf course. San Antonio%E2%80%93Austin metroplex The San Antonio–Austin metroplex is an emerged metropolitan area in the US state of Texas , where the dominant core cities are San Antonio and Austin . This combined metropolitan region, composed of the Greater Austin and Greater San Antonio areas, has approximately 5 million people. Downtown San Antonio and Downtown Austin are about 80 mi (130 km) apart and connected through Interstate 35 (I-35). Several cities and town that also make

1836-576: A set of zoning restrictions that preserve the view of the Texas State Capitol from various locations around Austin, known as the Capitol View Corridors . At night, parts of Austin are lit by "artificial moonlight" from moonlight towers built to illuminate the central part of the city. The 165-foot (50 m) moonlight towers were built in the late 19th century and are now recognized as historic landmarks. Only 15 of

1944-549: A severe lull in economic growth from the Great Depression , Austin resumed its steady development. Following the mid-20th century, Austin became established as one of Texas' major metropolitan centers. In 1970, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Austin's population as 14.5% Hispanic, 11.9% black, and 73.4% non-Hispanic white. In the late 20th century, Austin emerged as an important high tech center for semiconductors and software. The University of Texas at Austin emerged as

2052-471: A statement, "The Freedom to Read is a Right and Must Be Protected," to make it clear that TLA opposes efforts that restrict the freedom to read through banning, removing, or other forms of restricting access to books or other materials. The controversy erupted after State Rep. Matt Krause, a Fort Worth Republican running for Texas attorney general, sent a letter to certain school districts with an 850-book list that included novels about racism and sexuality, asking

2160-526: A third of normal precipitation. This was a result of La Niña conditions in the eastern Pacific Ocean where water was significantly cooler than normal. David Brown, a regional official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, explained that "these kinds of droughts will have effects that are even more extreme in the future, given a warming and drying regional climate." The drought, coupled with exceedingly high temperatures throughout

2268-497: Is a state park administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , located at the confluence of Onion Creek and Williamson Creek. The park includes several designated hiking trails and campsites with water and electric. The namesake features of the park are the scenic upper and lower falls along Onion Creek. The Emma Long Metropolitan Park is a municipal park along the shores of Lake Austin , originally constructed by

SECTION 20

#1732793403717

2376-435: Is a popular summer swimming spot for visitors and residents. Hamilton Pool Preserve consists of 232 acres (0.94 km ) of protected natural habitat featuring a jade green pool into which a 50-foot (15 m) waterfall flows. In May 2021, voters in the City of Austin reinstated a public camping ban. That includes downtown green spaces as well as trails and greenbelts such as along Barton Creek. McKinney Falls State Park

2484-429: Is an entirely subjective request, she said. “What causes discomfort to one person may not cause discomfort to another person,” Woodard said. “That’s going to be very difficult to provide. And I feel like in most districts, their attorneys will probably say, ‘We cannot provide this information for you.’” Several TLA members also launched the social media movement #FReadom, to celebrate diverse books and authors. “One of

2592-474: Is anticipated to surpass a population of 2.6 million, and Travis County (Greater Austin) is projected to exceed 1.7 million. The surrounding counties in the metro area are expected to experience high population growth too. By the year 2100, the area is projected to be among the three most populated metropolitan regions in the entire US. The metropolitan statistical area, referred to as Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos or Greater Austin, comprises five (5) counties in

2700-615: Is home to the tallest condo towers in the state, with The Independent (58 stories and 690 ft (210 m) tall) and The Austonian (topping out at 56 floors and 685 ft (209 m) tall). The Independent became the tallest all-residential building in the U.S. west of Chicago when topped out in 2018. In 2005, then-Mayor Will Wynn set out a goal of having 25,000 people living downtown by 2015. Although downtown's growth did not meet this goal, downtown's residential population did surge from an estimated 5,000 in 2005 to 12,000 in 2015. The skyline has drastically changed in recent years, and

2808-471: Is its highly variable humidity, which fluctuates frequently depending on the shifting patterns of air flow and wind direction. It is common for a lengthy series of warm, dry, low-humidity days to be occasionally interrupted by very warm and humid days, and vice versa. Humidity rises with winds from the east or southeast, when the air drifts inland from the Gulf of Mexico , but decreases significantly with winds from

2916-563: Is likely that the US Census Bureau will include Austin and San Antonio as a combined metropolitan statistical area (MSA) for 2030 census, when the next census is released. By 2050, the population is expected to surpass 8.3 million people. This projected population size would surpass the current populations of both the Dallas–Fort Worth and Greater Houston metro areas. By the year 2060, Bexar County (Greater San Antonio)

3024-772: Is located within the middle of a unique, narrow transitional zone between the dry deserts of the American Southwest and the lush, green, more humid regions of the American Southeast. Its climate, topography, and vegetation share characteristics of both. Officially, Austin has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) under the Köppen climate classification . This climate is typified by long, very hot summers, short, mild winters, and warm to hot spring and fall seasons in-between. Austin averages 34.32 inches (872 mm) of annual rainfall distributed mostly evenly throughout

3132-472: Is most common during the spring. According to most classifications, Austin lies within the extreme southern periphery of Tornado Alley , although many sources place Austin outside of Tornado Alley altogether. Consequently, tornadoes strike Austin less frequently than areas farther to the north. However, severe weather and/or supercell thunderstorms can occur multiple times per year, bringing damaging winds, lightning, heavy rain, and occasional flash flooding to

3240-483: Is of approximately US$ 278 billion. Significant growth is evident along the I-35 corridor and the interconnected communities situated between the two cities, particularly the area between New Braunfels (located in the northern part of Greater San Antonio) and San Marcos (situated in the southern part of Greater Austin), the two largest cities between both San Antonio and Austin. New Braunfels has positioned itself among

3348-473: Is positioned to become one of the main metropolitan areas in the entire US by the year 2100. As of 2023, there is no officially designated name for the developing Austin–San Antonio metroplex. The Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council, established in 1984, adopted the nomenclature " Austin–San Antonio ." Conversely, alternative sources may refer to it as " San Antonio–Austin ." Various nicknames have been proposed by news outlets and social media users for

Texas Library Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

3456-431: Is rare in Austin. A snow event of 0.9 inches (2 cm) on February 4, 2011, caused more than 300 car crashes. The most recent major snow event occurred February 14–15, 2021, when 6.4 inches (16 cm) of snow fell at Austin's Camp Mabry , the largest two-day snowfall since records began being kept in 1948. Typical of Central Texas , severe weather in Austin is a threat that can strike during any season. However, it

3564-561: Is the 26th-largest metropolitan area in the United States, the 11th-most populous city in the United States, the fourth-most populous city in the state after Houston , San Antonio , and Dallas , and the second-most populous state capital city after Phoenix , the capital of Arizona . It has been one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States since 2010. Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along

3672-523: Is the home of the University of Texas at Austin , one of the largest universities in the U.S., with over 50,000 students. In 2021, Austin became home to the Austin FC , the first (and currently only) major professional sports team in the city. Austin, Travis County and Williamson County have been the site of human habitation since at least 9200 BC. The area's earliest known inhabitants lived during

3780-683: Is water. Austin is situated at the foot of the Balcones Escarpment , on the Colorado River , with three artificial lakes within the city limits: Lady Bird Lake (formerly known as Town Lake), Lake Austin (both created by dams along the Colorado River), and Lake Walter E. Long that is partly used for cooling water for the Decker Power Plant. Mansfield Dam and the foot of Lake Travis are located within

3888-511: Is well-fed. Both range in temperature from about 68.0 °F (20.0 °C) during the winter to about 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) during the summer. Hippie Hollow Park , a county park situated along Lake Travis, is the only officially sanctioned clothing-optional public park in Texas. Hamilton Pool Preserve is a natural pool that was created when the dome of an underground river collapsed due to massive erosion thousands of years ago. The pool, located about 23 miles (37 km) west of Austin,

3996-629: The 2020 census . The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin–Round Rock metropolitan statistical area, which had an estimated population of 2,473,275 as of July 1, 2023. Located in Central Texas within the greater Texas Hill Country , it is home to numerous lakes, rivers, and waterways, including Lady Bird Lake and Lake Travis on the Colorado River , Barton Springs , McKinney Falls , and Lake Walter E. Long . Residents of Austin are known as Austinites. They include

4104-776: The Civilian Conservation Corps . The 284 acres (115 ha) Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a botanical garden and arboretum that features more than 800 species of native Texas plants in both garden and natural settings; the Wildflower Center is located 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Downtown in Circle C Ranch . Roy G. Guerrero Park is located along the Colorado River in East Riverside and contains miles of wooded trails,

4212-555: The Houston and Texas Central Railway (H&TC) in 1871 turned Austin into the major trading center for the region, with the ability to transport both cotton and cattle. The Missouri, Kansas & Texas (MKT) line followed close behind. Austin was also the terminus of the southernmost leg of the Chisholm Trail , and "drovers" pushed cattle north to the railroad. Cotton was one of the few crops produced locally for export, and

4320-465: The Interstate 35 (I-35) highway corridor. As of 2023, San Antonio and Austin rank among the top 10 most populated cities in the United States. When accounting for their combined metropolitan regions, which include cities such as Round Rock , San Marcos , and New Braunfels , the San Antonio–Austin metroplex has accumulative population of 5.2 million people. About 3.9 million of them live along

4428-476: The Interstate 35 corridor. This combined metropolitan region of San Antonio–Austin has approximately 5 million people. Austin is the southernmost state capital in the contiguous United States and is considered a Gamma + level global city as categorized by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network . As of 2024, Austin had an estimated population of 984,567, up from 961,855 at

Texas Library Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

4536-794: The San Jose–San Francisco strip, the Raleigh–Durham area, and the Wasatch Front , which encompasses the Salt Lake City–Provo–Ogden metropolitan area. Between the years 2000 and 2016, San Antonio maintained a steady trajectory of job growth, demonstrating a rate twice as high as that of New York City and nearly three times more than that of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The sectors experiencing notable job creation included aerospace, cybersecurity, finance, and professional services. The main transportation route connecting

4644-647: The Texas Triangle , a region encompassing the state's five largest cities and housing the majority of its population. The Texas Triangle is defined by the state's four primary urban hubs—Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Numerous metropolitan and micropolitan statistical regions fall within the confines of the Texas Triangle, including the emerging Austin–San Antonio metroplex. Downtown San Antonio and Downtown Austin are approximately 80 mi (130 km) apart and are connected by

4752-429: The blackland prairie , with its deep, rich soils for producing cotton and hay. In September 1881, Austin public schools held their first classes. The same year, Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute (now part of Huston–Tillotson University ) opened its doors. The University of Texas held its first classes in 1883, although classes had been held in the original wooden state capitol for four years before. During

4860-400: The 1880s, Austin gained new prominence as the state capitol building was completed in 1888 and claimed as the seventh largest building in the world. In the late 19th century, Austin expanded its city limits to more than three times its former area, and the first granite dam was built on the Colorado River to power a new street car line and the new " moon towers ". The first dam washed away in

4968-482: The 1991-2020 period recorded at least 1 day of the latter. The average daytime high is 70 °F (21 °C) or warmer between March 1 and November 21, rising to 80 °F (27 °C) or warmer between April 14 and October 24, and reaching 90 °F (32 °C) or warmer between May 30 and September 18. The highest ever recorded temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) occurring on September 5, 2000, and August 28, 2011. An uncommon characteristic of Austin's climate

5076-549: The 1991-2020 period, all Januarys had at least 1 day with a high of 70 °F (21 °C) or more, and most (60%) had at least 1 day with a high of 80 °F (27 °C) or more. The lowest ever recorded temperature in the city was −2 °F (−19 °C) on January 31, 1949. Roughly every two years Austin experiences an ice storm that freezes roads over and cripples travel in the city for 24 to 48 hours. When Austin received 0.04 inches (1 mm) of ice on January 24, 2014, there were 278 vehicular collisions. Similarly, snowfall

5184-508: The 31 original innovative towers remain standing in Austin, but none remain in any of the other cities where they were installed. The towers are featured in the 1993 film Dazed and Confused . In December 2023, amid rising home prices, the Austin City Council loosened the city's zoning rules to permit by-right development of triplexes on each lot and loosened restrictions on tiny homes. The central business district of Austin

5292-720: The Austin Nature & Science Center, and the Zilker Zephyr, a 12 in ( 305 mm ) gauge miniature railway carries passengers on a tour around the park. Auditorium Shores , an urban park along the lake, is home to the Palmer Auditorium , the Long Center for the Performing Arts , and an off-leash dog park on the water. Both Zilker Park and Auditorium Shores have a direct view of

5400-475: The Austin–San Antonio metroplex. However, none of these monikers have gained significant traction. In 2016, Forbes referred to the region as the "next great American metropolis" and labeled it the "San Antonio–Austin corridor." In 2022, local sources began describing Austin–San Antonio as a " mega-metro ". Since 1984, business and political leaders from Austin and San Antonio have convened as part of

5508-728: The City of Austin issued a mandatory citywide boil-water advisory after the Highland Lakes , home to the city's main water supply, became overwhelmed by unprecedented amounts of silt, dirt, and debris that had washed in from the Llano River . Austin Water, the city's water utility, has the capacity to process up to 300 million gallons of water per day; however, the elevated level of turbidity reduced output to only 105 million gallons per day. Since Austin residents consumed an average of 120 million gallons of water per day,

SECTION 50

#1732793403717

5616-459: The Colorado River between two creeks, Shoal Creek and Waller Creek , which was later named in his honor. Waller and a team of surveyors developed Austin's first city plan , commonly known as the Waller Plan , dividing the site into a 14-block grid plan bisected by a broad north–south thoroughfare, Congress Avenue, running up from the river to Capital Square, where the new Texas State Capitol

5724-760: The Colorado River to form the Highland Lakes . These projects were enabled in large part because the Public Works Administration provided Austin with greater funding for municipal construction projects than other Texas cities. During the early 20th century, a three-way system of social segregation emerged in Austin, with Anglos, African Americans and Mexicans being separated by custom or law in most aspects of life, including housing, health care, and education. Deed restrictions also played an important role in residential segregation . After 1935 most housing deeds prohibited African Americans (and sometimes other nonwhite groups) from using land. Combined with

5832-590: The Comanches westward, mostly ending conflicts in Central Texas. Settlement in the area began to expand quickly. Travis County was established in 1840, and the surrounding counties were mostly established within the next two decades. Initially, the new capital thrived but Lamar's political enemy, Sam Houston , used two Mexican army incursions to San Antonio as an excuse to move the government. Sam Houston fought bitterly against Lamar's decision to establish

5940-785: The Downtown skyline. The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a 7.25-mile (11.67 km) public green belt managed by the City of Austin's Park and Recreation Department. The Greenbelt, which begins at Zilker Park and stretches South/Southwest to the Woods of Westlake subdivision , is characterized by large limestone cliffs, dense foliage, and shallow bodies of water. Popular activities include rock climbing , mountain biking, and hiking. Some well known naturally forming swimming holes along Austin's greenbelt include Twin Falls, Sculpture Falls, Gus Fruh Pool, and Campbell's Hole. During years of heavy rainfall,

6048-472: The Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council have deliberated on various bottlenecks, including constraints in transportation, natural resources (particularly in terms of water supply or lack of more green spaces), and housing affordability. Austin is situated in Central Texas , while the San Antonio metro area is positioned between Central and South Texas . Both cities are integral components of

6156-402: The Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council have noted that the suburbs along I-35 are actively preparing for the expected population surge. Their goal is to transition from being mere " bedroom communities " into becoming hubs with their own identity. According to demographers, the growth along the I-35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio is comparable to other "growth corridors," such as

6264-492: The Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council. This organization is dedicated to fostering economic and political unity among San Antonio, Austin, and their respective surrounding areas. In 2007, a survey conducted by the San Antonio Business Journal revealed that over half of the respondents expressed the belief that the economies of San Antonio and Austin would merge into a unified market. In 2015,

6372-470: The I-35 corridor, in Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis Counties. This number surpasses Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler , establishing itself as one of the top 10 most populous metropolitan areas in the United States. According to census projections, the San Antonio–Austin metroplex is anticipated to experience an increase of between 4 million and 7 million people by the year 2030. State demographer Lloyd Potter believes it

6480-579: The Republic of Texas into the United States. In 1860, 38% of Travis County residents were slaves . In 1861, with the outbreak of the American Civil War , voters in Austin and other Central Texas communities voted against secession. However, as the war progressed and fears of attack by Union forces increased, Austin contributed hundreds of men to the Confederate forces. The African American population of Austin swelled dramatically after

6588-523: The San Antonio–Austin metroplex are located along or near I-35 and the Texas State Highway 130 (SH 130). The Greater Austin region comprises five counties: Bastrop , Caldwell , Hays , Travis , and Williamson , collectively hosting a population exceeding 2.2 million people. Conversely, Greater San Antonio encompasses eight counties: Atascosa , Bandera , Bexar , Comal , Guadalupe , Kendall , Medina , and Wilson , collectively hosting

SECTION 60

#1732793403717

6696-442: The San Antonio–Austin metroplex is I-35 from both north and south. I-35 is recognized as one of the most heavily trafficked highways in Texas and a critical component of both local and regional transportation networks. As of 2023, the stretch of I-35 between San Antonio and Austin witnesses the passage of 100,000 to 150,000 vehicles on a daily basis. A significant portion of these vehicles is occupied by individuals commuting between

6804-529: The Texas Congress formed a commission to seek a site for the new capital of the Republic of Texas to replace Houston . When he was Vice President of Texas, Mirabeau B. Lamar had visited the area during a buffalo -hunting expedition between 1837 and 1838. He advised the commissioners to consider the area on the north bank of the Colorado River (near the present-day Congress Avenue Bridge ), noting

6912-464: The area's hills, waterways, and pleasant surroundings. It was seen as a convenient crossroads for trade routes between Santa Fe and Galveston Bay , as well as routes between northern Mexico and the Red River . In 1839, the site was chosen, and briefly incorporated under the name "Waterloo". Shortly afterward, the name was changed to Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin , the "Father of Texas" and

7020-476: The area. Spanish colonists, including the Espinosa - Olivares - Aguirre expedition, traveled through the area, though few permanent settlements were created for some time. In 1730, three Catholic missions from East Texas were combined and reestablished as one mission on the south side of the Colorado River, in what is now Zilker Park , in Austin. The mission was in this area for only about seven months, then

7128-633: The belief that a commuter train connecting both cities is "necessary and inevitable" for the continued growth and expansion of the metroplex. Supporters of the rail district argued that halting the study and abandoning the rail project would lead to a delay in rail development in the Austin-San Antonio corridor, spanning "at least another generation." Earlier that year, political support for the project collapsed when Union Pacific refused to continue discussions about permitting commuter trains on its existing freight line. This rail line cuts through

7236-400: The biggest economic powerhouses in the world," said the documentary's executive producer in a statement released to the press. Due to their cultural distinctions, San Antonio and Austin do not function as typical " twin cities ." On one hand, San Antonio boasts a larger Hispanic demographic, is older than Austin, has a stronger professional sports culture, and has a substantial presence in

7344-489: The capital in such a remote wilderness. The men and women who traveled mainly from Houston to conduct government business were intensely disappointed as well. By 1840, the population had risen to 856, nearly half of whom fled Austin when Congress recessed. The resident African American population listed in January of this same year was 176. The fear of Austin's proximity to the Indians and Mexico, which still considered Texas

7452-403: The capital would temporarily move from Austin to Houston to Washington-on-the-Brazos . Without the governmental body, Austin's population declined to a low of only a few hundred people throughout the early 1840s. The voting by the fourth President of the Republic, Anson Jones , and Congress, who reconvened in Austin in 1845, settled the issue to keep Austin the seat of government, as well as annex

7560-452: The chilling effects is people get scared, and you get siloed. You're afraid, you're alone,” says Carolyn Foote, a library consultant who spent 29 years as a school librarian. “We hope people realize they’re not alone—there are people and librarians fighting for students to have rights to literature and information.” The Texas Library Association bestows a variety of awards, scholarships, and stipends to honor excellence in, and contributions to,

7668-418: The city's limits. Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis are each on the Colorado River. The elevation of Austin varies from 425 feet (130 m) to approximately 1,000 feet (305 m) above sea level. Due to the fact it straddles the Balcones Fault , much of the eastern part of the city is flat, with heavy clay and loam soils, whereas the western part and western suburbs consist of rolling hills on

7776-454: The city's place in the music industry. Austin, the southernmost state capital of the contiguous 48 states, is located in Central Texas on the Colorado River . Austin is 146 miles (230 km) northwest of Houston , 182 miles (290 km) south of Dallas and 74 miles (120 km) northeast of San Antonio . Austin occupies a total area of 305.1 square miles (790.1 km ). Approximately 7.2 square miles (18.6 km ) of this area

7884-420: The city. The deadliest storm to ever strike city limits was the twin tornadoes storm of May 4, 1922, while the deadliest tornado outbreak to ever strike the metro area was the Central Texas tornado outbreak of May 27, 1997. From October 2010 through September 2011, both major reporting stations in Austin, Camp Mabry and Bergstrom Int'l, had the least rainfall of a water year on record, receiving less than

7992-673: The clay-rich types, are slightly to moderately alkaline and have free calcium carbonate . Austin's skyline historically was modest, dominated by the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas Main Building . However, since the 2000s, many new high-rise towers have been constructed. Austin is currently undergoing a skyscraper boom, which includes recent construction on new office, hotel and residential buildings. Downtown's buildings are somewhat spread out, partly due to

8100-404: The colorful glow of light across the hills just after sunset. Emerging from a strong economic focus on government and education, since the 1990s, Austin has become a center for technology and business. The technology roots in Austin can be traced back to the 1960s, when defense electronics contractor Tracor (now BAE Systems ) began operations in the city in 1962. IBM followed in 1967, opening

8208-429: The critical need for strategic planning to ensure synergies among the 13 counties comprising the metroplex. The documentary also covers the region's challenges, including water scarcity, transportation, housing, workforce, and environmental impacts. "We know the area between San Antonio and Austin is growing at a tremendously rapid pace, but what is really happening is the development of a mega-metro that will be one of

8316-460: The distribution and manufacturing industries. Conversely, Austin has carved out its distinctive identity by excelling in high technology, music, film production, collegiate athletics, higher education, and the arts. Despite their cultural disparities, the cities of San Antonio and Austin have supported each other's growth through collaborative business endeavors through the Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council. Political and business leaders of

8424-412: The districts whether they had those books, how many copies they had and how much money was spent on them. Governor Greg Abbott joined the fray, saying "A growing number of parents of Texas students are becoming increasingly alarmed about some of the books and other content found in public school libraries that are extremely inappropriate in the public education system.” Texas Public Radio's "The Source,"

8532-651: The edge of the Texas Hill Country . Because the hills to the west are primarily limestone rock with a thin covering of topsoil, portions of the city are frequently subjected to flash floods from the runoff caused by thunderstorms. To help control this runoff and to generate hydroelectric power, the Lower Colorado River Authority operates a series of dams that form the Texas Highland Lakes . The lakes also provide venues for boating, swimming, and other forms of recreation within several parks on

8640-697: The enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas by Union General Gordon Granger at Galveston, in an event commemorated as Juneteenth . Black communities such as Wheatville , Pleasant Hill, and Clarksville were established, with Clarksville being the oldest surviving freedomtown ‒ the original post-Civil War settlements founded by former African-American slaves ‒ west of the Mississippi River . In 1870, blacks made up 36.5% of Austin's population. The postwar period saw dramatic population and economic growth. The opening of

8748-476: The fastest-growing cities in the US. As the county seat for Comal County , New Braunfels has witnessed significant population expansion, escalating from slightly under 109,000 residents in 2010 to nearly 157,000 by 2019. This demographic surge has stimulated developments in both commercial and residential sectors within the area. To the north of New Braunfels lies San Marcos, the county seat of Hays County , which similarly experienced substantial job growth throughout

8856-412: The infrastructure was not able to keep up with demand. In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri dropped prolific amounts of snow across Texas and Oklahoma, including Austin. The Austin area received a total of 6.4 inches (160 mm) of snowfall between February 14 and 15, with snow cover persisting until February 20. This marked the longest time the area had had more than 1 inch (25 mm) of snow, with

8964-493: The lake for canoeing and fishing. The 10.1 miles (16.3 km) Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail forms a complete circuit around the lake. A local nonprofit, The Trail Foundation, is the Trail's private steward and has built amenities and infrastructure including trailheads, lakefront gathering areas, restrooms, exercise equipment, as well as doing Trailwide ecological restoration work on an ongoing basis. The Butler Trail loop

9072-437: The lake shores. Austin is located at the intersection of four major ecological regions, and is consequently a temperate-to-hot green oasis with a highly variable climate having some characteristics of the desert, the tropics, and a wetter climate. The area is very diverse ecologically and biologically, and is home to a variety of animals and plants. Notably, the area is home to many types of wildflowers that blossom throughout

9180-507: The late Pleistocene (Ice Age) and are linked to the Clovis culture around 9200 BC (over 11,200 years ago), based on evidence found throughout the area and documented at the much-studied Gault Site , midway between Georgetown and Fort Cavazos . When settlers arrived from Europe, the Tonkawa tribe inhabited the area. The Comanches and Lipan Apaches were also known to travel through

9288-650: The library profession. For example, TLA annually bestows the Distinguished Service Award to a librarian who has demonstrated leadership and service; the first recipient of this award was Edwin Sue Goree . Austin, Texas Austin ( / ˈ ɔː s t ɪ n / AW -stin ) is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat and most populous city of Travis County , with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it

9396-608: The much larger Mansfield Dam was built by the LCRA upstream of Austin to form Lake Travis, a flood-control reservoir. In the early 20th century, the Texas Oil Boom took hold, creating tremendous economic opportunities in Southeast Texas and North Texas. The growth generated by this boom largely passed by Austin at first, with the city slipping from fourth largest to tenth largest in Texas between 1880 and 1920. After

9504-427: The peak of the blackouts an estimated 40% of Austin Energy homes were without power. Starting on February 15, Austin Water received reports of pipe breaks, hourly water demand increased from 150 million gallons per day (MGD) on February 15 to a peak hourly demand of 260 MGD on February 16. On the morning of February 17 demand increased to 330 MGD, the resulting drop of water pressure caused the Austin area to enter into

9612-602: The previous longest time being three days in January 1985 . Lack of winterization in natural gas power plants , which supply a large amount of power to the Texas grid , and increased energy demand caused ERCOT and Austin Energy to enact rolling blackouts in order to avoid total grid collapse between February 15 and February 18. Initial rolling blackouts were to last for a maximum of 40 minutes, however lack of energy production caused many blackouts to last for much longer, at

9720-455: The republic's first secretary of state. The city grew throughout the 19th century and became a center for government and education with the construction of the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas at Austin . Edwin Waller was picked by Lamar to survey the village and draft a plan laying out the new capital. The original site was narrowed to 640 acres (260 ha) that fronted

9828-440: The residential real estate market has remained relatively strong. As of December 2016 , there were 31 high rise projects either under construction, approved or planned to be completed in Austin's downtown core between 2017 and 2020. Sixteen of those were set to rise above 400 ft (120 m) tall, including four above 600', and eight above 500'. An additional 15 towers were slated to stand between 300' and 399' tall. Austin

9936-536: The river's calm waters, nearly 6 miles (9.7 km) length and straight courses are especially popular with crew teams and clubs. Other recreational attractions along the shores of the lake include swimming in Deep Eddy Pool , the oldest swimming pool in Texas, and Red Bud Isle, a small island formed by the 1900 collapse of the McDonald Dam that serves as a recreation area with a dog park and access to

10044-619: The same decade. Between 2008 and 2018, the number of jobs in San Marcos increased by 44%, and its labor force expanded by 45% over the corresponding period. According to state demographers, both San Marcos and New Braunfels are emerging as independent hubs within the San Antonio–Austin metroplex. Several cities and towns along the I-35 corridor possess advantages not found in the core cities of Austin and San Antonio. In San Marcos and New Braunfels, lower property taxes and housing prices serve as incentives for migration to these areas. Members of

10152-546: The state of Texas, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget. These counties include Atascosa , Bandera , Bexar , Comal , Guadalupe , Kendall , Medina , and Wilson , collectively hosting a population exceeding 2.6 million people. San Antonio is the county seat and largest city of Bexar County. The expansion of the San Antonio–Austin metroplex is largely driven by industrial, residential, and retail developments. The combined gross domestic product (GDP) output

10260-457: The state of Texas, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget. These counties include Bastrop , Caldwell , Hays , Travis , and Williamson , collectively hosting a population exceeding 2.2 million people. Austin, the capital of Texas, serves as both the county seat and the largest city of Travis County. The metropolitan statistical area, referred to as San Antonio–New Braunfels or Greater San Antonio, comprises eight (8) counties in

10368-609: The summer of 2011, caused many wildfires throughout Texas, including notably the Bastrop County Complex Fire in neighboring Bastrop, Texas. In the fall of 2018, Austin and surrounding areas received heavy rainfall and flash flooding following Hurricane Sergio . The Lower Colorado River Authority opened four floodgates of the Mansfield Dam after Lake Travis was recorded at 146% full at 704.3 feet (214.7 m). From October 22 to October 29, 2018,

10476-484: The supervision of numerous studies exploring the feasibility of a potential rail line and allocated approximately $ 28 million for these studies. In 2016, the proposal to establish the Lone Star Rail , a commuter train linking Austin and San Antonio, did not receive approval from the local metropolitan planning organization . Nonetheless, numerous members of the Greater Austin-San Antonio Corridor Council maintain

10584-450: The system of segregated public services, racial segregation increased in Austin during the first half of the twentieth century, with African Americans and Mexicans experiencing high levels of discrimination and social marginalization. In 1940, the destroyed granite dam on the Colorado River was finally replaced by a hollow concrete dam that formed Lake McDonald (now called Lake Austin ) and which has withstood all floods since. In addition,

10692-902: The two cities on a regular basis. A study conducted by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization projects that by the year 2045, approximately 53% of the population residing between San Antonio and Austin will be situated within a 5 mi (8.0 km) radius of I-35. In addition, the Texas State Highway 130 (SH 130) is a 91 mi (146 km) corridor that serves as an alternate route from I-35 to alleviate traffic congestion between San Antonio and Austin. The two primary hubs situated along this toll highway are Seguin (Greater San Antonio) and Lockhart (Greater Austin). In 2003, TxDOT initiated

10800-408: The water level of the creek rises high enough to allow swimming , cliff diving , kayaking , paddle boarding , and tubing . Austin is home to more than 50 public pools and swimming holes . These include Deep Eddy Pool , Texas' oldest human-made swimming pool, and Barton Springs Pool , the nation's largest natural swimming pool in an urban area. Barton Springs Pool is spring-fed while Deep Eddy

10908-538: The west or southwest, bringing air flowing from Chihuahuan Desert areas of West Texas or northern Mexico. Winters in Austin are mild, although occasional short-lived bursts of cold weather known as " Blue Northers " can occur. January is the coolest month with an average daytime high of 62.5 °F (17 °C). The overnight low drops to or below freezing 12 times per year, and sinks below 45 °F (7 °C) during 76 evenings per year, mostly between mid-December and mid-February. The average first and last dates for

11016-512: The year but especially in the spring. This includes the popular bluebonnets , some planted by "Lady Bird" Johnson , wife of former President Lyndon B. Johnson . The soils of Austin range from shallow, gravelly clay loams over limestone in the western outskirts to deep, fine sandy loams, silty clay loams, silty clays or clays in the city's eastern part. Some of the clays have pronounced shrink-swell properties and are difficult to work under most moisture conditions. Many of Austin's soils, especially

11124-424: The year, though spring and fall are the wettest seasons. Sunshine is common during all seasons, with 2,650 hours, or 60.3% of the possible total, of bright sunshine per year. Summers in Austin are very hot, with average July and August highs frequently reaching the high-90s (34–36 °C) or above. Highs reach 90 °F (32 °C) on 123 days per year, of which 29 days reach 100 °F (38 °C); all years in

11232-594: Was completed in 2014 with the public-private partnership 1-mile Boardwalk project. Along the shores of Lady Bird Lake is the 350 acres (140 hectares) Zilker Park , which contains large open lawns, sports fields, cross country courses, historical markers, concession stands, and picnic areas. Zilker Park is also home to numerous attractions, including the Zilker Botanical Garden , the Umlauf Sculpture Garden , Zilker Hillside Theater,

11340-515: Was established in 1992 to develop and improve parks in and around Austin. APF works to fill the city's park funding gap by leveraging volunteers, philanthropists, park advocates, and strategic collaborations to develop, maintain and enhance Austin's parks, trails and green spaces. Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake) is a river-like reservoir on the Colorado River. The lake is a popular recreational area for paddleboards , kayaks , canoes , dragon boats , and rowing shells . Austin's warm climate and

11448-834: Was fired by the Austin City Council for the city's response to the winter storm. Former City Manager Jesus Garcia was named Interim City Manager. The Austin Parks and Recreation Department received the Excellence in Aquatics award in 1999 and the Gold Medal Awards in 2004 from the National Recreation and Park Association . To strengthen the region's parks system, which spans more than 29,000 acres (11,736 ha), The Austin Parks Foundation (APF)

11556-506: Was moved to San Antonio de Béxar and split into three missions. During the 1830s, pioneers began to settle the area in central Austin along the Colorado River . Spanish forts were established in what are now Bastrop and San Marcos . Following Mexico's independence , new settlements were established in Central Texas . In 1835–1836, Texans fought and won independence from Mexico . Texas thus became an independent country with its own president, congress, and monetary system. In 1839,

11664-659: Was to be constructed. A temporary one-story capitol was erected on the corner of Colorado and 8th Streets. On August 1, 1839, the first auction of 217 out of 306 lots total was held. The Waller Plan designed and surveyed now forms the basis of downtown Austin. In 1840, a series of conflicts between the Texas Rangers and the Comanches , known as the Council House Fight and the Battle of Plum Creek , pushed

#716283