Austin - The Gem Of Central Texas

The Austin Metro Area is part of the I-35 growthOh yeah, and the people are much friendlier!
corridor in Central Texas. The Austin areaFor the outdoorsmen/woman, Austin offers some of
experienced the largest increase in household incomethe best hiking and biking trails in the nation. Along Lady
in the State of Texas and was one of the fastestBird Lake in downtown Austin, there are over 14 miles
growing US cities in the 1990's, growing in population byof natural trails and hundreds of acres of greenbelts,
nearly 48 percent. In 2007, the city was the 3rd fastestvery rare for a large urban city. Wakeboarding is also
growing metro area (population over 500,000) behinda popular sport among the boating enthusiasts in the
Fort Worth, Texas and Phoenix, Arizona.area (and there are many). Lake Travis in Northwest
The Austin Metro area includes the cities and towns ofTravis County in over 63 miles in length and over 2
Austin, Bastrop, Buda, Cedar Park, Dripping Springs,miles wide at its widest point. On the weekends at the
Georgetown, Kyle, Lakeway, Lago Vista, Leander,lakes, you will find boats tied along side each other and
Lockhart, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos, andhundreds of go-lucky partiers enjoying the breathtaking
Taylor. There are five counties that make up the areaviews.
including Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson.Despite a national downturn in real estate prices, the
Austin is located within Travis County and RoundAustin housing market is thriving on the migration of
Rock is located in Williamson County.people and businesses into the area. According to the
Austin, the capital of Texas, is home the University ofUS Census Bureau, the Austin Metro Area population
Texas, the 5th largest campus in the nation. Majorto 1,513,565, a 4.2% increase for 2006. The average
industries in the area include technology, education,price for a single-family home in Austin increased 6% in
retail, healthcare, and state government. People are2007 to $251,641. Austin area home sales and prices
drawn to Austin not only for business, but for its scenicexperienced steady and stable growth over the past
beauty. If you have never been to Texas, you mayfew years, contributing to the overall economic health
have pictures in your head of flat, barren land andin Central Texas.
tumbleweeds rolling across the plains. While this mayRegardless of whether the economy goes up or
be true for areas of North and West Texas, Austin isdown, Austin will always be a desirable place to live
made up of lakes, rivers, limestone cliffs, greenbelts,and people will continue to flock to the region. In the
and Texas Hill Country. The city supports a liberalmany annual surveys conducted by various media
political environment in the midst of a very red state.outlets, here are some of the categories Austin
With thirty-seven percent of Austin adults between thealways ranks high: after-dark, characteristics, cityscape,
ages of 18-34 (median age of 32), Austin is a veryculture, food/dining, people, shopping, Singles scene, live
young city full of energy. You can see this first handmusic, clubbing, cocktails, housing affordability,
by taking an evening stroll through the warehouse andenvironmental awareness, safety, best barbeque,
entertainment district of West 4th and 6th Streets incheap eats, most fit city, athletic/active, attractive,
Downtown Austin. Here is where you will find the truefriendly people, vintage shopping, wild weekend,
meaning of why Austin is the "Live Music Capital ofunderground arts scene, cleanliness, and public parks
the World." The nightlife in this town competes withspaces, am I boring you? The list goes on and on.
towns twice its size. The density of bars and clubs onSurprisingly, Austin lives up to the hype! Google "Austin,
6th Street is only matched by famous Bourbon StreetTexas" and you'll be hard-pressed to find negative
in New Orleans (but without the constant fowl smell).comments about this awesome town!