Welcome to Austin

Talk to anyone who's lived in the Texas capital for any length of time, and you'll likely hear some variation of the same refrain: I wouldn't live anywhere else but Austin.

Not only is the city known as the "Live Music Capital of the World," it's also unofficially known as the best city in Texas, especially by those who make their home here.

What makes Austin so special? It's a diverse and exciting combination of things - from its status as Texas' capital city to its award-winning Texas Longhorns to its funky, laid-back attitude to its sophisticated arts and cultural scene to its magnet for celebrities to its amazing scenery, there's really something for everyone here.

Consider that Fortune magazine once ranked Austin as the "Coolest City in America," and that Austin was named the Best City for Relocating Singles in America in 2005. And, according to Expansion magazine, Austin is ranked fourth when it comes to "best overall standard of living."

The city was recognized for its median family income, per capita income and per capita disposable income levels, along with cost of living, state and local tax burdens, family and individual poverty levels and unemployment rates.

Austin residents are not alone in recognizing the city's appeal. The Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (ERC, based in Washington, D.C., and Memphis-based Primacy Relocation, LLC have also ranked Austin first in surveys of the country's best large markets for relocating families.

The city is an interesting mix of technology, education, government, music, film and the arts. It's also a scenic city that combines the best of the Texas prairie and scenic Hill Country.

With its steep and rolling hills, creeks, parks and river flowing through the heart of a town with verdant oak and pecan trees, many visitors can't believe they're actually in Texas - which is mostly flat as a pancake, except for Austin and a few other parts of the state, like Big Bend.

In Austin, residents and visitors alike discover a surprising combination that's like no other city in the state.

Think culinary delights from authentic Tex-Mex and barbecue to elegant, nationally known restaurants; two-stepping to country music to jamming to modern and alternative rock; Longhorns and cowboy hats to shaved heads and tattoos; and a drag queen affectionately known as Leslie who once ran for mayor. With its friendliness, laid-back attitude and anything goes appeal, Austin offers something for everyone.

Austin's Colorful History
Austin has welcomed visitors to its scenic and lush environs since the nomadic Tonkawa, Comanche and Lipan Apache tribes camped and hunted here in ancient times. The Spanish first settled the area in the late 1700's, and Austin became the village of Waterloo after Anglo settlers arrived in the 1830s.

I return I