Austin, Texas is the capital of the state and is home to the famous University of Texas at Austin. It is the 4th largest city in Texas and the 16th largest in the entire United States of America. The population is estimated around 740,000 but if you included the entire metropolitan areas of Austin and Round Rock, the totals come out to be well over 1.5 million people. The city of Austin is named after Stephen F. Austin who is also known as the father of Austin.
The city has won several awards. Recently in 2006 it was selected as the #2 Best City to live in. (Money Magazine) The Travel Channel ranked Austin as the #1 college town. It is no surprise as Austin provides a plethora of entertainment. This includes a lake activities, 6th Street, biking and hiking trails, rolling hills, spectacular sports teams, and much more. MSN ranked Austin as the “Greenest City in America”. Austin also boasts a very low murder rate. This bodes well for those who desire a very safe place to call home.
Austin in situated near the Colorado River and is home to three man made artificial lakes. These include Lake Austin, Lake Walter E. Long, and Lake Bird Lake. The eastern part of Austin is noticeably flat while the western portion of the city boasts rolling hills. This portion of Texas marks the beginning of what is known among many of the locals as the “Hill Country”. The city has characteristics of of a desert, the tropics, and a wet climate. Many people believe Austin is unlike any other city in the state of Texas.