Austin is the capital of Texas and the county seat of Travis County, set in Central Texas where the Hill Country begins to roll west of the city. With about 960,000 residents as of the 2020 census, it is one of the largest cities in the state and anchors the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area of more than 2.3 million people. The city grew up around the Colorado River and the Texas State Capitol, and it remains the seat of state government, with the University of Texas at Austin at the northern edge of downtown.
Austin is best known as the Live Music Capital of the World, a reputation carried by venues on Sixth Street, in the Red River Cultural District, and on Rainey Street, and by festivals that draw national audiences. Over recent decades the city has also become a major technology center, with a broad base of employers that give its economy a distinctive mix of government, higher education, music, and technology.
Neighborhoods reflect that layered identity. Central districts such as Hyde Park, a historic neighborhood of early twentieth-century homes between 38th and 45th streets, offer walkable, tree-lined streets, while South Congress (SoCo) lines a commercial corridor with shops and restaurants. East Austin has developed a strong creative and food scene, and downtown mixes high-rise living with the nightlife of Sixth Street. Suburban communities extend north and northwest toward Round Rock and Cedar Park.
Outdoor life is central to Austin's character. Lady Bird Lake, a dammed section of the Colorado River, is closed to motorized boats and ringed by the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, making it a hub for kayaking, paddleboarding, and cycling. Barton Springs Pool and the Barton Creek Greenbelt offer spring-fed swimming and trails, and Zilker Park anchors festivals and recreation. Interstate 35 and Loop 1 (MoPac) carry much of the city's traffic, CapMetro operates bus and commuter rail service, and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport serves the region.
