Austin
In 1838, Mirabeau B. Lamar, sent to scout for a site for the capital of the new Republic of Texas, described the site on the Colorado River as “the seat of a future empire.” Austin became the capital of the Republic and then capital of the state of Texas. It has become not only the seat of political and governmental power, but the center of a knowledge empire.
The site of The University of Texas at Austin, a world-class research institution and the largest university in the nation, Austin is known for its highly educated workforce and its high degree of creativity. It is a technology center that such industry giants as Dell, AMD, 3M, IBM, Samsung, Freescale and National Instruments call home.
That site on the Colorado has proved hospitable to its 690,252 residents, who can enjoy the Hill Country scenery with the fast-running creeks, lakes and spring-fed swimming holes. Named “the Live Music Capital of the World”, Austin boasts more than 120 live music venues and a host of other cultural attractions.
| Austin | Travis County | Austin MSA | ||
| Population 2009 | 786,382 | 237,658 | 1,705,075 | |
| Population growth 1999-2009 | 33.8% | 30.1% | 41.4% | |
| Land area (sq. mi.) 2000 | 251.52 | 989 | 4,224 | |
| Households 2007 | — | 419,661 | 638,312 | |
| Homeownership rate 2000 | 44.8% | 51.4% | 58.2% | |
| Median age 2000 | 29.6 | 30.4 | 30.9 | |
| High school grads 2000 | 83.4% | 84.7% | 84.8% | |
| College grads 2000 | 40.4% | 40.6% | 36.7% | |
| Labor force 2009 | 419,358 | 549,262 | 885,803 | |
| Unemployment rate 2009 | 6.4% | 6.7% | 6.9% | |
| Public school enrollment 2008-09 | — | 139,949 | 281,718 | |
| High school graduates 2008 | — | 6,903 | 14,685 | |
| Median household income 2007 | — | $43,974 | $46,263 | |
| Percapita income 2007 | — | $23,987 | $22,710 | |
| Retail sales 2007 (000s) | — | $17,463,070 | $39,012,359 | |
| Business 2007 |
Firms | — | 24,828 | 34,009 |
| Employment | — | 566,096 | 749,658 | |
| Avg. weekly wage | — | $947 | $899 | |
| Mfg. business 2007 |
Firms | — | 846 | 1,347 |
| Employment | — | 47,234 | 60,272 | |
| Avg. weekly wage | — | $1,708 | $1,540 | |
Sources: Claritas/TradeDimensions for income and retail sales; Texas Workforce Commission or U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for labor force, unemployment, businesses, employees, and wages; Texas Education Agency for public school enrollment and graduates; and U.S. Bureau of the Census for all other data.
City of Austin Office of
Economic Development
Brian Gildea
Economic Development Manager, Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services
301 W 2nd St.
Austin, TX 78701
Phone: 512.974.6381
Fax: 512.974.7825
Web: http://www.austintexas.gov/
