The great capital of Texas is arguably one of the most culturally and historically fascinating cities in the country. From the hundreds of music venues to the mouth-watering local food joints, you’re bound to have a good time when you visit Austin, TX. We highly encourage anyone to add this funky city to their bucket list. Before you go, here’s a brief history lesson on how the city of Austin came to be.
Back Then
Three years after Texas settlers broke free from the Mexican government in 1836, it was time to appoint a state capital. Austin was originally inhabited by German, Swedish, and Mexican immigrants during the mid-1800s. It was originally named Waterloo before being renamed to Austin and identified as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839. The name of the city came from Stephen F. Austin who was known as the “father of Texas”. Other Texan cities feared the capital would easily be overrun by the Mexican Army due to its remoteness, but nonetheless the city persevered. The city went through numerous booms of growth throughout the 19th-century, and even become home to the very first Capitol building of the United States. The introduction of the railroad in the 1870s allowed for continued economic and population growth of the city for years after. (Here’s a more in-depth description of historic Austin, TX)
After the Great Depression, Austin was able to successfully become one of the nation’s most technologically advanced cities due to the implementation of multiple research laboratories. This in-turn attracted more innovation to the city to lead it to the booming city it is today. In fact, some of America’s largest companies such as Motorola, IBM, and Dell are now based in Austin. During the late 20th-century, Austin also experienced a musical boom due the diversified immigrating population, and famous artists such as Willie Nelson were drawn into the city. Today, there are more than 250 live music venues that you and your friends can enjoy (you can find that list here).
Today
Austin is currently considering one of the most bustling cities in the United States. Throughout the years, the city has attracted many diverse groups which has since aided in its rich culture. The phrase “Keep Austin Weird” has seemed to have a large impact on the locals today, and has remained culturally significant since the early 2000s. But what does the phrase really mean? Well, it goes hand-in-hand with the ideology to support the local businesses of a community. In other words, if you keep buying from the funky local stores of Austin, then you’ll help to keep Austin’s unique reputation. The city is now not only home to great barbeque and music venues, but it is also home to many vintage thrift stores, record stores, and other great local boutiques! This proud culture of Austin will hopefully continue for years to come.
The locals of Austin gladly support their local businesses, and you should too! Come and see for yourself what the hype is about.