Name
Austin History Department Office
History of Austin, TX
Austin is the capital city of the state of Texas and one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. The city's rich and varied history has shaped and influenced the development of the city. Originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, Austin was later settled by European explorers and eventually became a key center of commerce, culture, and innovation in the American South.
Austin ( AW-stin) is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and most populous city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most populous city in the United States, the fourth-most populous city in the state after Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, and the second-most populous state capital city after Phoenix, the capital of Arizona. It has been one of the fastest growing large cities in the United States since 2010. Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along the Interstate 35 corridor. This combined metropolitan region of San Antonio–Austin has approximately 5 million people.