Austin

Austin is the capital of Texas, located on the Colorado River. The city was founded in 1839. It is named after Stephen F. Austin, known as the Father of Texas. Currently, the city is experiencing a huge economic boom, driven mainly by the high-tech industry, making it one of the most popular places to start a new home.

Many tech corporations are headquartered here, from which the nickname Silicon Hills also comes. It is worth mentioning Dell, Apple Inc., IBM, National Instruments, Oracle Corporation, HomeAway, and Indeed. It is also home to the University of Texas, a public university and one of its leading research universities. In addition, it is one of eight higher education institutions owned by Public Ivy, a group of public institutions offering outstanding teaching quality. The tremendous level of education also applies to primary and secondary public education, which the Austin Independent School District serves.

Austin is called the World Live Music Capital. South by Southwest is one of the largest music festivals in the U.S., with over 2,000 performers playing on nearly 100 stages around the city center each March. The event grew to become a 10-day festival dedicated to film, music, and digital media.

Residents spend their free time in well-kept parks, shopping at Whole Foods Market, or taking advantage of the plethora of outdoor activities offered by nearby Lake Travis.