Austin History

Austin Capitol Austin hasn't always been the bustling city that it is today.

Before the arrival of settlers from the United States, the area was inhabited by a variety of nomadic Native American tribes, including the Tonkawa tribe, the Comanches, and the Lipan Apaches.

In the early 1830's the village of Waterloo was established and in 1839, Waterloo was chosen to be the capital of the new Republic of Texas. The new city was built quickly in the wilderness, and was named after Stephen F. Austin, "the father of Texas." Judge Edwin Waller, who was later to become the city’s first mayor, surveyed the site and laid out a street plan that has survived largely intact to this day. In October 1839, the entire government of the Republic arrived from Houston in oxcarts. By the next January, the town’s population had increased to 856 people.

The Texas State Capitol was completed in 1888 advertised as the 7th largest building in the world. Funded by the famous XIT ranch, the building still remains part of the Austin skyline. The state capitol building is taller than the United States capitol building.

In September of 1881, the Austin City Public Schools started their first classes. In that same year, the Tillotson Collegiate and Normal Institute, predecessor of Huston-Tillotson College, opened its doors.

In the 1950's, Austin's first research labs and think tanks were built. As Austin's economy prospered, several movie theaters, public pools, and a local library system were opened.

The Rapid growth continued in the 1970s and contributed to more political activity, this time at the local level. Strong neighborhood, environmental, and historic preservation communities sprang up, and remain an integral part of Austin’s civic life today. At the same time, the Austin music scene was born when artists such as Willie Nelson brought national attention.

Today, Austin is known for its cultural life and its high-tech innovations. It is home to the University of Texas at Austin, situated in Central Texas. Also known for the senators and school teachers who shaped its beginnings. The same success that has gained the city a national reputation has brought with it many difficult choices.