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Austin Area Information




3/11/2010
  Local Information and History of Austin  

 
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about living and working in Austin. If you can't find what you are looking for here, see our links page.
1. Do you have any visitor information?
2. What is the population of Austin and the surrounding area?
3. What is the projected growth of Greater Austin?
4. What is the cost of living?
5. Who are the major employers of Austin?
6. What is the climate like?
7. What is the unemployment rate?
8. Is there a list of state agencies?
9. What is the daily newspaper?
10. Where are Austin's bats?
11. What will it cost me to purchase a home in the Austin area?
12. What is the major industry?
13. What are the different school districts in and around Austin?
14. What is the sales tax rate?
15. Who provides telephone and utility service in Austin?
16. What types of churches are located in the Austin area?
17. Who provides public transportation to the Austin area?
18. What colleges and universities are in the Austin area?
19. Do you have a directory of the Chamber's marketing and information lists?
20. What is the community profile?
1. Question: Do you have any visitor information?

Answer: No, please contact the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau
512-478-0098 or 866-462-8784
209 E. Sixth St., 78701
Open Sunday?Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday?Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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2. Question: What is the population of Austin and the surrounding area?

Answer:

  1990 2003
City of Austin 465,622 680,899
Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area 846,227 1,377,633
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The Austin metropolitan area is the 38th largest region nationally and the City of Austin is 16th. For more information, visit the U.S. Census Bureau.

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3. Question: What is the projected growth of Greater Austin?

Answer: Growth in the Greater Austin Region has been extraordinary --Metro Austin population reached 1.4 million in 2003. The 1990's saw a 47 percent increase in population and growth has been averaging 3 percent annually since the 2000 census.

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4. Question: What is the cost of living?

Answer:
Composite Index: 100.3
Grocery Items: 89.8
Housing: 93.9
Utilities: 123.3
Transportation: 94.3
Health Care: 115
Miscellaneous Goods and Services: 103.5
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5. Question: Who are the major employers of Austin?

Answer:
Austin Independent School District
City of Austin
Dell
Federal Government
Freescale Semiconductor
IBM Corp.
Seton Healthcare Network
State of Texas
St. David's Healthcare Partnership
Texas State University--San Marcos
University of Texas at Austin
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6. Question: What is the climate like?

Answer: The climate is temperate, with 300 days of sunshine annually. Average temperatures range from 42 to 62 degrees in winter and 75 to 95 degrees in the summer. Average rainfall is 32.49 inches. Snowfall is rare. Get-up-to-the-minute weather forecast, for Greater Austin from these local television stations:
KTBC FOX 7
KVUE 24
KXAN-TV 36
K-EYE 42

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7. Question: What is the unemployment rate?

Answer: The civilian labor force for the Austin-San Marcos MSA averaged 771,330 for 2003. Total nonfarm employment averaged 652,300 As of November 2003, total employment is estimated at 759,447 with a 4.8 percent unemployment rate. For more information, visit: www.tracer2.com .

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8. Question: Is there a list of state agencies?

Answer: Yes, Click here for a list of state agencies.

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9. Question: What is the daily newspaper?

Answer: The daily newspaper is the Austin American-Statesman . Subscribe online , or call in-state 1-800-445-9898. For out-of-state inquiries, call direct to 512-445-4040.

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10. Question: Where are Austin's bats?

Answer: Each dusk between April and October, the world's largest urban colony of Mexican free-tailed bats emerges from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge to feast on insects that fly above the city. An observation area near the Austin American-Statesman's facility displays the latest information on the bat colony. For viewing times and parking information, call the hotline at 512-416-5700, category 3636, or find information online . For more information, call Bat Conservation International at 512-327-9721.

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11. Question: What will it cost me to purchase a home in the Austin area?

Answer: As of first quarter of 2003 the median price for an existing single-family home was $156,700. For more information look in Housing .

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12. Question: What is the major industry?

Answer: MSA Austin has a strong high-tech presence. Austin's high-tech employment represents almost 20% of total non-agricultural employment. Chamber efforts are focused on strengthening the technology sector and recruiting such new industries as automotive suppliers, medical products and pharmaceuticals and wireless.

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13. Question: What are the different school districts in and around Austin?

Answer: Austin ISD
Bastrop ISD
Del Valle ISD
Eanes ISD
Georgetown ISD
Hays ISD
Lake Travis ISD
Leander ISD
Pflugerville ISD
Round Rock ISD

For more information on school districts look in Education: K-12 .

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14. Question: What is Austin's sales tax rate?

Answer: The tax rate is 8.25 percent. For tax rates in Greater Austin, look in Relocate to Austin: Taxes .

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15. Question: Who provides telephone and utility service in Austin?

Answer: A number of companies provide local telephone service. The city of Austin and some other areas are served by Austin Energy, a municipal utility. For more information look in Telephone and Utilities .

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16. Question: Where can I find the locations of churches in the Austin area?

Answer: Call the Austin Area Conference of Churches at 512-472-7627 for a list.

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17. Question: Who provides public transportation in the Austin area?

Answer: Area bus service is provided by Capital Metro. Call 512-474-1200 for routes, fares, and schedules. Taxicabs and rental cars are also available.

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18. Question: What colleges and universities are in the Austin area?

Answer: The University of Texas at Austin
Huston-Tillotson College
St. Edward's University
Concordia University at Austin
Southwest Texas State University
Austin Community College
Southwestern University
For more information, look in Higher Learning .
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19. Question: Do you have a directory of the Chamber's marketing and information lists?

Answer: Yes! Click here to shop online or call 512-478-9383 or 1-800-856-5602 to request a copy of The Chamber Store Catalog .

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20. Question: Where can I find a community profile?

Answer: Click here for a demographic snapshot of Greater Austin. For a condensed print version is call 512-478-9383 or 1-800-856-5602 to request a copy.

 

 

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