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The primary schools for Central Austin are Casis Elementary, O. Henry Middle, Austin High School and the Dill Special Program. All are part of the Austin Independent School District (AISD). More than 77,000 students are served by the AISD, a recent recipient of 14 National Blue Ribbons and five Texas State Blue Ribbon awards for excellence in education. Stephen Fuller Austin, who is considered to be the “father of Texas,” founded Austin in 1823 on a gentle bend in the Colorado River in Central Texas. Nomadic tribes of Tonkawas, Comanches and Lipan Apaches camped and hunted along the many area creeks. The Deep Eddy Pool is one of West Austin’s oldest swimming areas. Its name originated from the deep hole in the limestone bed of the Colorado River, which caused the water to create an eddy. Other outdoor venues attract visitors and residents alike, such as the Taylor Slough and Lime Kiln in Reed Park, Walsh Boat Landing and Westenfield Park. The Austin Museum of Art – Laguna Gloria – is also a popular destination. Built in 1893, the Great Granite Dam on the Colorado River was a milestone for Austin, bringing electricity to the city and with it more manufacturing business. Today Austin is a center of technology and home to some of the biggest names in the computer industry, such as Dell Computer Corporation, Motorola, Inc., IBM, Tivoli Systems, 3M and WorldCom. Rapid growth in the 1970s led to strong neighborhood, environmental and historic preservation, an integral part of the area’s modern civic life. While the big city conveniences of Metro Austin are nearby, Central Austin retains the flavor of its humble beginnings. The 3.27-acre West Austin Park is still one of the most popular family spots in the city. A Moonlight Tower, one of the 17 fully restored towers remaining in Austin, still stands at the corner of 12th and Blanco Streets; an omnipresent reminder of how important it is to remember the heritage of Central Austin and preserve the quality and character of the neighborhood for future generations. Austin and the surrounding Texas Hill Country offer locals innumerable opportunities to play: hike-and-bike trails, swimming holes, acres of parks, and local professional and collegiate athletics. The city boasts 14,300 acres of parks. The hills west of the city include more than 7,566 public acres. Hunting and fishing also are available on private lands near the city. The Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, a 227-acre enclave, is just minutes from downtown. Barton Springs, the famous 1,000 foot-long spring-fed pool -- with a year-round water temperature of 68 degrees -- is located within the 360-acre Zilker Park on the shores of Town Lake in downtown Austin. Austin has its own professional symphony, ballet and opera companies; dozens of theaters, dance companies, vocal ensembles, and orchestras producing events year-round. Art museums, galleries galore and beautiful gardens replete with sculptures provide a never-ending canvas of enticing shapes and colors. Austin is hailed as the "Live Music Capital of the World," with hundreds of venues offering music of all genres and tempos. By the time spring rolls around, Austin is awash in arts festivals incorporating music, food, the great outdoors or the great club scene, and all facets of the arts. When it comes to food, Austin cuisine melds flavors from throughout the world, served in some of the friendliest restaurants around. Again, you might find yourself indoors at a swank club sipping your martini, or lakeside with your locally brewed beer. In the city center, residents have access to the Central Business District, the Capitol Complex and the entertainment district as well as historic communities that surround the University of Texas. With all that it has to offer, it’s no wonder Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. |
