History of Austin

Before settlers arrived from the United States, the region that later became Austin was inhabited by a number of nomadic Native American tribes. These tribes included the Tonkawa, the Comanches and the Lipan Apaches, and they survived by fishing and hunting along the creeks.

Arrival of Anglo-Americans

The area was first permanently settled in 1835, when Texas was still part of Mexico. Anglo-American settlers founded the village of Waterloo in 1837, renaming the town  Austin, two years later. In 1839, Mirabeau B Lamar, who was then the second president of the Republic of Texas, proposed the Waterloo site as the location of the state capital. Though the nomination received opposition from some factions including Sam Houston, Lamar prevailed and the town became the state capital.

Growth as a centre of music and education

Later decades of the 19th century saw the establishment of several universities in the city, making Austin an important seat of learning and education, while just a few years on, in the early 20th century, Austin became famed for its excellent live music. In the 1970s, country and western singers saw Austin as a refuge from the music industry's domination in places such as Nashville, and many musicians launched their careers in the city. Receptive audiences and a wide range of venues attracted many musicians and the city became known locally as the ‘live music capital of the world’.

Technology

The city continued to grow and prosper in the 1990s, when technology companies located in the area. Established companies such as IBM became a presence in Austin, and the area also became a centre for dot-com companies. The city is also well-recognised as a centre of cinema, game development and pop music.

Political significance

Austin's background has also been closely connected to politics and government. In 2000, the city became the focus of much media attention when the presidential candidate George W Bush made Austin his operational headquarters. Nowadays, Austin is the capital of Texas, and continues to be a vibrant, diverse and influential city.