Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the fifteenth most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in the nation from 2000 to 2006. Austin has a population of 786,386 (2009 U.S. Census estimate). The city is the cultural and economic center of the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos metropolitan area, with a population of over 1.7 million (2009 U.S. Census estimate), making it the 35th-largest metropolitan area in the United States.

The area was settled in the 1830s on the banks of the Colorado River. Austin is home to the state Capitol and The University of Texas. The Austin–Round Rock area is home to many large companies including the headquarters Whole Foods Market, Freescale Semiconductor, Forestar Group, and Dell. Facebook has recently joined the Austin area as well with a regional office employing over 200 people.