AUSTIN CULTURE & PERSONALITY
Austin is home to headquarters and development centers for many technology corporations, earning the nickname “Silicon Hills” in the 1990s. The current official slogan promotes Austin as The Live Music Capital of the World, a reference to the many musicians and live music venues throughout the region.
SXSW
One major event, South by Southwest (SXSW), is one of the largest music, film and interactive festivals in the world. More than 2,000 artists perform in over 90 venues around Downtown Austin over four days every March.
UT Austin
Austin is home to the University of Texas at Austin, the flagship institution of the University of Texas system. Keep Austin Weird is the slogan adopted by the Austin Independent Business Alliance in 2002 under former mayor Will Wynn with a simple goal to nurture Austin’s creative class.
Austin is ranked one of the best places to live in the U.S. year-after-year
51
WINERIES
200
LIVE MUSIC VENUES
300+
PARKS, TRAILS, GREEN SPACES
315
SQUARE MILES OF BIKE PATHS
FORBES RANKS AUSTIN
In 2002, Forbes published its first editorial on the growth of Austin ranking “Austin as one the best places for small business and career growth”. The dot.com bust had effected Austin’s business landscape the year before, yet in a single article, Austin rebounded poised for growth.
By 2011, Austin ranked #1 as the fastest growing city and retained the title for the next four years. Forbes is a global media, branding and technology company, with a focus on news and information about business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and affluent lifestyles.
In 2018, Forbes ranked Austin a leader in many categories. Austin ranked #4 in job growth, #8 in best places for business and careers, and #16 nationwide in education.
