By Robin Thornley
Austin's first residents were Native Americans. In 1730, Spanish explorers passed through the area, but chose to build their missions further south in
San Antonio. The area's first white settlers, dubbed the "Texicans," built small farms on the banks of the Colorado River and decided to make the small outpost the capital of the Republic of Texas. Given Austin's million-plus population, the lively music scene and high-tech industry, it is doubtful those early settlers would recognize the modern city they founded.
The Name
Austin was founded in 1821 by Stephen F. Austin, who decided to name the settlement "Waterloo" after the great British victory in 1815 by the Duke of Marlborough over Napoleon. A few Austin businesses and a downtown park still bear that name, but in 1839 the citizens changed the city's name to honor Austin, the "Father of Texas."
Early Settlers
Long before the settlers came, Native Americans camped around a natural spring near the banks of the Colorado. Austinites still gather at the popular Barton Springs swimming hole within sight of downtown, and flint arrowheads are still found along Barton Creek, the popular urban wilderness trail that leads to the springs.
Where the Buffalo Roam
Mirabeau Lamar, the first president of the Republic of Texas, shot and killed large buffalo in 1838 in what is now downtown. Despite the roaming buffalo and Comanche raids, Lamar insisted on moving the capital from East Texas to the tiny settlement on the Colorado River.
Six Flags
Six flags have flown over Texas--Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy and the United States. One of the earliest structures in the new capital was the French Legation, a small embassy that still stands in the downtown area. Local Francophiles celebrate Bastille Day there every July 14.
The Capitol
After the original capitol burned down, a second, much larger building was erected in 1888. Locals boast it is taller--311 feet--than the United States Capitol building, thanks to the statue of the Goddess of Liberty that stands atop the dome.
Musical roots
Kenneth Threadgill got the city's first beer license in 1933 and invited local musicians to entertain at his gas station/saloon. In the Sixties, Janis Joplin performed there. Threadgill's remains an iconic night spot in the "Live Music Capital of the World."
Hi-Tech History
IBM opened a research facility in 1967, launching Austin's high-tech industry. Other research facilities quickly followed and in 1984, Michael Dell, a college student, started Dell Computers in his Austin dorm room. Three years later, Dell had dropped out of school and his annual sales had reached $12 billion.
Resources
About the Author:
Robin Thornley has been a successful writer for more than 25 years, penning articles for national magazines, newspapers and websites. She specializes in a variety of topics, including business, politics, lifestyle trends, travel and cuisine. She also is the author of two guidebooks.
