Austin is known for live music, tacos, and tech, but the city has plenty of surprises. Its history includes a quick name change, a famous archive standoff, and a set of old lights that still stand. Here are fun facts that make Austin worth a closer look.
It Was Almost Called Waterloo
In 1839, a commission chose the site for the new capital of the Republic of Texas. The town was briefly incorporated as Waterloo. Soon after, it was renamed Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin, called the Father of Texas. The name stuck. Learn More about how the city began.
The Live Music Capital
Austin’s official slogan is the Live Music Capital of the World. The city has more music venues per capita than any other U.S. city. The long-running TV show Austin City Limits is the longest-running concert music program on American television. The Austin City Limits Music Festival has filled Zilker Park every year since 2002.
A Librarian Started Keep Austin Weird
The phrase Keep Austin Weird began with a local college librarian named Red Wassenich and his wife, Karen Pavelka. They worried about overdevelopment and wanted to protect small, local businesses. The slogan now shows up on bumper stickers and T-shirts across town.
The Capitol Was Once a Giant
The Texas State Capitol was finished in 1888. At that time, it ranked as the seventh largest building in the world. The city also protects views of the Capitol with rules called the Capitol View Corridors, which limit building heights along certain lines.
Moonlight Towers Still Stand
Austin built 31 moonlight towers in the late 1800s to light the city. They stand 165 feet tall. Fifteen remain, and none are left in the other cities that once had them. One appears in the 1993 film Dazed and Confused. Each December, one tower in Zilker Park becomes the base of the Zilker Tree.
A Springfed Pool in the City
Barton Springs Pool is the largest natural swimming pool in an urban area in the country. It stays between about 68 and 72 degrees all year. Deep Eddy Pool is the oldest human-made pool in Texas. Austin has more than 50 public pools and swimming holes.
A Big Park, and a Big Trail
Zilker Park covers 350 acres, with gardens, a miniature train, and open lawns. The Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail circles Lady Bird Lake for more than 10 miles. The Barton Creek Greenbelt runs about 7 miles with cliffs and swimming holes.
The Home of Breakfast Tacos
Some people call Austin the home of the breakfast taco. Queso and kolaches are also popular. Franklin Barbecue has sold out of brisket every day since it opened. Austin has more than 1,200 food trucks and one of the highest per-capita counts in the country.
Big Names Started Here
Whole Foods Market began and is still based in Austin. Tito’s Vodka, YETI, and Sweet Leaf Tea also started here. The Alamo Drafthouse movie theater chain began in Austin in 1997, and its South Lamar location hosts Fantastic Fest.
A Tech Hub Called Silicon Hills
Defense contractor Tracor arrived in 1962, followed by IBM in 1967, Texas Instruments in 1969, and Motorola in 1974. Today Apple runs its largest campus outside Cupertino in Austin. Tesla has its headquarters inside Gigafactory Texas.
One Pro Team
Austin FC became the city’s first major pro sports team in 2021. It is still the only one. The University of Texas Longhorns remain the city’s biggest sports draw.
A Famous Chain Restaurant Meme
A Chili’s at 45th and Lamar became the subject of internet memes beginning in 2011. Wikipedia even has an article about it.
The Fastest Speed Limit
State Highway 130 has an 85 mile per hour speed limit on a 41-mile stretch. It is the highest posted speed limit in the United States.
Quirky Events
Austin hosts the O. Henry Pun-Off, Eeyore’s Birthday Party, and Spamarama. The Texas Brewers Festival and the East Austin Studio Tour add to the calendar. In 2026, residents can still enjoy many of these long-running traditions, though dates change.
Why These Facts Matter
Austin mixes history, music, food, and tech in a way few cities do. Some of its best stories come from small details, like a librarian’s slogan or a row of old lights.
Want to go deeper than the fun side? Read the things you didn’t know about Austin, TX, from the Archive War to the freedomtown of Clarksville.
Share a few of these facts the next time you visit, and see which ones surprise your friends.
