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A long history - There are records of humans living in the Austin area since 9200 BCE.

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Austin underwater - The area was actually underwater until the late Cretaceous Period. It was also home to 10 underwater volcanoes. This is why the cliffs in Austin are made of crumbly white rock. Locals refer to it as "Austin Chalk."

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Waterloo - Austin was originally named Waterloo. The change came when the city was officially recognized as the capital of the Republic of Texas, in order to honor Stephen F. Austin, the republic's first Secretary of State.

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The capitol - The Texas state capitol building in Austin is the largest of its kind in the US.

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On the rise - In 2016, Forbes rated Austin the fastest growing city in the US.

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Austin vs. New York - Covering over 280 sq mi, Austin is actually almost as large as New York City.

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A central city - Located in the center of Texas, Austin is approximately 225 mi from the US-Mexico border.

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Moonlight Towers - Austin is the only city in the US that still operates a series of Moonlight Towers. These are tall structures that are used to light up the city at night.

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'Dazed and Confused' - One of the Austin Moonlight Towers was featured in the 1993 film 'Dazed and Confused.' Who can forget Matthew McConaughey announcing, “Party at the Moon Tower!”

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Dam -

When it was originally built in 1893, the Austin Dam was one of the world's largest concrete dams. It stretches 1,200 ft across the Colorado River.

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Live music - With over 200 live music venues, Austin is referred to as the live music capital of the world.

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Janis Joplin - Rock icon Janis Joplin got her start in Austin. It all began at Threadgill’s, a gas station and food stop where artists played just for a cold beer.

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Austin City Limits - The music festival Austin City Limits is also the longest-running music broadcast in entertainment history. It began in 1974 with Willie Nelson as the headliner.

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South by Southwest (SXSW) - South by Southwest was first envisioned by three journalists at The Austin Chronicle who wanted to showcase local music talent. Now, SXSW includes film, comedy, gaming, interactive media, keynote speakers and so much more.

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Happy birthday, Eeyore! - Every year the city of Austin celebrates Eeyore from 'Winnie the Pooh's' birthday. An event in his honor is held the last Saturday of April.

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Bat migrations - Every spring, 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats migrate to Austin. They are the largest bat colony in North America.

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Whole Foods - The grocery store chain Whole Foods began in Austin in 1978.

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United States Grand Prix - Austin is home to America's only Formula 1 race. It takes place on a 3.4-mi circuit called the United States Grand Prix.

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Longhorns - The University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Stadium is one of the largest athletic stadiums in the US. It holds more than 101,000 people.

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Lyndon Baines Johnson Library - The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum is located in Austin. It holds artifacts and documents from his administration. There is also a complete replica of the Oval Office.

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Movie mania - Many major Hollywood films have been filmed in Austin including, 'What's Eating Gilbert Grape,' 'Miss Congeniality,' 'Boyhood,' 'Kill Bill: Volume 1,' and the 'Spy Kids' franchise.

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Blogs - People in Austin both read and contribute more to online blogs than residents in any other metropolitan area in America.

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The best - In 2017, the U.S. News & World Report rated Austin the best place to live in America.

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Speeding - The fastest road in the US is located in Austin. The speed limit is 85 mph.

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Cathedral of Junk - In 1989, Vince Hanneman started piling spare tires, metal, and car parts in his backyard. This is now officially known as the Cathedral of Junk and is open to visitors.

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Food trucks - The food truck scene in Austin began in the '90s with a couple taco carts on South Lamar Street. Now, there are over 2,000 food trucks scattered around the city.

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The slogan - The city's slogan originated in 2000 when librarian Red Wassenich said the phrase "Keep Austin Weird" on a local radio show.

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Sports - Austin is the most populated city in America without a professional sports team.

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