A big little city: Austin, Texas

Austin-Round Rock, Texas Metropolitan Area

By Kay Anderson -- Casual Living, 4/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Located on the Colorado River where it crosses the Balcones escarpment, separating the Texas Hill Country from the Blackland Prairies to the east, Texas' capital and the surrounding communities make up a vibrant metro area that is expected to see a 38% increase in outdoor furniture sales over the next five years, according to forecasters at New York-based Easy Analytic Software Inc. EASI's analysts project a 35% increase in grill sales for the area during the same time period.

EASI's projections take into account changes in population such as age and income, but not changes in economic conditions.

With a diversified business base, the area is poised to continue its rapid growth — a 17% population increase between 2000 and 2006, slowing slightly to 12% between 2006 and 2011.

Called the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin boasts more than 120 live music venues and a host of other cultural attractions.

The region's largest employers reflect the local economy's diversity. Dell is the largest private-sector employer with 17,000 employees and the University of Texas is the region's largest public-sector employer with nearly 14,000 employees.

In addition to UT, the Austin metro area is home to Southwestern University, St. Edward's University, Concordia University, Huston-Tillotson University, Temple College and Texas State University.

Dell isn't alone in having its headquarters in Austin either. It shares that honor with such well-known companies as Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Balfour, National Instruments, Schlotzky's and Whole Foods Market.

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Austin-Round Rock, Texas