History of Austin Timeline

(1839 - Present)

Austin, the capital of Texas, has evolved from a frontier settlement on the Colorado River into one of America's fastest-growing cities. Founded in 1839 as the new capital of the Republic of Texas, it weathered early challenges, grew with the arrival of the railroad and the University of Texas, and transformed in the late 20th century into a renowned center for technology, music, and culture, earning nicknames like 'Live Music Capital of the World' and 'Silicon Hills.' More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Settlement

Spanish explorers arrive in central Texas

1719

Spanish expeditions began passing through the region in the early 18th century, establishing missions elsewhere in Texas and mapping the area around the Colorado River, though no permanent settlement was founded at present-day Austin.

Image source: History of Austin, Texas

Austin's colony established nearby as capital of Mexican Texas

1823

Stephen F. Austin established his 'Little Colony' in 1823, bringing Anglo-American settlers to lands just east of what is now Austin, laying groundwork for future settlement of the region.

Waterloo village settled on the Colorado River

1835

A small settlement known as Waterloo was established on the north bank of the Colorado River. It would later be selected as the site for a new capital city.

Texas independence declared

Mar 2, 1836

Texian settlers declared independence from Mexico at Washington-on-the-Brazos, creating the Republic of Texas, which soon needed a permanent seat of government.

Image source: Texas Declaration of Independence

Capital and Growth

Mirabeau B. Lamar champions the new capital

1839

President Mirabeau B. Lamar pushed for the establishment of Austin as the capital, envisioning it as the western anchor of an expanding republic despite its frontier vulnerability.

Image source: Mirabeau B. Lamar

Edwin Waller lays out the city plan

1839

Edwin Waller surveyed and platted Austin on a grid centered on Congress Avenue leading to Capitol Hill, creating the street plan that still defines downtown today.

Image source: Edwin Waller

Austin founded as capital of the Republic of Texas

Aug 25, 1839

The Republic of Texas purchased land from Jacob Harrell's settlement, renamed Waterloo to Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin, and designated it the new capital city.

Image source: Austin, Texas

Austin incorporated as a city

Dec 27, 1839

Austin was officially incorporated, with Edwin Waller elected as its first mayor shortly thereafter, formalizing municipal governance in the young capital.

Archive War over relocation of capital records

1842

When President Sam Houston ordered national archives moved back to Houston after raids by Mexican forces, Austin residents armed themselves and prevented the removal, securing Austin's status as capital.

Image source: Texas Archive War

Austin becomes capital of the state of Texas

Feb 19, 1846

After Texas joined the United States in December 1845, Austin was confirmed as the state capital, cementing its political importance permanently.

Image source: Texas State Capitol

Austin becomes capital of the state of Texas

Cholera epidemic strikes Austin

1867

A devastating cholera outbreak swept through post-Civil War Austin, killing hundreds of residents in one of the deadliest epidemics in the city's history.

Image source: History of cholera

University of Texas opens in Austin

Sep 15, 1883

The University of Texas opened its doors with one building, eight professors, and 221 students, beginning its transformation into a flagship institution central to Austin's identity.

Image source: University of Texas at Austin

Current Texas State Capitol completed

1888

The pink granite Texas State Capitol was completed in downtown Austin. At 308 feet tall, it remains taller than the U.S. Capitol, dominating the city skyline.

Great Granite Dam built on the Colorado River

1893

The Austin Dam, intended to power industry and spur economic growth, collapsed catastrophically in 1900, though Lake McDonald formed behind it became precursor to modern Town Lake.

Image source: Austin Dam failure (Pennsylvania)

Moonlight towers installed across Austin

1894

Austin erected 31 towering moonlight towers to illuminate the city at night; Austin is now the only city in the world where these Victorian-era structures remain standing.

Image source: Moonlight tower

Culture and Music

Barton Springs Pool opens to swimmers

1918

The natural spring-fed pool at Barton Creek was developed into a public swimming hole, becoming an iconic Austin destination beloved for its cool waters year-round.

Image source: Barton Springs Pool

Armadillo World Headquarters opens

Aug 7, 1970 - Dec 31, 1980

This legendary music hall fused country and rock, launching the progressive country scene and hosting acts like Willie Nelson, shaping Austin's claim as the Live Music Capital of the World.

Image source: Armadillo World Headquarters

Willie Nelson moves to Austin

1972

Willie Nelson relocated to Austin, energizing the local music scene and helping establish the outlaw country movement that defined the city's musical culture.

Image source: Willie Nelson

Austin City Limits television show debuts

Oct 17, 1974

KLRU broadcast the first episode featuring Willie Nelson, creating the longest-running music program in American television history and spreading Austin's music reputation nationwide.

Image source: Austin City Limits

South by Southwest festival founded

Mar 1987

SXSW launched as a small music festival and grew into a massive annual convergence of film, interactive media, and music that transforms downtown Austin every March.

Image source: South by Southwest

Austin City Limits Music Festival launched

Sep 2002

Inspired by the TV series, the ACL Music Festival debuted in Zilker Park, becoming one of the largest annual music festivals in the United States.

Image source: Austin City Limits Music Festival

Modern Austin

Town Lake parks and trail system developed

1971

Lady Bird Johnson championed beautification of the Colorado River corridor through downtown, creating trails and parkland that made Town Lake (now Lady Bird Lake) the city's recreational centerpiece.

Image source: Lady Bird Lake

Congress Avenue Bridge becomes home to bats

1980

After reconstruction, crevices under the bridge attracted North America's largest urban bat colony; up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats now draw crowds nightly each summer.

Image source: Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge

Whole Foods Market founded in Austin

Sep 20, 1980

John Mackey opened the first Whole Foods store on Lamar Boulevard, growing the natural foods grocer into a global brand rooted in Austin culture.

Image source: Whole Foods Market

Dell Computer founded in Austin

Feb 1, 1984

Michael Dell started PC's Limited from his University of Texas dorm room; Dell's growth anchored Austin's emergence as a major technology hub nicknamed 'Silicon Hills.'

Image source: Dell

Formula One United States Grand Prix comes to Austin

Nov 18, 2012

The Circuit of the Americas hosted its first Formula One race, bringing international motorsports and global attention to Austin as a premier events destination.

Image source: United States Grand Prix

Tech boom drives rapid population growth

2015

Major tech companies expanded or relocated to Austin amid explosive growth, making it one of the fastest-growing large cities in America and reshaping its economy and housing market.

Winter Storm Uri cripples Austin's power grid

Feb 14, 2021 - Feb 20, 2021

Winter Storm Uri caused statewide grid failures, leaving Austinites without power and water for days during record cold, prompting major scrutiny of ERCOT and Texas infrastructure.

Image source: 2021 Texas power crisis

Tesla Gigafactory Texas opens near Austin

Apr 2022

Tesla opened its massive manufacturing facility in eastern Travis County, employing thousands and symbolizing Austin's rise as a premier electric vehicle and technology center.

Image source: Gigafactory Texas

Key Facts

Austin was founded in 1839 and named Waterloo before being renamed to honor Stephen F. Austin, the 'Father of Texas,' when it became the capital of the Republic of Texas.
The city's first capitol building burned down in 1881, leading to the construction of the current Texas State Capitol, completed in 1888, which is taller than the U.S. Capitol.
The University of Texas opened in Austin in 1883, becoming a major driver of the city's growth, economy, and identity.
In 1971, Austin hosted the first South by Southwest (SXSW)-related events era beginnings; SXSW itself launched in 1987, cementing Austin's reputation as a music and cultural capital.
Since the 1990s, Austin has become a major technology hub known as 'Silicon Hills,' attracting companies like Dell, IBM, Apple, Google, and Tesla, fueling rapid population growth.

Source

This History of Austin timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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