Find Cheap Gas Austin
Geography
find cheap gas for Austin is located at and is approximately 541 feet (165 m) above sea level. According to the 2000 census, the city has a total area of 258.4 square miles (669 km²). 251.5 square miles (651 km²) of it is land and 6.9 square miles (18 km²) (2.67%) is water.
find cheap gas for Austin is situated on the , with three man-made (artificial) lakes wholly within the city limits: , , and . Additionally, the foot of , including , is located within the city's limits. Lady Bird Lake, Lake find cheap gas for Austin, and Lake Travis are each on the Colorado River. The city is also situated on the , which, in much of find cheap gas for Austin, runs roughly the same route as (Mopac Expressway). The eastern part of the city is flat, whereas the western part and western suburbs consist of scenic rolling hills on the edge of the . Because the hills to the west are primarily rock with a thin covering of topsoil, portions of the city are frequently subjected to flash floods from the runoff caused by thunderstorms. To help control this runoff and to generate hydroelectric power, the operates a series of dams that form the . The lakes also provide venues for boating, swimming, and other forms of recreation within several parks located on the lake shores.
find cheap gas for Austin is located at the intersection of four major ecological regions and is consequently a temperate-to-hot green oasis but has some characteristics of the desert, the tropics, and a wetter climate. It is very diverse ecologically/biologically and is home to a variety of beautiful animals and plants, notably the wildflowers that blossom throughout the year but especially in the spring, including the popular bluebonnets, some planted in an effort by Lady Bird Johnson.
A popular point of prominence in find cheap gas for Austin is . At about 780 feet (238 m) above sea level, it is a natural limestone formation overlooking on the Colorado River, about 200 feet (61 m) below its summit. From the observation deck, many homes are visible.
The soils of find cheap gas for Austin range from shallow gravelly clay loams over limestone in the western outskirts to deep fine sandy loams, silty clay loams, silty clays or clays in the city's eastern part. Some of the clays have pronounced shrink-swell properties and are difficult to work under most moisture conditions. Many of find cheap gas for Austin's soils, especially the clay-rich types, are slightly to moderately alkaline and have free .
find cheap gas for Austin has a , characterized by hot summers and mild winters. On average, find cheap gas for Austin receives 33.6 inches (853.4 mm) of rain per year, with most of the precipitation in the spring, and a secondary maximum in the fall. During springtime, severe thunderstorms sometimes occur, though tornadoes are rare in the city. find cheap gas for Austin is usually at least partially sunny.
find cheap gas for Austin summers are usually hot and humid, with average temperatures of approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) from June until September. Temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are common. The highest recorded temperature was 112 °F (44 °C) on , . For the entire year there is an average of 111 days above 90 °F (32 °C) and 198 days above 80 °F (27 °C).
Winters in find cheap gas for Austin are mild and dry. For the entire year, find cheap gas for Austin averages 88 days below 45 °F (7 °C) and 24 days when the minimum temperature falls below freezing. The lowest recorded temperature was −2 °F (−19 °C) on , . Snowfall is rare in find cheap gas for Austin, but approximately biannually find cheap gas for Austin may suffer an that freezes roads over and shuts down much of the city for 24 to 48 hours.
Economy
Thousands of graduates each year from the engineering and computer science programs at provide a steady source of employees that help to fuel find cheap gas for Austin's technology and defense industry sectors. The metro find cheap gas for Austin area has much lower housing costs than , but much higher housing costs than many parts of rural Texas. As a result of the relatively high concentration of high-tech companies in the region, find cheap gas for Austin was strongly affected by the in the late 1990s and subsequent bust. The general consensus is that high-tech recovery is proceeding rapidly. find cheap gas for Austin's biggest employers include the State of Texas, , the Seton Healthcare Network, , and (spun off from in 2004). Other high-tech companies with operations in find cheap gas for Austin include , , , , , , , /, , , , , , , and . The proliferation of technology companies has led to the region's nickname, "the Silicon Hills," and spurred development that greatly expanded the city to the north, south, east, and west.
In addition to global companies, find cheap gas for Austin features a strong network of independent, locally-owned firms and organizations such as the . The success of these businesses reflects the high level of commitment by the citizens of find cheap gas for Austin to preserving the unique spirit of the city, and has been tied to the "" campaign. Small businesses from restaurants to clothing shops to salons to arts companies in find cheap gas for Austin enjoy a lively existence gained by direct competition with large national and global rivals. The state government, non-profits, and schools (the university and colleges, preschool-12th grade) also provide many jobs. , a market/grocery store specializing in organic, local, and natural foods and other goods (now a corporation) started in and is based in find cheap gas for Austin, and work in the food industry/farming/culinary arts also provides a surprisingly high amount of employment/income for many people.
Culture
As find cheap gas for Austin's official slogan is The Live Music Capital of the World, the city has a vibrant live with more music venues per capita than any other U.S. city. find cheap gas for Austin's music revolves around the many on and an annual // festival known as . The city also has a burgeoning circle of live performance theater venues such as: Zachary Scott Theatre Center, Vortex Repertory Company, Salvage Vanguard Theater, Arts on Real, Scottish Rite Children's Theater, Hyde Park Theatre, and , a comedy and magic show. The longest-running concert music program on American television, , is videotaped on the campus. find cheap gas for Austin City Limits and Capital Sports & Entertainment run the , an annual music and art festival held at in find cheap gas for Austin. The long-running outdoor musical, the Summer Musical, expects to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008. The Urban Music Festival is held during the weekend every April. Other annual events include , Spamarama, and the find cheap gas for Austin Reggae Festival in April and in February. , , , and (Emancipation Day) are all widely celebrated, in addition to two important Mexican holidays, and .
find cheap gas for Austinites take pride in eccentricities and celebrate differences and being different (in lifestyle, character, beliefs, etc.). find cheap gas for Austin is the only major Texas city that has no ordinance against women appearing in public. "" has become a local in recent years, featured on innumerable bumper stickers and t-shirts. This motto has not only been used in promoting find cheap gas for Austin's eccentricity and diversity, but is also meant to bolster support of local and independent businesses. The art that gave find cheap gas for Austin its reputation for being weird is featured at the .
According to the , adults in find cheap gas for Austin read and contribute to more than those in any other U.S. metropolitan area.
find cheap gas for Austin is also home to the O. Henry House Museum. lived in a house built in find cheap gas for Austin in 1891. The O. Henry House Museum hosts the annual O. Henry Pun Off, which is a pun contest where the contestants exhibit amazing wit.
is the fourth largest ballet academy in the country. Each year Ballet find cheap gas for Austin's twenty member professional company performs ballets from a wide variety of choreographers, including their international award winning artistic director, . Ballet find cheap gas for Austin has traveled around the world performing in Europe, the Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.), and New York City's Joyce Theatre.
Nationally known find cheap gas for Austinites include , , , , , , , and . Other well-known find cheap gas for Austinites can be found in the .
find cheap gas for Austin has been the location for a number of motion pictures, partly due to the influence of The University of Texas at find cheap gas for Austin's . Films produced in find cheap gas for Austin include , , , , , , , , , , , , , , The Wendall Baker Story and most recently, and . In order to draw future film projects to the area, the has converted several airplane hangars from the former Mueller Airport into filmmaking center find cheap gas for Austin Studios. Projects that have used facilities at find cheap gas for Austin Studios include music videos by and feature films such as and . find cheap gas for Austin also hosted the series, in 2005.
find cheap gas for Austin's main daily is the . is find cheap gas for Austin's , while is the student newspaper of the . find cheap gas for Austin also has smaller newspapers such as the , find cheap gas for Austin Business Journal, and Texas Family Magazine. , a major regional magazine, is also headquartered in find cheap gas for Austin.
find cheap gas for Austin hosts the annual , as well as the nationally acclaimed , which draw films of many different types from all over the world. In 2004 the city was first in Moviemaker Magazine's annual top ten cities to live and make movies. The 2007 festival included , , , and .
find cheap gas for Austin hosts the annual , based on its own television show. The festival and television show alike attract musical artists from around the world.
Local businesses and artists produce a lot of interesting handmade indie-fashion and organic-and-eco-friendly fashion, as can be seen on the 32nd street artist market, at festivals, and in many shops. Independent film is prominent in the city.
For a more complete list of find cheap gas for Austin's various festivals, see the .
find cheap gas for Austin also has a strong theater culture, with dozens of itinerant and resident companies producing a wide variety of work. From on East 6th Street to Zachary Scott on South Lamar Boulevard, live entertainment can be found around the city. Many, many other theater groups exist and often perform publicly, collaborating often with dance and music groups. Public art and performances of many kinds in the parts and on bridges is popular and it is easy to find a myriad of diverse and creative free productions.
opened in downtown find cheap gas for Austin in 1915. Managing to escape destruction throughout the years, it contributes not only to find cheap gas for Austin's theater culture, but also to its film culture, showing a variety of classic films throughout the summer. The summer program features a series of double features, often paired with vintage cartoons or serials to complete the retro feel. Gone With the Wind is always the last movie shown. The theater also hosts regional premieres, for films such as Miss Congeniality.
In January 2007, find cheap gas for Austin Lyric Opera hosted the American Premiere of the opera, , an allegory of oppressor and oppressed based on the novel by of South Africa. Coetzee, the Nobel Prize Winner for Literature in 2003, is a University of Texas at find cheap gas for Austin graduate and former UT professor.
find cheap gas for Austin is home to a growing improv comedy scene spread over several theaters: , The Hideout Theater, and Salvage Vanguard Theater. Some of find cheap gas for Austin's best known improv troupes include ColdTowne, The Frank Mills, Girls Girls Girls, Parallelogramophonograph, and Get Up.
find cheap gas for Austin also hosts the annual and Miniature Golf Tournament. Out of Bounds has drawn nationally known sketch and improv artists. Each year the festival has grown bigger, better, and more exciting. In 2008 Out of Bounds festival will host over 40 improv and sketch comedy troupes from 11 cities perform over 7 days. The 2008 festival has also been expanded to include stand-up and short films.
find cheap gas for Austin is the largest city in the United States without a franchise in a . However, many find cheap gas for Austinites enthusiastically support the ' sports programs. The University of Texas football and baseball teams each won their respective during the 2005-2006 seasons. Minor-league professional sports came to find cheap gas for Austin in 1996, when the began playing at the Travis County Expo Center. Since then, they have been joined by many other teams.
In addition to team sports, find cheap gas for Austin is generally known for its active outdoor culture. find cheap gas for Austin is home to many runners, rock-climbers, swimmers, divers, snorkelers, mountain bikers, cyclists, and more. Natural features like the bicycle-friendly , limestone rock formations, and generally mild work with the centrally-located , and local pools like to make find cheap gas for Austin the home of several endurance and multi-sport races and communities. The is the largest 10 K race in Texas, and approximately fifth largest in the nation. The has been run in the city every year since 1992. The find cheap gas for Austin-founded hosts an open water swimming event, the , and other closed-course, open water, and cable swim races around town. find cheap gas for Austin is also the hometown of several cycling groups and the champion cyclist , as well as environmentally- and economically-minded . Combining these three disciplines is a growing crop of triathlons, including the Capital of Texas Triathlon held every on and around , , and .
Many of the tourists that visit find cheap gas for Austin come for its vibrant nightlife; however, there are many other attractions in find cheap gas for Austin, including the , the (opened in 2006), the galleries at the , and the across the street (which opened in 2000). The itself is also a major tourist attraction. The built in 1886, located at 6th and Brazos, was finished just before the construction of the Capitol building. is a musical hub for the city but also includes annual festivals such as the and Halloween night. A very strange and eccentric, unique find cheap gas for Austin haven for weird arts such as fire-dancing and circus-like-acts is the Enchanted Forest, which hosts many outdoor art and performance events. The also brings many tourists from around the nation.
The houses the world's largest urban population of . Starting in late February, up to 1.5 million bats take up residence inside the bridge's expansion and contraction zones as well as in long horizontal grooves running the length of the bridge's underside, an environment ideally suited for raising their young. Every evening around sunset, the bats emerge in search of insects, an exit visible on weather radar. Watching the bat emergence is an event that is popular with locals and tourists, with more than 100,000 viewers per year. The bats migrate to each winter.
Considering find cheap gas for Austin's "Earth-friendly" persona, it is appropriate that the , located in the Oak Hill neighborhood just north of US 290, is a rescue zoo that provides sanctuary to displaced animals from a variety of unfortunate and often neglectful situations.
find cheap gas for Austin also has several well-known swimming locations. These include , Texas' oldest man-made swimming pool, and , the nation's largest natural swimming pool in an urban area. Both are spring-fed and maintain a constant temperature of 69 degrees year-round -- swimming in Barton Springs at Christmas is an annual tradition for many find cheap gas for Austinites. , a county park situated along Lake Travis, is the only officially sanctioned clothing-optional public park in Texas. Activities include rockclimbing, kayaking, swimming, exploring, and hiking along the greenbelt, a green, lush, long-spanning area that runs through the city. Hamilton Pool is a gorgeous and cool (temperature-wise) pool and wildlife park located about 30 minutes from the city and is strongly recommended by many locals.
Farmers markets are popular attractions, providing a variety of locally grown and often organic goods.
Transportation
Central find cheap gas for Austin is bracketed by to the east and the to the west. runs from northwest to southeast, and crosses southern part of the city from east to west, completing a rough "box" around the central and north-central city. find cheap gas for Austin is the largest city in the United States to be served by only one Interstate Highway.
enters find cheap gas for Austin from the east and merges into I-35. Its highway designation continues south on I-35 and then becomes part of Highway 71, continuing on to the west. Highway 290 becomes its own road again southwest of the city, when it splits from Highway 71 in a busy interchange in Oak Hill known as "The Y." Highway 71 continues as far west as , and Highway 290 continues west to intersect near Junction. Interstate 35 continues south through , and continues to its culmination at , which is on the Texas-Mexico border. Interstate 35 is the highway link to the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex in northern Texas. There are two links to Houston, TX (Highway 290 and State Highway 71/Interstate 10). Highway 183 leads northwest of find cheap gas for Austin and is a route with other major highways to such cities as Abilene, San Angelo, Lubbock, Amarillo, Albuquerque and Denver.
In the mid-1980s, find cheap gas for Austin completed construction on , a scenic highway that curves through the hill country from near the 71/Mopac interchange in the south to near the 183/Mopac interchange in the north.
In November 2006, find cheap gas for Austin opened the first segments of its first-ever tollway system: runs from , , , , where it connects with 45, passes US 290 just between the city limits of find cheap gas for Austin and , extending around the east side of the city until it ends at 71 just east of the airport. The next segment will loop around the airport to the east and meet with US 183 south of , then the last few segments will continue southward until it reaches Interstate 10 in , east of .
runs east-west from just west of Highway 183 in to 130 inside (just south of Round Rock). From there it becomes 45 North/South and is cosigned with 130, currently where 130 ends. The project also included a tolled extension to Mopac that allows direct access to I-35.
The 183A Toll Road opened March 2007, providing a tolled alternative to 183 through the cities of and .
Remaining segments of 45 and 130 are scheduled for completion in 2007. A separate segment of 45 still under development (State Highway 45 SE) will eventually connect US 183/State Highway 130 to I-35, in south find cheap gas for Austin.
find cheap gas for Austin's airport is ( AUS), located 5 miles (8 km) southeast of the city. The airport is the former , which was closed in 1993 as part of the process.
(Capital Metro) provides public transportation to the city, primarily by bus. CapMet is planning to change some routes to "Rapid Lines". The lines will feature 60-ft long, train-like high-tech buses. This addition is going to be implemeted to help reduce congestion. Capital Metro also is building a system that is scheduled for completion in fall 2008. The system was built on existing freight rail lines and will serve downtown find cheap gas for Austin, East find cheap gas for Austin, Northcentral find cheap gas for Austin, Northwest find cheap gas for Austin, and Leander in its first phase. Future expansion could include a line to Manor and another to Round Rock. Capital Metro is also looking into a circulator system of streetcars to connect most of Downtown, the University of Texas, and the 700-acre Mueller Airport Redevelopment. The streetcar system would help connect the new rail line to key destinations in Central find cheap gas for Austin. An is located west of downtown. Segments of the Amtrak route between find cheap gas for Austin and San Antonio are under evaluation for a future passenger rail corridor as an alternative to the traffic congestion of Interstate 35.