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My brother has lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area (currently Ft. Worth) since the mid-1980's. He travels frequently to Austin on business.
A lot of people imply that although in the state of Texas, living in Austin is more akin to living in a place like San Francisco CA or Seattle WA in terms of the social and cultural climate of the area. Obviously, the live music scene in Austin is mentioned quite a bit. My impression is that Austin is a little more bohemian, a bit more liberal, more ecclectic (and eccentric) than many other US cities.
However, my brother told me that there is a bit of propaganda going on when it comes to Austin. He told me the way Austin is marketed is somewhat misleading. He said that Austin is still very conservative and it is -- in his words -- "still in Texas". He went on to say that Austin is the seat of government in the state of Texas (obviously it is the state capital) and that the city still upholds everything that designation implies -- mainly conservative Texas values. Finally, he mentioned that Austin may seem liberal and diverse to other Texans and it is a big college town (college towns are widely perceived as liberal). However, he mentioned that if you were to move to Austin from another part of the U.S. (S.F., Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago), you will not find Austin nearly as "free-spirited" (for lack of a better term) as it is made out to be. You will find that it is "still in Texas" -- George Bush and Rick Perry country.
I will offer the point that I am more moderate than liberal or conservative. I have too many views on different issues that don't allow me to fit into any particular label. However, I am just curious:
Has anyone moved to Austin thinking it was going to be "San Francisco East" or "Seattle South" or "Boston West" and were disappointed to find out what Austin was really like? Personally, I don't care if Austin is liberal, conservative, Green Party or Libertarian leaning. I just want to get an accurate picture of what the city is truly all about -- whatever that may be.
I would also be interested in responses from any Austin residents who might be able to clarify Austin's true feel as a city. My company is considering opening a new office in Austin or Round Rock due to our relationship with Dell to take advantage of some synergies. I may be asked to move to take over a new department based in that area.
Some perspective on me for consideration: 34yo, Black male, unmarried, law degree, income over six-figures, social moderate, fiscal conservative, mostly Green environmentally (I could be better), active socially, like places with warm climates, cultural diversity, outdoor activities, great spots to get food/drinks after work with friends and colleagues, college towns are fine as long as they are not overrun with drunk college kids everywhere, preferred housing type is a condo, row house, or brownstone in the $300k-$400K range, preferably near parks or a lake. Also, a nice ratio of diverse, attractive females would be nice..... had to throw that out there!
My brother has lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area (currently Ft. Worth) since the mid-1980's. He travels frequently to Austin on business.
A lot of people imply that although in the state of Texas, living in Austin is more akin to living in a place like San Francisco CA or Seattle WA in terms of the social and cultural climate of the area. Obviously, the live music scene in Austin is mentioned quite a bit. My impression is that Austin is a little more bohemian, a bit more liberal, more ecclectic (and eccentric) than many other US cities.
However, my brother told me that there is a bit of propaganda going on when it comes to Austin. He told me the way Austin is marketed is somewhat misleading. He said that Austin is still very conservative and it is -- in his words -- "still in Texas". He went on to say that Austin is the seat of government in the state of Texas (obviously it is the state capital) and that the city still upholds everything that designation implies -- mainly conservative Texas values. Finally, he mentioned that Austin may seem liberal and diverse to other Texans and it is a big college town (college towns are widely perceived as liberal). However, he mentioned that if you were to move to Austin from another part of the U.S. (S.F., Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago), you will not find Austin nearly as "free-spirited" (for lack of a better term) as it is made out to be. You will find that it is "still in Texas" -- George Bush and Rick Perry country.
I will offer the point that I am more moderate than liberal or conservative. I have too many views on different issues that don't allow me to fit into any particular label. However, I am just curious:
Has anyone moved to Austin thinking it was going to be "San Francisco East" or "Seattle South" or "Boston West" and were disappointed to find out what Austin was really like? Personally, I don't care if Austin is liberal, conservative, Green Party or Libertarian leaning. I just want to get an accurate picture of what the city is truly all about -- whatever that may be.
I would also be interested in responses from any Austin residents who might be able to clarify Austin's true feel as a city. My company is considering opening a new office in Austin or Round Rock due to our relationship with Dell to take advantage of some synergies. I may be asked to move to take over a new department based in that area.
Thanks in advance to all who respond.
I guess the first thing that comes to mind is, Austin has the "Nude Bike Ride" because Austin lacks any public nudity laws. As long as there is not "lascivious" display of one's genitals or anus, then he/she is good to go. I am not familiar enough though to say no other Texas towns have similar events.
Also, Hippy Hollow is the state's only State Park where clothing optional is legal.
It simply could be it is tolerated in Austin, and the two examples above do not go beyond anomalies.
I moved here in June 2006 from New England as someone who was sold on Austin "not being part of Texas" and being very liberal, free spirited, etc.
Having lived here for 10 months now, I can say that while I love Austin, it is not as liberal or "weird" as it touts itself (or as the media touts it). Yes, it is liberal...for Texas. But compared to the diehard liberal Democratic flavor of the Northeast - yes, it is still Texas. I still find that a more conservative, Christian, Republican flavor permeates the atmosphere - as a specific example, I don't think I was asked once in 31 years of living in the Northeast what church I went to, but I am asked on a fairly regular basis here. I hear "family values" come up in conversation here, while in New England, it was something that I only encountered on the tv during political campaigns on the national level. You get the idea.
That being said - I have found that the friendliness and social lifestyle of Austin was NOT overrated - people here are wonderful and welcoming and friendly...even after hearing that I am a diehard liberal Unitarian Democrat Yankee.
I will also add that I live in north Austin right on the border of Round Rock and Cedar Park - I might just be surrounded by a different type of crowd and would not feel this way if I lived in downtown Austin. But who can afford that? I will also say that I work at the University of Texas, and find more of "my" people there among my colleagues than my friends and my childrens' friends' parents up "north" here.
Some perspective on me for consideration: 34yo, Black male, unmarried, law degree, income over six-figures, social moderate, fiscal conservative, mostly Green environmentally (I could be better), active socially, like places with warm climates, cultural diversity, outdoor activities, great spots to get food/drinks after work with friends and colleagues, college towns are fine as long as they are not overrun with drunk college kids everywhere, preferred housing type is a condo, row house, or brownstone in the $300k-$400K range, preferably near parks or a lake. Also, a nice ratio of diverse, attractive females would be nice..... had to throw that out there!
Thanks in advance to all who respond.
You dont say if this is important to you but
Austin is not very diverse at all, it is a mostly white (then hispanic) town. I had one black friend who moved back to atlanta because of a lack of
1) good clubs for him
2) choices of black women
His profile is similar to yours, only a bit younger.
One of my coworkers moved from DC and has a similar profile to yours. He loves austin, but has similar complaints to the above.
Austin is more of a free spirit town than a "liberal" town. However, I live central and almost every car you see in some neighborhoods has anti-W or anti-war/pro-peace bumper stickers. Republicans have a hard time winning any election in central Austin. When people write about Austin's weirdness or political culture, they are mostly referring to the closer-in areas.
I think a lot of this board lives in surrounding suburbs such as Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville, etc., and those areas are typical conservative suburbia with some tinge of "Austin." If you live "in" Austin, you will find it fairly liberal (except for Westlake and even that area has many liberals in it)...if you live in a surrounding suburb or town, you will probably find it to be conservative with a "free spirit" residue from Austin.
If you move here, it sounds like you would probably want to stray from Dell HQ and move closer to town.
Travis County (Austin) was the only county in Texas to vote against the state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. I'd say that does make it a bit different that the rest of the state...thank god.
I ditto GreenPlastic. I think most folks here are politically moderate, but there are a number of people here that are a 'tad' belligerent about their politics, IMHO (at both ends of the spectrum). At some point, you will probably hear where everyone stands, whether you want to or not. Like you, I'm very moderate, and that really bothered me for awhile because I wasn't used to it. It's a very 'politically correct' city.
I definitely want to live in the city of Austin, not any suburb. I am a big proponent of living a pedestrian lifestyle. I like to walk (or in some instances bike) to most places I frequent -- shops, restaurants, parks, etc. I only like to use my car for driving to work and other places where it would be impractical to do anything but drive.
Does anyone with knowledge of the Atlanta GA area know where there is an area within Austin's city limits similar to the Buckhead or Vinings neighborhoods in Atlanta? Round Rock seems to be more like Alpharetta GA -- an upscale, suburban bedroom community north of the city. I am not looking for that type of environment at all. I know this sounds asenine, but I couldn't live in a city called Pflugerville -- no offense, I am sure it is a nice town. I could never live in Kalamazoo MI or Chattanooga TN or Terre Haute IN either. It's just this weird thing I have about city names.... go figure. I give Buckhead a pass only because I believe the actual mailing address for that area is Atlanta.
Anyway...... based on the comments I have seen on this board and within this thread, Austin seems very similar to Portland OR -- where Nike HQ in Beaverton is to Portland as Dell HQ in Round Rock is to Austin. I used to work for Nike in the mid-1990's and I have spent quite a bit of time in the Portland area.
Again, thanks to all who care to respond and enlighten me about Austin.
Austin97, you mentioned your friends(s) left because of a lack of Black clubs and dating options. I too have heard there are not a lot of Blacks, so I am wondering if you have any idea why? I know there is a large Black population in Houston and in Dallas. Why not Austin? I am not pressed about the club scene but wonder is there alot of interracial marriages/dating and how is that percieved? I am a Black woman getting ready to move in Dell country...
mr2007 - I think downtown Austin would be a good fit for what you're looking for, as far as lifestyle and price range. As for city names, Texas has Cut 'N Shoot (just thought I'd throw that in!).
nsmith923 - a good friend of mine is black, and her husband is white. I've never heard anyone say anything ugly to or about them, and they haven't been harrassed in any way (that I am aware of). They've never mentioned that they've been given a hard time or that Austin has an uncomfortable climate in that regard. Her brother just moved down here last year (he's in his early twenties), and he goes out all the time, seems to be dating a new girl every other week, and really likes it here.
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I will also say that I work at the University of Texas, and find more of "my" people there among my colleagues than my friends and my childrens' friends' parents up "north" here.
