Austin, whose official slogan is “The Live Music Capital of the World”, boasts an exciting live music scene with more music venues per capita than any other city in the nation. In 2006, Money Magazine named Austin the #2 Best Big City in its “Best Places to Live” list, and MSN named Austin the “Greenest City in America”. Austin Zoo, Lake Austin and the Texas Memorial Museum are staples of this central TX community.
Dallas, population 1,188,580, is renowned for its barbecue and authentic Mexican cuisines as well as for its role in the industries of banking, computer technology, petroleum and telecommunications. Dallas sits at the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area, which is the nation’s largest inland metro area. The Dallas Children’s Theater, Deep Ellum and Fair Park are among the many fun places to visit in Dallas.
El Paso, population 563,662, lies along the banks of the mighty Rio Grande River, directly across the Mexico border from Ciudad Juarez. Located in the stunning Franklin Mountains, El Paso's popular sites, such as Chamizal National Memorial, El Paso Zoo, and Fort Bliss, are world renowned. Fort Worth, population 534,694, enjoys the prestige of ranking as one of “America’s Most Livable Communities”. This colorful city claims nearly 300 square miles of northern TX and hosts the U.S. headquarters of such companies as Alcon and Galderma Laboratories. Tourist attractions include Fort Worth Water Gardens and the Texas Motor Speedway.
Houston, whose population exceeds 1.95 million, remains the largest city in TX and the fourth largest in the country. This sprawling urban area covers more than 600 square miles and is home to the largest concentration of healthcare and research facilities in the world. Houston is also home to NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and attractions such as The Galleria and Six Flags Astro World.
Lastly, San Antonio, the second most populous city in Texas is home to 1,144,646 residents. With sites such as Brooks City Base, Fort Sam Houston and Randolph Air Force Base, San Antonio has a strong military presence. Popular local attractions include The Alamo and Seaworld.
Texans enjoy a booming economy, where the gross state product of 2006 was $1.09 trillion (the second largest in the U.S.). Texas holds the nation’s largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies and affords its citizens enviable benefits such as low business taxes and no state income tax.
Residents also have access to more than 100 colleges and universities and dozens of research and development institutions. Massive educational conglomerates include the Texas A&M University System, The University of Houston System and the University of Texas System, all of which have several campuses. Additional facilities include the Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University.
The state of Texas features a blend of southern and southwestern culture, with Gulf Coast beaches, majestic mountains, and recreational pursuits that range from ballet to rodeos.
