About Austin, Texas:
The capital of Texas, the city of Austin is located in what is commonly called “The Hill Country” of Texas……pretty much the center of the state geographically (not counting the panhandle). Austin originated as the riverside village of Waterloo, in a buffalo-hunting region occupied by Tonkawa and Comanche peoples. In 1839 it was selected by scouts as the site for the permanent capital of the Republic of Texas and renamed in honor of Stephen F. Austin, father of the Republic. Texas finally joined the Union and became the 28th state on December 29, 1845. Austin then became the Capital of the state of Texas.
Texas declared its secession from the Union on February 1, 1861, and joined the Confederate States on March 2, 1861, after it had replaced its governor, Sam Houston, who had refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Confederacy. After the end of the Civil War and the period known as reconstruction, Texas was formally readmitted to the Union, and its Congressional representation restored, on March 30, 1870.
Today, Austin is the fourth-largest city in Texas and home not only to the state capital but also the University of Texas, which had over 50,000 students enrolled on campus as of 2024, making it one of the largest public universities in the U.S.
It is also considered the tech capital of Texas. The Austin metropolitan area is nicknamed “Silicon Hills” because of its many high-tech companies. As of 2024, Texas had the second-highest number (52) of Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the United States. With a growing base of industry, the state leads in many industries, including tourism, agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences.
Catholic places of interest in Austin, Texas:
Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt
Our Lady’s Maronite Catholic Church (Eastern Rite Church in communion with Rome)
Saint Austin Catholic Church: named not for the city, but for Saint Augustine!
Saint Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church
Saint Louis King of France Catholic Church (perpetual Adoration)