Living in Travis County

Travis County's economy centers on technology, government, and education. The region added over 180,000 residents between 2010 and 2020, driven largely by corporate relocations and expansions from companies including Tesla, Apple, Google, and Oracle. The dining scene spans from established barbecue institutions like Franklin Barbecue and la Barbecue to a concentration of restaurants along South Congress Avenue, Rainey Street, and East Austin's East 6th Street corridor.

Residential life varies significantly by area. The urban core around downtown Austin offers high-rise condos and walkable access to entertainment. Western Travis County, including Lakeway and Bee Cave, features Hill Country topography with larger lots and lake access. Eastern areas like Pflugerville and Manor provide newer suburban developments with community pools, trail systems, and proximity to the Samsung semiconductor campus and Tesla Gigafactory. The county's trail network includes over 300 miles of hike-and-bike trails, and residents have access to 300+ parks maintained by the City of Austin and Travis County.

Things to Do in Travis County

• Zilker Park: A 358-acre metropolitan park in central Austin featuring Barton Springs Pool, the Zilker Botanical Garden, a miniature train, disc golf course, and open fields. Barton Springs Pool maintains a year-round temperature of 68-70°F across its three-acre swimming area.
• Barton Creek Greenbelt: A 12.7-mile trail system following Barton Creek through the southwestern part of Austin. The greenbelt includes swimming holes at Sculpture Falls, Twin Falls, and Gus Fruh, plus limestone climbing walls and mountain biking trails.
• Lady Bird Lake: A reservoir on the Colorado River running through downtown Austin with the 10-mile Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail circling its shores. The lake supports kayaking, paddleboarding, and rowing but does not allow motorized boats.
• Circuit of the Americas: A 3.41-mile Formula 1 racing circuit in southeastern Travis County that hosts the United States Grand Prix, MotoGP, and NASCAR events. The facility includes a 20-turn track, a 14,000-seat amphitheater, and a 251-foot observation tower.
• Texas State Capitol: Completed in 1888 from Sunset Red granite, the Capitol building stands 302 feet tall — 14 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Free guided tours run daily and cover the rotunda, legislative chambers, and surrounding 22-acre grounds.
• Mount Bonnell: At 775 feet, Mount Bonnell is one of the highest points within Austin city limits. A set of 102 limestone steps leads to an overlook with views of Lake Austin, the 360 Bridge, and the surrounding Hill Country terrain.

Major Employers in Travis County

• State of Texas (Government): The largest employer in the Austin metro area, with state agencies and the legislature concentrated in the Capitol complex downtown.
• The University of Texas at Austin (Education): Employs approximately 20,000 faculty and staff — including around 3,400 instructional faculty — making it one of the largest single-site employers in the county.
• Tesla (Automotive Manufacturing): Operates Gigafactory Texas on a 2,500-acre site in southeastern Travis County, producing the Model Y and Cybertruck. Local headcount reached approximately 22,700 at peak in early 2024 and was reported around 21,200 by late 2024, making Tesla Austin's largest private employer.
• Apple (Technology): Operates a 133-acre campus in northwest Austin that serves as the company's largest facility outside Cupertino, employing over 6,000 workers.
• Samsung Austin Semiconductor (Semiconductor Manufacturing): Runs a semiconductor fabrication facility in northeast Austin that has received over $17 billion in investment since 1996.

Travis County Schools

Travis County is served by eight public school districts, with Austin ISD as the largest. Districts range from the large urban Austin ISD system to smaller suburban districts like Eanes ISD and Lake Travis ISD.

School District: Multiple Districts

Public Schools

• Austin ISD - The largest district in the county with over 70,000 students across 125 campuses, including magnet programs like LASA and the McCallum Fine Arts Academy.
• Eanes ISD - Serves the Westlake area with approximately 8,000 students across nine campuses. Consistently rated among the top districts in Texas.
• Lake Travis ISD - Covers the Lake Travis area west of Austin with about 11,000 students and a district-wide TEA rating of A.
• Pflugerville ISD - Serves northeastern Travis County with over 25,000 students across 35 campuses, one of the fastest-growing districts in the region.
• Del Valle ISD - Covers southeastern Travis County with approximately 12,000 students, serving communities near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Pre-Schools

• Primrose School of Four Points - Accredited early education center in northwest Austin serving infants through pre-kindergarten.
• Stepping Stone Schools - Austin-based early childhood program operating multiple locations across Travis County with a STEAM-focused curriculum.
• The Goddard School - National early learning franchise with multiple Austin-area locations serving ages six weeks through six years.

Private Schools

• St. Stephen's Episcopal School - College preparatory boarding and day school on a 370-acre campus in West Austin, serving grades 6-12.
• St. Andrew's Episcopal School - Independent day school in central Austin serving pre-K through 12th grade with approximately 900 students.
• Regents School of Austin - Classical Christian school in southwest Austin offering pre-K through 12th grade education.

Higher Education

• The University of Texas at Austin - Flagship public research university enrolling over 50,000 students on a 431-acre campus adjacent to the State Capitol.
• St. Edward's University - Private Catholic university on a hilltop campus in south Austin serving approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students.
• Austin Community College - Open-enrollment community college district operating 11 campuses across Travis and surrounding counties, enrolling over 70,000 students annually.

Frequently Asked Questions