SoCo

Welcome to the Neighborhood

A popular, trendy area in Austin is called SoCo, an abbreviation for South Congress. A neighborhood with quirky Austin vibes, SoCo offers city views, nature trails, and landmark shops and eateries all within walking distance.

Located on roads along South Congress Avenue between the Colorado River and Congress Avenue Bridge to the north and running south towards TX-71, the SoCo neighborhood draws national attention for its hip boutiques, eclectic restaurants, and other Austin originals such as the well-known Continental Club.

Home Styles

School Districts

Children living in the SoCo neighborhood might attend a number of different schools in the Austin Independent School District depending on a home’s specific location. Most often attended are Dawson Elementary or Travis Heights Elementary, Fulmore Middle School, and Travis Early College High School.

To find a home in SoCo is to find a gem right in the heart of the Live Music Capital of the World where residents like to “Keep Austin Weird.” Whether you are in search of an older home that has seen up-todate renovations or are looking for a newer build, SoCo has it. Home sizes range from 1 bed/1 bath up to 5 bedrooms with prices ranges just as vast. The median sale price in SoCo is $482 per square foot.

History

The area began to develop during the 1850s when Congress was just a country road. Throughout time, the area has developed and undergone transformations that have brought it to the unique shopping and dining area that is today. Its most rapid growth began in the 1920s after the Congress Avenue Bridge was constructed to allow travel over the river.

By the 1970s, SoCo became a destination for artists and musicians. Small retailers emerged in the 1980s, and by the 1990s, SoCo began attracting new residents with the redevelopment of an industrial plant called Penn Field to a complex consisting of space for offices, retail, and residents.

Amenities

SoCo began gaining national recognition for its sense of uniqueness and individuality. Some of the more well-known establishments on South Congress include shops like Allen’s Boots, Uncommon Objects, Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds, Big Top Candy Shop, and a popular retro lodging locale, Austin Motel.

Austin dining originals, Guero’s Taco Bar and Home Slice Pizza, are popular eateries with residents and visitors alike as well as newer establishments such as Café No Se’, Perla’s, Lucky Robot Japanese Kitchen, and June’s which was featured in Food and Wine’s Top 10 Restaurants of 2017.