Celebrating our creativity (by branding Austin as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” for example) has attracted talented, artistic, and entrepreneurial individuals, contributing to our eclectic small business community and the growth of the creative and technology sectors. We have confronted difficult issues and taken risks that have set us apart. Austin is also a place where the funky and offbeat are accepted and celebrated. These qualities attract people from across the country who are looking for a place where they feel comfortable and one that provides opportunities not readily available in most other cities. The spirit of acceptance extends across the spectrum to include people of all faiths, ethnicities and races, sexual orientations, political leanings, and personal interests. The spirit of creativity and acceptance has created a place where people want to be and has set the stage for our current and future economic success.
POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLDS We are a growing city, becoming more diverse, older, and urban. Key Facts/Trends Population •A ustin’s population grew by 20 percent between 2000 and 2010, making it the 14th most populous city in the U.S. About two-thirds of this growth is attributable to natural expansion (more births than deaths) and new residents moving into Austin, while about one-third of the new population was added through annexation. •A ustin added an estimated 30,221 people between April 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 to reach a total population of 820,611, making it the 13th most populous city in the U.S. •A ustin’s share of the Austin-Round Rock region’s population has been declining. In 1960, 65 percent of the region’s population lived within the Austin city limits. By 2000, this had dropped to 52.5 percent, and by 2010 it dropped to 46 percent. •A ustin’s planning area (city limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction; see Figure 2.1) is projected to add approximately 750,000 more people by 2039.
CHANGE IN POPULATION, 1960 - 2010
Year
Population
1960
186,545
--
1970
253,539
35.9
1980
341,665
34.8
1990
465,622
36.3
2000
656,562
41
2010
790,390
20.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
22 | IMAGINE AUSTIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Percent Change