History Greater Austin

1 history

1.1 prehistoric , archaic eras
1.2 19th century
1.3 20th century

history

prehistoric , archaic eras

the areas in , around austin have been site of human habitation since @ least 9,000 b.c., , possibly considerably before that. earliest known inhabitants of area, during late pleistocene (ice age), can linked clovis people around 9200 b.c. west of williamson county. archeology dig sites show greater evidence of archaic period inhabitants has been recovered burned rock middens , rock shelters near round rock along brushy creek, in georgetown along san gabriel river, , in austin near barton springs. earliest known historical occupants of area, tonkawas, flint-working, hunting people followed buffalo on foot , periodically set fire prairie aid them in hunts. during 18th century made transition horse culture , used firearms limited extent. after crowded out white settlement, comanches continued raid settlements in county until 1860s. there appear have been small numbers of kiowa, yojuane, tawakoni, , mayeye indians living in travis , williamson counties @ time of earliest anglo settlements. prehistory of texas has been studied both professional , avocational archeologists many decades. pre-historic campsites found throughout county along streams or other water sources; open occupation sites, though caves , rockshelters found along various rivers , streams.

19th century

when europeans first arrived in area, tonkawa tribe prevalent, though comanches , lipan apaches known travel through area well. spanish explorers, including espinosa-olivares-aguirre expedition, traveled through area centuries though few permanent settlements created time. in mid-18th century san xavier missions established along san gabriel river in western milam county facilitate exploration.

in 1804 fort puesta del colorado established spanish in bastrop. in 1807 san marcos de neve settlement (modern san marcos) established on san marcos river. following independence of mexico, of texas part, empresario stephen f. austin issued grants settlers in bastrop , fayette counties. during mid-1820s settlements established along colorado river near modern la grange. village of mina (later renamed bastrop) established in 1827. growth of settlements stagnant time because of conflicts native americans in region. nevertheless, region sat along important trade route known camino real de los tejas, ran mexico, though san antonio , san marcos, natchitoches. during 1830s others, such martín veramendi , thomas g. mcgehee, issued land grants mexican government encourage settlement in region. string of forts established east of modern austin in western frontier.

in 1835 texans fought independence in known texas revolution , won. following independence other settlements gradually established including waterloo , brushy creek (modern round rock). in 1839 commission appointed texas president mirabeau b. lamar selected waterloo site new capital , name austin chosen town s new name. in 1840 series of conflicts between texas rangers , comanches known council house fight , battle of plum creek pushed comanches westward ending conflicts in central texas. settlement in area began expand quickly. travis county established in 1840 , surrounding counties established within next 2 decades. new settlements established such hamilton (now burnet) in 1852.

an 1873 illustration of austin

in 1861, outbreak of american civil war, voters in austin, bastrop, , other central texas communities , counties voted against secession. however, war progressed , fears of attack union forces increased, communities contributed hundreds of men confederate forces. end of war , emancipation of texas slaves, african american population of area swelled dramatically. black communities such wheatville, pleasant hill, , clarksville established around austin these newcomers. postwar period saw dramatic population , economic growth. town of bastrop became significant manufacturing center producing iron, coal, , textiles. chisolm trail, 1 of major routes exporting cattle, passed through region. opening of houston , texas central railway, connecting austin houston, transformed austin major trading center region. however, new railroads built through region in 1870s, round rock , other communities took on of austin s role trading center. in 1868 coronal institute established in san marcos , in 1873 texas university (later renamed southwestern university) opened in georgetown following consolidation of 5 earlier colleges. during 1880s austin gained new prominence state capitol building constructed , other universities established in area, notably university of texas. cattle , cotton production major economic drivers many outlying communities. in late 19th century austin expanded city limits more 3 times former area , austin dam built power new street car line , new municipal water system.

20th century

in 20th century texas oil boom took hold creating tremendous economic opportunities in southeast texas , north texas. growth generated boom largest passed austin @ first, city slipping 4th largest 10th largest in texas between 1880 , 1920. bastrop, however, became significant center oil drilling , coal mining in early-to-mid-20th century. san marcos, , other communities, established significant manufacturing operations during world wars substantially diversifying economies.

beginning in 1920s , 1930s, austin launched series of civic development , beautification projects created of city s infrastructure , parks. in addition state legislature established lower colorado river authority that, along city of austin, created system of dams along colorado river formed highland lakes. these projects enabled in large part fact austin received more depression era relief funds other texas city.

during mid- , later 20th century austin became firmly established major metropolitan center of greater austin. communities such round rock, georgetown, , san marcos increasingly became attractive bedroom communities austin, each of these communities has maintained own economic core well./. in late 20th century, face of austin community changing.