Submit Interesting Facts about Austin for OObsite

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » June 10th, 2006, 12:13 am

hey, bored people who want something to do,

we're building our content for the oob web site and i want to put up a thing that has interesting facts about austin and texas.

please post some REAL facts about texas or austin if you'd like to help. i'm doing some research on it too, but i want to know if anyone finds or knows any real gems.

thanks,
jeremy

ratliff · Post by **ratliff** » June 21st, 2006, 11:45 am

The Mexican freetailed bats under the Congress Avenue Bridge are the largest urban bat colony in the world. If you've never seen them come out from under the bridge at dusk, it's awesome, in kind of a flittery, indistinct way.

The absence of cool old neighborhood bars in Austin is attributable to the fact that selling liquor by the drink was illegal in Texas until 1972.

Songwriter and former resident Steve Earle once remarked that he couldn't get any work done in Austin because "the weather's too nice, the girls are too pretty, and the dope's too cheap."

The Texas Legislature, which convenes in Austin, once passed a resolution authored by a disgruntled member honoring Albert Disalvo of Massachusetts for his work in population control. Albert Disalvo was better known as the Boston Strangler.

vine311 · Post by **vine311** » June 21st, 2006, 12:36 pm

This site has a few interesting tidbits

http://www.io.com/~xeke/funfacts.htm

Wesley · Post by **Wesley** » June 21st, 2006, 12:40 pm

There are some more on the city's own website:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/citymgr/basicfac.htm

As of the 2000 census, we are the 16th largest city in the country.

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » June 21st, 2006, 12:43 pm

Austin is consistently listed in the top 5 cities to live in the US, as well as being named one of America's healthiest cities. I can find the exact stats/publications if you want.

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » June 21st, 2006, 12:44 pm

Austin's famous Town Lake Hike and Bike trail was part of a planned urban beautification project in the mid-60's. It's like our own version of Central Park...without the rape and stabbings.

andrea · Post by **andrea** » June 21st, 2006, 12:58 pm

austin was ranked seventh sweatiest city in the country by the science magnates at old spice.

http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/st ... ily26.html

Jill Morris · Post by **Jill Morris** » June 21st, 2006, 1:00 pm

We are smart.

http://www.bizjournals.com/specials/sli ... tml?page=3

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » June 21st, 2006, 1:44 pm

16% dropped out of high school?!?! Jesus.

Austin Improv

Submit Interesting Facts about Austin for OObsite

Submit Interesting Facts about Austin for OObsite

off the top of my head