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Chapter 1.0: Austin-Area Overview

The Central Texas area, defined in this Transportation Databook as the eleven counties comprising the Austin District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), has experienced exceptional growth over the past 15 years. The area's population grew by 70 percent between 1990 and 2005, from 919,988 to 1,565,045, at a rate of growth significantly higher than that for the state of Texas and the United States (35 and 19 percent, respectively). All but one county in the region (Mason) experienced growth above the national average, and all but three (Mason, Gillespie and Lee) grew at a rate over the state average.

Travis County has historically been the center of the area population. Census data shows the areawide population decline steadily as people gradually moved into outlying counties, such as Hays and Williamson. In 1990, Travis County accounted for 63 percent of the area's population. That figure dropped to 60 percent in 2000. By comparison, Williamson County's share of the Central Texas population increased from 15 percent to 19 percent over that time.

Commuters in Williamson County were the most likely to drive alone; 82 percent of Williamson County commuters drive alone compared to 77 percent for Llano County, the next highest rate. Mason County residents, who were far removed from the Austin area, have the lowest levels of commuters driving alone with 70 percent. In many instances, higher shares of residents employed in the farm industry correlated with low levels of commuting by single occupant vehicle and high levels of "working from home." For example, the county with the next lowest level of drive-alone commuters (Lee County, with 73 percent) exhibited similar characteristics to Mason County in terms of distance from Austin, lack of commuters going into Austin, and higher levels of farm employment.

Counties to the east of Austin had the highest level of carpooling to work. Carpooling accounted for over 20 percent of the commute in Bastrop County and almost 20 percent of the commute in Caldwell County and Lee County. Carpooling was least common in the region's largest counties. Williamson County showed the lowest carpool rates, where carpoolers accounted for just 12 percent of the county commute. Carpoolers accounted for 14 percent of the total commute in Travis, Llano, and Hays Counties.
The highest levels of those working at home were found predominantly in rural areas with higher percentages of farm employment; 12 percent of Mason County workers, eight percent of Gillespie County and seven percent of Blanco County residents worked at home. Working at home was least common in Caldwell and Bastrop Counties, where two percent and three percent of residents worked at home, respectively.

Walking or riding a bicycle to work was most common in Hays and Travis Counties. Over four percent of workers in Hays County and three percent of Travis County workers walked or rode a bicycle to work. Walking or biking to work was least common in Williamson and Bastrop Counties, where it accounted for only one percent of the commute in each county.

Sources

  1. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation. 2000. Census Transportation Planning Package 2000.
  2. Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau. Table 4: Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Texas, Listed Alphabetically, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005 (SUB-EST2005-04-48). June 21, 2006.
  3. U.S. Census Bureau. 2000 Census. Summary Tape File 1 (STF 1), 100 Percent Data.
  4. U.S. Census Bureau. 1990 Census. Summary Tape File 1 (STF 1), 100 Percent Data.

List of Figures