Austin, the capital of Texas, is the fourth largest city in the state and the 14th most populous in the U.S. Austin is home to many high-tech and Fortune 500 companies such as Whole Foods Market and Dell. Considered a center for high-tech industry, other popular American companies such as Apple, IBM, Google and Texas Instruments have regional offices in Austin. Austin is an emerging center for pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. The Milken Institute ranks Austin #12 biotech and life center city in the US.
The popular SXSW (South By Southwest) Music Festival based at the Austin Convention Center and held throughout Austin is held annually in Austin and is one of the largest major attractions for business and tourism in Austin. According to Travel & Leisure Magazine, Austin ranks #2 for friendliness and athleticism and #3 for intelligence and attractiveness.
Austin remains a hotspot for creativity and the arts and prides itself on being a city of musicians, artists, entrepreneurs and progressive thinkers. According to the FBI, Austin ranks as one of the safest cities in the nation. Austin goes by several nicknames and slogans such as “Keep Austin Weird”, the city of the “Violet Crown”, but it currently and officially goes by the “Live Music Capital of the World”, representing the value the Austin community places on its diverse music scene.