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Is Austin Considered South Texas?
Austin is not located in South Texas. Austin is actually considered Central Texas, which is a region in Texas that surrounds Austin.
In need of more clarification? Read on to learn more about the location of Austin, as well as the Central and South regions of Texas.
Where is Austin located within Texas?
Austin, otherwise known as the capital of Texas, is located in Central Texas on the Colorado River.
Austin is located in Travis county. Travis county is located along the Balcones Fault, the boundary between Edwards Plateau and the Blackland Prairie.
Austin surrounds over 250 square miles along the Colorado River. Austin sits 200 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico.
The capital sits 80 miles north of San Antonio, 200 miles southwest of Dallas, and 160 miles west of Houston.
Why do some people think that Austin is South Texas?
Austin is often mislabeled as “South Texas” due to San Antonio being a mere 80 miles south, and is considered South Texas. Austin and San Antonio are in two different regions of Texas, despite their proximity.
A common misconception is that many people think Austin is located in South Texas. It can be confusing considering San Antonio is right down the road and is South Texas.
The truth to take away here is: San Antonio is where the regions switch. South Texas is the region that lies roughly south and includes San Antonio.
Austin, as mentioned before, is north of San Antonio, making it Central Texas.
What part of Texas is Austin Considered?
Austin, Texas, the capital of the Lone Star State, is considered Central Texas.
So – what exactly would be considered Central Texas? Central Texas is a 20-county spread over just about 17,500 square miles in the heart of Texas. The central region is positioned between Texas’s three largest metropolitan areas – Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston.
This area of Texas is also along the three largest interior rivers: Brazos, Colorado, and Trinity.
Central Texas is the region of Texas that surrounds Austin and is roughly bordered by Hillsboro, San Saba, and San Marcos.
What area of Texas is considered South Texas?
The South Texas Region covers San Antonio at the north end down to the Mexican border in the south.
South Texas is a 28-county spread over almost 38,000 square miles in southern Texas. This region stretches along the Mexican border, and up the Gulf coast to San Antonio Bay.
The boundaries of this region are mostly water. To the East, the boundary is the Gulf of Mexico. To the West, the boundary is the Rio Grande.
What Cities makeup South Texas?
There are many cities that makeup South Texas, but some common ones are: San Antonio, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville, and Corpus Christi.
Houston is often considered a city in South Texas. This is a common mistake. Houston is actually classified as East Texas. (Just in case you were wondering!)
Final Thoughts
Austin, the state capitol of Texas, is located in Central Texas.
Determining which area of Texas is considered “South” can be confusing. Especially, when Texas as a state is the South.
Robert is a native Texan writer for TexasWalkabout, passionate about Texas culture and food, wearing cowboy boots daily. He interviews local pitmasters and chefs, tastes and reviews innovative dishes, and explores hidden gems and iconic landmarks. Graduating magna cum laude in Cyber Security from the University of Texas at San Antonio, Robert excels academically and professionally while also being knowledgeable in Texas history and culture. After living in Texas for over 28 years, he provides first-hand and trustworthy information for all your Texas needs!
