South Austin in Context
The Numbers Behind South Austin
South Austin is the part of the city south of Lady Bird Lake and the Colorado River, covering zip codes like 78704 and 78745 and the corridors of South Congress, South Lamar, and South First. Zilker Park, Barton Springs, and the Barton Creek Greenbelt line its northern edge, and St. Edward’s University sits on a hill to the southeast.
It is one of the densest and most culturally distinctive parts of Austin, a mix of historic neighborhoods, walkable commercial strips, and steady new infill construction.
South Austin’s Story
South Austin grew from early streetcar suburbs and working-class neighborhoods south of the river. Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek developed in the early twentieth century, and the area filled in with bungalows and ranch homes through the decades that followed.
As Austin boomed, South Austin became the heartland of the Keep Austin Weird movement, its commercial strips lined with independent shops, food trailers, and music venues. South Congress in particular transformed into one of the city’s signature districts. Rising property values and new condo construction have reshaped the area in recent years, but its eclectic identity endures.