THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY

Austin is the seat of government for the State of Texas with executive, legislative, and judicial branches housed in the Capitol complex. As a city, Austin is consistently rated as "outstanding" for its quality of life, its clean environment, its low unemployment rate, and its low crime rate. The Austin metropolitan area, with a population of some one-million, is the northeastern gateway to the famed and beautiful Texas Hill Country. Here, skyscrapers and state government yield to the rolling hills teeming with white-tailed deer and other native wildlife. Austin is unique in that it provides the best of a large urban city with the best of a rural living environment.

In 1839 five mounted scouts ranged over a broad area of wilderness seeking a site for a new capital city for the Republic of Texas. A location on the north bank of the Colorado River was chosen. The site was occupied at the time by a four-family settlement called Waterloo. About the first of September 1839, archives and the furnishings of national Texas government were transported from Houston to Austin by 50 ox-drawn wagons.

Today, Austin is considered an educational, cultural and technological leader in the Southwestern United States. More than 400 industries in Austin are classified as high technology related, employing in excess of 45,000 people. More than 65 percent of manufacturing employment is involved in high technology activities. In addition, more than 300 state and national associations and organizations are headquartered in Austin. Major employers in the Austin area include: The University of Texas System, City of Austin, IBM Corporation, Motorola, Inc., Dell Computer, Lockheed, and, Texas Instruments.

There are many opportunities for secular higher education in Austin as the city is home to ten colleges and universities, including The University of Texas, the largest university in the Southern United States. The University of Texas is consistently rated as one of the top-ten research universities in the nation. In the total number of fully endowed faculty positions, The University of Texas ranks second only to Harvard. More than 800 National Merit Scholars attend The University of Texas, making it the number one such institution in the nation.

Because of the wealth of secular academic environments which exist in Austin, students at Southwest School of Bible Studies have ready access to excellent library and research facilities, several of which have extensive holdings in religious and Biblical texts. In addition, there is an excellent public library system in Austin with 20 branch libraries located throughout the city. The Central Library is located in the heart of downtown at 800 Guadalupe Street. The very large holdings at The University of Texas, in addition to those above, provide a wealth of information for serious scholars and casual browsers.

Abundant and clean water is a hallmark of Austin and the surrounding area. The Highland Lakes stretch 150 miles along the Colorado River from the hills northwest of Austin to Longhorn Dam on the city's east side. These man-made lakes were built in the 1930's to harness the powerful water supply and recreational value of the Colorado River for residents and visitors of the Texas heartland.

Austin is also the gateway to the "land of eleven-hundred-springs," another name given to the Hill Country in recognition of the many artesian springs that flow from the area's cavernous limestone. A geologic fault zone called the Balcones Escarpment prominently separates the Edwards Plateau upland from the state's coastal plains along a curved line running from northwest of San Antonio to just beyond Austin. Where the fault line breaks across a slender underground crescent of porous, water-bearing limestone called the Edwards Aquifer, water is forced to the surface by artesian pressure.

Austin is home to more than 1,500 practicing physicians whose services include general practice and all specialties. For more specific information, contact the Travis County Medical Society, P.O. Box Drawer 4679, Austin, Texas 78765. In addition, the city's eight hospitals and medical centers offer a full-range of services and facilities. Minor emergency centers are located throughout the city.

In addition, Austin offers a tasteful variety of cultural activities including special concerts by the Austin Symphony Orchestra, and nationally recognized plays. The city draws shoppers from a wide geographical area. Sports and recreational opportunities are plentiful year-round as the Austin weather is continually most pleasant.

Austin's average annual temperature is between 68 and 70 degrees. Summer evenings are usually pleasant, with the average minimum in the low 70s. The average daily maximum reaches 95 degrees in August. The winters are mild, with the average daily maximum temperature in January, the coldest month, at a comfortable 60 degrees. At times, rather strong northerly winds accompanied by sharp drops in temperature occur during the winter months. However, these cold fronts usually last no more than a few days. The average number of days with sunshine is 300 per year, and the average annual rainfall is 32.5 inches.

According to recent studies conducted by business corporations and travel related organizations Austin is one of the most popular places to move in the United States. This thriving community is experiencing a growth trend that is expected to continue for some time.

Southwest School of Bible Studies is located in Southwest Austin which is noted for its rural atmosphere, its very low crime rate, and its quality public schools. The Southwest building is located at 8900 Manchaca (pronounced "Man-shack") Road in an area that is considered to be a "safe" environment for students and their families to worship, work and study.