city, seat (1856) of Mower county, southeastern Minnesota, U.S. It lies about 100 miles (160 km) south of St. Paul (Saint Paul). Austin is situated along the Cedar River, just north of the Iowa state line, in a farming area specializing in corn (maize), soybeans, peas, and livestock. It was settled in 1853, laid out in 1856, and named for its first settler, Austin R. Nichols, who was originally from New York state. Mills were built on the river, and economic development increased with the arrival of the railroad in the late 1860s. A community college campus is located there, as is the Mower County Historical Society. Hormel Foods Corporation (originally founded as Geo. A. Hormel & Company), a meatpacking and food-processing corporation begun in Austin in 1891, is the economic mainstay, supplemented by other food-processing concerns and the manufacture of cardboard cartons. The Hormel Institute (1942), affiliated with the University of Minnesota (Minnesota, University of), conducts research on the connection of fats and oils with heart disease and cancer. A museum and an annual festival (July) are devoted to Spam®, one of Hormel's most popular products. Austin also has a symphony orchestra. Inc. village, 1868; city, 1873. Pop. (1990) 21,907; (2000) 23,314.

The city flourished as a trading centre for ranchers and farmers after the arrival of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad and the construction of a permanent bridge across the Colorado River in 1871. A flood in 1900 caused widespread destruction, including the collapse of the bridge. With the harnessing of the river for flood control and power in the early 20th century, industry began to develop. Austin experienced dramatic growth during the 1990s, fueled mainly by high-technology industries. Business, research and development, and manufacturing concerns involving computers, computer equipment, semiconductors, telecommunications, software, and biotechnology are among the city's major employers. Government, education, and health care services are also primary economic factors. Railroads play an important role in trade, with most international cargo traveling to international ports by rail. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport opened in 1999 on the site of a former U.S. Air Force base.

The city's population is ethnically diverse; fewer than two-thirds of its people are of European descent. About one-third of the population is Hispanic, and about one-tenth is African American. Austin's educational resources, particularly the University of Texas (Texas, University of) (1881), which has its main campus there, have contributed to growth. Other educational institutions include Huston-Tillotson College (1875), St. Edward's University (1885), Concordia University at Austin (1926), and Austin Community College (1972).

At dusk portions of the central city are lighted by “artificial moonlight” from mercury vapour lamps atop 17 165-foot (50-metre) tall towers (erected in 1894). The O. Henry Home and Museum is housed in what was O. Henry (Henry, O.)'s residence from 1893 to 1895, and the Elisabet Ney Museum, situated in her former studio, houses a collection of Ney (Ney, Elisabet)'s sculptures; Ney created many life-size figures, including those of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston (Houston, Sam) standing in the national and state capitols. The French Legation Museum (1841) was built by French chargé d'affaires Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, who was to represent the French government in the Republic of Texas; if he occupied the house at all, it was probably for a very short period. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum (1971), situated on the campus of the University of Texas, contains archives, documents, and memorabilia of Johnson (Johnson, Lyndon B.)'s public career. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (2001) showcases exhibits on the state's history. The Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art, on the university campus, has a notable collection of Latin American art. Other facilities include the Austin Museum of Art, the Mexic-Arte Museum, and the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum. The city supports an array of cultural organizations including a professional symphony orchestra, an opera company, and a ballet troupe, as well as a variety of art galleries and theatre groups.

Austin is known for its vibrant music scene. Formerly a centre of country and blues music, it now celebrates a variety of genres including rock, folk, jazz, and Latino music. More than 100 live music venues are centred primarily around the Warehouse District and Sixth Street, and a long-running public television series, Austin City Limits, showcases musical talent. Dozens of local recording studios and record labels make significant economic contributions. The South by Southwest Conference, devoted to music, film, and interactive media, is held each year in March. The city is also a favourite moviemaking location, and it is home to many artists associated with music and film.

Annual festivals celebrate the ethnic groups that have contributed to the city's culture, such as Mexicans, African Americans, Germans, and French. The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo is held each spring. Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge is renowned for its population of Mexican free-tailed bats; sightseers are attracted to the hundreds of thousands of bats that fly from their roosts on summer nights. Mount Bonnell, at 785 feet (239 metres), is one of the city's highest points and features a 99-step climb to the top. Zilker Park extends along the river and is the site of a nature centre, botanical gardens, and Barton Springs, a natural swimming pool. McKinney Falls State Park is in the southern part of the city.

The hill country west of Austin, dotted with charming small towns that were originally settled by mostly central European immigrants in the 19th century, is a recreational region with the chain of Highland Lakes (including Town Lake and Lake Austin, which wind through the city) impounded by dams along the Colorado River. Unusual rock outcrops, caverns, and springs are found in the area. Inc. 1874. Pop. (2000) city, 656,562; Austin–Round Rock MSA, 1,249,763; (2005 est.) city, 690,252; Austin–Round Rock MSA, 1,452,529.