Austin Travel Forum

I am a young African American woman looking to relocate to Austin this summer. How do you view race relations in Austin? Are there any areas you would discourage me from finding an apartment?

What Intersting question .I travelled to Austin just four weeks ago ,found it way cool.
I would think you will have a problem free time .

Good luck Let me know how it goes :)

Howdy,

I live in Austin and I can for sure tell you it is a very cool town. Austin is in no way a segregated city. You can live in any area you want to. We have a low crime rate, and a good economy.

As to what area you want to live in, that depends on what you want to be close to, and what you can afford. There are lots of choices.

Happy Trails,

Marc

I'm planning a move to the Austin area as well. All the feedback I've gotten about areas is to stay west of I-35 if possible due to crime. I've been gathering tons of info and can give you some great web addresses if you want to email me. Good luck!

It is true that east Austin is the higher crime and low income area of the city, but compared to other cities, it's not that bad. I know areas of Houston, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Dallas that you shouldn't go into at all. East Austin is not like that, but I wouldn't recommend living there either.

Marc

You won't have problems in Austin! What a great place. Very progressive, and very friendly. Welcome to Texas.

I know that everyone is saying don't look east of I-35. I disagree. Some of the best deals on homes can be found on the east side. Some areas have crime problems....but my wife and I have lived just east of Cameron Rd. and north of 51st for almost 4 years now, and we love it! The only crime problem we have had is a car break-in...and that can happen anywhere when you park on the street. I feel perfectly safe here. The neighborhood has a great mix of people (single/married/racially/gay/straight) and has a sort of arty undercurrent. Best of all, you can still find an affordable house over here. The other areas mentioned are all great....but don't rule the east-side out. Just do your homework.

As for race-relations, I have lived in Northern Indiana near Chicago, Nashville and here. I have not found Austin to be very racially charged at all....less so than the other two places listed above. Austin is a very liberal and open-minded city on the whole....and VERY much so compared to what I have seen of the rest of the state.

Please let me know if you have any questions I might be able to answer. I'll do my best! Welcome to Austin!

Thanks to all of you. I visted several weeks ago, and I fell in love with Austin. I don't think I'll have may problems socially.

As you know, a white person's perspective is always going to be a little different on this question. A few of my African-American friends have had problems here, mostly because Austin is a pretty much a white town. I'm glad that you had a good visit though.

I have a friend, who is African-American and lived in Austin 3 years. True, I also heard about Texas being a tough State for African Americans, but he told me in Austin he never had problems. He actually loved Austin and moved to FLA only for work reasons.
Now I don't know if in Austin the situation is great as far as interracial relationships as I also consider that before moving to Austin he lived in Montgomery, Alabama, a place he hated and where he did had many problems race related.
SO Austin might have looked better than what it is because of the comparison with Montgomery.