Charming Austin suburb is the fastest-growing city in the country, with neighbors close behind

POPULATION REPORT

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We already know things are changing in Texas at large, but how about just outside of Austin? Now, six out of the 15 fastest-growing cities in the United States are in Texas, and three Austin-area suburbs made it into the top five: Georgetown, Kyle, and Leander. The U.S. Census Bureau's latest findings add more validity to reports that less people are interested in living in Austin proper, and are seeking residence in the suburbs.

“Georgetown, Texas, [had] the highest rate of growth among all U.S. cities and towns with at least 50,000 people,” said Crystal Delbé, a statistician in the Census Bureau’s Population Division.

Georgetown had a 14.4-percent population increase from 2021 to 2022, bringing the city's total population to more than 86,500 residents. That's a growth of nearly 10,900, which puts Georgetown at No. 10 on the list of numerical increases (as opposed to proportional growth). For scale, the report lists Austin at 1.0 million.

Kyle and Leander landed in No. 3 and No. 4 with the same population growth rate of 10.9 percent. Kyle's total population in 2022 was just under 57,500, while Leander's reached 74,375 residents.

The top 10 fastest-growing large cities in the U.S. are:

No. 1 – Georgetown, Texas
No. 2 – Santa Cruz, California
No. 3 – Kyle, Texas
No. 4 – Leander, Texas
No. 5 – Little Elm, Texas
No. 6 – Westfield, Indiana
No. 7 – Queen Creek, Arizona
No. 8 – North Port, Florida
No. 9 – Cape Coral, Florida
No. 10 – Port St. Lucie, Florida

In an overall analysis of the 15 largest American cities in 2022, Austin barely made it into the top 10 with a population of 974,447. Three Texas cities ranked higher, with Houston earning No. 4 with its population of over 2.3 million people, San Antonio at No. 7 with over 1.47 million residents, and Dallas at No. 9 with a population of just under 1.3 million. Fort Worth ranked outside the top 10 at No. 13, with a population of 956,709.

The top 10 most populous American cities are:

No. 1 – New York City, New York
No. 2 – Los Angeles, California
No. 3 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 4 – Houston, Texas
No. 5 – Phoenix, Arizona
No. 6 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
No. 7 – San Antonio, Texas
No. 8 – San Diego, California
No. 9 – Dallas, Texas
No. 10 – Austin, Texas

The report additionally discovered that housing inventory skyrocketed by 1.6 million units between 2021 and 2022. Texas had the third fastest housing growth with a rate of 2.3 percent, versus Utah, which had the fastest growth at 3.3 percent. Travis County had the third highest numeric gains in housing units in the nation, only to be beat by Maricopa County in Arizona (No. 2) and Harris County (No. 1).

Austin didn't make the cut in the list of the 10 most populous U.S. metro areas (as opposed to the cities, themselves), but Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranked No. 4, and Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land ranked No. 5.

The full report can be found on census.gov.

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Texas makes a buzz as the 4th best state for beekeeping

protect our pollinators

Have you heard the latest buzz about Texas? We're one of the best states for saving the bees. Pollinators are the key that allow us to enjoy many of our U.S.-grown crops, and without them, we would lose access to nearly a third of our food supply.

Texas came in fourth in Lawn Love's 2023 edition of "Best States for Beekeeping" with the third-highest honey production value, and the fifth-highest number of honey-producing colonies. The three states that ranked higher include North Dakota at No. 3, New York at No. 2, and California leading the way at No. 1. Rounding out the top five is Ohio.

Surprisingly, the so-called Beehive State of Utah was a let-down in the report with its poor beekeeper salaries, a lack of bee-friendly legislation, and a high amount of colony loss per year. It came in at the bottom of the list as the third worst state for beekeeping, with Arizona (No. 38) and Wyoming (No. 39) ranking even lower.

If you want to take a few steps to extend our classic Texan hospitality to our vital pollinators, Lawn Love suggests four tips: planting native plants, replacing your grass with clover, using organic pest control, and designing bee-friendly landscapes in your yards. Those looking to start beekeeping can look into their local beekeeper's association, which in our case is the Austin Area Beekeeper's Association.

Rachel Mallinger, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, explained in the report that one of the most common misconceptions about bees is that honey bees make up the most of the population. The truth is that honey bees only account for a "very, very small fraction" of the "thousands of species of bees around the world."

"Most bees are actually solitary, meaning each female or mom bee has her own baby bees in a small nest with no queens or workers," Mallinger said. "One consequence of this is that when you see an individual bee in your yard — if it is indeed a solitary species like most species — it means there is no large colony nearby. These bees are also usually very gentle and do not sting unless directly bothered."

The report can be found on lawnlove.com.

Photo by Evgeniy Kozlov on Unsplash

Texas excavates second-best ranking for urban treasure hunting

HIDDEN GEMS

If you love geocaching, antiquing, and metal detecting, you'll probably love learning that Texas is one of the best states for partaking in the art of modern treasure hunting. And if this is a brand new idea to you, there's no better day to start than today — except maybe National Scavenger Hunt Day on May 24.

Texas ranked No. 2 in LawnStarter's 2023 "Best States for Urban Treasure Hunting." The Lone Star State has the most metal detecting sites, pawn shops, flea markets, and geocaching locations (a total of 226!) in the nation. Additionally, our state has the second-highest number of treasure hunting groups and geo-tours, and the third-highest number of storage unit auctions.

For those who are new to the hobby and want to find some new gear, we also have the second-highest number of mining, metal detecting, and hardware supply stores out of all 50 states. Just be aware that you can't metal detect in our state parks without a permit. It's always a good idea to brush up on the rules before you start on your treasure-hunting journey.

The only state to outrank Texas is California, which the report called "a fitting outcome" for the Golden State, considering its history of gold mining in the mid-19th century and popularity in local communities. Washington, also known as "the birthplace of geocaching" ranked No. 4.

The top 10 states for urban treasure hunting include:

No. 1 – California
No. 2 – Texas
No. 3 – Florida
No. 4 – Washington
No. 5 – New York
No. 6 – Pennsylvania
No. 7 – Virginia
No. 8 – Ohio
No. 9 – Missouri
No. 10 – Arizona

At the bottom five of LawnStarter's list are Rhode Island (No. 46), Delaware (No. 47), Montana (No. 48), Wyoming (No. 49), and North Dakota (No. 50).

The full report can be found on lawnstarter.com.

Photo courtesy of KVUE

An abundance of Kyles will join up near Austin in hopes of setting a new record at Kyle Fair

Miles of Kyles

The City of Kyle is hoping to make its own Kyle-verse! Well, in a way. City officials are hoping to break the Guinness World Record for having the largest gathering of people with the same name in one city.

The attempt at the record is all part of the Kyle Fair Tex-Travaganza, which will take place at Lake Kyle Park from May 19-21, and includes music as well as food and beverage contests.

“In order to break this record, we’re calling for any and all Kyle’s. We need tall Kyles, short Kyles, young Kyles, and old Kyles to get close to the record set five years ago,” City of Kyle Special Events Manager Claudia Rocha said. “We’re very excited about the upcoming, inaugural Kyle Fair and have high hopes that this event will bring out the Kyles needed to grab a spot in the record books.”

The current world record comes out of Kupreski Kosci in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where 2,325 people named "Ivan" gathered on July 30, 2017.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

Photo by Brad on Unsplash

Chick-Fil-A tops the Texas fast-food pecking order as the state's most-searched chain

OUR PLEASURE

Though Texas is home to some classic local fast food chains like P. Terry’s, Whataburger, and Torchy's Tacos, none of them hold a candle to this chicken sandwich-specializing chain that originated out of Hapeville, Georgia.

That’s right, Chick-Fil-A is the most popular fast food chain in Texas, according to a new national study by price-tracking experts PriceListo. The site tracked monthly average search volumes by region over the past year to discover the trends.

Overall, the restaurant that popularized the slogan “Eat Mor Chikin” ranked as the third most searched-for fast food chain in the United States with 11.2 million monthly searches. It’s the top fast food eatery in its home state of Georgia as well as Texas (and it's ruled the roost for quite a while now), and in five additional states, most of which are located in the South: Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Following Chick-Fil-A as the second most popular fast food joint in the Lone Star State is McDonald’s. 22 states searched for the golden arches more than any other chain, making it the No. 1 most popular fast food restaurant in the nation. The report found that McDonald's received nearly 14.9 million monthly searches over the past year.

PriceListo stated that the fast food industry is estimated to be worth $367 billion in 2023.

“This research sheds light on America's favorite fast-food restaurants, displaying a wide variety of tastes across the country, from burgers to pizza or fried chicken to iced coffee,” a spokesperson said in a release.

The top five most popular fast food restaurants in the United States are:

No. 1 – McDonald’s
No. 2 – Domino’s
No. 3 – Chick-Fil-A
No. 4 – Starbucks
No. 5 – Pizza Hut and Papa John’s (tied)

Photo by Adam Gerard/Flickr

New poll reveals shocking results on how outsiders view Texas

Surprise! You're not that bad

Despite calls to #BoycottTexas by sports groups, business groups, women's groups, and more over any number of state laws and public policies sparking national outrage (here's a recent list), a surprising new poll shows a majority of Americans view Texas in a positive light.

And, the recent findings are a noteworthy increase from a previous year's poll.

The survey from Crosswind Media and Public Relations shows 59 percent of Americans outside of Texas view the state favorably, with 33 percent having a “very positive” view of the state, and 26 percent having a “somewhat positive” view.

On the other side of the spectrum, 21 percent of those surveyed did not view Texas positively. Nine percent held a “somewhat negative” view, and 12 percent had a “very negative” view of the state. Only 17 percent of Americans polled held a “neutral” view about Texas.

The survey also asked about the state’s friendliness for starting businesses, raising families, and traveling on vacation. 66 percent of Americans saw Texas as a good place to start a business, 64 percent said it was a great place to raise a family, and 69 percent of respondents considered the state a great travel destination.

The business- and family-friendliness categories were 13 and 12 percent increases year-over-year from their 2022 survey. Additionally, their data suggests San Antonio is the leading vacation destination for most Americans.

In a press release, Crosswind CEO Thomas Graham remarked that the state is “heading in the right direction” by poll-takers, after last year’s poll resulted in only 45 percent of outsiders viewing Texas in a positive light.

"This survey demonstrates the durability of the brand of Texas as being pro-business, family-friendly, and a premier travel destination," he said.

But, does it?

Only 845 people were surveyed… by a public relations firm that's charged with "Branding Texas." So take that with as big of a grain of salt as you’d like.

The full report and its methodology is available on their website.

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Charming Austin suburb is the fastest-growing city in the country, plus more top stories

hot headlines

Editor’s note: It’s that time again — time to check in with our top stories. From Georgetown to Brenham, and of course inside Austin proper, here are five articles that captured our collective attention over the past seven days.

1. Charming Austin suburb is the fastest-growing city in the country, with neighbors close behind. Georgetown had a 14.4-percent population increase from 2021 to 2022, bringing the city's total population to more than 86,500 residents.

2. Austin dethroned from top spot in new ranking of top summer travel destinations for 2023. Some Austinites are happy to hear the summer will be less crowded, but tourist revenue may suffer.

3. Lengendary Texas ranch resort makes waves on the market with $15 million price tag. It's a stretch to call it rustic, but this resort for sale includes horse stables, wildflowers, and an organic farm.

4. This is how big Austin apartments get for $1,500 a month. Unsurprisingly, it's not as much square footage as you can get elsewhere in Texas, but it's still not even close to Manhattan.

5. Here are the top 7 things to do in Austin this holiday weekend. The Memorial Day weekend brings chances to try great barbecue, take a walk with faeries, and hear lots of live music.

Dip your toes into these 7 Austin pools with passes, snacks, and summer events

Wet Hot Austin Summer

Memorial Day is here, which means so are the days of sitting in a lounge chair and sweating while looking unreasonably fabulous. Whether it's to beat the summer heat or to show off a new swimsuit, Austinites may have more options than they think to take a swim at the many pools around town. Even if you haven't committed to an overnight stay, most hotels offer day passes, and some even offer other deals or poolside programming.

One great way to find passes not just to pools around town, but also to spas and other hotel amenities, is to browse ResortPass. (Not sponsored, just cool.) There are 26 Austin options on the site right now.

But we wanted to let you know what's going on beyond the pass — who will set you up for a great meal, who lets you drink out of a coconut, and whose views (or lack thereof) provide the best ambiance for your day off. Some of our choices aren't even on the platform.

Go grab your sandals, and save us a towel.

Greater Austin YMCA
Let's start with the less glamorous before we break out the poolside fashion. The YMCA is a family staple for a reason, and if your goal is just to get in the water regularly throughout the summer, especially with kids, it's a great place to start. There are "interactive hours" at the outdoor pools (more fun than swimming laps) at the East Communities, Hays Communities, Northwest Family, Southwest Family, and Springs Family YMCAs, as well as the YMCA at Camp Moody. The Y is semi-affordable; It would probably be cheaper to visit a hotel pool once or twice, but a Y membership includes a month of access, guest passes, and much more, and may replace your gym membership for the summer. $69 per month, with age and household discounts. austinymca.org

Hotel Van Zandt
If your pool visit doesn't include spritz and giggles, why are you even there? Hotel Van Zandt is opening up its stylish rooftop pool for the "Spritz & Giggles Poolside Happy Hour & Sunset Swim" event series. Every Monday through Thursday, visitors can enjoy $8 frozen Aperol spritzes, $8 specialty cocktails, and a special pool menu with items like a refreshing green salad, pork belly al pastor tacos, and a spicy fried chicken sandwich. Geraldine's, the main restaurant, is right inside for even better drinks, expanded bites, and sometimes live music. Starting at $48 per day for adults, $15 for kids. hotelvanzandt.com

Carpenter Hotel
If one day at the Carpenter Hotel pool is just not enough, the hotel has now added monthly passes. In addition to unlimited access to the secluded pool in the Zilker neighborhood, a pass gets a $30 discount for the new monthly BBQ Pool Parties (bringing attendance down to $25). That will include a great spread of less commonly seen barbecue items like grilled bay scallops, mushroom skewers, elotes, deviled potato salad, and more. Monthly pass holders also get to bring one child under 8 for free. $40 daily, $200 monthly. Both Monday through Thursday. carpenterhotel.com

South Congress Hotel
The South Congress Hotel is right in the middle of where many Austinites want to be on a summer day, if it weren't so dang hot. This rooftop pool solves that problem in style, with daily pool passes every day of the week, as well as cabana rentals. Café No Sé supplies poolside drinks and snacks, and downstairs, Austin's Best New Restaurant Maie Day offers a hearty meal after a day of napping in the sun. Cabanas can be rented for four people and include self-parking, bottled water, and a bottle of champagne or bucket of High Noon. Days for $40 and cabanas for $300 on weekdays; days for $75 and cabanas for $400 on weekends. southcongresshotel.com

Hotel Viata
Hotel Viata is a bit of a sleeper hotel among Austin boutiques, as it's located a little beyond West Lake Hills. Still, if you want a taste of Italy, the drive to this retreat will be worth it. Not to mention, with the extra room these downtown hotels can't offer, a pool pass includes access to a hot tub, fire pits, and great views of the hills around the city. Pool passes are available, but if you want to see it for free before you spend, wait for June 10; The hotel invites guests 21 and up to check out the pool for free at the "Summer Festa in Piscina" party, with a "Taste of Italy" add-on ($55) for Aperol Spritz, limoncello lemon drops, and negronis all day. $45 per day for adults, $25 for children. resortpass.com

Wax Myrtle's
This rooftop bar and pool is known for its never-ending events calendar, and of course that energy extends to poolside entertainment. There will be live music on the weekends, plus live DJ sets on Saturday nights, alongside whatever other programming happens to be going on inside. Even if it's a do-nothing day, these large, over-the-top drinks will give you a delicious challenge. The "Boot Scootin Fruity" mixes rum, an aperitivo, hibiscus, and lime in a cowboy hat punch bowl ($90); the luxe "Mojito 75" combines Moët & Chandon with rum and mojito must-haves in a disco ball ($230); and an unnamed cocktail is worth trying just to enjoy it from a real coconut. Starting at $15 for adults, $10 for children, and more for daybeds and cabanas. waxmyrtles.com

Austin Motel
Perhaps one of the best known pools in Austin for its retro vibes, fun events, and accessibility to on-foot wanderers is the Austin Motel. This is a great, less expensive choice that's probably more fun for casual pool revelers who would feel a little put out by having to dress up and behave in a more luxe hotel setting. There are also frequent poolside events at this motel, like the free "Bounce Motel" series with live DJs, or the body-positive "Chunky Dunk." The pool is offers daily passes every day, even when there's nothing on the calendar. $25 on weekdays, $45 on weekends, or $600 in three-and-a-half-month "waves." austinmotel.com

Photo by Andrea Calo

Austinites don't need to stay at a hotel to be invited to the pool. (Pictured: The Carpenter Hotel)

6 Austin museums are offering free admission for military families all summer long

spread the museum love

Half a dozen Austin museums are honoring active-duty military personnel and their families with free admission through the Blue Star Museums initiative, May 20 through September 4, 2023.

Established by the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the U.S. Department of Defense, the Blue Star Museums program annually provides military families free access to 2,000 museums nationwide throughout the summer. The program begins yearly on Armed Forces Day in May and ends on Labor Day.

Free admission is extended to personnel currently serving in the U.S Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard (including those in the Reserve), and all National Guardsman. Members of the U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps and NOAA Commissioned Corps are also included in the program.

Those who qualify can use their military ID to bring up to five family members – including relatives of those currently deployed. More information about qualifications can be found here.

There is no limit on the number of participating museums that qualifying families may visit. Admission for non-active military veterans, however, is not included.

According to the National Endowment for the Arts website, the initiative was created to help "improve the quality of life for active duty military families" with a specific focus on children. The site states two million have had a parent deployed since 2001.

"Blue Star Museums was created to show support for military families who have faced multiple deployments and the challenges of reintegration," the website says. "This program offers these families a chance to visit museums this summer when many will have limited resources and limited time to be together."

Among Austin's participating museums, the Blanton Museum of Art recently held its grand opening celebration to debut their new grounds, complete with a new large mural by Cuban-American artist Carmen Herrera.

“As a museum that has long been at the forefront of collecting work by artists of Latin American descent, as well as the place where Ellsworth Kelly realized his last great work of art, entering the collection at this moment marks a high point in my long career," Herrera said.

Here's a look at all the museums in Austin that participate in the Blue Star Museums initiative.

For those looking to take a drive around Central Texas, the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum and Taylor's Moody Museum are also participants in the Blue Star Museums initiative.

More information about Blue Star Museums and a full list of participants can be found on arts.gov.

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