Austin is NOT really Liberal

[Roadking2003]

The Austin City Council is extremely liberal. Much more so than the people of Austin.

[spchtx]

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

For me, it was the sheer lack of diversity and the more outward displays of wealth/materialism I encountered everywhere I went in the Austin area that reminded me a lot of Orange County. Austin felt predominantly white, with mostly college aged people (lots of hipsters and bros) whereas in Houston I saw people from literally all walks of life interacting seamlessly in the majority of places I went- it's the same vibe I get in Oakland, or Sacramento, which are two very diverse cities that are also very liberal.

I've heard people compare Austin and Portland in terms of liberalness, but I wasn't seeing it at all. Portland is definitely very, very weird, whereas Austin felt more "cool" or "trendy".



Not anymore, it isn't. It's actually pretty purple these days.

For the first time since Franklin D. Roosevelt, a majority in Orange County voted for a Democrat - Los Angeles Times

Agree 100% that Sacramento is very diverse, and even many of the suburbs around Sacto are pretty diverse. (Lived in the area for almost 30 years) However, while the voters may tend to vote for more Dems than Reps, it really is more in the middle politically when you get down to it.

[beaste]

Stark lack of diversity in Austin due to economic divides.

Mix of Liberals and Libertarians IMO.

[KerrTown]

Austin has more of a libertarian "live and let live scene" than a egalitarian, progressive atmosphere that you would find in Inner Loop Houston. The roots of that atmosphere come from the hippies that once patronized the Montrose and the lingering remnants are still here 50 years later.

Originally Posted by 04kL4nD

I've heard people compare Austin and Portland in terms of liberalness, but I wasn't seeing it at all. Portland is definitely very, very weird, whereas Austin felt more "cool" or "trendy".

Madison is actually a better comparable than Portland. Both are state capitals and college towns of the flagship state university. They are also the same distance from a regional anchor city in their region, Madison being close to Chicago and Austin being close to Houston.

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by KerrTown

Austin has more of a libertarian "live and let live scene" than a egalitarian, progressive atmosphere that you would find in Inner Loop Houston. The roots of that atmosphere come from the hippies that once patronized the Montrose and the lingering remnants are still here 50 years later.



Madison is actually a better comparable than Portland. Both are state capitals and college towns of the flagship state university. They are also the same distance from a regional anchor city in their region, Madison being close to Chicago and Austin being close to Houston.

Austin is probably about 4 or 5 times larger than Madison. Austin would be more like Columbus, Ohio or Minneapolis, Minnesota than Madison. Madison would be in same category as Ann Arbor, Michigan, Columbia, Missouri, or Tallahassee, Florida.

[R1070]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

Austin is probably about 4 or 5 times larger than Madison. Austin would be more like Columbus, Ohio or Minneapolis, Minnesota than Madison. Madison would be in same category as Ann Arbor, Michigan, Columbia, Missouri, or Tallahassee, Florida.

Columbus for sure.