Austin, the capital of Texas, is a city of almost 800,000 people, located in the central hill country of the state and home to a diverse group of citizens. It has the reputation of being a major American center of progressive culture and politics. Many of the unique attributes of Austin contribute to its reputation as a “green city” as well.

For example, Austin is home to the University of Texas, which alone adds a school-year population of over 50,000 students to the city. Austin also has a large and influential music scene, which causes a mass migration of hopeful rock stars. The combination of young high-tech workers, university students and professors, and a large artistic community makes Austin the most liberally minded city in the ...