The capital of Texas, the U.S. state whose largest city is Houston, is Austin.
Austin was selected as the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839. It was named for Stephen F. Austin, often called the “Father of Texas,” and was established near the Colorado River in central Texas.
The city briefly lost its capital status during political conflict in the 1840s, when the government moved to Houston and later to Washington-on-the-Brazos. Austin became the permanent capital after Texas voters confirmed the choice in 1845, when Texas joined the United States.
Many people confuse Austin with Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio because those cities are larger or more widely known. Austin is famous for the Texas State Capitol, the University of Texas, and its music scene. The Capitol building, completed in 1888, is taller than the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.