South Congress facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
South Congress
SoCo
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South Congress Avenue leads directly into downtown Austin.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| City | Austin |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
78704
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| Area code(s) | 512, 737 |
South Congress (often called SoCo) is a lively neighborhood in Austin, Texas. It's famous for its unique shops, tasty restaurants, and cool music spots. You can also find many food trucks here.
This area is located on South Congress Avenue. It starts near the Colorado River and the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge. It stretches south towards Ben White Boulevard. Two older Austin neighborhoods, Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek, are next to it.
South Congress has changed a lot since the 1850s. It began as a simple country road. Then it became a main entrance to the city. Today, it's a popular shopping and cultural area. Many people love it because you can see the Texas State Capitol clearly from here.
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A Look Back: South Congress History
Edwin Waller first planned Congress Avenue in the 1830s. He wanted it to be Austin's most important street. But it didn't go south of the Colorado River until 1852. That's when James Gibson Swisher gave land for a road. This road became a postal route and a main highway to San Antonio.
Early Growth and Changes
Growth along South Congress was slow at first. Things changed when a concrete bridge was built in 1910. This bridge made it much easier to cross the river. In the 1920s, South Austin grew quickly. Streetcars were extended down South Congress. Many bungalow homes were built. More shops and businesses started to appear south of the river. By 1931, South Congress was paved all the way from the river to Ben White Boulevard.
Famous Places Open Up
Many well-known places in South Congress opened between 1930 and 1960. The Austin Motel opened in 1938. The Hotel San José opened soon after. A hamburger stand, which later became the famous Night Hawk, started in 1932. The Twin Oaks Shopping Center opened in 1954. It was one of Austin's first "strip" malls. The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge was made wider in the 1950s. Also, Interstate 35 was built. This gave people another way to travel north and south.
A Hub for Artists and Music
In the 1970s, South Congress became a special place for artists and musicians. The famous Armadillo World Headquarters opened in 1970. But with the new I-35 highway, fewer tourists came to South Congress. Many businesses started to struggle.
A New Beginning
By the late 1980s, new, unique shops began to open. They were attracted by cheaper rent. The area started to come alive again. Old buildings were fixed up. They became home to cool shops, art places, and restaurants. In 1988, the Magnolia Cafe South opened. It was a second location for a popular local restaurant. Its owners liked the "colorful people" and low rent.
Austin then grew very fast. More people moved to the city. This led to many homes in Travis Heights and Bouldin Creek being fixed up. This also led to big changes along South Congress. The 1990s saw the Austin Theatre redeveloped. The H-E-B store at Oltorf and South Congress also got a makeover. Penn Field, an old industrial plant, was turned into a modern complex. It now has offices, shops, and homes. By the end of the 1990s, South Congress was becoming a famous shopping and cultural spot.
Shopping and Fun in SoCo
The South Congress shopping area has many shops, restaurants, and music venues. There's even a spot with many food trucks. You can find tacos, falafel, cupcakes, and more!
Popular Shops and Eateries
Some famous shops include Allens Boots (opened 1977) and Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds (opened 1984). Restaurants like Guero's Taco Bar (opened 1995) are popular. Texas Radio Live is even broadcast from Guero's on Sun Radio every Wednesday. Other great places are Home Slice Pizza (opened 2005) and South Congress Cafe (opened 2003).
First Thursday Event
On the first Thursday of every month, there's a special event called "First Thursday." Businesses stay open late, often until 10 p.m. or later. It's a fun way to celebrate the neighborhood's shops, restaurants, and art galleries. This event happens between Barton Springs Road and Elizabeth Street.
Sweet Leaf Tea Company has its main office in the Penn Field Business Park. They moved there in 2007.
Learning and Schools
The schools in this neighborhood are part of the Austin Independent School District. Students go to Travis Heights Elementary School, Lively Middle School, and Travis High School. Lively Middle School was built in 1911. Travis Heights Elementary opened in 1938. Travis High School was built in 1953.
Austin Community College also serves people living in the area. St. Edward's University is located right on South Congress Avenue.
Getting Around SoCo
CapMetro Route 801 is a fast bus service that runs along South Congress Avenue. It connects the neighborhood to other parts of the city. This route has stops at Auditorium Shores, SoCo, Oltorf, and St. Edward's stations. The South Congress Transit Center near Ben White Boulevard connects to other bus routes. In the future, South Congress will also have Orange Line light rail service as part of the Project Connect plan.
