South Congress is a part of the Inner South Central Austin neighborhood. It’s actually in Southeast Austin, nestled between I-35 to the North, Mopac Expressway to the East, Ben White Blvd to the South, Barton Creek Greenbelt to the West. Travis Heights, Dawson, and neighborhoods surrounding St. Edward's University make up the community of South Congress.
South Congress is often called SoCo for short. It is a popular tourist destination in Austin with shops, restaurants, and more. South Congress Avenue runs from Mopac Expressway to the Colorado River on the outskirts of town, with most of the activity concentrated on the southern portion. SoCo is known for its vibrant culture and youthful energy.
Just a short drive to the city’s nightlife and ballparks, this neighborhood college-centered area is known as a tourist district with loads of history and trendy places. Let's delve into all that South Congress, Austin offers with this ultimate neighborhood guide.
History of South Congress
Land donated by James Gibson Swisher was once used as a dirt road to connect San Antonio to Austin. In 1910, a concrete bridge helped connect South Austin over the Colorado River. As expansion carried down to South Congress, the 1920s saw rapid growth. Bungalows sprouted, and with it so did commercial enterprises.
There was more development during the 1950s with the widening of the Congress Avenue Bridge and Interstate 35 construction, providing an alternative route.
In the 1970s, musicians and artists moved into South Congress, but tourism declined, and businesses suffered. However, the 1990s was when the neighborhood of South Congress saw a transformation. Retail, music venues, restaurants moved into the historic buildings, and new hotels opened. The boom attracted more people, and the demand for housing and redevelopment grew.
Ten years later, South Congress, Austin has a bustling residential and thriving tourist population.
Real Estate in South Congress
Real estate in South Congress includes single-family homes, apartments, bungalows, and even high-end condos. These are found along South Congress Avenue and on the quieter side streets. The style of homes varies from craftsman, ranch, cottage bungalow to new construction industrial-style homes. Sizes range from 1,000 to over 3,000 square feet.
Property prices range from $200K to upwards of $4M. The median sale price is in the $800K range. There are also many renters in South Congress, with an abundance of upscale, modern, and cozy apartments on offer. Rent prices are around the mid $1000 range.
South Congress is directly south of the heart of downtown Austin. Surrounding neighborhoods to South Congress is SoFa, fashionable and eclectic to the east of Oltorf Street. To the West is Ben White/35, which includes both upscale condos and newer developments.
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What To Do in South Congress
Anyone visiting Austin or thinking of moving there should know that South Congress is the perfect place to start looking. With so much to see and do, you'll never be bored or restless. Consider these attractions:
Explore the street art and murals on South Congress:
- I Love You So Much on 1300 South Congress Avenue
- Willie For President on 1315 South Congress Avenue
- Love From Austin on 1912 South Congress Avenue
- South Congress Mural on 1800 South Congress Avenue
- Smile! Even if you don't want to on 1511 S Congress Avenue
Hit some of the venues on South Congress for live music:
- The Continental Club is a traditional blues club with live music.
- C-Boy’s Heart & Soul is an R&B club that plays live music seven days a week.
- Ego's offers you the opportunity to get in on the action with karaoke every night.
- Guero’s outdoor pavilion offers local artists the opportunity to perform live.
- First Thursdays on South Congress is a block party where stores, restaurants, and the South Congress Hotel celebrate live music.
Outdoorsy folks can venture out on the Colorado River, which is ideal for kayaking and canoeing. For those that like to hike, bike, or run, The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a popular choice for all three for many.
Other attractions to check out include visiting
- Yard Dog Art Gallery features many artists across North America.
- Cathedral of Junk is a sculpture made entirely out of discarded stuff.
- South Congress Books for all things books - vintage, collectibles, unique, and used.
- Congress Avenue Bridge to watch the world’s largest urban bat colony emerge during March and November.
Restaurants in South Congress
Whatever your cravings, there are so many diverse options on South Congress to tantalize your taste buds. To name a few from cafes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner eateries with various cuisines in mind, to formal dining and dessert joints:
- Cosmic Coffee
- Manana
- Jo’s Coffee
- The Meteor
- Little Brother Coffee
- Café No Sé
- Magnolia Cafe
- South Congress Café
Shopping in South Congress
South Congress is a shoppers paradise. Everywhere you look, you're bound to find something interesting. Here are some of the best and most fun local shops that sell clothes, gifts, jewelry, custom, and hand-made items:
- Limbo Jewelry
- Triple Z
- Noah Marion
- Parts & Labour
- Odessa
- Allens Boots
- Prima Dora
- Stag Provisions For Men
- Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds
- By George
Getting Around South Congress
The I-35 is the major highway that connects South Congress, Austin, to the north and San Antonio. The South Congress Transit Center is a CapMetro bus station where local bus routes serve the station's park and ride feature. It's located off of Radam Lane on the south side of Ben White Boulevard and west of South Congress Avenue.
Schools in South Congress
Students living in South Congress form part of the Austin ISD school district. Public schools include:
Dawson Elementary School
Location: 3001 South 1st Street, Austin, TX 78704
Catering to: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5
Location: 201 East Mary Street, Austin, TX 78704
Catering to: Grades 6 to 8
Location: 1211 East Oltorf Street, Austin, TX 78704
Catering to: Grades 9 to 12, Travis High offers advanced and AP courses, fine arts, and technical education.
Travis Heights Elementary School
Location: 2010 Alameda Drive, Austin, TX 78704
Catering to: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5 and teaches English and Spanish.
Location: 1102 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
Catering to: Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12
St. Edward's University is a private Catholic university located at 3001 S Congress Avenue. It provides students with undergraduate and graduate programs.
South Congress is a beautiful place right in the heart of Austin. The area is populated with college students, young professionals, and families. A hip and lively neighborhood attracting residents that appreciate local boutiques, fine dining, recently introduced food trucks, and live music, all in a great atmosphere.
Looking for a convenient, walkable, vibrant, entertaining and rich area? SoCo is the neighborhood that has it all!
Robert J Fischer Team is comprised of specialists, who all focus on what they do best and work together to make the home selling and buying processes as smooth as possible. Each member of our team fights every day to help our clients meet their real estate goals and do what is best for their families. Whether you’re looking to sell a house, an office building, or hundreds of acres, we would love the opportunity to talk with you about putting our best-in-class marketing solutions and services to work for you.
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