Austin Neighborhoods

Montopolis

The Montopolis Neighborhood is centered around Montopolis Drive between Riverside and US 183 to the north. This area is bordered on the east by a closed Air Force base and to the south by a high tech industrial complex. Montopolis was one of the last sectors in Austin to be developed. Inhabited mostly by immigrant and African American families, it was left in relative isolation and with little infrastructure until the 1960's. With the outright refusal of the Austin authorities to help, a huge impetus to transform this neighborhood from an urban slum was made by the fathers of the Dolores Catholic Church. Currently, Montopolis is a predominantly Latino community with a core of second-and third-generation families. One third of its residents live in poverty and one of every five people is unemployed. Access in this areas is limited to one Free-Net site at the Montopolis Neighborhood Center which has been in place since 1996. It is operated by the City of Austin's Neighborhood Department. Other key organizations in the community include the Dolores Catholic Church, the Montopolis Community Center, and the Escuela Montesssori School.

University Hills Neighborhood

The University Hills Neighborhood is located in the Northeast corner of Austin and is bounded by Springdale and US 183, on the south side of US 290. The University Hills Neighborhood was a planned community developed in the early 1960's by Walter Carrington Builder. Originally, the neighborhood was predominantly made up of Caucasian middle- to upper middle- class members. Currently, University Hills is a community of predominantly African American and Hispanic members. Access in the area consists of the University Hills Library, Windsor Branch Library and Reagan High School. The University Hills Library location is the only site that has been in place with the inception of Austin Free-Net. Other key organizations in the areas are LBJ High School which contains a Science Academy, several elementary schools and Dottie Jordan Park.

Southeast Austin

Southeast Austin, also known as Dove Springs, is located East of IH-35 and South of Hwy. 71. Though largely undeveloped for the first part of Austin's history, Southeast Austin began to grow soon after 1915 and became the new outlet for Austin's booming population. Today, the population of Southeast Austin has risen 36% and is a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood. Access in this area has only recently begun to appear in organizations such as the River City Youth Foundation. Other key organizations in the area include the Austin Bergstrom International Airport and the advanced Micro Devices chip plant.

East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood

East Cesar Chavez is 1st street East of IH-35 and is bounded to the North by East 6th street and to the South by Holly Street. In 1993 1st Street was renamed East Cesar Chavez Street to honor the union organizer and Hispanic rights activist who died in April of that year.  It is a historic community heavily influenced by the Mexican culture as it served as an outlet for Austin's growth, housing many migrants to the area. Currently, East Cesar Chavez is a predominantly Hispanic community with a population of which 78% is Hispanic. Access in this neighborhood began in 1995 when Terrazas library was wired by Austin Free-Net.  Since then, other technology sites have developed: Cepeda library, East Austin Media Lab and the "Grandma" Camacho Center.  Other Key organizations in the area include Our Lady Community Center, Habitat for Humanity Recycling center and the Roy Velasquez community center.

11th & 12th Street Corridor (Rosewood Community)

The 11th and 12th Street Corridor, also known as the Rosewood Community, is located East of IH-35 and is centered around 11th and 12th streets through which Rosewood Runs. Currently, the Rosewood Community is largely made up of African American residents, accounting for 52% of the population. Since 1993, this community has worked to gain access for its residents through the Austin Learning Academy. Today, access is also available at the Eastside Story Foundation, AFN's lab in the Arthur Dewitty Employment Training Center and the Connoly-Guerrero Senior Center. Other key organizations in the area include Meals on Wheels, several elementary schools and the Millennium Youth Complex.