1 million! Austin hits population milestone and becomes 12th largest city in U.S.

AUSTIN, Texas - New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that Austin has hit a big population milestone.

What they're saying: "This is a historic moment for Austin, and one that my predecessor Edwin Waller probably didn't even think about when he surveyed the site that would eventually become our beloved city back in 1839," said Mayor Kirk Watson in a news release.

"There's no denying now that Austin is a big city, and we have big challenges. But we also still have small town heart, and that's part of what makes it the best place in the country to raise a family or to seek out new opportunities," Watson adds.