Greater Austin (officially the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos MSA) is a five-county region in Central Texas that anchors the larger San Antonio-Austin Metroplex. As of the 2020 U.S. census, it ranked as the 25th-largest metropolitan area in the country with a population of 2,352,426, centered on Austin—the fourth-largest city in Texas—alongside major suburbs like Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and Leander. The area boasts an incredibly deep human history, with archaeological evidence at sites like the Gault site and the discovery of the Leanderthal Lady showing inhabitants dating back up to 22,000 years ago. In the early 19th century, Spanish explorers and settlers established early footholds, including the 1804 fort Puesta del Colorado and the 1807 settlement of San Marcos de Neve. Today, this dynamic corridor blends prehistoric heritage with rapid modern growth, serving as a vibrant cultural and economic hub that stretches toward Greater San Antonio.