For Travis County your need to look at the Austin History Center which has the Sanborn maps, Austin newspaper microfilm, photographs, books, manuscripts, vertical files, etc. Early Austinites that lived in the city limits were buried in Oakwood Cemetery. Its records are also now located at the Center. Court records are located in the courthouse downtown, with vitals and deeds located in the courthouse annex in north Austin. I would use LDS microfilm first. The Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin has the Sanborn maps also and the city directories. Of course, the census images can be found at HeritageQuest, available through public libraries for remote use at home or business. The best book I have found on Austin's history is Mary Starr Barkley's History of Travis County and Austin, 1839-1899. It is out-of-print, but I found a copy on the Internet. I'm sure it can be interlibrary-loaned. Her book is based on information she obtained from the city directories and newspapers. I have a downloadable map of the original city of Austin that I took to Kinko's and had blown up to about 4 X 6 feet. I can't remember which site it is on, but I use it to plot the known addresses, churches, and businesses of a family and its allied families. I would be glad to send it to you. If you are seriously into Austin research and would like to contact me personally, I would be glad to answer any questions. My e-mail address is Rondina7@aol.com. Rondina P. Muncy Grapevine, Texas