Misplaced Pages

#535464

43-626: Helotes ( / h ə ˈ l oʊ t ɪ s / hə- LOH -tis ) is a city in Bexar County, Texas , United States, located on the far northwestern side of San Antonio . It is part of the San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area . Its population was 9,030 at the 2020 census . According to anthropologists, the area was occupied seasonally from about 5,000 BCE by small bands of nomadic Native American tribes in search of food and game. The Lipan Apache moved into

86-769: A century following Reconstruction , the core of the Hill Country generally provided the solitary support base for the Republican Party in what became a one-party Democratic state. Even when no Republicans were in the Texas Legislature during the 1930s and 1940s, Gillespie and Kendall Counties backed every Republican presidential nominee barring Herbert Hoover ’s failed 1932 re-election campaign, and Republicans continued to control local government. Guadalupe and Comal Counties were less Republican, but still did not vote for Democratic nominees outside

129-474: A distinctively Texan culture separate from the state's Southern and Southwestern influences. For example, the accordion was popularized in Tejano music in the 19th century due to cultural exposure to German settlers. Devil's Backbone is an elevated, winding stretch of Ranch to Market Road 12 between San Marcos and Wimberley , then Ranch to Market Road 32 continuing through to Blanco . It has long been

172-433: A home and mercantile store around which the town of Helotes arose. In 1908, Gugger sold his property to Bert Hileman, who opened the town's first dance hall. He was also instrumental in getting old Bandera Road paved and opening the town's first filling station . He sold his property in downtown Helotes in 1919, when the town's population declined. In 1946, the manager of San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, John T. Floore, opened

215-754: A household in the city was $ 76,951, and for a family was $ 80,090. Males had a median income of $ 50,625 versus $ 38,362 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 29,534. About 2.0% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty line including 2.4% of those under 18 and 2.9% of those 65 or older. Helotes residents are zoned to the following schools in the Northside Independent School District : Elementary schools: Middle schools: High schools: Bexar County, Texas Bexar County ( / b ɛər / BAIR or / ˈ b eɪ ər / BAY -ər ; Spanish : Béxar [ˈbexaɾ] )

258-447: A household was $ 38,328, and for a family was $ 43,724. Males had a median income of $ 30,756 versus $ 24,920 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,363. About 12.70% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over. Bexar County is governed by a Commissioners Court , composed of four Commissioners and one County Judge, who acts as

301-562: A large Hispanic population with a significant growing African American population. With a population that is 59.3% Hispanic as of 2020, it is Texas' most populous majority-Hispanic county and the third-largest such nationwide. Bexar County was created on December 20, 1836, and encompassed almost the entire western portion of the Republic of Texas . This included the disputed areas of eastern New Mexico northward to Wyoming. After statehood, 128 counties were carved out of its area. The county

344-480: A postmaster, Carl Mueller, was killed by Indians. In 1858, a Scottish immigrant, Dr. George Marnoch, purchased the land that later became the site of the town. Marnoch's home at one time served as a stagecoach stop and a post office for cowboys driving their cattle from Bandera to auction in San Antonio . His heirs sold a portion of their property in 1880 to a Swiss immigrant, Arnold Gugger, who built

387-606: Is a county in the U.S. state of Texas . It is in South Texas and its county seat is San Antonio . As of the 2020 census , the population was 2,009,324, making it the state's fourth-most populous county. Bexar County is included in the San Antonio– New Braunfels , TX metropolitan statistical area . It is the 16th-most populous county in the nation and the fourth-most populated in Texas. Bexar County has

430-567: Is a geographic region of Central and South Texas , forming the southeast part of the Edwards Plateau . Given its location, climate, terrain, and vegetation, the Hill Country can be considered the border between the American Southeast and Southwest . The region represents the very remote rural countryside of Central Texas, but also is home to growing suburban neighborhoods and affluent retirement communities. The region

473-558: Is about 16 miles (26 km) northwest of downtown San Antonio . Texas State Highway 16 runs through the community, leading northwest 30 mi (48 km) to Bandera . The Charles W. Anderson Loop , the outer beltway around San Antonio, is 2 mi (3 km) southeast of the center of Helotes. According to the United States Census Bureau , Helotes has a total area of 6.6 sq mi (17.0 km), of which 0.004 sq mi (0.01 km), or 0.06%,

SECTION 10

#1732779640536

516-506: Is covered by water. As of the 2020 United States census , 9,030 people, 2,837 households, and 2,467 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.3 inhabitants per square mile (391.6/km). The 1,525 housing units averaged 361.0 per square mile (139.5/km). Of the 2,837 households, 40.2% had children under 18, 79.9% were married couples living together, and 12.2% were not families. About 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who

559-596: Is in south-central Texas, about 190 miles (310 km) west of Houston and 140 miles (230 km) from both the US-Mexican border to the southwest and the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. The Balcones Escarpment bisects the county from west to northeast; to the north of the escarpment are the rocky hills, springs and canyons of the Texas Hill Country . South of the escarpment are Blackland Prairie and

602-582: Is notable for its karst topography and tall rugged hills of limestone or granite . Many of the hills rise to a height of 400–500 ft (120–150 m) above the surrounding plains and valleys, with Packsaddle Mountain rising to a height of 800 ft (240 m) above the Llano River in Kingsland . The Hill Country also includes the Llano Uplift and the second-largest granite dome in

645-428: Is unique, however, in that unlike Houston or Dallas, none of these highways is currently tolled. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 1,714,773 people living in the county. Of those, 72.9% were White , 7.5% Black or African American , 2.4% Asian , 0.8% Native American , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 12.7% of some other race and 3.5% of two or more races . 58.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). As of

688-801: Is where the Southern United States ends and the Southwestern United States begins. Several tributaries of the Colorado River in Texas—including the Llano and Pedernales Rivers, which cross the region west to east and join the Colorado as it cuts across the region to the southeast—drain a large portion of the Hill Country. The Guadalupe , San Antonio , Frio , Medina , and Nueces Rivers originate in

731-467: The Dominguez Unit , a state jail for men, in an unincorporated section of Bexar County. School districts in the county include: All of the county is in the service area of Alamo Community College . On September 14, 2013, Bexar County opened BiblioTech – Bexar County's Digital Library , the nation's first bookless library. In 2016, for the third consecutive year, Bexar County increased

774-472: The 1912, 1932, 1936, and 1964 landslides. The region was also the only one in antebellum slave states to back the insurgent candidacy of Robert La Follette in 1924 ; in fact, Comal was La Follette’s top county in the nation with 73.96% of the vote, and Gillespie and Comal were the only counties south of the Mason–Dixon line to give a plurality to his “ Progressive ” ticket. Because of its karst topography,

817-457: The 1970s. After a decade of planning and negotiation, Helotes became an incorporated city in October 1981. To this day, residents struggle with the dilemma of maintaining the city's rugged country charm, while at the same time allowing for the development of modern suburban facilities and businesses. Helotes was the hometown of late Texas State Senator Frank L. Madla , who died after his home on

860-484: The Bexar County Sheriff's Office (Javier Salazar, Sheriff). In late 2012, press reports noted an increase in the number of suicides at the facility. The issue was a topic of debate in the election for sheriff that year. The jail holds an average of about 3,800 prisoners in 2012, with a total capacity of 4,596, making it the fourth-largest in the state. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates

903-463: The Hill Country. This region is a dividing line for certain species occurrence. For example, the California fan palm ( Washingtonia filifera ) is the only species of palm tree that is native to the continental United States west of the Hill Country's Balcones Fault. The area experiences a fusion of English , Spanish , and German influences in food, beer, architecture, and music that form

SECTION 20

#1732779640536

946-478: The South Texas plains. The San Antonio River rises from springs north of Downtown San Antonio , and flows southward and southeastward through the county. Bexar County has a comprehensive "wagon wheel" freeway system, with radial freeways and beltways that encircle Downtown San Antonio, allowing for simplified countywide freeway access, in a manner much like the freeways around Houston or Dallas. San Antonio

989-603: The U.S. state of Texas also derived its name from San Antonio de Béjar. Natives that lived in the county included the Lipan Apache , Payaya , Tonkawa , and Comanche . The last Indian raid in the county may have been on March 18, 1878, when Carl Mueller was killed by Indians in Helotes . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,256 square miles (3,250 km ), of which 16 sq mi (41 km ) (1.3%) are covered by water. Bexar County

1032-512: The US) in the fertile valleys of the area, and feed corn was a major crop grown in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The town name is derived from the Spanish word elote , which can mean "ear of maize", " corncob ", or simply "corn", but exactly how the town came to be called Helotes is still a subject of debate. As the urban sprawl of San Antonio expanded and approached the outskirts of Helotes in

1075-558: The United States, Enchanted Rock . The terrain throughout the region is characterized by a thin layer of topsoil and many exposed rocks and boulders, making the region very dry and prone to flash flooding . Native vegetation in the region includes various yucca , prickly pear cactus , desert spoon , and wildflowers in the Llano Uplift. The predominant trees in the region are Ashe juniper and Texas live oak . Bound on

1118-460: The appraised value of businesses and residences. Most will hence find their property taxes will increase for the year, with higher payments for some beginning as early as November 1. The latest 7.5 percent increase in valuation follows an 11 percent rise in 2015, and a 7 percent jump in 2014. The 2016 total value for all property in the county is approximately $ 163 billion, or $ 13 billion more than in 2015. County residents express dismay to Mary Kieke,

1161-576: The area also features a number of caverns, such as Inner Space Caverns , Natural Bridge Caverns , Bracken Cave , Longhorn Cavern State Park , Cascade Caverns , Caverns of Sonora and Cave Without a Name . The deeper caverns of the area form several aquifers , which serve as a source of drinking water for its residents. Wonder Cave in San Marcos was formed by an earthquake along the Balcones Fault. From east to west, Texas Hill Country

1204-730: The area in the late 17th century and occupied it throughout the 18th century. However, the Lipan were forced from the area in the early 1820s by the Comanche Indians. A small farming and ranching community began to develop in the area shortly after the Texas Revolution in the late 1830s. The ranches suffered occasional attacks by the Comanches until the late 1870s. The last Indian raid in Helotes may have been in 1878, when

1247-500: The census of 2000, 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families were residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 inhabitants per square mile (431/km ). There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 units per square mile (161/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 68.86% White, 7.18% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 17.80% from other races, and 3.64% from two or more races. About 54.35% of

1290-467: The deputy chief appraiser. "People are very upset. The tax system is absolutely broken," she said. Bexar County has generally voted for Democratic candidates in most presidential elections, though from 1932 to 2012 it was a nationwide bellwether, supporting the winner in every election except 1968. Democrats perform well within the Connally Loop , which contains heavily Hispanic neighborhoods on

1333-614: The east by the Balcones Escarpment , the Hill Country reaches into the far northern portions of San Antonio and western portions of Travis County including the cities of Austin and Lago Vista . As a result of springs discharging water stored in the Edwards Aquifer , several cities such as Austin, San Marcos , and New Braunfels were settled at the base of the Balcones Escarpment. As of 2016 ,

Helotes, Texas - Misplaced Pages Continue

1376-455: The landmark John T. Floore Country Store, which is actually a dance hall (or " honky tonk ") that draws top country music talent, including Willie Nelson , who still plays the venue on occasion. Floore also financed the first annual Helotes Cornyval festival in the 1960s, which was held to celebrate the opening of a new post office. Corn played an important role in the heritage of Helotes. The local Native Americans planted corn ( maize outside

1419-430: The newly renovated Old Town Helotes. Completed in 2011, Old Town Helotes is the revitalized downtown. Helotes is home to Oak Valley golf course. The Cornyval Festival is an annual city tradition bringing in local vendors and thousands of area residents to celebrate the namesake of the town. Helotes is located in northwestern Bexar County in the valley of Helotes Creek where it exits from the Texas Hill Country . The city

1462-422: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of 488,942 households, 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were not families. About 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

1505-603: The presiding officer. The Commissioners represent their respective precincts, which are roughly equal in population and geographic area. On July 12, 2011, the Commissioners Court established the Office of the County Manager to streamline "the functions, offices and departments that report to Commissioners Court." The Bexar County jail facilities are at 200 North Comal in downtown San Antonio , operated by

1548-753: The region's economy was one of the fastest growing in the United States. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , these 25 counties are included in the Hill Country Wildlife District: During the American Civil War , due to its large, pro-Union, German immigrant population, the Texas Hill Country was opposed to Texas seceding from the Union . Subsequently, in the three quarters of

1591-772: The source of the San Antonio River . The new settlement was named after the Presidio San Antonio de Béjar, the Spanish military outpost that protected the missions. The presidio, located at the San Pedro Springs , was founded in 1718 and named for Viceroy Balthasar Manuel de Zúñiga y Guzmán Sotomayor y Sarmiento , second son of the Duke of Béjar (a town in Spain). The modern city of San Antonio in

1634-647: The south and west sides of San Antonio, and African Americans on the east side. In recent years, Democrats have made inroads on the Northwest Side toward the University of Texas at San Antonio , and the Northeast Side toward Kirby. Republicans' strength is concentrated around the military bases plus wealthier enclaves such as Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, and the far northern section of the county. Texas Hill Country The Texas Hill Country

1677-460: The south side of San Antonio caught fire on November 24, 2006. On April 28, 1953 , the town was hit by a violent 1-mile (1.6 km) wide F4 tornado struck the city, damaging or destroying multiple structures. Two people were killed and 15 others were injured. When Helotes incorporated in 1981, very little was in the town. Now with a population over 7,000, Helotes is becoming one of the most desirable suburbs of San Antonio. Helotes itself includes

1720-459: The subject of ghost stories. Folklore about it appeared in a 1996 episode of NBC 's Robert Stack anthology series Unsolved Mysteries , featuring apparitional Spanish monks, Comanche , and Lipan Apache tribes , Confederate soldiers on their horses, and a spirit of a wolf. The region has emerged as the center of the Texas wine industry. Three American Viticultural Areas are located in

1763-539: Was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.33. A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found there were about 6.2 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county. In the county, the population was distributed as 28.50% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males. The median income for

Helotes, Texas - Misplaced Pages Continue

1806-401: Was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.13 persons. The population was distributed as 26.8% under 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 96.1 males. The median income for

1849-441: Was named for San Antonio de Béxar, one of the 23 Mexican municipalities (administrative divisions) of Texas at the time of its independence. San Antonio de Béxar—originally Villa de San Fernando de Béxar —was the first civil government established by the Spanish in the province of Texas . Specifically, the municipality was created in 1731 when 55 Canary Islanders settled near the system of missions that had been established around

#535464