Misplaced Pages

#561438

76-541: In the 1970s, improvements were made by the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio River Authority . In March 1979, an improvement was made to strengthen and anchor the dam, as well as modifying gate operations, in order to provide an emergency spillway. There are six gates within the dam, two of which are open at all times to a height of 2 ft (0.61 m). They are rotated once a week. Each gate

152-500: A 90 out of 100 in its treatment of the LGBT community. The population of Greater San Antonio is predominantly Christian . Owing in part to San Antonio's Spanish and Mexican heritage , Roman Catholicism is the largest religious group in the region. In addition, American missionary work and immigration into Texas have also resulted in a substantial Protestant population. San Antonio River Walk The San Antonio River Walk

228-762: A branch from the 1968 extension to create a lagoon at the new Rivercenter Mall and the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel. In 1981 the Hyatt Regency San Antonio opened with a new pedestrian connector that linked Alamo Plaza to the River Walk with concrete waterfalls, waterways and indigenous landscaping. Known as the Paseo del Alamo, this river "extension" actually flows from Alamo Plaza into the San Antonio River through

304-541: A dozen subfreezing nights each year, typically seeing snow, sleet, or freezing rain about once every two or three winters, but accumulation and snow itself are very rare. Winters may pass without any frozen precipitation at all, and up to a decade has passed between snowfalls. According to the National Weather Service , there have been 32 instances of snowfall (a trace or more) in the city in the past 122 years, about once every four years. Prior to 2021 snow

380-416: A flood gate at the northern (upstream) end of the bend; 2) a small dam at the southern (downstream) end of the bend; and 3) a Tainter gate in the channel to regulate flow. The bend would then be surrounded by commercial development, which he titled "The Shops of Aragon and Romula". Hugman went as far as to maintain his architect's office along the bend. Hugman's plan was initially not well received –

456-509: A good number of Native American artifacts. 29°28′25″N 98°28′27″W  /  29.4735°N 98.4742°W  / 29.4735; -98.4742 This article about a dam or floodgate in the United States is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . City of San Antonio San Antonio ( / ˌ s æ n æ n ˈ t oʊ n i oʊ / SAN an- TOH -nee-oh ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony "), officially

532-768: A maximum of 52.28 inches (1,328 mm) and a minimum of 10.11 inches (256.8 mm) in one year. See or edit raw graph data . The U.S. Census Bureau 's 2020 census determined San Antonio had a population of 1,434,625 residents in 2020. In 2019, the American Community Survey estimated San Antonio had a racial makeup of 88.4% White, 6.6% Black and African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race and 1.7% two or more races. Ethnically, 64.5% were Hispanic or Latin American of any race. In 2020, its racial and ethnic makeup

608-426: A network of some 17,000 feet (5,200 m) of walkways, about twenty bridges, and extensive plantings, including some of the bald cypress (others are several hundred years old) whose branches stretch up to ten stories and are visible from street level. Hugman's persistence paid off; he was named project architect. His plan would be put to the test in 1946, when another major flood threatened Downtown San Antonio, but

684-559: A quality that only New Orleans could rival in what he described as "odd and antiquated foreignness." Following the Civil War, San Antonio prospered as a center of the cattle industry. During this period, it remained a frontier city, with a mixture of cultures that was different from other U.S. cities. German immigrants founded smaller surrounding towns such as New Braunfels , Castroville , Boerne , Comfort , Fredericksburg , and Bulverde , all towns far out from San Antonio. However,

760-704: A total of 56 persons. They joined the military community established in 1718. The immigrants formed the nucleus of the villa of San Fernando de Béxar, the first regularly organized civil government in Texas. Several older families of San Antonio trace their descent from the Canary Island colonists. María Rosa Padrón was the first baby born of Canary Islander descent in San Antonio. During the Spanish–Mexican settlement of Southwestern lands, which took place over

836-574: A transitional humid subtropical climate ( Köppen : Cfa ) that borders a hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification : BSh ) towards the west of the city featuring very hot, long, and humid summers and mild to cool winters. The area is subject to descending northern cold fronts in the winter with cool to cold nights, and is warm and rainy in the spring and fall. San Antonio falls in USDA hardiness zones 8b (15 °F to 20 °F) and 9a (20 °F to 25 °F). San Antonio receives about

SECTION 10

#1732773405562

912-669: Is a city park and special-case pedestrian street in San Antonio, Texas , one level down from the automobile street. The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and shops, connecting the major tourist draws such as the Shops at Rivercenter , the Arneson River Theatre , Marriage Island , La Villita , HemisFair Park , Petty House , the Tower Life Building ,

988-614: Is a dialect of German that evolved when the German language was separated from Germany. Texas German is best described as an anglicized-German dialect with a Texas twang. Many older generations in New Braunfels and Fredericksburg still speak Texas German to this day. In 1877, following the Reconstruction Era , developers constructed the first railroad to San Antonio, connecting it to major markets and port cities. Texas

1064-479: Is also located in Northwest Side. Companies with headquarters in the area include Valero and NuStar Energy . The South Side area of San Antonio is characterized by its predominantly Latino and Hispanic neighborhoods, an average above 81 percent. Large growth came to South Side when Toyota constructed a manufacturing plant . Palo Alto College and Texas A&M University–San Antonio are located in

1140-696: Is also the location of upper-middle-class neighborhoods (Deerfield, Churchill Estates, Hunter's Creek, Oak Meadow, and Summerfield). Northwest Side is the location of the main campus of the University of Texas at San Antonio , the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio , and the Northwest Campus of the University of the Incarnate Word , which includes the Rosenberg School of Optometry. The Medical Center District

1216-469: Is at the westernmost limit for both Cabbage palmetto ( Sabal palmetto ) and Spanish moss . The native Eastern Subterranean Termite ( Reticulitermes flavipes ) is a common structural pest here. The Formosan Termite ( Coptotermes formosanus ) is an invasive pest originally from the Far East . Researchers at Texas A&M University consider it to be economically devastating. San Antonio has

1292-453: Is controlled via an actuator that is situated inside the dam's gatehouse. San Antonio Express-News history columnist Paula Allen has referred to the dam as "the jewel in the crown of San Antonio’s system of flood control." It has become a "staple structure north of downtown San Antonio." Excavations in the area around Olmos Dam, both prior to the dam's construction in the 1920s and in subsequent excavations such as in 1979, have yielded

1368-619: Is generally understood to cover the northern half of the "Downtown Loop"—the area bordered by Cesar Chavez to the south. Due to the size of the city and its horizontal development, downtown accounts for less than one half of one percent of San Antonio's geographic area. The Strip (north of Downtown) houses a concentration of clubs and bars catering to the LGBT community. North Central is home to several enclaves and upscale neighborhoods including Castle Hills , Shavano Park, Hollywood Park , Elm Creek, Inwood , Stone Oak , and Rogers Ranch. The area

1444-469: Is land and 4.5 square miles (11.7 km ) of it is water. The city's gently rolling terrain is dotted with oak trees, forested land, mesquite, and cacti. The Texas Hill Country reaches into the far northern portions of the city. San Antonio sits on the Balcones Escarpment . Its altitude is approximately 662 feet (202 m) above sea level . The city's primary source of drinking water

1520-541: Is the Edwards Aquifer . Impounded in 1962 and 1969, respectively, Victor Braunig Lake and Calaveras Lake were among the first reservoirs in the United States built to use recycled treated wastewater for power plant cooling, reducing the amount of groundwater needed for electrical generation. Downtown San Antonio, the city and metro area's urban core, encompasses many of the city's famous structures, attractions, and businesses. The central business district

1596-482: The City of San Antonio , is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio , the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 2.6 million people in the 2020 US census . It is the most populous city in and the county seat of Bexar County . The city is the seventh-most populous in the United States,

SECTION 20

#1732773405562

1672-985: The Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Charlotte, North Carolina , the Cherry Creek Greenway in Denver, Colorado , the Bricktown Canal in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , and the Santa Lucía Riverwalk in Monterrey, Mexico . In 1972, the River Walk is featured in The Getaway in a scene with Steve McQueen and Al Lettieri . The 1984 film Cloak & Dagger includes an extended chase scene along

1748-661: The San Antonio Museum of Art , the Pearl , and the city's five Spanish colonial missions, which have been named a World Heritage Site , which includes the Alamo . During the annual springtime Fiesta San Antonio , the River Parade features flowery floats that float down the river. The area within the circumference of the River Walk is the heart of the original 1700s Villa de Bejar outpost, which would eventually become

1824-472: The San Pedro Springs area. They called the vicinity Yanaguana , meaning "refreshing waters". In 1691, a group of Spanish explorers and missionaries came upon the river and Payaya settlement on June 13, the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua . They named the place and river "San Antonio" in his honor. It was years before any Spanish settlement took place. Father Antonio de Olivares visited

1900-709: The Texas Revolution . In a series of battles, the Texian Army succeeded in forcing Mexican soldiers out of the settlement areas east of San Antonio, which were dominated by Americans. Under the leadership of Ben Milam , in the Battle of Bexar , December 1835, Texian forces captured San Antonio from forces commanded by General Martin Perfecto de Cos , Santa Anna's brother-in-law. In the spring of 1836, Santa Anna marched on San Antonio. A volunteer force under

1976-433: The 2010 U.S. census, San Antonio's median income for a household was $ 36,214, and the median income for a family was $ 53,100. Males have a median income of $ 30,061 versus $ 24,444 for females. The per capita income for the city is $ 17,487. About 17.3% of the population and 14.0% of families are below the poverty line . Of the total population, 24.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.5% of those 65 and older were living below

2052-475: The 2019 American Community Survey, there were 512,273 households and 319,673 families. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.83. Of the local population, 201,960 were married-couple households and 172,741 were female households with no spouse or partner present. An estimated 85,462 households were single-person. Roughly 218,249 residents in San Antonio were foreign-born residents. For every 100 females, San Antonio had 97.1 males. At

2128-635: The Americas as part of HemisFair '68 . The expansion extended the Riverwalk beyond its natural banks at the horseshoe bend to the new convention center and theater by excavating much of the block bordered by Commerce, Bowie, Market and Alamo Streets. That was also the year the Hilton Palacio del Rio was built, the first of many downtown hotels that leverage their slice of urban "riverfront." A subsequent major expansion opened in 1988 that extended

2204-539: The Americas , SeaWorld San Antonio , the Alamo Bowl , and Marriage Island . Commercial entertainment includes Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Morgan's Wonderland amusement parks. According to the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city is visited by about 32 million tourists a year. It is home to the five-time National Basketball Association (NBA) champion San Antonio Spurs . It hosts

2280-557: The Canaries to Texas by way of Havana and Veracruz . By June 1730, 25 families had reached Cuba , and 10 families had been sent to Veracruz before orders from Spain came to stop the re-settlement. Under the leadership of Juan Leal Goraz , the group marched overland from Veracruz to the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar, where they arrived on March 9, 1731. Due to marriages along the way, the party now included 15 families,

2356-590: The City of San Antonio. In September 1921, a disastrous flood along the San Antonio River took 51 lives, with an additional 23 people reported missing. Plans were then developed for flood control of the river. Among the plans was to build an upstream dam ( Olmos Dam ) and bypass a prominent bend of the river in the Downtown area (between present-day Houston Street and Villita Parkway), then to pave over

Olmos Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue

2432-489: The Germans were then drawn to San Antonio for work, and many buildings and streets still bear German names such as Wurzbach, Huebner, and Jones Maltsberger, and Wiederstein. The German impact on San Antonio was great, in the early 1900s it is estimated that at least 1/3 of San Antonio was ethnically German. Many descendants of German immigrants in San Antonio spoke Texas German up to the fifth or sixth generations. Texas German

2508-487: The Olmos Dam and bypass channel minimized the area damage. Casa Rio, a landmark River Walk restaurant, became the first restaurant in the area in 1946, opening next door to Hugman's office. Through the following decades the network has been improved and extended. The first major extension of the Riverwalk was constructed by the joint venture of two general contractors Darragh & Lyda Inc. and H. A. Lott Inc. to Tower of

2584-654: The San Antonio Museum of Art and The Pearl Brewery, which has become one of the most popular areas for locals. Two years later, in May 2011, the River Walk was extended by several miles to extend from Downtown to Mission Espada which is on the city's south side. This addition (named the "Mission Reach") is notable for its emphasis on ecological controls and improvements, as well as trail improvements to support both hiking and biking. The Mission Reach has paddling trails and biking trails which allow tourists to experience

2660-465: The San Antonio area, resulting in widespread flooding and 12 fatalities. Tornadoes within the city limits have been reported as recently as February 2017, although they seldom occur. An F2 tornado lands within 50 mi (80 km) of the city on average once every five years. San Antonio has experienced two F4 tornadoes, one in 1953 and another in 1973. The 1953 tornado resulted in two deaths and 15 injuries. In San Antonio, July and August tie for

2736-633: The San Pedro Creek Greenway. The greenway joins with the River Walk at the confluence of the San Pedro Creek and the San Antonio River near Mission Concepción. On May 25, 2017, Esperanza Andrade , a former Texas secretary of state , and Lisa Wong, her business partner in the company Go Rio San Antonio, prevailed in a 10–1 vote from the San Antonio City Council for the $ 100 million contract to operate

2812-570: The UNESCO World Heritage Missions. After years of murmuring from locals and tourists about the water's quality, talk has also begun about cleaning up the water , although the muddy bottom and silt deposits make this difficult. The muddy bottom does receive an annual cleaning during the Mud Festival. In early 2016, for the first time in its history, the River Walk was connected with another linear urban walkway,

2888-605: The United States . San Antonio is approximately 75 miles (121 km) to the southwest of its neighboring city, Austin , the state capital , about 150 miles (240 km) from the Mexico-United States border , about 190 miles (310 km) west of Houston , and about 250 miles (400 km) south of the Dallas–Fort Worth area. The city has a total area of 465.4 square miles (1,205.4 km ); 460.93 square miles (1,193.8 km ) of San Antonio's total area

2964-589: The United States into the territory; they mostly occupied land in the eastern part. In 1835, when Antonio López de Santa Anna unilaterally abolished the Mexican Constitution of 1824 , violence ensued in many states of Mexico . which led to many short-lived independent republics. This, in addition to Mexico's abolition of slavery, and cultural differences between the Texians and the Mexicans, led to

3040-406: The annual San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo , one of the largest such events in the U.S. The U.S. Armed Forces have numerous facilities in and around San Antonio; Fort Sam Houston , which has Brooke Army Medical Center within it, is the only one within the city limits. Lackland Air Force Base , Randolph Air Force Base , Kelly Air Force Base , Camp Bullis , and Camp Stanley are outside

3116-489: The area was noted for being dangerous. At one point, it was declared off-limits to military personnel. People were warned of the threat of being "drowned like a rat" should the river flood. However, over the next decade support for commercial development of the river bend grew, and crucial funding came in 1939 under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) which resulted in the initial construction of

Olmos Dam - Misplaced Pages Continue

3192-708: The area. The East Side of San Antonio is home to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo , the Frost Bank Center , and the Freeman Coliseum . This area has the largest concentration of Black and African American residents. The West Side is predominantly Hispanic/Latin American and working class, with pockets of wealth in the northwest and far west. African Americans are also located in parts of San Antonio's West Side. The West Side has undergone gentrification as of 2019. It includes

3268-698: The atrium of the hotel. This connector not only allows the hotel to market itself as being on Alamo Plaza and on the River Walk, but it provides the city with an urban park that connects the city's two largest tourist attractions. Many downtown buildings like the Casino Club Building have street entrances and separate river entrances one level below. This separates the automotive service grid (for delivery and emergency vehicles) from pedestrian traffic (below) through an intricate network of bridges, walkways, and old staircases. The San Antonio Spurs had their five NBA Championship victory parades/cruises along

3344-459: The average warmest months, with an average high of 95 °F (35 °C). The highest temperature ever recorded was 111 °F (44 °C) on September 5, 2000. The average coolest month is January. The lowest recorded temperature ever was 0 °F (−18 °C) on January 31, 1949. May, June, and October have quite a bit of precipitation. Since recordkeeping began in 1871, the average annual precipitation has been 29.03 inches (737 mm), with

3420-478: The barges on the River Walk. The only dissenter on the council was the mayoral candidate Ron Nirenberg , who faced Mayor Ivy Taylor in a runoff election on June 10. In selecting Andrade and Wong, the council rejected City Manager Sheryl Sculley 's recommendation to award the contract instead to the Chicago -based Entertainment Cruises, the choice also of former Mayor Phil Hardberger . On receiving

3496-492: The bend, and create a storm sewer. Work began on the Olmos Dam and bypass channel in 1926; however, the San Antonio Conservation Society successfully protested the paved sewer option. No major plans came into play until 1929, when San Antonio native and architect Robert Hugman submitted his plans for what would become the River Walk. Although many have been involved in development of the site,

3572-604: The cause of Texas freedom and "Remember the Alamo" became a rallying cry in the Texian Army's eventual success at defeating Santa Anna's army. Juan Seguín , who organized the company of Tejano patriots, who fought for Texas independence, fought at the Battle of Concepción , the Siege of Bexar , and the Battle of San Jacinto , and served as mayor of San Antonio. He was forced out of office due to threats on his life by sectarian newcomers and political opponents in 1842, becoming

3648-683: The city limits. San Antonio is home to four Fortune 500 companies and the South Texas Medical Center , the only medical research and care provider in the South Texas region. San Antonio is also one of the largest majority-Hispanic cities in the United States, with 64% of its population being Hispanic . At the time of European encounter, the Payaya people lived near the San Antonio River Valley in

3724-574: The city until the 18th. The February 15–20, 2021, North American winter storm dropped another 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) on the city on the 16th. San Antonio and New Braunfels , 40 miles (64 km) to the northeast, are some of the most flood-prone regions in North America. The October 1998 Central Texas floods were among the costliest floods in United States history, resulting in $ 750 million in damage and 32 deaths. In 2002, from June 30 to July 7, 35 in (890 mm) of rain fell in

3800-406: The city's population was distributed as 28.5% under the age of 18, 10.8% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. In San Antonio, 48% of the population were males, and 52% of the population were females. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males. At

3876-418: The city's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race. According to the 2000 U.S. census , the city proper had a population of 1,144,646, ranking it the ninth-most populated city in the country. San Antonio has a relatively lower cost of living compared to most Texas and U.S. major cities and a strong job market. However, due to San Antonio's low density and relatively small suburban population,

SECTION 50

#1732773405562

3952-500: The city). In 1990, the United States Census Bureau reported San Antonio's population as 55.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Black or African American, and 36.2% non-Hispanic white. The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and The Alamo became UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015 and the city was designated a UNESCO "City of Creativity for Gastronomy" in 2017, one of only 26 gastronomy creative cities in

4028-422: The command of James C. Neill occupied and fortified the deserted Alamo mission. Upon his departure, the joint command of William Barrett Travis and James Bowie were left in charge of defending the old mission. The Battle of the Alamo took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836. The outnumbered Texian force was ultimately defeated, with all of the Alamo defenders killed. These men were seen as "martyrs" for

4104-450: The contract, Andrade told Taylor and the council: "We not only know but we understand why the River Walk is indeed our crown jewel of our beautiful city. And we understand that the barge operation is the thread that weaves it all together."   In 2021, the River Walk was temporarily used as a source of water after a winter storm crippled infrastructure across Texas. The River Walk has inspired similar projects in other cities, such as

4180-540: The current boundaries of Mexico; they fell into internal conflict and turmoil with neighboring entities. San Antonio grew to become the largest Spanish settlement in Texas; it was designated as the capital of the Spanish, later Mexican, province of Tejas . From San Antonio, the Camino Real (today Nacogdoches Road), was built to the small frontier town of Nacogdoches . Mexico allowed European American settlers from

4256-541: The diverse neighborhoods of Avenida Guadalupe, Collins Garden, Las Palmas, Prospect Hill, Rainbow Hills (Marbach), San Juan Gardens, Loma Park, Loma Vista, Memorial Heights, and Westwood. It is also home to the historic Our Lady of the Lake University and St. Mary's University . Natural vegetation in the San Antonio area (where undisturbed by development) includes oak-cedar woodland, oak grassland savanna, chaparral brush, and riparian (stream) woodland. San Antonio

4332-529: The following century, Juan Leal Goraz Jr. was a prominent figure. He claimed nearly 100,000 sq miles (153,766 acres) as Spanish territory and held some control for nearly three decades; this area stretched across six present-day states. San Antonio was designated as Leal Goraz's capital. It represented Mexican expansion into the area. With his robust military forces, he led exploration and establishing Spanish colonial bases as far as San Francisco, California . Widespread bankruptcy forced Leal Goraz Jr.'s army back into

4408-518: The last Tejano mayor for nearly 150 years. In 1845, the United States finally decided to annex Texas and include it as a state in the Union. This led to the Mexican–American War . Though the U.S. ultimately won, the war was devastating to San Antonio. By its end, the population of the city had been reduced by almost two-thirds, to 800 inhabitants. Bolstered by migrants and immigrants, by 1860 at

4484-403: The leadership of former mayor Jack White was instrumental in passage of a bond issue that raised funds to empower the 1938 "San Antonio River Beautification Project", which began the evolution of the site into the present 2.5-mile-long (4 km) River Walk. Hugman endorsed the bypass channel idea (which would be completed later that year) but, instead of paving over the bend, Hugman suggested 1)

4560-399: The metropolitan area ranked just 30th in the United States, with a population of 1,592,383 in 2000. San Antonio has a large Hispanic population with a significant African American population. The 2011 U.S. census estimate for the eight-county San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan area placed its population at 2,194,927. The 2017 estimate for Greater San Antonio was 2,473,974, making it

4636-655: The mission complex. Differences between Alarcón and Olivares resulted in delays, and construction did not start until 1718. Olivares built, with the help of the Payaya and the Pastia people , the Misión de San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo) , the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar , the bridge that connected both, and the Acequia Madre de Valero . The families who clustered around the presidio and mission were

SECTION 60

#1732773405562

4712-405: The mission. On February 14, 1719, the Marquis of San Miguel de Aguayo proposed to the king of Spain that 400 families be transported from the Canary Islands , Galicia , or Havana to populate the province of Texas. His plan was approved, and notice was given the Canary Islanders ( isleños ) to furnish 200 families; the Council of the Indies suggested that 400 families should be sent from

4788-410: The older historic buildings were demolished in the process of this modernization. Since the late twentieth century, San Antonio has had steady population growth . The city's population has nearly doubled in 35 years, from just over 650,000 in the 1970 census to an estimated 1.2 million in 2005, through both population growth and land annexation (the latter has considerably enlarged the physical area of

4864-413: The poverty line. In 2019, households had a median income of $ 53,571 and a mean income of $ 72,587. An estimated 16.8% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. The city of San Antonio and its metropolis was rated the poorest in 2019. A Gallup study in 2015 determined 4% of the city and Greater San Antonio identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender . In 2016, San Antonio scored

4940-412: The regional divide between South and Central Texas , San Antonio anchors the southwestern corner of an urban megaregion colloquially known as the Texas Triangle . Downtown Austin and Downtown San Antonio are approximately 80 miles (129 km) apart, and both fall along the I-35 corridor. This combined metropolitan region of San Antonio–Austin has approximately 5 million people. San Antonio

5016-445: The river walk. Expansion plans are planned for areas of the river north and south of Downtown. As chain restaurants and establishments have begun to flourish, now taking up about a third of commercial space, talk has begun at City Hall about limiting their existence on the River Walk and keeping a distinctively local flair. On May 30, 2009, the city opened the $ 72 million Museum Reach. The Museum Reach features local attractions such as

5092-486: The second-largest in the Southern United States , and the second-most populous in Texas after Houston . Founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718, the city in 1731 became the first chartered civil settlement in what is now present-day Texas. The area was then part of the Spanish Empire . From 1821 to 1836, it was part of the Mexican Republic . It is the oldest municipality in Texas, having celebrated its 300th anniversary on May 1, 2018. Straddling

5168-418: The site in 1709, and he was determined to found a mission and civilian settlement there. The viceroy gave formal approval for a combined mission and presidio in late 1716, as he wanted to forestall any French expansion into the area from their colony of La Louisiane to the east, as well as prevent illegal trading with the Payaya. He directed Martín de Alarcón , the governor of Coahuila y Tejas , to establish

5244-404: The start of Villa de Béjar, destined to become the most important town in Spanish Texas . On May 1, the governor transferred ownership of the Mission San Antonio de Valero (later famous as The Alamo) to Fray Antonio de Olivares. On May 5, 1718, he commissioned the Presidio San Antonio de Béxar ("Béjar" in modern Spanish orthography) on the west side of the San Antonio River, one-fourth league from

5320-438: The start of the American Civil War , San Antonio had grown to a city of 15,000 people. In the 1850s Frederick Law Olmsted , the landscape architect who designed Central Park in New York City, traveled throughout the Southern and Southwest U.S., and published accounts of his observations. In his 1859 book about Texas, Olmsted described San Antonio as having a "jumble of races, costumes, languages, and buildings", which gave it

5396-435: The third-most populous metro area in Texas (after the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and Greater Houston ) and the 24th-most populous metro area in the U.S. About 405,474 households, and 280,993 families resided in San Antonio. The population density as of 2010 was 2,808.5 people per square mile (1,084.4 people/km ). There were 433,122 housing units at an average density of 1,062.7 per square mile (410.3/km ). The age of

5472-615: The world. With the increase in professional jobs, San Antonio has become a destination for many college-educated persons, most recently including African Americans in a reverse Great Migration from northern and western areas. Over 31,000 migrants who requested asylum have been released by the Border Patrol into the city in 2019 during the National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of

5548-603: Was 23.4% non-Hispanic white, 63.9% Hispanic or Latin American of any race, 6.5% Black and African American, 3.2% Asian, and 2.3% multiracial or some other race. According to the 2010 U.S. census , 1,327,407 people resided in San Antonio city proper, an increase of 16.0% since 2000. The racial composition of the city based on the 2010 U.S. census is as follows: 72.6% White ( non-Hispanic whites : 26.6%), 6.9% Black or African American , 0.9% Native American , 2.4% Asian , 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander , 3.4% two or more races , and 13.7% other races . In addition, 63.2% of

5624-462: Was most recently seen on December 7, 2017, when 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) of snow coated the city. On January 13, 1985, San Antonio received a record snowfall of 16 inches (41 cm). During the February 13–17, 2021, North American winter storm , San Antonio was blanketed with 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of snow. The cold air which accompanied this storm caused massive rolling blackouts throughout

5700-570: Was named by a 1691 Spanish expedition for the Portuguese priest Saint Anthony of Padua , whose feast day is June 13. The city contains five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park . Together these were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2015. Other notable attractions include the River Walk , the Tower of

5776-491: Was the first state to have major cities develop by railroads rather than waterways. In Texas, the railroads supported a markedly different pattern of development of major interior cities, such as San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Worth , compared to the historical development of coastal port cities in the established eastern states. At the beginning of the 20th century, the streets of the city's downtown were widened to accommodate street cars and modern traffic. At that time, many of

#561438