San Antonio, Tex.
| Mayor: Ivy Taylor (to May 2017) City Manager: Sheryl L. Sculley 2010 census population (rank): 1,327,407 (7); Male: 647,690 (48.8%); Female: 679,717 (51.2%); White: 963,413 (72.6%); Black: 91,280 (6.9%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 11,800 (0.9%); Asian: 32,254 (2.4%); Other race: 181,625 (13.7%); Two or more races: 45,531 (3.4%); Hispanic/Latino: 838,952 (63.2%). 2010 percent population 18 and over: 73.2%; 65 and over: 10.4%; Median age: 32.7. 2014 population estimate (rank): 1,436,697 (7) Land area: 408 sq mi. (1,057 sq km); Alt.: 700 ft. Avg. daily temp.: Jan., 49.3° F; July, 85.0° F City-owned parks: 193 (15,546 ac.); Radio stations: AM, 20; FM, 22; Television stations: 9 Civilian Labor Force (MSA) April 2015: 1,097,400; Unemployed (April 2015): 37,200 Percent (April 2015): 3.4; Per capita personal income 2013: $22,619 Chamber of Commerce: Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, 602 E. Commerce, San Antonio, TX 78205 |
San Antonio, the second-largest city in Texas and the seat of Bexar County, is located in the south-central part of the state, on the San Antonio River.
The site of San Antonio was first visited in 1691 by a Franciscan friar on the feast day of St. Anthony and was named San Antonio de Padua in his honor. San Antonio was permanently settled on May 1, 1718, when the Spanish governor of Coahuila and Texas, Martin de Alarcón, founded the presidio (a fort) of San Antonio de Bejar (Bexar) and the mission of San Antonio de Valero (later called the Alamo) on the site of a Coahuiltecan Indian village. San Antonio remained almost continuously under Spanish rule until 1812, when Mexico won its independence from Spain.
During the outbreak of the Texas revolution (1835) against the tyranny of Mexican dictator General Santa Anna, San Antonio was captured by a small band of rebels who occupied the fortified mission of the Alamo in Dec. 1835. The historic battle of the Alamo was fought there (Feb. 24 to March 6, 1836), and its 183 besieged defenders were massacred by Santa Anna's troops. Their heroism aroused the anger and fighting spirit of Texans and led them to shout their famous battle cry “Remember the Alamo!” and defeat the Mexicans six weeks later (April 21, 1836) at the battle of San Jacinto. Texas became an independent republic in 1836, and San Antonio was incorporated as a city on Jan. 5, 1837.
After the Civil War, with the arrival of the railroad in 1877, San Antonio prospered as a major shipping point for cattle. The city has been an important military center since World War II and is the home to five of the largest military installations in the nation, including Fort Sam Houston, constructed in 1876. San Antonio is a leading livestock center and one of the largest produce exchange markets. The city's industries are highly diversified, and tourism is also important to the economy.
See also Encyclopedia: San Antonio.
Selected famous natives and residents:
- Carol Burnett comedienne;
- Cody Carlson football player;
- Henry G. Cisneros secretary of HUD;
- Joan Crawford actress;
- Cito Gaston baseball manager;
- George Gervin basketball player;
- Ann Harding actress;
- Jesse James Leija boxer;
- Emilio Navaira Tejano music singer;
- Oliver North military officer and government official;
- Suzy Parker model and actress;
- Paula Prentiss actress;
- Kyle Rote football player;
- David R. Scott astronaut;
- Patsy Torres Tejano music singer;
- Edward H. White astronaut.
