San Antonio, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
- "San Antonio" redirects here. For other uses, see San Antonio (disambiguation).
|
||||||
| Nickname: Alamo City | ||||||
 Location in Texas |
||||||
| Founded Incorporated |
1731 |
|||||
| County | Bexar County | |||||
| Mayor | Phil Hardberger | |||||
| Area - Total - Water |
1,067.3 km² (412.07 mi²) 11.7 km² (4.51 mi²) 1.09% |
|||||
| Population - City (2004) - Density - Metropolitan |
1,236,249 1,084.4/km² 1,820,719 (2003 est.) |
|||||
| Time zone | Central (UTC –6) | |||||
| Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS) |
29.4251° N 98.4946° W | |||||
| Official Website www.sanantonio.gov |
||||||
San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County, Texas.
San Antonio was named for Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day it was when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. San Antonio was the third-largest city within the state of Texas and ninth in the United States as of the 2000 U.S. Census, with a population of 1.1 million. The July 1, 2004 estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau, however, placed the city's population of 1,236,249 and is now the second-largest city in Texas (surpassing Dallas) and eighth in the United States. San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County.GR6 The San Antonio metropolitan area (MSA) is the third largest within Texas with a population of about 1.8 million as of the 2003 U.S. Census estimates.
Famous for its Riverwalk and the Alamo, its Tejano culture, the three-time NBA Champion Spurs basketball team, the Tower of the Americas, and being home to SeaWorld and Fiesta Texas theme parks, San Antonio is visited by 20 million tourists per year.
The city has a strong military presence, it is home to Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base and Brooks City Base.
San Antonio is home to the first museum of Modern Art in Texas, the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum[1].
San Antonio's corporate profile includes AT&T Inc. (formerly SBC Communications), Valero Energy Corp, USAA, Tesoro Petroleum Corp, Southwest Research Institute, H-E-B supermarkets and Clear Channel Communications, which are all headquartered in the city.
San Antonio is also home to the South Texas Medical Center, the largest medical research and care provider in South Texas.
The Fairmont Hotel, built in 1906, is in the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the heaviest buildings ever moved intact. It was placed in its new location, three blocks south of the Alamo, over four days in 1985, and cost $650,000 to move.
History
The place San Antonio and the San Antonio River were formally named under Spanish viceregal authority on June 13, 1691, by a Spanish expedition led by Domingo Teran de los Rios, the governor of the province of Texas of New Spain and Franciscan Father Damien Massanet who named the river and site in honor of Portuguese born Saint Anthony of Padua "because it was his day" on the official Catholic Church calendar; St. Anthony was born June 13, 1231, in Lisbon.
From that point on, the location was known as San Antonio and it appeared that way on both official and unofficial maps. Some settlers had been left at the site, but they soon died from the elements or from hostile Indians. Various other expeditions came through the area but the one which established permanent occupancy by European settlers occurred May 1-5, 1718, when Gov. Don Martin Alarcon and Father Antonio Olivares founded Mission San Antonio de Valero and the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar. In 1720, Mission San Jose was founded and then three missions were moved from East Texas to San Antonio in 1731 -- Mission Conception, Mission San Juan and Mission Espada.
On March 9, 1731, a contingent of 55 settlers from Spain's Canary Islands arrived in San Antonio armed with a royal charter to establish the first civilian government in Texas, joining the religious and military establishments that were already in San Antonio. The islanders named their city, Villa de San Fernando, a name that never stuck because the place and river had already been known for 40 years as San Antonio. The missions closed in the late 1700s and the old Mission San Antonio was occupied in 1803 as headquarters for 100 members of the Second Flying Company (mounted lancer cavalry) of San Carlos de Parras (Alamo de Parras) sent to reinforce the Spanish garrison at the Presidio. They named the old mission compound El Alamo after their former home. The city's first hospital was opened there as well.
In 1821 Spain granted Mexico its independence and American settlers were allowed into Texas under special conditions. In late 1835 San Antonians fought with the Mexican garrison, forcing its surrender and sending the troops to Mexico City. That enraged Mexico President Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who led his army to San Antonio to put down the local insurrection. He arrived Feb. 23 and a 13-day siege ensued with about 200 defenders inside the Alamo complex holding off several thousand Mexican troops until the final assault before dawn on March 6 in which all the defenders died in what became one of the most famous battles in history. Santa Anna was defeated April 21 at the Battle of San Jacinto near Houston in which he agreed to recognize Texas independence that had been declared on March 2 by Texas leaders.
The independent Republic of Texas, however, was not recognized by the goverment in Mexico City, but was by the United States, France and England. Texas petitioned the United States for annexation as a state, which was granted in 1845. That touched off war with Mexico (1847-49)in which the U.S. Marines occupied Mexico City (from the Halls of Montezuma) and eventually saw Mexico surrender to the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in which the United States claimed Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma and parts of Kansas, Wyoming and other states. Today, the Alamo is a historic shrine in downtown San Antonio surrounded by businesses, hotels and tourist attractions such as the River Walk or Paseo del Rio. The other four Spanish colonial Missions have been restored and are part of the Missions San Antonio National Historical Park and all operate as active missions or parishes of the Catholic archdiocese of San Antonio.
Geography and climate
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1,067.3 km² (412.07 mi²). 1,055.6 km² (407.56 mi²) of it is land and 11.7 km² (4.51 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.09% water. The city sits on the Balcones Escarpment.
Climate
San Antonio's weather is somewhat dry, turning hot in the summer, mild in the winter with cool nights, and comfortably warm in the spring and fall. Only a few freezes occur each year and snow is rare.
In San Antonio, July is the average warmest month. The highest temperature ever to be recorded was 111°F/43.8ºC on September 5, 2000. The average coolest month is January. The lowest recorded temperature ever was 0°F/-17.7ºC on January 31, 1949. May, June and October have quite a bit of precipitation.
Winter: Average daytime highs are in the low to mid 60's while being around 40 degrees overnight.
Spring: Average daytime highs are in the upper 70's to low 80's while being in the upper 50's low 60's overnight.
Summer: Average daytime highs are in the mid to upper 90's while being in the low to mid 70's overnight.
Fall: Average daytime highs are in the low to mid 80's while dropping into the upper 50's and low 60's overnight.
Demographics
According to the 2000 census, San Antonio is the 9th largest city in the United States and the 3rd largest in Texas (8th and 2nd according to the July 1, 2004 U.S. Census Bureau estimates). There are 1,144,646 people, 405,474 households, and 280,993 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,084.4/km² (2,808.5/mi²).
There are 433,122 housing units at an average density of 410.3/km² (1,062.7/mi²). According to Texas.com, the current racial make up of San Antonio is: 32% non-Hispanic White, 7% African-American, 2% Asian, 1% Native American; 58% of the population is Hispanic. Hispanics blanket the city, and can be found anywhere in the city. San Antonio's relatively small African-American community resides in the city's eastern neighborhoods, while Anglo/Whites reside in the northern neighborhoods.
In the city the population is spread out with 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 is 32 years. In San Antonio, 48% of the population are Males, and 52% of the population are Females. For every 100 females there are 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,214, and the median income for a family is $41,331. Males have a median income of $30,061 versus $24,444 for females. The per capita income for the city is $17,487. 17.3% of the population and 14.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.3% of those under the age of 18 and 13.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Tourism
San Antonio is a popular tourist destination. The jewel of the city is the Paseo del Rio, or River Walk, which meanders through the downtown area. Lined with numerous shops, bars, and restaurants as well as the Arneson River Theater, this attraction is transformed into an impressive festival of lights during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.
The downtown area also features HemisFair Park (home of the Tower of the Americas and the Institute of Texan Cultures), La Villita, El Mercado, the city's most widely recognized landmark, the Alamo, and the historic Menger Hotel.
Other places of interest include Brackenridge Park (home of the San Antonio Zoo), the missions of the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, the Witte Museum, the McNay Art Museum, SeaWorld of Texas, and the Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme park.
Every April, San Antonio hosts Fiesta San Antonio, a 10-day celebration of the city's diverse cultures and of the heroes of the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, featuring over one hundred events held throughout the city. Visitors can also experience something of the cowboy culture every February at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo; year round, they can also see the 40 ft./12 m. tall cowboy boots at North Star Mall.
Beyond taking in the sights and sounds of San Antonio, tourists can sample some of its world famous Tex-Mex cuisine at the many fine restaurants located throughout the city. San Antonio also has no shortage of establishments offering Texas style barbecue, and for the truly intrepid barbecue aficionado, a day trip to some of the more renowned barbecue pits and smokehouses of Central Texas is both necessary and easily manageable.
Districts and Neighborhoods
San Antonio has several neighborhoods of interest:
- Downtown is bounded on the north by I-35 North, on the west by I-35 South/I-10 West, on the south by Durango Boulevard, and on the east by I-37. Presently there is a campaign to attract residents back to this section, with more residential high-rises and lofts being constructed downtown. This is still, however, a thriving area, with the Riverwalk, El Mercado, and other tourist destinations.
King William National Historic District
The King William area was originally farmland, irrigated by acequias flowing from the San Antonio River, owned by the 1718 Mission San Antonio de Valero. By the beginning of the 19th century, the missions were fully secularized, and the land belonging to Mission Concepcion was bought, sold, and divided into tracts by land speculators, beginning in the 1840’s.
One of the earliest to settle was Carl Guenther, a German immigrant who built Pioneer Flour mill on the lower bend of the San Antonio River. A number of other successful and influential German immigrants discovered the area and began building mansions, using Greek Revival, Victorian, and Italiante architectural styles. Ernst Altgelt, the first to build on current-day King William Street, is credited with naming his street after King Wilhelm I of Prussia.
In later years, the neighborhood fell into decline. In the 1960s, creative young professionals rediscovered the King William area and began a renaissance, which continues to this day.
The South Alamo Street-South St. Mary’s Street National Historic District
The South Alamo Street-South St. Mary’s Street National Historic District is a residential area sited roughly south and west of Alamo Street. Separated from the center city by La Villita and the Hemisfair grounds, the district retains intact most of its late nineteenth- and early tweniety-century fabric and as such, indicates the density and type of development that once spread from the city’s core south to the San Antonio River. The district’s 450 plus structures include frame vernacular dwellings that were little affected by stylistic movements except for decorative details. There are, however, many finely crafted houses that illustrate the stylistic eclecticism emblematic of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century architecture. Bungalows dominate the southern portion of the district and commercial structures are largely limited to South Alamo Street. The district is characterized by the high concentration of dwellings sharing form and stylistic elements, its cohesive architectural fabric, and the law percentage of intrusive structures.
The shape of the South Alamo Street-South St. Mary’s Street National Historic District was fixed early by the courses of the Acquia Madre (now South Alamo Street), the Acequia Concepcion (now South St. Mary’s Street), and the San Antonio River. Ernst Wehrhahn, who was the first to accumulate and develop land in the district, appears to have decided the path of the present Cedar Street. The major north/south streets — Mission, Adams, Wickes and East Guenther — and the east/west streets were largely plotted by the activities of the developers. Wickes Street covers the route of the Acquia Madre as it turned south to empty into the river. Crofton Street curves to follow the flow of the river.
The district’s streets vary significantly in character. While the two oldest structures in the district are found on Cedar Street, the remainder of the street and most of Mission and the east/west streets are composed of simple frame vernacular structures. The dwellings on Adams and Wickes Streets retain many of the same forms and plans of those on Cedar and Mission Streets but generally exhibit a greater variety of materials and stylistic references. Houses along East Guenther and especially Crofton are larger and more elaborately detailed than those found in other areas of the district. Commercial buildings exist along South Alamo Street and South St. Mary’s Street. The commercial corridor in this area is now known as Southtown [2], and its collection of shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes have become a favorite for locals and tourists alike.
The district’s first recorded use was as farm land for labores cultivated to support those living at the Alamo. It is possible that some portion of the land was occupied by those who worked the fields. If so, they likely lived in jacales, a traditional structure constructed of vertical poles set into the ground without interrupted sills. A combination of branches, mud, and animal hari was woven between the versicle members to form the walls and strengthen the structure.
Ernst Wehrhahn purchased land in the northeastern portion of the district in 1858 and 1860. He farmed much of the property but constructed his own house in the one hundred block of Cedar and is credited with the construction of another house in the 200 block of Cedar. Wehrhahn’s caliche block house was built circa 1865 and took the form of three rooms laterally arranged. As the house type is not among the repertoire of the traditional American builder, it is likely that Wehrhan constructed a dwelling similar to those remembered from his native Germany.
Augustus Koch’s 1873 bird’s eye map of San Antonio shows that early development in the district was concentrated in the triangular area formed by South St. Mary’s, South Alamo, and Pereida Streets above Cedar Street. His 1886 map indicated that construction in the thirteen-year interval had largely been confined to South Alamo and Pereida Streets. The L-plan form dominated in the district and in the years between his two maps, several very fine stone and stone and caliche block L-plan houses had been built along the two streets, most by German immigrants.
The real estate partnership of Hardin B. Adams and E.D.L. Wickes was the next significant developing force in the district. In 1871, they purchased a tract of land that ran from mid-block between Adams and Mission Streets between South Alamo and Forcke Streets west to the river. The developers apparently sold only the lots, leaving the actual construction to the buyer and the large number of lumber yards, builders, contractors, and architects who were vying for busiiness.
Axel and Paul Meerscheidt purchased two separate tracts in 1888 and 1890. The first, known as the Meerscheidt’s Fifteen Acred Subdivision, extended from mid-block between Cedar and Mission Streets to the east side of Wickes and from Forcke south for two blocks. The eighteen-acre Meerscheidt River Subdivision was purchased in 1890 and extended the earlier subdivision boundaries west to the river. Within a few years, the Meerscheidts entered business with the lumberman, C.A. Stieren, and they offered buyers the option of purchasing only the lot or a completed dwelling on the property. Most of the houses they offered for sale in the Fifteen Acre Subdivision were frame or brick L-plan structures. Paul Meerscheidt’s own house in the 300 block of Adams was a large, brick L-plan dwelling.
The River Subdivision was seen as more of an elite development meant to compete with the new suburban developments, and utilizing contemporary real estate rhetoric, the Meerscheidts advertised the lots as “exceptionally large and long . . . eminently adapted for villa and choice residences.” Many of the lots were purchased undeveloped. On those developed by the Meerscheidts, they usually placed a large two-story version of the L-plan houses they were building along Adams and Wickes Streets. Other buyers took advantage of the generous lots and river frontage to build substantial dwellings embellished by jig-sawn trim and Palladian openings. All were under construction in the 1890's and are the most intricately detailed structures in the district.
Because of the general uniformity of scale, form, siting, material, and style found in the two Meerscheidt additions, the southern boundary of the developments remains highly visible. Most of the structures located south of this boundary are bungalows, and as a whole they illustrate the large number of architectural permutations available to the bungalow builder. The 500 block of Adams and the 600 block of Mission are dense collections of relatively unaltered bungalows. Each block contains several examples of forms similar to those illustrated in period publications. Since 1930, there has been little construction in the district. By that time, no large parcels of land were available and the city’s development interests were centered in the growing suburban areas to the north. A few houses have been built in the intervening years, but for the most part change has been restricted to the conversion of single family dwellings into multifamily dwellings.
- Monte Vista, also known as Laurel Heights, is another historically gentrified neighborhood of San Antonio. It lies north of downtown and is loosely bounded by Hildebrand Avenue, San Pedro Avenue, Ashby Place, and U.S. 281. Parts of this area have fallen into depression since the city's Gilded Age (1890-1930), a period during which this was the place to live in San Antonio. The main commercial districts of this area are along Main Avenue and around the intersection of Hildebrand and McCullough Avenues. Monte Vista is home to Trinity University and Temple Beth-El, San Antonio's most venerable synagogue.
- The area known as Alamo Heights includes the centrally located cities of Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, and Olmos Park. Today this is the most affluent neighborhood of town. The popular Alamo Quarry Market shopping district is located in the Lincoln Heights section along East Basse. The Alamo Heights area is home to actor Tommy Lee Jones, several King Ranch-related families, and four of San Antonio's six billionaires. The San Antonio Country Club is located in Terrell Hills.
- San Antonio is growing north by northwest, and its newest upscale neighborhoods are located just north of Loop 1604, between I-10 and U.S. 281, in an area called Stone Oak. Stone Oak is home to the Sonterra Country Club and many wealthy people from Mexico. To the west is the La Cantera area, which is anchored by a Westin resort, two golf courses, and the brand new Shops at La Cantera, a mall with such upscale stores as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus.
- Other northern cities include Castle Hills, which straddles Loop 410 and Northwest Military Highway, Leon Valley, just outside Loop 410 on the northwest side, Windcrest, a northeastern suburb known for its extravagant Christmas light displays. Hill Country Village, which lies very much within the city, contains large estates, and it is not uncommon to see deer running through the back yards.
- The southeastern suburb of China Grove is located along U.S. 87 and really is of little note except for the fact that the Doobie Brothers wrote a song about it entitled "China Grove."
- The West Side is known for its wonderful Mexican culture, which is showcased in places like the Guadalupe Street commercial and entertainment district and the Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic church.
- The East Side is home to the Spurs and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. Both events are held at the SBC Center and its older neighbor, the Freeman Coliseum.
- The Near South Side is home to Southtown, King William, Lavaca, Blue Star Arts Complex, and a burgeoning modern district known as Modville[3].
Other significant suburbs include Live Oak and Converse on the North East side of town, both near Fort Sam Houston and Randolph A.F.B. and home to the Forum Shopping Center, one of the largest shopping centers around!
Government
San Antonio operates on the council-manager form of government. Voters elect 11 representatives. This includes 10 district representatives and 1 mayor to pass laws and establish policies for the city. San Antonio politics is non-partisan. Representatives are paid $20 a meeting, while the Mayor earns $4040 a year. The council hires a City Manager to serve as the City's chief administrator.
The current mayor is Phil Hardburger.
Transportation
The San Antonio International Airport is located in north central San Antonio, approximately eight miles from downtown. It has two terminals and is served by 12 airlines serving 28 destinations including 3 in Mexico. An extensive bus and trolley system is provided by the city's metropolitan transit system, VIA. VIA offers 78 regular bus routes and four trolley routes, including express routes from downtown to the theme parks. VIA also offers a special service to city events, including Spurs games and city parades, from its Park and Ride locations.
San Antonio serves as the southern terminus for Amtrak's Texas Eagle train service, originating in Chicago. From there, the Sunset Limited travels west to Los Angeles and east to Orlando three times per week. The old Sunset Station is now an entertainment venue owned by VIA and neighbored by the current station and the Alamodome.
Notable San Antonians
Politics
- Julian Castro, a former city councilman who garnered national attention for campaign stunts involving his twin brother, Joaquin, a state legislator, in his 2005 mayoral bid
- Henry Cisneros, mayor of San Antonio, 1981-1989, and U.S. Secretary of HUD under President Bill Clinton
- John Cornyn, U.S. Senator, who attended Trinity University and St. Mary's University Law School
- Alberto Gonzales, current U.S. Attorney General
- Henry B. Gonzalez, late Congressman
- Oliver North, Marine Lieutenant Colonel and key Iran-Contra figure
Notable Mayors
- Sam Maverick, 1839-1840
- Juan Seguin, 1841-1842
- Maury Maverick, Sr., 1939-1941
- Sam Bell Steves, Sr., 1952-1953
- Walter McAllister, 1961-1971
- Lila Cockrell, 1976-1981
- Henry Cisneros, 1981-1989
- Nelson Wolff, 1991-1995
- Phil Hardberger, 2005-
Judge John H. Wood, Jr.
Judge John H. Wood, Jr. served as a federal judge in San Antonio until 1979, when he was assassinated in Alamo Heights by convicted murderer-for-hire Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson. Harrelson committed the hit on behalf of local drug lord Jimmy Chagra. This was the first assassination of a U.S. federal judge since the 19th century. The federal court house in San Antonio is named in honor of Judge Wood. A Middle School in San Antonio is named after him.
Screen
- Taylor Ball, actor, Still Standing
- Carol Burnett, actor-comedian, The Carol Burnett Show
- Ricardo Antonio Chavira, actor, Desperate Housewives
- Note: Mr. Chavira plays the husband of Eva Longoria's character on Housewives, which is an interesting coincidence because Ms. Longoria is dating San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker.
- Joan Crawford, legendary Academy Award-winning actress
- Ann B. Davis, actor, The Brady Bunch
- Tommy Lee Jones, Academy Award-winning actor (see below)
- Hal LeSueur, actor, brother of Joan Crawford
- Bruce McGill, perhaps the most prolific actor in Hollywood today
- Jared Padalecki, actor
- Ann Prentiss, actor, who gained notoriety in 1997 after being sent to prison for terrorizing members of her family
- Paula Prentiss, actor, sister of Ann Prentiss
- Robert Rodriguez, director, Desperado, Sin City, et al.
- Henry Thomas, actor, E.T.
Tommy Lee Jones and the Mayor
Perhaps San Antonio's most intriguing celebrity, Oscar-winner Tommy Lee Jones, a native of San Saba, makes his home in the Terrell Hills section of town. Mr. Jones's ex-wife and the mother of his children, Kimberlea Moser, is the daughter of San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger and his wife, the former Linda Morgan, an Andrea Doria survivor.
Sports
Basketball
Non-Spurs
- Jeff Foster, center, Indiana Pacers
- Shaquille O'Neal, center, Miami Heat, who graduated from Robert G. Cole High School, Fort Sam Houston, after having led his team to a 36-0 record and state championship
Former Spurs
- Devin Brown, currently with Utah, who attended South San Antonio West Campus High School
- Antonio Daniels, currently with Washington
- Coby Dietrick, who lives in the Alamo Heights section
- Sean Elliott
- George Gervin
- Johnny Moore
- David Robinson
- Malik Rose, currently with New York who owns a Philly cheese steak restaurant in the city's popular Alamo Quarry Market shopping district
Football
- Keith and Kerry Cash (Holmes High School)
- Koy and Ty Detmer (Southwest)
- John Hagy
- Priest Holmes (Marshall)
- Ndukwe (N.D.) Kalu (Marshall)
- Kyle Rote (Jefferson)
Wrestling
Swimming
- Josh Davis, Olympic gold medalist
Music
- Jordan McCoy, American Juniors runner-up, who has signed with Sean (Puffy) Combs
- George Strait, country singer
Letters
- Sandra Cisneros, author, who lives in a purple house in the city's King William district
- Heloise, syndicated advice columnist, who lives in the suburb of Helotes
Religion
- John Hagee, televangelist and pastor of the city's Cornerstone Church
- Max Lucado, best-selling Christian author and pastor of the city's Oak Hills Church, where David Robinson is a prominent member
Business
Billionaires
- Charlie Butt, H-E-B
- Christopher (Kit) Goldsbury, Pace Foods, bought out by Campbell's
- James Leininger, Kinetic Concepts, Inc.
- Lowry Mays, Clear Channel Communications
- Billy Joe (Red) McCombs, founding partner in Clear Channel, auto dealer, and former owner of the Spurs, Minnesota Vikings, and Denver Nuggets
- H. Bartell Zachry, Zachry Construction Company
Other Business Leaders
- Tom Benson, auto dealer and owner of the New Orleans Saints
- Tom Frost, Frost Bank
- Bill Greehey, Valero
- Peter Holt, partner in Caterpillar, Inc., and owner of the Spurs
- Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines
- Ed Whitacre, SBC
Hill Country Residents
- Karl Rove, top adviser to President George W. Bush
- Patrick Swayze, actor
- Madeleine Stowe and Brian Benben, both actors
Sister cities
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- Kaohsiung Municipality, Taiwan
- Kumamoto, Japan
- Kwangju, Korea
- Las Palmas De Gran Canaria, Spain
- Monterrey, Mexico
- Santa Cruz De Tenerife, Spain
Education and scientific research
Colleges and Universities
San Antonio hosts several institutions of higher education offering associate's degrees or higher, including:
- Our Lady of the Lake University [4]
- St. Mary's University School of Law [5] which produces many excellent future lawyers!
- St. Mary's University [6]
- Trinity University [7]
- University of the Incarnate Word [8]
- The University of Texas at San Antonio [9]
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Alamo Community College District. [10]
- ITT Technical Institute. [15]
- Hallmark Institute Of Technology [16]
- Southwest Research Institute [17]
- Baptist University of the Americas [18]
Public schools
San Antonio and Bexar County are served by 15 separate independent school districts, largest among these are Northside Independent School District with an estimated total enrollment of 78,104 (6th largest in Texas), San Antonio Independent School District with an estimated enrollment of 57,500 and North East Independent School District. Other districts that serve portions of the city of San Antonio include Alamo Heights, East Central, Edgewood, Fort Sam Houston, Harlandale, Judson, Lackland, Randolph Field Independent School District--Randolph, known as the Ro-Hawks (short for Rocket Hawks), South San Antonio, and Southwest.
Private Schools
San Antonio has many private schools, notably Central Catholic Marianist High School, Saint Mary's Hall, Keystone and T.M.I.: The Episcopal School of Texas
Other educational facilities
- San Antonio Public Library [19]
Media and entertainment
Newspaper
San Antonio has one major newspaper, the San Antonio Express-News [20], which has been in service since 1865. The Express-News currently circulates as the largest newspaper service in South Texas. A second newspaper, the San Antonio Light, purchased the original Express-News, abandoned the Light name, and became the "new" Express-News. The San Antonio Current is the "alternative" paper with weekly listings of events and nightlife around town.
Television
While the city may be one of the largest in the country, San Antonio is only the 37th largest television market in the United States, according to Nielsen. The following list are the major affiliate television stations in the city.
| Broadcast television in the San Antonio market | ||
|---|---|---|
| KBEJ 2 (UPN) - WOAI 4 (NBC) - KENS 5 (CBS) - KJLF 7 (Ind) - KLRN 9 (PBS) - KSAT 12 (ABC) - KNIC 17 (Ind) - KTDF 18 (TV Azteca) KHCE 23 (TBN) - KEVI 25 (Ind) - KPXL 26 (PAX) - KABB 29 (FOX) - KRRT 35 (The WB) - KWEX 41 (UNV) KQEV 46 (DS) - KFTO 47 (UNV) - KVDA 60 (TEL) |
||
Radio
About 40 radio stations can be heard in the San Antonio area; 30 of them are actually located in San Antonio. The first radio station to broadcast in South Texas was KTSA AM-550 in 1922; that station continues today as the San Antonio's only all-local 24-hour news-talk station. Another significant station is WOAI AM-1200 (affiliated with the WOAI TV station and the flagship of Clear Channel Worldwide), which is the radio home of the San Antonio Spurs.
Two significant changes in the Latin radio market (as of June 27, 2005): Univision Radio's Amor 95.1 (KCOR) FM flipped formats from Spanish Contemporary to Reggaeton, now named "La Kalle 95.1". (http://www.univision.com) "La Kalle 95.1 FM," is a new youth-targeted Spanish-language radio station that will cater to San Antonio Hispanics in the highly sought-after 18-34 demographic, reflecting changes also seen in similar stations in New York and San Francisco.
La Kalle’s high-energy format will primarily feature Reggaeton and Latin Hip-Hop music. Reggaeton, a relatively new genre of dance music that originated in Puerto Rico and derives from a blend of Latin tropical sounds, Jamaican reggae music and urban hip-hop, has taken the US Hispanic market by storm.
This format change adds some needed diversity to the radio landscape, with a playlist that is more inclusive of the tastes of all Latinos in the San Antonio area, including those of non-Tejano descent. Most Latin stations in the area play Regional Mexican, Tejano or Contemporary Pop. Another station, which just started broadcasting in 2004 is Digital 104.1 (SKRIO) FM, which bills itself as Pop en Español, but mostly mimics the format of the former Amor.
Nightlife
San Antonio has a robust nightlife that centers on several key areas:
- The Riverwalk is home to several night clubs, all with a 2am or later closing time, depending on what night it is. Notable clubs in this area include the Hard Rock Cafe, the DANCEPLEX (formerly Polly Esther's), Club RIVE/TABU and Dick's Last Resort.
- Downtown San Antonio, away from the river, has several clubs, including the popular Coyote Ugly franchise bar, gay nightspot The Bonham Exchange ("the" place on Fridays), and the Rivercenter Comedy Club. Other popular bars include the upscale Zinc Wine and Champagne Bar, Swig Martini Bar, Zen Ultralounge, Suede Lounge, and Davenport.
- Away from downtown, a strip of Main Street near San Antonio College includes gay-oriented clubs such as The Electric Company (younger crowds), The Saint (disco, drag shows, strippers), The Silver Dollar Saloon (country-western), and the Heat.
- Also in the area is the North Saint Mary's Strip, located to the east of main street. On this strip, several bars can be found, such as Paparay's, Joey's, the Mix, Tycoon Flats, small coffee shops such as The Candlelight Cafe (mixed gay-straight crowd), and the latino-themed video bar, Arriba.
Professional sports teams
The city's only top-level professional sports team, and consequently the team most San Antonians follow, is the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. The Spurs have been playing in San Antonio since 1973 and have won three NBA Championships (1999, 2003, 2005). Previously, the Spurs played at the Alamodome, which was built for football, but the Spurs built and moved into the SBC Center in 2002. One of the immediate consequences for the SBC Center is the creation of two new teams, The San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League and the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA. San Antonio is also home to the Double-A Minor League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, the San Antonio Missions who play at Nelson Wolff Stadium on the west side of the city.
The city is also a temporary home for the New Orleans Saints for the 2005 NFL season due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The Saints have set up practice facilities in San Antonio for the season, and will play a split home schedule in the Alamodome and Baton Rouge, Louisiana's Tiger Stadium. City officials are said to be attempting to lure the NFL permanently to San Antonio, and have said that a strong showing at the Alamodome for the three local Saints games is vital to showing that San Antonio can support an NFL franchise.
San Antonio hosts the NCAA football Alamo Bowl each December.
Sources
External links
- San Antonio official website
- San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau
- San Antonio Area Parks
- San Antonio Golf by Bunkershot.com Golf Magazine
- San Antonio International Airport
- The Handbook of Texas Online: San Antonio, Texas
- The Alamo at San Antonio - Information on visiting the historic Alamo
- Fiesta, San Antonio
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Local or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Local or Microsoft Virtual Earth
- Brad Messer's site - San Antonio talk radio host
- San Antonio Lightning - San Antonio muckraking website
- WOAI web site - TV and radio local San Antonio news site
- San Antonio Express News wesite - local San Antonio newspaper's site
 |
State of Texas ( Texas Topics | History | Republic of Texas | Politics | Texans ) |
|---|---|
| Capital | Austin |
 Regions |
Arklatex | Big Bend | Central Texas | Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex | Deep East Texas | East Texas | Edwards Plateau | Greater Houston | North Texas | Northeast Texas | Piney Woods | Rio Grande Valley | Texas Hill Country | Texas Panhandle | Llano Estacado | Southeast Texas | South Texas | West Texas See also: Texas Counties |
 Metropolitan areas |
Abilene | Amarillo | Austin–Round Rock | Beaumont–Port Arthur | Brownsville–Harlingen | Bryan-College Station | Corpus Christi | Dallas–Plano–Irving | El Paso | Fort Worth–Arlington | Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown | Killeen–Temple | Laredo | Longview–Marshall | Lubbock | McAllen–Edinburg–Mission | Midland | Odessa | San Angelo | San Antonio | Sherman–Denison | Texarkana | Tyler | Victoria | Waco | Wichita Falls |
