San Antonio

by The Linguist

 

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, located in Bexar County in south central Texas, is the second most populous city in the state with 1,547,253 residents as of 2021 according to Wikipedia. Nicknamed “The Alamo City”, it is known for its rich history which includes Spanish missions, the Alamo, Tex-Mex cuisine, and being home to several military bases.

History

San Antonio was founded as a Spanish mission and colonial outpost in 1718. It was the first Spanish civil settlement in Texas and was frequently raided by Native Americans. In 1821, Mexico achieved its independence from Spain and San Antonio became part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. The Battle of the Alamo in 1836 was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Although Mexican forces defeated Texian soldiers occupying the Alamo, the battle inspired many more to join the cause against Mexican President Santa Anna. On April 21, 1836, Sam Houston and the Texian Army defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing Texas’ independence from Mexico. San Antonio was incorporated as a city in 1837.

For more on the history of San Antonio, visit the City of San Antonio Municipal Archives and Records at

719 S Santa Rosa Ave, San Antonio, TX 78204

, (210) 207-2500.

Population

As mentioned above, San Antonio is the second most populous city in Texas after Houston with an estimated population of 1,547,253 as of 2021 according to the US Census Bureau. It occupies a total area of 531.2 square miles. Its metropolitan area, Greater San Antonio, has a population of over 2.7 million.

Economy

The economy of San Antonio relies heavily on military and defense spending with several military bases located in the metro area. These include Joint Base San Antonio, Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, and others. Healthcare is another major industry, with multiple renowned medical centers such as the UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center. Tourism also significantly contributes to the local economy, bringing over 40 million visitors per year to attractions like the River Walk and the Alamo.

For more on the San Antonio economy, visit the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation at

602 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205

, (210) 226-1394.

Landmarks

The Alamo

The most famous historical landmark in San Antonio is the Alamo. This Spanish mission and fortress compound, originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, was founded in 1718. It is located downtown at

300 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205

. The Alamo was the site of the famous 1836 battle where Texian forces were defeated by the Mexican army after a 13-day siege. Today, the Alamo is Texas’ top tourist attraction, drawing over 1.6 million visitors annually. It preserves the original Shrine and Church as well as features museum exhibits and guided tours of the grounds.

GPS coordinates: 29.4257136, -98.4859778

San Antonio River Walk

The beautiful San Antonio River Walk is one of the most popular attractions in Texas. It consists of a network of navigable waterways, overlooks, shops, restaurants, and event spaces lining the San Antonio River in downtown. The 15-mile River Walk loops around downtown and connects major sites like the Alamo, Hemisfair, Pearl, and the Museum Reach. It attracts over 9 million visitors per year.

GPS coordinates: 29.4248336, -98.4952153

Tower of the Americas

The Tower of the Americas is a 750-foot tall observation tower located in Hemisfair Park. It was built for the 1968 World’s Fair and provides panoramic views of San Antonio from the top. The tower contains a restaurant, 4D theater ride, and SKYWALK outdoor observation deck.

Address: 739 E Cesar E Chavez Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78205

GPS coordinates: 29.4247147, -98.4766616

Public Transportation

Public transportation in San Antonio is provided by VIA Metropolitan Transit. VIA operates over 90 routes serving the city of San Antonio and many suburban municipalities within Bexar County. Services include bus, paratransit, streetcar, and vanpool. Their main station is located downtown at

500 W Cypress St, San Antonio, TX 78207

, (210) 362-2020.

For schedules, routes, fares and more information, visit the VIA Metropolitan Transit website.

Major Employers

The largest employers in San Antonio include:

  • Joint Base San Antonio – Over 71,000 employees
  • H-E-B – Over 21,000 employees
  • Northside ISD – Over 11,000 employees
  • Methodist Healthcare System – Over 9,400 employees
  • City of San Antonio – Over 9,300 employees
  • USAA – Over 9,000 employees
  • San Antonio ISD – Over 7,800 employees
  • University Health System – Over 7,000 employees
  • Wells Fargo – Over 7,000 employees
  • University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) – Over 3,700 employees

Museums

Top museums in San Antonio include:

  • The Alamo – Details the history of the Alamo and Texas Revolution, located on the grounds of the Alamo itself.
  • McNay Art Museum – Housed in a Spanish Colonial Revival mansion, with over 20,000 works of modern, contemporary and folk art.
  • DoSeum – Interactive children’s museum promoting science, math, and technology education.
  • San Antonio Museum of Art – Over 5,000 works from ancient times to today, plus rotating exhibits.
  • Buckhorn Saloon & Museum – Wild West museum with wildlife from all 50 states and over 30 nations.

Sports

San Antonio is home to several professional and collegiate sports teams:

  • San Antonio Spurs – Professional basketball team playing in the NBA. The Spurs have won 5 championships and are based at the AT&T Center.
  • San Antonio Missions – Minor league baseball team playing in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League as an affiliate of the San Diego Padres.
  • UTSA Roadrunners – College athletics program representing the University of Texas at San Antonio. The Roadrunners field 17 Division I teams including football, basketball, baseball and more.

Education

Public primary and secondary education in San Antonio is provided by 15 independent school districts, the largest being:

Higher education options include:

Additional Local Resources

Location