35 San Antonio Facts: Things To Know About 'Alamo City'
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San Antonio is the second-largest city in the southern US.
The city has the seventh-highest population in America. On the other hand, San Antonio ranks second among the most populated cities in Texas.
Founded about three decades back, there are currently 1,434,625 people residing here. A lot of the residents are originally from the Canary Islands. Want to know more about this city? Read on to know interesting facts about this city!
History Of San Antonio
This city in South Texas was founded in the early 18th century. However, the existence of San Antonio dates back to a time before that. Here are some of the important milestones in the history and origins of San Antonio.
San Antonio in South Texas was earlier a land that was unknown to mankind. Explorers from a Spanish community were the first ones to explore San Antonio.
After the Spanish explorers, another group of explorers visited San Antonio in 1691. These were the Papaya Indians.
In 1718, a group of people set out on a Spanish mission. They named it Mission San Antonio de Valero.
The people of this mission are credited to be the founders of San Antonio. The city was founded on May 1, 1718.
This mission was later renamed 'Alamo'. Hence, San Antonio is also now known as Alamo city.
Residents from the Canary Islands, in 1731, came to San Antonio and laid out the city plan. It was then named San Fernando de Béxar.
The city got its name, San Antonio in 1837 when it officially became a county in the Republic of Texas.
Geography & Climate
Austin is known to be the capital of the state of Texas in the United States of America. San Antonio is located right next to the capital city of Austin. Let us take a look at some of the geographical and climatic features of this city in Texas.
The total area of land in San Antonio is 465.4 sq. mi (1205.4 sq. km). Out of this 4.5 sq. mi (11.7 sq. km) is water and the rest is land.
The city is covered in vegetation. Some of the common trees seen here are oak, mesquite, cacti, and other forested lands.
The residents of San Antonio primarily source their drinking water from Edwards Aquafier which sits on the Edwards Plateau in Texas.
Calaveras Lake and Victor Braunig Lake form the first natural reservoirs of this city.
The climate of Bexar County is transitional, and it is a humid subtropical one.
The west side of San Antonio experiences a borderline semi-arid climate.
The summers of this city are humid, long, and hot. Winters, however, are cool and mild.
Food, Culture, Religion & Sports
San Antonio has a cultural heritage that dates back to the 17th century. This city is an amalgamation of a multitude of different cultures. Let us learn how the people of San Antonio embrace these cultures, their food, and their religion.
The most popular tourist attraction of Texas is located in this city. It is known as the Alamo Mission in San Antonio.
The second-most popular attraction here is the River Walk. It is a trail through which people can walk or bike along the San Antonio River. For this, the city is also called the 'River City'.
The second-oldest park in America is also situated here. It is named San Pedro Park and it is also the oldest park in Texas.
Football, baseball, soccer, and basketball are popular sports in this city. Most titles have been won by the baseball team, followed by the football team.
San Antonio is represented by the San Antonio Spurs in the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship.
The religion followed by a majority of the residents of San Antonio is Christianity.
Some of the popular dishes in San Antonio are puffy tacos, sweet potato fries, pozole, and Texas quail.
Cities & Towns
There are different towns and neighborhoods within the city of San Antonio. It is also well-connected to other cities in Texas. Here's a list of neighborhoods in San Antonio and a few other cities that are in close proximity to it.
The core of the city is known as Downtown. Most of the city's famous structures and buildings are located here.
North Central is a neighborhood that is home to some of the poshest localities like Castle Hills, Elm Creek, Stone Oak, Hollywood Park, and Inwood.
Many major universities of Texas are located in the neighborhood of Northwest Side.
South Side is home to a large number of Hispanic and Latino families. These families account for 81% of the population here.
African-American residents have the most number of homes in the East Side neighborhood.
This neighborhood is also home to the Freeman Coliseum and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.
Two iconic universities, namely 'St. Mary's University' and the 'Our Lady of the Lake University' are located on the West Side.
Other Facts
San Antonio goes much beyond its geographical classifications or its cultural history. It is known to form one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. But there are other interesting facts about this city too.
It is one of the only four unique cities in the US. The other three are New Orleans, San Francisco, and Boston.
The South Texas Medical Center, which is the sole center for medical research and care in South Texas, is located here.
San Antonio also boasts of harboring four Fortune 500 companies.
President Lyndon B. Johnson got married to Lady Bird Johnson in San Antonio's St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
The Menger Hotel in this city is where Theodore Roosevelt made recruitments for the cavalry unit named Rough Riders.
The oldest church in Texas is also located here. It is called the San Fernando Cathedral.
This city has the first library in the States that is completely digital. It also has Texas's first museum.
FAQs
Why is it called San Antonio?
The city of San Antonio is named Saint Anthony of Padua's feast day. This name was given on June 13, 1961.
Is San Antonio the oldest city in Texas?
No, it is not the oldest city in Texas. Nacogdoches is said to be the oldest town in Texas.
What type of food is San Antonio known for?
Mexican cuisine is very popular in this city. Puffy tacos are the most renowned dish from this place. Most of the dishes here have a lot of spices.
How many counties are in San Antonio?
There are eight counties in San Antonio. They are Atascosa, Bexar, Guadalupe, Medina, Bandera, Comal, Kendall, and Wilson.
Does San Antonio have hurricanes?
San Antonio does not generally have hurricanes since it is located 120 mi (193 km) inland of the gulf coast. Hence, it only experiences rain.
What is the oldest building in San Antonio?
The Tower Life Building is the oldest in this city. It is located Downtown. It is the fifth-tallest building in San Antonio.
What is the Tower Life in San Antonio for?
The Tower Life Building is a historic building. It is the oldest building that still stands intact today in this city. It is also the fifth-tallest building here.
What is 'The Tower of the Americas' known for?
The Tower of Americas is the tallest building in San Antonio. It is 750 ft (229 m) tall. It is also known to be the tallest building in Texas.
How big is the San Antonio aquarium?
The indoor area of the San Antonia museum stretches for 50,000 sq. ft (7,200,000 sq. in).
Who built San Antonio?
The place was originally built by German immigrants. Later, 25 blocks of the city were restyled by King William.
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