San Antonio: History

Pre-20th-Century History

San Antonio was established as a Spanish military garrison in 1718, though Europeans had been pestering the local Indian tribes since 1691. The original settlement along San Pedro Creek was moved in 1724 to what's now downtown San Antonio. Known originally as the Misión San Antonio de Valero, it was later renamed the Alamo. During the 1810-1821 Mexican Revolution, common interests in securing freedom from Spain had Americans fighting alongside Mexicans in several key battles. At the war's end though, Texas became a Mexican state and 3500 American settlers quickly moved into the area.

After the seven month Texas War for Independence from Mexico (1835-1836), San Antonio boomed as a cattle town. European migrants, including vast numbers of Germans and Czechs, began settling in the area. In 1879, Fort Sam Houston was established by the US Army.

Modern History

The city's subsequent growth was largely due to military presence: Fort Sam was joined by Kelly Air Force base in 1917, followed by Lackland, Randolph and Brooks Air Force bases. In 1921, floods destroyed downtown San Antonio, drowning as many as 50 people. As a result, the Olmos Dam was constructed to handle overflow. A river beautification scheme was hatched about the same time and by 1941 the Riverwalk was taking shape. The first hotel went up along the walk in 1962 and development took off from there; new hotels are still being built.

Recent History

Today, the city's easygoing atmosphere can't hide the fact that it's a major player in the medical/biotechnology industry, which accounts for 15% of its economy. The military continues to have a strong presence, but it is tourism that is SA's bread and butter. Almost 23 million people visit annually and there are more than 33,000 hotel rooms in the metropolitan area. You won't be alone when you visit, but at least you should be able to find a room.

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