San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County located in the U.S. state of Texas within the South Texas region. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 1.1 million (though a July 1, 2004 estimate by the U.S. Census placed the city's population over 1.2 million making it the second-largest city within Texas and eighth-largest in the country). The San Antonio metropolitan area, however, is the third-largest in the state and 29th in the United States, with a population of about 1.8 million.
The city was named for the Portuguese saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast day it was when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691. Famous for its Riverwalk and the Alamo, the Tejano culture, and being home to SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta Texas theme parks, San Antonio is visited by 20 million tourists per year.
San Antonio has the South Texas Medical Center, the largest medical research and care provider in South Texas. The city is home to the first museum of Modern Art in Texas, the Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum.
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.
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.
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. Average rents in San Antonio in 2005 were $583 for a one bedroom apartment, and $817 for a two bedroom apartment. From 2000 to 2005, home prices have steadily risen in San Antonio. In 2005, the median home price rose over 9% to $75,000.
Twenty million tourists visit the city and its attractions every year, contributing substantially to the city's economy. The San Antonio Convention Center alone hosts more than 300 events each year with over 750,000 convention delegates from around the world.
San Antonio's corporate profile includes AT&T (formally SBC), Valero Energy Corp, USAA, Tesoro Petroleum Corp, Southwest Research Institute, H-E-B, and Clear Channel Communications, which are all headquartered in the city.
Located northwest of the city is the South Texas Medical Center, the largest medical research and care provider in South Texas, which is a conglomerate of numerous major hospitals, clinics, and research and higher educational institutions. The center is responsible for a $12 Billion biomedical industry. It employs some 27,000 persons with a combined total budget of $2.5 Billion.
Other industries such as Toyota Motor Corporation are establishing plants in the area, as the city's economy continues to grow.
Companies not HQ'd in San Antonio but which have a strong presence in the Alamo City include Washington Mutual, CitiBank, QVC, NSA, Bank of America, InfoNxx, and West Corporation.
Native American Indians originally lived along the San Antonio River in the San Pedro Springs area, calling the vicinity Yanaguana, meaning "refreshing waters".
In 1691, a group of Spanish explorers and missionaries came upon the river on the feast day of St. Anthony, hence naming the river after "San Antonio."
The actual founding of the city took place in 1718 by Father Antonio Olivares, upon establishing Mission San Antonio de Valero. Hence via the efforts of the Canary Islanders, San Antonio de Bxar soon transformed into an early Spanish settlement in the Americas.
The Battle of the Alamo took place nearby in 1836, and eventually the town would grow to encompass the embattled mission. This was where 189 defenders held the old mission against some 4,000 Mexican troops for 13 days. The cry "Remember the Alamo" became the rallying point of the Texan revolution against Mexico.
Today, the Alamo is a shrine and museum located in the heart of downtown, and is surrounded by many hotels and tourist attractions.
Source:
SanAntonio-USA.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS