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San Antonio, Texas

"The Alamo City"
Where 189 defenders held a crumbling mission against thousands — San Antonio's story begins with the battle cry that forged Texas independence and echoes through three centuries of frontier, military, and cultural history.
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Founded 1718 | Population 1,434,625 | Peak 1,434,625 (2020) | County Bexar County

Top 10 Most Important Events for San Antonio, Texas

1
1836Battle of the Alamo: A small force of Texan defenders held the former Spanish mission for 13 days against Mexican General Santa Anna's army. All defenders were killed, but their sacrifice galvanized the Texas Revolution and led to independence at San Jacinto weeks later.
2
1718Founding of the Spanish Missions: Franciscan friars established Mission San Antonio de Valero (later known as the Alamo) and four companion missions along the San Antonio River, creating the foundation of the city and the largest mission complex in North America.
3
1968HemisFair '68 World's Fair: San Antonio hosted the World's Fair with the theme 'Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas,' attracting 6.4 million visitors. The fair produced the Tower of the Americas and catalyzed the River Walk's transformation into a world-famous attraction.
4
1921Great Flood of 1921: A devastating flood killed 51 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings in downtown San Antonio. The disaster led to the creation of the Olmos Dam and the eventual channelization of the San Antonio River — which ultimately became the River Walk.
5
1941Military Expansion in World War II: San Antonio's military installations expanded dramatically during WWII, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers training at local bases. The city earned its enduring title of 'Military City USA.'.
6
1842Mexican Invasions of San Antonio: Mexican forces briefly recaptured San Antonio twice in 1842, demonstrating the fragility of the young Republic of Texas and prompting the disastrous Mier Expedition.
7
1877Railroad Arrives in San Antonio: The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway connected the city to the national rail network, ending its frontier isolation and sparking rapid commercial growth.
8
1999Spurs Win First NBA Championship: The San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks to win the first of five NBA championships, establishing one of the most dominant dynasties in basketball history under coach Gregg Popovich.
9
2015Missions Named UNESCO World Heritage Site: The San Antonio Missions — including the Alamo — were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first in Texas, recognizing their extraordinary cultural significance spanning three centuries.
10
1939River Walk Opens: Architect Robert H.H. Hugman's vision for a below-street-level pedestrian promenade along the San Antonio River was completed with WPA labor, creating what would become one of America's most visited urban attractions.
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Population Over Time

0 358,656 717,313 1,075,969 1,434,625 1850 1870 1880 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Complete Historical Timeline

1718 Culture
Spanish establish Mission San Antonio de Valero (the Alamo)
1731 Government
Canary Islanders arrive to form the first civilian government
1793 Culture
Mission San Antonio de Valero secularized
1835 Politics
Battle of Bexar — Texan forces capture San Antonio from Mexico
1836 Politics
Battle of the Alamo — all defenders killed
1842 Politics
Mexican forces briefly recapture San Antonio twice
1845 Government
Texas annexed by the United States
1877 Transport
Railroad connects San Antonio to national network
1891 Government
Fort Sam Houston established as permanent military post
1910 Science
First military flight in U.S. history at Fort Sam Houston
1921 Disaster
Great Flood kills 51 and devastates downtown
1939 Architecture
River Walk pedestrian promenade opens
1941 Government
Military bases expand massively for World War II
1954 Civil Rights
San Antonio becomes first major Southern city to desegregate schools
1968 Culture
HemisFair '68 World's Fair draws 6.4 million visitors
1981 Politics
Henry Cisneros elected as first Hispanic mayor of a major U.S. city
1999 Sports
Spurs win first NBA championship
2003 Sports
Spurs win second NBA championship
2005 Business
Toyota opens manufacturing plant, diversifying economy
2015 Culture
San Antonio Missions designated UNESCO World Heritage Site
2020 Government
San Antonio becomes 7th largest U.S. city

Did You Know?

1
The Alamo was originally a Spanish mission, not a fort — it was converted to a military garrison only after Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821.
2
San Antonio's River Walk is 15 miles long and sits 20 feet below street level, making it one of the most unique urban landscapes in the world.
3
San Antonio has more military personnel and veterans per capita than any other major American city, earning it the official title 'Military City USA'.

Famous People from San Antonio, Texas

JC
Joan Crawford
Actor, Businessperson · Born Mar 23, 1905 · Died May 10, 1977 (age 72)
MR
Michelle Rodriguez
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Jul 12, 1978 · Age 47
RR
Robert Rodriguez
Visual Effects Supervisor, Screenwriter · Born Jun 20, 1968 · Age 57
JP
Jared Padalecki
Actor, Executive Producer · Born Jul 19, 1982 · Age 43
RR
Rick Riordan
Writer, Teacher · Born Jun 5, 1964 · Age 61
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