Timeline of San Antonio

Cityscape

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of San Antonio, Texas, United States.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

18th century

• 1718
  • San Antonio founded by Martín de Alarcón. ^{[1] [2]}
  • Mission San Antonio de Valero founded.
• 1720 – Mission San Jose founded. ^[3]
• 1722 – Presidio San Antonio de Bexar built.
• 1731 – Juan Leal Goraz becomes first mayor.
• 1750 – Church of San Fernando completed. ^[2]
• 1773 – San Antonio de Bexar named capital of Spanish Texas. ^[4]
• 1782 – Mission San Jose building constructed.
• 1793 – San Antonio de Valero secularized into military post. ^[4]

19th century

The Alamo in 1854

• 1811 – Juan Baptista de Las Casas, a retired captain from Nuevo Santander, along with several revolutionaries buoyed by the successes of Hidalgo's army in Guanajuato, march into town and arrest the Governors Herrera and Salcedo. Spain stops sending money for troops.
• 1813 – Battle of Medina occurs near town.
• 1821 – San Antonio becomes part of the Mexican Empire. ^[3]
• 1835 - Oct 12 - Dec 11: Siege of Béxar
• 1836 – February 23 – March 6: Battle of the Alamo. ^{[3] [2]}
• 1837 – John William Smith becomes mayor. ^[5]
• 1840 – March 19: Council House Fight. ^[3]
• 1842 – September 17: Battle of Salado Creek occurs near town. ^{[3] [2]}
• 1845 – San Antonio becomes part of the new U.S. state of Texas. ^[6]
• 1849 – Cholera epidemic. ^[3]
• 1852 – St. Mary's Institute founded. ^[7]
• 1853 – Public schools established. ^[3]
• 1855 – William Menger and Charles Degen establish the city's first brewing operation, Western Brewing. ^[4]
• 1858 – St. Mark's Episcopal Church founded. ^[4]
• 1860 – Population: 8,235. ^[8]
• 1865
  • U.S. Army Fort Sam Houston established. ^[9]
  • Juneteenth is an American holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas. ^[10]
  • San Antonio Express newspaper begins publication. ^[11]
• 1868 – Frost Bank established.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 1869 – Trinity University founded. ^[4]
• 1871 – Mount Zion Baptist Church founded. ^[12]
• 1872 – Alamo Literary Society formed. ^[13]
• 1874 – Catholic Diocese of San Antonio ^[14] and Temple Beth-El congregation ^[15] founded.
• 1875 – Sociedad Benevolencia Mexicana founded. ^[12]
• 1878 – Railroad begins operating. ^{[9] [2]}
• 1880 – Population: 20,550. ^[16]
• 1881
  • Evening Light newspaper begins publication. ^[11]
  • Incarnate Word College founded. ^[4]
• 1883 – San Antonio Brewing Company in business.
• 1884
  • March 11: Vaudeville Theater Ambush. ^[3]
  • Societa Italiana di Mutuo Soccorso founded. ^[12]
• 1885
  • Scholz's Palm Garden in business. ^[12]
  • Alamo City Commercial College established. ^[17]
• 1890 – Population: 37,673. ^[16]
• 1891
  • Battle of Flowers festival begins. ^{[3] [18]}
  • The San Antonio Fire Department established.^{[ citation needed ]}
• 1894 – Peacock Military College established. ^[17]
• 1895 – Our Lady of the Lake College opened. ^[4]
• 1896

The Bexar County Courthouse around the turn of the 20th Century

• • Buckhorn Saloon and Gebhardt's Chili Powder Company ^[19] in business.
  • Bexar County Courthouse built.
• 1897 – Ella Austin Orphanage established.
• 1898
  • Woman's Club of San Antonio founded.
  • St. Philip's College founded. ^[4]
• 1899 – Brackenridge Park created.
• 1900
  • Incarnate Word Academy for girls established. ^[20]
  • Population: 53,321. ^{[16] [2]}

20th century

1900s–1940s

The Randolph Air Force Base Administration Building

• 1903 – San Antonio Public Library established. ^[21]
• 1910
  • Population: 96,614. ^{[16] [2]}
  • Thomas Weir Labatt founded what became Labatt Food Service. ^[22]
• 1912 – Alamo Methodist Church built.
• 1914
  • San Antonio Zoo founded. ^[23]
  • River Park (predecessor to the River Walk) is completed.
  • Empire Theater opens. ^[4]
• 1917 – U.S. Army Kelly Air Force Base established. ^[4]
• 1918
  • U.S. Army Brooks Air Force Base established.
  • San Antonio Evening News begins publication.
• 1920 – Population: 161,379. ^[16]
• 1921 – September 1921 San Antonio floods. ^[3]
• 1922
  • WOAI radio begins broadcasting. ^[24]
  • USAA starts operations. ^[4]
• 1924 – San Antonio Conservation Society formed. ^[25]
• 1925 – San Antonio Junior College founded.
• 1926
  • Aztec Theater opens. ^[26]
  • Witte Museum and Texas Cavaliers established.
• 1927 – KONO radio begins broadcasting. ^[24]
• 1928 – Air conditioning installed in hi-rise Milam Building. ^[27]
• 1929 – Majestic Theatre and Cool Crest Miniature Golf opens. ^{[4] [28]}
• 1930 – Population: 231,542. ^[16]
• 1931 – U.S. Army Randolph Air Force Base begins operating.
• 1932 – Frito Company in business.
• 1933 – Earl Abel's restaurant in business.
• 1937
  • San Antonio Housing Authority established. ^[29]
  • Station Hospital rebuilt.
• 1938
  • Pecan-sheller labor strike. ^[30]
  • Ciculo Social Femenino Mexicano founded. ^[30]
  • Brooke Army Medical Center opened. ^[4]
• 1939 - WPA construction begins on Robert H.H. Hugman's vision to transform River Park to Spanish-Style shops of Aragon and Romula.
• 1940
  • Alamo Stadium built.
  • Hertzberg Circus Museum established. ^[25]
  • Population: 253,854. ^[16]
• 1941
  • U.S. military Lackland Air Force Base, Broadway National Bank, ^[31] and San Jose Mission National Historic Site established. ^[9]
  • Mi Tierra restaurant in business. ^[32]
  • The San Antonio River Walk is completed. ^[4]
• 1942 – Trinity University relocates to San Antonio. ^[4]
• 1946
  • Brooke Army Medical Center active.
  • Casa Rio restaurant in business.
• 1947
  • Jim's eatery and Josephine Theatre ^[26] in business.
  • Southwest Research Institute headquartered in city. ^[7]
• 1948 – Sultanas de Bejar (women's group) formed. ^[18]
• 1949 – WOAI-TV (television) begins broadcasting. ^[33]

1950s–1990s

• 1950
  • Free port ^[9] and Stock Show and Rodeo ^[29] established.
  • KENS-TV (television) begins broadcasting. ^[33]
  • Population: 408,442. ^[16]
  • McNay Art Museum established. ^[4]
• 1958 – Fiesta Noche del Rio begins.
• 1959 – South Texas Medical School chartered. ^[4]
• 1960 – Population: 587,718. ^[16]
• 1961 – Henry B. Gonzalez becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 20th congressional district. ^[34]
• 1965 – Southwest School of the Art founded. ^[4]

The Tower of the Americas, the theme structure for Hemisfair '68

• 1968
  • Tower of the Americas erected.
  • HemisFair Arena opens.
  • HemisFair '68 held. ^[6]
  • Institute of Texan Cultures established. ^[25]
  • Hilton Palacio del Rio hotel in business.
• 1969 – Paseo Del Rio Association formed. ^[35]
• 1970 – Population: 654,153. ^[16]
• 1972
  • Texas Folklife Festival begins.
  • Clear Channel Communications opens. ^[4]
• 1973 – San Antonio Spurs basketball team active. ^[4]
• 1975 – Lila Cockrell elected Mayor, San Antonio's first woman mayor.
• 1978 – City passes ordinance creating VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority, the public transport system for San Antonio.
• 1980
  • San Antonio Botanical Garden opens.
  • Annual Tejano Music Awards begin.
  • Area of city: 263.5 square miles. ^[6]
  • San Antonio Food Bank active (approximate date). ^{[7] [36]}
  • Population: 785,880. ^[16]
  • In 1980, Texas was the first state to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday under legislation introduced by freshman Democratic state representative Al Edwards. ^[37]
  • Valero Energy established. ^[4]
• 1981
  • San Antonio Museum of Art established out of the former Lone Star Brewery complex. ^{[25] [4]}
  • Hyatt Regency San Antonio hotel in business.
  • Henry Cisneros becomes mayor. ^[38]
• 1987 – Lamar S. Smith becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 21st congressional district. ^[39]
• 1988 – SeaWorld in business. ^[23]
• 1990 – Population: 935,933. ^[16]
• 1991 – Nelson W. Wolff becomes mayor. ^[38]
• 1992 – Fiesta Texas in business.
• 1995
  • City website online (approximate date). ^[40]
  • Artpace founded. ^[41]
  • New San Antonio Public Library's central library opens.
• 1997 – 55th World Science Fiction Convention held.
• 2000
  • Bahá'í Center of San Antonio founded. ^[42]
  • Population: 1,144,646. ^[43]

21st century

• 2001 – Gurudwara Sikh Center of San Antonio founded. ^[42]
• 2003 – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas established. ^[4]
• 2005
  • Municipal Archives established. ^[44]
  • Joint Base San Antonio organized, consisting of Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, and Randolph. ^[4]
• 2007 – Port Authority of San Antonio founded.
• 2008 – Spurs Community Garden created. ^[45]
• 2009
  • San Antonio mayoral election, 2009 held; Julian Castro (2014 head of HUD) becomes mayor. ^[38]
  • NOWCastSA community news begins publication. ^[46]
  • Texas A&M University–San Antonio established. ^[4]
• 2010
  • Population: city 1,327,407; metro 2,142,508; ^[47] megaregion 19,728,244. ^[48]
  • Area of city: 460.93 square miles. ^[49]
• 2011 – Population: 1,359,758; metro 2,194,927. ^[50]
• 2013
  • BiblioTech public library opens.
  • Population: 1,409,019. ^[51]
  • Joaquin Castro becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 20th congressional district. ^[52]
  • Briscoe Western Art Museum opened. ^[4]
• 2014
  • Ivy Taylor becomes first African-American female mayor of San Antonio.
  • Tobin Center for the Performing Arts opens. ^[4]
• 2015 – May: San Antonio mayoral election, 2015, held.
• 2018
  • April: Baboons escape from Texas Biomedical Research Institute. ^[53]
  • San Antonio celebrates the Tricentennial anniversary of its founding. ^[54]
• 2022 – June: At least 46 people are found dead inside a tractor-trailer in San Antonio.

See also

• History of San Antonio
• History of African Americans in San Antonio
• List of mayors of San Antonio
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bexar County, Texas
• Timelines of other cities in the South Texas area of Texas: Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen

References

1. Cordelia Candelaria, ed. (2004). "Chronology". Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. lxiii–lxxii. ISBN   978-0-313-33210-4.
2. Britannica 1910.
3. Federal Writers' Project 1938, p. 103.
4. Banas, Jeremy; Drake, Cynthia J.; Hensley, Becca; Ortiz, Edmond; Petty, Kathleen; Stockman, Sarah; Winesett, Claire (May 2018). "Past 300: The history of San Antonio is fascinating and complex. Here, we highlight some of the people and developments that have shaped the Alamo City into what it is today". San Antonio Magazine. Vol. 13, no. 8. pp. 23–33. ISSN   2327-8315.
5. William Corner (1890), San Antonio de Bexar, San Antonio, Tex: Bainbridge & Corner, OL   23293179M
6. Nergal 1980.
7. Mike Tigas and Sisi Wei, ed. (May 9, 2013). "San Antonio, Texas". Nonprofit Explorer. New York: ProPublica . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
8. Von Steinwehr 1874.
9. Leon E. Seltzer, ed. (1952), Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World, New York: Columbia University Press, p. 1660, OL   6112221M
10. Cruz, Gilbert (June 18, 2008). "A Brief History of Juneteenth". Time magazine. Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
11. "US Newspaper Directory". Chronicling America. Washington DC: Library of Congress. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
12. Berg-Sobré 2003.
13. Davies Project. "American Libraries before 1876". Princeton University. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
14. William Campbell (1913). "Diocese of San Antonio". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: The Encyclopedia Press.
15. "San Antonio, Texas". Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. Jackson, Mississippi: Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
16. Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790 to 1990, US Census Bureau, 1998
17. Patterson, Homer L. (1932). Patterson's American Educational Directory. Vol. 29. hdl:2027/uc1.b3970358.
18. University of Texas Libraries. "(San Antonio)". Texas Archival Resources Online. University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
19. "La Cocina Histórica (culinary blog)". University of Texas at San Antonio, Libraries – via Wordpress.
20. Texas Almanac and State Industrial Guide. Belo & Company. 1910.
21. American Library Annual, 1917–1918. New York: R.R. Bowker Co. 1918. pp. 7 v.
22. Jones, Mary Elaine; Labatt, Thomas Weir (April 27, 2022). "Oral History Interview with Thomas Weir Labatt, III, April 27, 2022". The Portal to Texas History. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
23. Vernon N. Kisling, Jr., ed. (2001). "Zoological Gardens of the United States (chronological list)". Zoo and Aquarium History. USA: CRC Press. ISBN   978-1-4200-3924-5.
24. Jack Alicoate, ed. (1939), "Standard Broadcasting Stations of the United States: Texas", Radio Annual, New York: Radio Daily, OCLC   2459636
25. American Association for State and Local History (2002). "Texas: San Antonio". Directory of Historical Organizations in the United States and Canada (15th ed.). Rowman Altamira. p. 790+. ISBN   0759100020.
26. "Movie Theaters in San Antonio, TX". CinemaTreasures.org. Los Angeles: Cinema Treasures LLC. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
27. "Lone Star List: Twelve events, moments and places that make Texas Texas", New York Times, May 7, 2016
28. "History of Cool Crest Miniature Golf in San Antonio". 6AM - SATXtoday. August 7, 2024. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
29. Miller 2001.
30. Vicki L. Ruiz and Virginia Sánchez Korrol, ed. (2006). Latinas in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia. Indiana University Press. ISBN   0-253-11169-2.
31. "Institution Directory". Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Archived from the original on May 10, 2000. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
32. Jeffrey M. Pilcher (2012). Planet Taco: a Global History of Mexican Food . Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-991158-5. - Read online at Google Books
33. Charles A. Alicoate, ed. (1960), "Television Stations: Texas", Radio Annual and Television Year Book, New York: Radio Daily Corp., OCLC   10512206
34. "Texas". Official Congressional Directory. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1963. hdl:2027/mdp.39015071164118.
35. Porter 2009.
36. "Texas Food Banks". Food Bank Locator. Chicago: Feeding America . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
37. Dingus, Anne (June 2001). "Once a Texas-only holiday marking the end of slavery, Juneteenth is now celebrated nationwide with high spirits and hot barbecue". Texas Monthly . Retrieved October 11, 2013.
38. Municipal Archives & Records. "Mayors and Alcaldes". Texas: City of San Antonio. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
39. "Texas". Official Congressional Directory. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. 1991–1992.
40. "City of San Antonio Government Home Page". Archived from the original on January 3, 1997 – via Internet Archive, Wayback Machine.
41. "United States". Art Spaces Directory. New York: New Museum . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
42. Pluralism Project. "San Antonio, Texas". Directory of Religious Centers. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
43. "San Antonio (city), Texas". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 28, 2009.
44. "Archives & Records". Texas: City of San Antonio.
45. "San Antonio Food Bank" . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
46. "Texas". CJR's Guide to Online News Startups. New York: Columbia Journalism Review . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
47. "Largest Urbanized Areas With Selected Cities and Metro Areas (2010)". US Census Bureau. 2012.
48. "Megaregions: Texas Triangle". America 2050. USA: Regional Plan Association . Retrieved September 12, 2016.
49. "San Antonio (city), Texas". State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
50. "30 Cities: An Introductory Snapshot". American Cities Project. Washington, DC: Pew Charitable Trusts. 2013. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
51. "The 15 Cities with the Largest Numeric Increase from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 2014. Vintage 2013 Population Estimates
52. Civic Impulse, LLC. "Members of Congress". GovTrack . Retrieved February 27, 2014.
53. "Baboons prop up barrels to escape Texas research centre", BBC News, April 17, 2018
54. "San Antonio's 300th Anniversary Celebration".

Bibliography

Published in the 19th century

• Adolph Wilhelm August Friedrich von Steinwehr (1874), "San Antonio", Centennial Gazetteer of the United States, Philadelphia: J.C. McCurdy & Company
• "San Antonio"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 21 (9th ed.). 1886.
• "San Antonio". Texas State Gazetteer and Business Directory. Detroit: R.L. Polk & Co. 1890 – via Internet Archive.
• Street, avenue and alley guide to San Antonio, Texas, 1892, OL   24366181M

Published in the 20th century

• George Pierce Garrison (1903), "Beginnings of San Antonio", Texas: a contest of civilizations, Boston: Houghton, Mifflin and Company
• Henry Ryder-Taylor (1908), Visitor's guide and history of San Antonio, Texas, San Antonio, Tex: N. Tengg, OCLC   10471850, OL   23356936M
• Chamber of Commerce (1910), San Antonio, the convention city, San Antonio: Guessaz & Perlet, OL   23368850M
• "San Antonio"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 24 (11th ed.). 1910. pp. 126–127.
• Edward Hungerford (1913), "City of the Little Squares", The Personality of American Cities, New York: McBride, Nast & Company
• Marin B. Fenwick, ed. (1917). Who's who among the women of San Antonio and Southwest Texas?. San Antonio, Tex.: Marin B. Fenwick.
• Craighead (1919), Street Guide of San Antonio, Texas, OL   23383569M
• Federal Writers' Project (1938), "Condensed Chronology", San Antonio, American Guide Series, San Antonio, TX: Clegg Company, hdl:2027/mdp.39015034642333
• Charles W. Ramsdell, San Antonio: A Historical and Pictorial Guide (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1959).
• Leah Carter Johnston (1975), San Antonio (Revised ed.), Naylor Co., ISBN   9780811105859, OCLC   2137230
• T. R. Fehrenbach, The San Antonio Story (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Continental Heritage Press, 1978)
• Ory Mazar Nergal, ed. (1980), "San Antonio, TX", Encyclopedia of American Cities, New York: E.P. Dutton, p. 302+, OL   4120668M
• Richard A. Garcia (1991), Rise of the Mexican American middle class: San Antonio, 1929–1941 , Texas A&M University Press, ISBN   0890963681
• Tejano Religion and Ethnicity, San Antonio, 1821–1860
• Jesús F. de la Teja (1995). San Antonio de Béxar: A Community on New Spain's Northern Frontier . University of New Mexico Press.
• Peter Skerry (1995), "San Antonio", Mexican Americans, Harvard University Press, OL   7693062M
• Rodolfo Rosales (2000). Illusion of Inclusion: The Political Story of San Antonio, Texas. University of Texas Press. ISBN   978-0-292-77103-1.

Published in the 21st century

• Char Miller, ed. (2001). On the Border: An Environmental History of San Antonio. University of Pittsburgh Press. ISBN   978-0-8229-7060-6.
• Judith Berg-Sobré (2003). San Antonio on Parade: Six Historic Festivals. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN   978-1-58544-222-5.
• David Goldfield, ed. (2007). "San Antonio, Texas". Encyclopedia of American Urban History. Sage. ISBN   978-1-4522-6553-7.
• Charles R. Porter (2009). Spanish Water, Anglo Water: Early Development in San Antonio. Texas A&M University Press. ISBN   978-1-60344-468-2.
• American Cities Project (November 11, 2013). "San Antonio". America's Big Cities in Volatile Times: City Profiles. Washington, DC: Pew Charitable Trusts.

External links

• San Antonio Public Library. "Local History". Resource Guides. City of San Antonio.
• "San Antonio Government: Historical". Research Guides. University of Texas at San Antonio, Libraries.
• T.R. Fehrenbach. "San Antonio, TX". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association.
• U.S. Library of Congress, Prints & Photos Division. Materials related to San Antonio, Texas, various dates.
• Digital Public Library of America. Items related to San Antonio, various dates
• "Historical Maps of Texas Cities: San Antonio". Perry–Castañeda Library Map Collection . University of Texas at Austin.
• "San Antonio". Texas Archive of the Moving Image . Austin, TX.
• Humanities and Social Sciences Division. "Resources for Local History and Genealogy by State: Texas". Bibliographies and Guides. Washington DC: Library of Congress.
• Journal of the Life and Culture of San Antonio, University of the Incarnate Word, OCLC   456201033

29°25′01″N98°30′00″W / 29.417°N 98.500°W / 29.417; -98.500