History of San Antonio in Timeline
San Antonio, Texas, is a major U.S. city and the most populous in Greater San Antonio. It's the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest in the U.S., boasting a population of 2.6 million in 2020. Serving as the county seat of Bexar County, San Antonio ranks as the seventh-most populous city in the United States, and second in both the Southern U.S. and Texas, after Houston.
1 day ago : Texas Governor Deploys National Guard Amidst Anti-ICE Protests in San Antonio.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is deploying the National Guard to San Antonio and other locations due to spreading anti-ICE protests. The Guard will assist Texas DPS, potentially impacting weekend protests.
1906: Fairmount Hotel Built
The Fairmount Hotel, San Antonio's second oldest hotel, was built in 1906.
1922: First Radio Station Broadcast
In 1922, KTSA AM-550 became the first radio station to broadcast in South Texas.
1925: Kiddie Park Established
In 1925, Kiddie Park, an amusement park featuring old-fashioned rides for children, was established, and is the oldest children's amusement park in the U.S.
1926: Elevation to Archdiocese status
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Antonio was elevated to archdiocese status in 1926.
January 31, 1949: Record Low Temperature
On January 31, 1949, the lowest recorded temperature in San Antonio was 0 °F (−18 °C).
1953: F4 Tornado in San Antonio
In 1953, San Antonio experienced an F4 tornado that resulted in two deaths and 15 injuries.
1957: FM 1957 Mention
FM 1957 was mentioned along with FM 471 and SH 211.
1957: Formosan Termite First Found
In 1957, the Formosan termite, an invasive pest causing structural damage, was first found in the state and has since spread into the greater San Antonio area, creating a problem for the region's pecan orchards.
1960: Alamo Ladies Classic
In 1960, the Alamo Ladies Classic started as an LPGA Tour event.
1960: Annexation Policy
Since 1960, nearly three-fourths of San Antonio's land area has been annexed.
1962: Victor Braunig Lake impounded
Victor Braunig Lake was impounded in 1962.
1963: Chuck McKinley won the men's championship at Wimbledon
In 1963, Chuck McKinley won the men's championship at Wimbledon and was a member of the winning Davis Cup team as a student at Trinity.
1963: Riverwalk Jazz
Since 1963, Jim Cullum Jazz Band has been playing at The Landing on the River Walk, featured on KSTX's "Riverwalk Jazz".
1966: Toros joined Football League
In 1966, the Toros joined the Texas Football League.
1968: Trinity University won USTA women's championships
In 1968, Trinity University won USTA women's championships.
1968: PGA Championship at Pecan Valley Golf Club
In 1968, the Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio hosted the PGA Championship.
1969: Calaveras Lake impounded
Calaveras Lake was impounded in 1969, to use recycled treated wastewater for power plant cooling.
1970: San Antonio Census Population
The 1970 census recorded San Antonio's population as just over 650,000.
1971: Toros end Football League
In 1971, the Toros ended their participation in the Texas Football League.
1973: F4 Tornado in San Antonio
In 1973, San Antonio experienced another F4 tornado.
1973: Alamo Ladies Classic
In 1973, the Alamo Ladies Classic ended as an LPGA Tour event.
1975: San Antonio Thunder first season
In 1975, the San Antonio Thunder played their first season in the original NASL.
1976: Trinity University won USTA women's championships
In 1976, Trinity University won USTA women's championships.
1976: San Antonio Thunder second season
In 1976, the San Antonio Thunder played their second season in the original NASL.
1978: Charros joined Football Association
In 1978, the Charros joined the American Football Association.
1981: Charros end Football Association
In 1981, the Charros ended their participation in the American Football Association.
1983: San Antonio homicide rate
In 1983 San Antonio had the tenth highest homicide rate in Texas with 18.5 homicides per 100,000 residents.
January 13, 1985: Record Snowfall in San Antonio
On January 13, 1985, San Antonio received a record snowfall of 16 inches (41 cm).
1985: Fairmount Hotel Move
In 1985, the Fairmount Hotel, one of the heaviest buildings ever moved intact, was relocated three blocks south of the Alamo over four days at a cost of $650,000.
1987: Juvenile arrests for violent crimes
According to the Texas Law Enforcement Management and Administration Statistics Program, the number of juveniles arrested in San Antonio for violent crimes tripled between 1987 and 1994.
1990: San Antonio Census Bureau report
In 1990, the United States Census Bureau reported San Antonio's population as 55.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Black or African American, and 36.2% non-Hispanic white.
1991: High Homicide Rate
In 1991, San Antonio experienced a high homicide rate, with 211 killings recorded.
1992: Express-News Purchase and Light Closure
In 1992, the Hearst Corporation purchased the San Antonio Express-News from News Corp. and subsequently shut down the San Antonio Light after failing to find a buyer.
1993: Drive-By City Nickname and Homicide Peak
In 1993, San Antonio was nicknamed the "Drive-By City" due to over 1,200 drive-by shootings. This violence, concentrated in high-poverty areas on the east and west sides, contributed to a peak of 230 homicides in the city by the end of 1993.
1994: Juvenile arrests for violent crimes
According to the Texas Law Enforcement Management and Administration Statistics Program, the number of juveniles arrested in San Antonio for violent crimes tripled between 1987 and 1994. The number of youths arrested for unlawfully carrying firearms doubled over the same period.
1995: San Antonio Observer
Since 1995, the San Antonio Observer has been the only African American newspaper in San Antonio and the largest in South Texas.
October 1998: Central Texas Floods
In October 1998, the Central Texas floods resulted in $750 million in damage and 32 deaths.
September 5, 2000: Record High Temperature
On September 5, 2000, the highest temperature ever recorded in San Antonio was 111 °F (44 °C).
2000: 2000 U.S. Census
According to the 2000 U.S. census, the city proper had a population of 1,144,646, ranking it the ninth-most populated city in the country. In 2000, the metropolitan area had a population of 1,592,383, ranking it 30th in the United States.
2002: San Antonio Area Flooding
From June 30 to July 7, 2002, 35 inches of rain fell in the San Antonio area, resulting in widespread flooding and 12 fatalities.
2002: Spurs Move to SBC Center
In 2002, the San Antonio Spurs moved into the SBC Center, now known as the Frost Bank Center, which was built with public funds.
2005: San Antonio Population Estimate
In 2005, the estimated population of San Antonio reached 1.2 million through population growth and land annexation.
January 12, 2006: KMYO-FM Format Change
On January 12, 2006, Univision-owned KMYO-FM "La Kalle 95.1" changed its format from Hispanic-Rhythmic Contemporary Hits to Spanish Oldies, then named "Recuerdo 95.1".
November 10, 2006: KLTO Tejano 97.7 Format Change
On November 10, 2006, Univision flipped KLTO Tejano 97.7's format to reggaeton in an attempt to reintroduce the format to San Antonio.
2007: Greenway Construction Begins
Construction began on the Howard W. Peak Greenway in 2007, an 84-mile system of hiking and biking trails.
November 2008: Term limits for City Council
In November 2008, San Antonio City Council members in office at that time were limited to a total of two terms, while others were limited to four terms.
2008: Largest American City without Rail System
San Antonio became the largest American city without an intra-city rail system in 2008 when Phoenix procured one.
2009: Planned Annexation
By 2009, the city of San Antonio planned to annex nearly 40 additional square miles of land.
2009: River Walk Expansion Begins
In 2009, an additional 13 miles (21 km) was added to the River Walk, extending the landscaped walking and bike path along the San Antonio River.
May 2010: Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles
In May 2010, VIA Metropolitan Transit unveiled new vehicles powered by compressed natural gas.
May 2010: Land Release to Schertz
In May 2010, the City of San Antonio agreed to release 3,486 acres of land in its extraterritorial jurisdiction along Interstate 10 to Schertz.
June 17, 2010: Bike Sharing Service Approved
On June 17, 2010, the city council approved a bike sharing service with 140 bikes at 14 locations.
August 2010: Hybrid Buses Unveiled
In August 2010, VIA Metropolitan Transit unveiled buses that are powered by diesel-electric hybrid technology and put them into service on VIA's express routes.
2010: 2010 U.S. Census
According to the 2010 U.S. census, 1,327,407 people resided in San Antonio city proper, an increase of 16.0% since 2000. The racial composition of the city based on the 2010 U.S. census is as follows: 72.6% White (non-Hispanic whites: 26.6%), 6.9% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 3.4% two or more races, and 13.7% other races. In addition, 63.2% of the city's population was of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race.
2010: Cable TV Penetration
As of 2010, the San Antonio market has 65% cable TV penetration.
2010: San Antonio Median Income
At the 2010 U.S. census, San Antonio's median income for a household was $36,214, and the median income for a family was $53,100. About 17.3% of the population was below the poverty line.
2010: Population statistics in 2010
In 2010, San Antonio had approximately 405,474 households and a population density of 2,808.5 people per square mile. The median age was 32 years, with 48% of the population being male and 52% female.
2010: Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio
In 2010, the Valero Texas Open was played at TPC San Antonio.
March 2011: Bike Share Operation
In March 2011, San Antonio Bike Share, locally operated and maintained by Bike World, began operation, using the B-Cycle system.
2011: Rivard Report Founded
In 2011, the Rivard Report, which would later be renamed to the San Antonio Report, was founded by Robert Rivard.
2011: UTSA Added Football
In 2011, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) added football, hiring Larry Coker as head coach, and began play with a record of 4-6, setting attendance records.
2011: U.S. Census Estimate
The 2011 U.S. census estimate for the eight-county San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan area placed its population at 2,194,927.
2011: Cowboys Practiced in San Antonio
The Dallas Cowboys practiced in San Antonio through 2011.
December 2012: VIA Primo Launch
In December 2012, VIA Metropolitan Transit began operating a bus rapid transit line known as VIA Primo.
2012: UTSA Moved to Western Athletic Conference
In 2012, UTSA moved to the Western Athletic Conference.
2012: San Antonio Scorpions born
In 2012, professional soccer returned to San Antonio with the birth of the San Antonio Scorpions of the modern NASL.
2013: UTSA Moved to Conference USA
In 2013, UTSA moved to Conference USA.
2013: River Walk Expansion Completed
In 2013, the 13-mile expansion of the River Walk was completed, connecting the "Museum Reach" in Brackenridge Park to the "Mission Reach" near Loop 410 South past Mission Espada.
2013: Mission Reach Completed
In 2013, the new Mission Reach of the River Walk was completed, creating over 15 miles (24 km) of trails connecting the Missions to Downtown and the Broadway Corridor.
2014: Scorpions won Soccer Bowl
In 2014, the San Antonio Scorpions won the Soccer Bowl, marking the first soccer championship in the city's history.
2014: Southwest School of Art Enrollment
In 2014, the Southwest School of Art enrolled its first BFA class.
December 22, 2015: Toyota Field Sold and Agreement with Spurs Sports
On December 22, 2015, Toyota Field and S.T.A.R. Soccer Complex were sold to the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, with Spurs Sports and Entertainment agreeing to operate the facilities and field a team in the United Soccer League Championship.
2015: Gallup study
A Gallup study in 2015 determined that 4% of the city and Greater San Antonio identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.
2015: Airport Ranking
As of 2015, San Antonio International Airport is the 6th busiest airport based on passenger boardings in Texas and 44th in the United States.
2015: UNESCO World Heritage site
In 2015, the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and The Alamo became UNESCO World Heritage sites.
2015: Rising Phoenix World Championships
In 2015, the first Rising Phoenix World Championships was held at Grand Hyatt, San Antonio.
2015: UNESCO World Heritage Sites designation
In 2015, the five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, were designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
2015: Hot Wells Restoration Authorized
In 2015, work was authorized to begin on the restoration of the former Hot Wells hotel, spa, and bathhouses on the San Antonio River.
2015: Bicycle Friendly Community Designation
San Antonio was designated a bronze-level "Bicycle Friendly Community" in 2015 by the League of American Bicyclists.
2016: San Antonio FC Begin Play
In 2016, San Antonio FC began play in Toyota Field.
2016: Murders hit 20 year high
In 2016, San Antonio saw the number of murders hit 151, marking the highest toll in 20 years, with the majority of victims being Hispanic and African American men aged 18 to 29.
2016: San Antonio LGBT community rating
In 2016, San Antonio scored a 90 out of 100 in its treatment of the LGBT community.
2016: Trinity University won Division III College World Series
In 2016, Trinity University's baseball team won the Division III College World Series.
2016: Lone Star Rail Cancellation
In 2016, the proposed passenger rail line, Lone Star Rail, which would have linked San Antonio to Austin, was cancelled after 19 years of planning.
February 2017: Tornado in San Antonio
In February 2017, a tornado was reported within San Antonio's city limits.
October 2017: San Antonio Stars Relocation
In October 2017, the San Antonio Stars Women's National Basketball Association franchise was relocated to Las Vegas to become the Las Vegas Aces.
December 7, 2017: Snowfall in San Antonio
On December 7, 2017, San Antonio was coated with 1.9 inches (4.8 cm) of snow.
2017: Pentecostalism outgrew Lutheranism
From 2017 to 2020, Pentecostalism outgrew Lutheranism and tied with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as the fourth largest Christian group.
2017: Ron Nirenberg elected Mayor
In 2017, Ron Nirenberg was elected as the mayor of San Antonio with 54.59% of the vote.
2017: UNESCO "City of Creativity for Gastronomy"
In 2017, San Antonio was designated a UNESCO "City of Creativity for Gastronomy."
2017: Tourism Economic Impact
In 2017, tourism in San Antonio had an economic impact of $13.6 billion and provided over 130,000 jobs. The city also received $195 million from the hospitality industry.
2017: Greater San Antonio population estimate
The 2017 estimate for Greater San Antonio was 2,473,974, making it the third-most populous metro area in Texas and the 24th-most populous metro area in the U.S.
May 1, 2018: San Antonio's 300th Anniversary
On May 1, 2018, San Antonio celebrated its 300th anniversary as the oldest municipality in Texas.
June 2018: La Prensa Closure
La Prensa, a bilingual publication in San Antonio, closed its doors in June 2018.
2018: San Antonio's GDP
In 2018, San Antonio had a diversified economy with a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $121 billion, focusing primarily on military, health care, government–civil service, professional and business services, oil and gas, and tourism.
2018: AAF Announced Commanders
In 2018, the Alliance of American Football announced that the San Antonio Commanders would play in the city beginning in 2019.
2018: UIW Success
Since 2018, the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW)'s football team has experienced success by winning three Southland Conference championships and making three appearances in the FCS playoffs.
2019: West Side Gentrification
As of 2019, the West Side of San Antonio has undergone gentrification.
2019: American Community Survey
At the 2019 American Community Survey, there were 512,273 households and 319,673 families in San Antonio. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.83.
2019: Ron Nirenberg Reelected
In 2019, Ron Nirenberg was narrowly reelected as mayor against conservative challenger Greg Brockhouse.
2019: Homicide Statistics
In 2019, San Antonio reported 53 homicides from January to June, with a total of 105 homicides occurring throughout the year.
2019: Household income in 2019
In 2019, households in San Antonio had a median income of $53,571. An estimated 16.8% of the population lived at or below the poverty line. The city of San Antonio and its metropolis was rated the poorest in 2019.
2019: Migrants released into San Antonio
In 2019, over 31,000 migrants requesting asylum were released into San Antonio by the Border Patrol.
February 2020: San Antonio Rampage Sold
In February 2020, the San Antonio Rampage ice hockey team franchise was sold to the Vegas Golden Knights.
June 2020: Increase in Homicides
Between January and June 2020, San Antonio experienced a surge in homicides, recording 71 incidents, which contributed to the city ranking fourth in the U.S. for the biggest increase in homicides.
December 2020: Amazon Announces New Facilities
In December 2020, Amazon announced plans to establish three new facilities in San Antonio.
2020: Christian Groups
According to Sperling's BestPlaces in 2020, the second largest Christian group were Baptists, with Methodists being the third largest. Denver Heights Church is a prominent African American-led church in the area.
2020: Predominantly Evangelical Protestant Demographic
As of 2020, the Protestant demographic in San Antonio was predominantly Evangelical.
2020: Rivard Report Renamed
In 2020, the Rivard Report was renamed to the San Antonio Report.
2020: San Antonio population in 2020
In 2020, the United States census determined San Antonio to have a population of 2.6 million people in the Greater San Antonio area.
2020: Brahmas played at Alamodome
Since 2020, the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL's XFL conference have played at the Alamodome.
2020: U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 Census Results
The U.S. Census Bureau's 2020 census determined San Antonio had a population of 1,434,625 residents, with a racial and ethnic makeup of 23.4% non-Hispanic white, 63.9% Hispanic or Latin American, 6.5% Black and African American, 3.2% Asian, and 2.3% multiracial or some other race.
2021: Walk Score Ranking
As of 2021, Walk Score ranks San Antonio as the least walkable American city with a population greater than one million.
2021: North American Winter Storm
During the February 13–17, 2021, North American winter storm, San Antonio was blanketed with 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) of snow, causing massive rolling blackouts.
2022: San Antonio FC win League Championship
In 2022, San Antonio FC won the league championship.
2022: Traffic Congestion Ranking
In a 2022 study by TomTom, San Antonio is the 41st-most congested city in the U.S. and the fifth-most congested city in Texas.
2023: UTSA Moved to American Athletic Conference
In 2023, UTSA moved to the American Athletic Conference.
2024: NuStar Energy Acquired
In 2024, NuStar Energy, previously a Fortune 500 company headquartered in San Antonio, was purchased by Sunoco LP.
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