History of San Antonio in Timeline

San Antonio, Texas, is the seventh-most populous city in the U.S. and the second-largest in Texas, boasting a population of 1.43 million in 2020. Its metropolitan area, home to approximately 2.76 million residents, stands as the third-largest in Texas and the 24th-largest nationally. San Antonio serves as the county seat of Bexar County.

1906: Construction of the Fairmount Hotel

In 1906, the Fairmount Hotel was built and is San Antonio's second oldest hotel.

1922: First Radio Station

In 1922, KTSA AM-550 became the first radio station to broadcast in South Texas.

1922: Inaugural Valero Texas Open

In 1922, the Valero Texas Open, a professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, was first held in San Antonio.

1925: Establishment of Kiddie Park

In 1925, Kiddie Park was established. It is the oldest children's amusement park in the U.S.

1926: Elevation to Archdiocese Status

In 1926, the then Diocese of Galveston was elevated to archdiocese status.

January 31, 1949: Record Low Temperature

On January 31, 1949, the lowest recorded temperature ever 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

In 1957, Along with FM 471, SH 211

1957: Formosan Termite Discovery

In 1957, the Formosan termite was first found in Texas. It has since spread into the greater San Antonio area.

1960: Alamo Ladies Classic Start

In 1960, the Alamo Ladies Classic, an LPGA Tour event, was first held.

1960: San Antonio Annexation Policy

Since 1960, nearly three-fourths of San Antonio's land area has been annexed due to an aggressive annexation policy.

1962: Impoundment of Victor Braunig Lake

Victor Braunig Lake was impounded in 1962.

1963: Chuck McKinley's Achievements

In 1963, Chuck McKinley, while a student at Trinity, won the men's championship at Wimbledon and was a member of the winning Davis Cup team.

1963: Riverwalk Jazz

Since 1963, "Riverwalk Jazz", featuring Jim Cullum Jazz Band, has been a fixture on the River Walk.

1966: Toros of the Texas Football League

In 1966, the minor-league Toros of the Texas Football League began play.

1968: Trinity University Tennis Dominance

Beginning in 1968, Trinity University was a national power in tennis, winning five USTA women's championships and one NCAA men's title by 1976.

1968: Tejanos regain majority status

In 1968, Tejanos resumed majority status of the San Antonio population.

1968: PGA Championship at Pecan Valley Golf Club

In 1968, the PGA Championship was hosted at Pecan Valley Golf Club.

1969: Impoundment of Calaveras Lake

Calaveras Lake was impounded in 1969.

1970: San Antonio population at 650,000

In 1970, the census recorded San Antonio's population at just over 650,000.

1971: Toros of the Continental Football League

In 1971, the Toros were playing in the Continental Football League.

1973: F4 Tornado in San Antonio

In 1973, San Antonio experienced another F4 tornado.

1973: Final Alamo Ladies Classic

In 1973, the Alamo Ladies Classic, an LPGA Tour event, was last held.

1975: San Antonio Thunder First Season

In 1975, the San Antonio Thunder played their first season in the original NASL.

1976: Trinity University Tennis Dominance

By 1976, Trinity University won five USTA women's championships and one NCAA men's title since 1968.

1976: San Antonio Thunder Second Season

In 1976, the San Antonio Thunder played their second season in the original NASL.

1978: Charros of the American Football Association

In 1978, the minor-league Charros of the American Football Association began play.

1981: Charros of the American Football Association End Play

In 1981, the minor-league Charros of the American Football Association ended play.

1983: 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 was moved to its new location, three blocks south of the Alamo, over four days. It cost $650,000 to move.

1987: Increase in Juvenile Violent Crime Arrests

In 1987, the number of juveniles arrested in San Antonio for violent crimes began a period of tripling that would occur between 1987 and 1994, according to the Texas Law Enforcement Management and Administration Statistics Program.

1990: Racial demographics reported by United States Census Bureau

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, 211 killings occurred in San Antonio. By the end of 1993 the city hit a peak in homicides with 230 killings, the highest since 1991 when 211 were killed.

1992: Hearst Corporation Purchase

In 1992, the Hearst Corporation purchased the San Antonio Express-News from News Corp. and shut down the San Antonio Light after failing to find a buyer.

1993: Drive-By City

In 1993, San Antonio earned the nickname "Drive-By City" after the San Antonio Police Department recorded over 1,200 drive-by shootings. By the end of 1993 the city hit a peak in homicides with 230 killings.

1994: Increase in Juvenile Firearm Arrests

By 1994, the number of juveniles arrested in San Antonio for violent crimes had tripled since 1987. Also in 1994, the number of youths arrested for unlawfully carrying firearms had doubled over the same period.

1995: San Antonio Observer

Since 1995, the San Antonio Observer is the only weekly 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: Population of San Antonio in 2000

According to the 2000 U.S. census, the city proper had a population of 1,144,646.

2002: Widespread Flooding in San Antonio

From June 30 to July 7, 2002, 35 in (890 mm) 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 (since renamed the Frost Bank Center), which was built with public funds.

2005: San Antonio Population Estimated at 1.2 Million

In 2005, San Antonio's population was estimated at 1.2 million.

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 Flip

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

In 2007, construction began on the Howard W. Peak Greenway, an 84-mile system of hiking and biking trails around the city.

November 2008: Term Limit Exception

In November 2008, an exception was made for San Antonio City Council members already in office regarding term limits.

2008: AT&T Move to Dallas

In 2008, AT&T Inc. moved its headquarters from San Antonio to Dallas.

2008: Largest City Without Rail System

In 2008, San Antonio became the largest American city without an intra-city rail system when Phoenix procured one.

2009: Planned Annexation by San Antonio

By 2009, the city of San Antonio had planned to annex nearly 40 additional square miles.

2009: River Walk Extension

In 2009, the River Walk began an extension that would add an additional 13 miles to the trail.

May 2010: Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles Unveiled

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, a bike sharing service was approved by the city council, consisting of 140 bikes at 14 locations.

August 2010: Hybrid Bus Introduction

In August 2010, VIA Metropolitan Transit introduced 30 hybrid buses powered by diesel-electric hybrid technology on its express routes.

2010: Population of San Antonio in 2010

According to the 2010 U.S. census, 1,327,407 people resided in San Antonio city proper.

2010: Cable TV Penetration

As of 2010, the San Antonio market had 65% cable TV penetration.

2010: Household and Family Income in 2010

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.

2010: Demographic Data from the 2010 U.S. Census

In 2010, San Antonio had approximately 405,474 households and a population density of 2,808.5 people per square mile according to the U.S Census.

2010: Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio

Since 2010, the Valero Texas Open has been played at TPC San Antonio.

March 2011: Bike Sharing System Operational

In March 2011, the bike sharing system in San Antonio began operation, utilizing the B-Cycle system.

2011: Rivard Report Founded

In 2011, the Rivard Report was founded by Robert Rivard.

2011: Metropolitan Area Population Estimate

In 2011, the U.S. census estimate for the eight-county San Antonio–New Braunfels metropolitan area placed its population at 2,194,927.

2011: UTSA Football Inaugural Season

In 2011, the University of Texas at San Antonio added football, hiring former University of Miami coach Larry Coker as its initial head coach. Roadrunner football began play in 2011, with a record of 4–6.

2011: Cowboys Practice in San Antonio

Through 2011, the Dallas Cowboys practiced in San Antonio.

December 2012: VIA Primo Launch

In December 2012, VIA Metropolitan Transit began operating VIA Primo, a bus rapid transit line connecting Downtown San Antonio to various locations.

2012: San Antonio Scorpions Debut

In 2012, professional soccer returned to San Antonio with the birth of the San Antonio Scorpions of the modern NASL.

2012: Roadrunners Move to Western Athletic Conference

In 2012, the UTSA Roadrunners moved to the Western Athletic Conference.

2013: River Walk Extension Completion

In 2013, an additional 13 miles (21 km) was added to the landscaped walking and bike path line the San Antonio River from the "Museum Reach" beginning in Brackenridge Park through downtown, "Downtown Reach", past the Blue Star's "Eagleland" to the "Mission Reach" ending near Loop 410 South past Mission Espada.

2013: Roadrunners Move to Conference USA

In 2013, the UTSA Roadrunners moved to Conference USA.

2013: Completion of the River Walk's Mission Reach

In 2013, the new Mission Reach of the River Walk was completed. This created over 15 miles of biking, hiking, and paddling trails that connect the Missions to Downtown and the Broadway Corridor.

2014: San Antonio Scorpions Win Soccer Bowl

In 2014, the San Antonio Scorpions won the Soccer Bowl, the first soccer championship in city history.

2014: Southwest School of Art Enrollment

In 2014, the Southwest School of Art enrolled its first BFA class.

July 5, 2015: Missions Named UNESCO World Heritage Site

On July 5, 2015, the city's five missions were named UNESCO World Heritage sites. The San Antonio Missions became the 23rd U.S. site on the World Heritage list.

December 22, 2015: Sale of Toyota Field and S.T.A.R. Soccer Complex

On December 22, 2015, Toyota Field and S.T.A.R. Soccer Complex were sold to the City of San Antonio and Bexar County. Spurs Sports and Entertainment agreed to operate the facilities and field a team that would play in the United Soccer League Championship.

2015: Bicycle Friendly Community Designation

In 2015, San Antonio was designated a bronze-level "Bicycle Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists.

2015: UNESCO World Heritage Site Designation

In 2015, The San Antonio Missions National Historical Park and The Alamo became UNESCO World Heritage sites.

2015: Gallup Study on LGBT Identification

In 2015, a Gallup study determined 4% of the city and Greater San Antonio identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

2015: Restoration Authorized for Hot Wells Hotel

In 2015, work was authorized to begin on the restoration of the former Hot Wells hotel, spa, and bathhouses on the San Antonio River on the city's south side.

2015: First Rising Phoenix World Championships

The first Rising Phoenix World Championships was held at Grand Hyatt, San Antonio in 2015.

2016: San Antonio FC Begins Play

In 2016, San Antonio FC began play in Toyota Field, a soccer-specific stadium.

2016: San Antonio's LGBT Community Treatment Score

In 2016, San Antonio scored a 90 out of 100 in its treatment of the LGBT community.

2016: Trinity University Baseball Team Wins

In 2016, the Trinity University baseball team won the Division III College World Series, contributing to the school's total of six national team and 21 national individual championships in the Division III era.

2016: Number of Murders

In 2016, the number of murders hit 151, the highest toll in 20 years. A majority of the San Antonio homicide victims were Hispanic and African American men between ages 18 and 29.

2016: Lone Star Rail Cancellation

In 2016, the proposed Lone Star Rail line, which would have linked San Antonio to Austin, was cancelled after 19 years of planning.

February 2017: Tornado reported within city limits

In February 2017, a tornado was reported within San Antonio city limits.

October 2017: Relocation of San Antonio Stars

In October 2017, the San Antonio Stars Women's National Basketball Association franchise was relocated to Las Vegas, becoming 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: Economic Impact of Tourism

According to information gathered in 2017, Tourism provided over 130,000 jobs in San Antonio and had an economic impact of $13.6 billion in the local economy. The city received $195 million from the hospitality industry.

2017: Pentecostalism Growth

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: UNESCO "City of Creativity for Gastronomy" Designation

In 2017, San Antonio was designated a UNESCO "City of Creativity for Gastronomy."

2017: Greater San Antonio Population Estimate

The 2017 estimate for Greater San Antonio was 2,473,974.

June 2018: La Prensa Closure

La Prensa, a bilingual publication in San Antonio, closed its doors in June 2018.

2018: Gross Domestic Product

In 2018, San Antonio had a gross domestic product of approximately $121 billion. San Antonio's economy focuses primarily on military, health care, government–civil service, professional and business services, oil and gas, and tourism.

2018: Announcement of San Antonio Commanders

In 2018, the Alliance of American Football announced that the San Antonio Commanders would play in the city beginning in 2019.

2018: UIW Football Team Achievements

In 2018, the University of the Incarnate Word's football team had won three Southland Conference championships and made three appearances in the FCS playoffs.

February 2019: Commanders Open Play

In February 2019, the San Antonio Commanders opened play at the Alamodome.

2019: Household Statistics from the 2019 American Community Survey

According to the 2019 American Community Survey, there were 512,273 households in San Antonio, with an average household size of 2.98.

2019: Gentrification of the West Side

As of 2019, the West Side of San Antonio has undergone gentrification.

2019: Andeavor Acquisition

In 2019, Andeavor (Formerly Tesoro) was acquired by Marathon Petroleum, eliminating the company and moving the headquarters to Findlay, Ohio.

2019: Household Income in 2019

In 2019, households in San Antonio had a median income of $53,571 and a mean income of $72,587.

2019: Migrants released into the city

In 2019, over 31,000 migrants requesting asylum were released by the Border Patrol into San Antonio during the National Emergency concerning the Southern Border of the United States.

2019: Racial Makeup in 2019

In 2019, the American Community Survey estimated San Antonio had a racial makeup of 88.4% White, 6.6% Black and African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race and 1.7% two or more races.

2019: Reported Homicides

In 2019, there were 53 reported homicides in San Antonio. A total of 105 homicides occurred in 2019 in the city.

February 2020: Sale of San Antonio Rampage

In February 2020, the San Antonio Rampage ice hockey team was sold to the Vegas Golden Knights.

June 2020: Increase in Homicides

From January to June 2020, there were 71 homicides in San Antonio according to the San Antonio Police Department, ranking the city fourth in the U.S. for the biggest increase in homicides.

December 2020: Amazon's Expansion Plans

In December 2020, Amazon announced plans for three new facilities in San Antonio.

2020: Baptists as Second Largest Christian Group

According to Sperling's BestPlaces in 2020, Baptists were the second largest Christian group in San Antonio.

2020: Rivard Report Renamed

In 2020, the Rivard Report was renamed to the San Antonio Report.

2020: San Antonio Brahmas Debut

In 2020, the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL's XFL conference began play at the Alamodome.

2020: San Antonio population at 1.43 million

In 2020, the census recorded San Antonio's population at 1.43 million, making it the seventh-most populous city in the U.S. and the second-most populous in Texas.

2020: Evangelical Protestants Predominance

Overall, the Protestant demographic in San Antonio was predominantly Evangelical as of 2020.

2020: San Antonio Population and Ethnic Makeup in 2020

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, and 3.2% Asian.

2021: Walkability 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.