After a recent post on Philadelphia, I was greeted on social media with some helpful feedback. This is written childishly and has lazy grammar. Silly article about nothing—move along. Don’t know who wrote this crap, but he sounds like a big putz. Thankfully, San Antonians are known to be a kinder, gentler bunch. As such, here’s a quick look at San Antonio, the Texas city that gets overshadowed by the other monstrosities in its state.
Brief History
Native cultures near what is now San Antonio were introduced to Europeans in the 17th century, and by the 18th century, the Spanish had established several important missions in the area. When the Spanish were sent packing in 1821 by the Mexicans, the land became part of a young Mexico. The arrangement was not particularly palatable to Texans, who fought for independence, losing a battle and the folk hero Davy Crockett at The Alamo (one of the missions) in 1836, but eventually getting their wish.
The independence didn’t last long, being that Texas joined the United States in 1845. That marriage hit the skids when Texas seceded from the Union during the Civil War, only to see the flame rekindled after some marriage counseling, also known as Reconstruction.
From there came an influx of Germans, a railroad, and the seeds of what would become a robust present-day economy.
The Modern Version
Modern San Antonio has made a name for itself as one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the US. As of 2021, the region had a population of 2.6 million, good for third in Texas (behind the behemoths of Dallas and Houston) and 24th in the country, sandwiched between Orlando and Portland, Oregon. In keeping with history, over half those in the area consider themselves Hispanic or Latino.
As Austin and its metro area of 2.3 million sits just 80 miles away, what is sometimes referred to as Austintonio boasts a population approaching 5 million. Austintonio in turn is just one part of the so-called Texas triangle, a megaregion anchored by the aforementioned Dallas and Houston that contains around 21 million Americans. Here’s a map.
San Antonio’s maturation hasn’t always been pretty, characterized by a sprawl that has earned it accolades for being one of the least walkable major cities in the country. With the sprawl comes uneven growth, partly explaining why San Antonio has been flagged for having the highest poverty rate among the nation’s 25 largest metropolitan areas. Along the same lines, the region has been known to appear on lists of the country’s most economically segregated large metros. And as of 2017, local GDP was just 32nd in the US, underperforming what would be expected by population alone.
What Locals Do
Details aside, growth is driven by employment, and employers abound. Headquartered in San Antonio are the likes of Valero Energy, USAA (a financial services and insurance provider), iHeartMedia, NuStar Energy, H-E-B (a regional supermarket chain), and the Pabst Brewing Company (makers of every hipster’s favorite beer). AT&T moved its headquarters from San Antonio to Dallas in 2008, proving that the latter doesn’t just steal jobs from other states.
One of the more unique aspects of the region is its concentration of military installations, including Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, Fort Sam Houston, and Brooke Army Medical Center. Also in the mix are the usual smattering of civilian healthcare entities, call centers, and manufacturing operations, with Toyota having a sizable presence. Prominent universities include the University of Texas at San Antonio and Trinity University.
When not working or studying, locals can be found watching the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, dabbling in the rodeo, or indulging in some Tex-Mex, particularly the delectable puffy tacos. Also worth a mention is Buc-ee’s, providing some of the best gas-station fare the country has to offer. In fact, the chain lays claim to some of the largest convenience stores in the world, such as the one located in nearby New Braunfels.
From time to time, San Antonians have been known to hit it big, exemplified by the success of Shaquille O’Neal, Rick Riordan, George Strait, Megan Thee Stallion, and, of course, the Butthole Surfers.
What Tourists Do
San Antonio has turned itself into a tourist magnet in recent decades, in no small part thanks to a hearty convention center on the banks of the San Antonio River, home to the famed River Walk, lined with shops, bars, restaurants, and the like.
Nearby are the city’s five missions—the most notable being the Alamo—all now UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For the history-averse, plenty of other options await, including but not limited to SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags, and the Tower of the Americas, providing breathtaking views of concrete buildings and something that might resemble hills.
As a reminder, when meandering around, the fact that the average high temperature bests 90°F for one third of the year must be accounted for.
All told, there’s plenty to keep tourists occupied and perhaps even enough to allow for bragging to acquaintances, keeping in mind that no one cares about others’ excursions to the Amalfi Coast, let alone a landlocked city in Texas.
In the end analysis, it could be argued that San Antonio is to Texas what Philadelphia is to the East Coast—historically relevant, vibrant, and overlooked. Perhaps I’ll ask Philadelphians what they think of that.
4 Responses
Really good article indeed. There is so much to do when visiting this beautiful city. Few hundred miles away is the presence of US auto industry.
Thank you. San Antonio is quite a gem, both in terms of economic growth and leisure activities.
looks like a nice city to live but not (yet} on the tourist map;
Definitely a nice area to live, and it’s slowly being “discovered.”