San Antonio Texas
San Antonio was originally a Spanish mission town, and the remnants of this time provide a rich tapestry of historical sites to visit. But once the Spaniards and Mexicans had been defeated in the Mexican and Texas revolutions, San Antonio entered a period of remarkable growth and prosperity. When Texas entered the United States in 1845, it was a town of approximately 800 people. But the city's location at a geographical crossroads soon made it a major distribution point in the United States' push for a country that spanned from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. Immigrants, mostly German, caused the city to grow to be Texas' biggest by 1860. San Antonio became an important center for cattle drives, wool trade and the military. San Antonio was first linked by rail to the rest of the country in 1877, when the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway opened. A new wave of immigration from southern parts of the U.S. changed the cultural mix once more. The city became a transportation hub with 5 railways running through the city by 1900. Infrastructure growth, such as a power plant, sewers and a water supply, boomed in the 1880s and 90s. A wave of Mexican immigration in the early 1900s put Hispanic residents in the majority, a mix that remains true today. The unique mix of cultures had a profound effect on the city's architecture, and created an enduring cultural diversity that makes San Antonio a unique and intriguing city to visit. 
Tourism and the major military presence in the city power San Antonio's economic engine today. Millions of visitors flock to the city each year to visit the Alamo and other historic sites. The Riverwalk district, theme parks and other attractions also draw crowds. There are five major military bases located in and around San Antonio, each bringing thousands of new recruits to the city each year. San Antonio is also a major educational center, with many colleges and universities and a thriving medical research community.While Spanish and Mexican influences are what caused the city to be, San Antonio has played a pivotal role in U.S. history. The city has been marked over the years by cultural diversity, growth and change |