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 San Antonio, Texas
 

  
  Living in San Antonio
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Most of the old cowboy movies were made in West Texas, which bears virtually no resemblance to the look and feel of San Antonio. There's no tumbleweed; you won't see cowboys wearing guns and holsters; the landscape isn't flat and dusty; and not all the buildings look like the old Spanish missions. The eighth largest city in the United States, San Antonio is located in South Central Texas, where the coastal plain meets the Texas Hill Country. The elevation varies from 500–1,500 feet. Also known as the Alamo City and the River City, San Antonio is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.9 to 2.3 percent through the year 2010.

Here's a list of answers to frequently asked questions.

 

Are the sidewalks rolled up at night?

No. At least not until 2 a.m. But then they roll back out about 5 a.m. There's a nightlife in San Antonio with lots of things to do. We have professional and semi-professional sports teams, top-name concerts, clubs with live bands and dancing, 24-hour restaurants and fitness centers, excellent well-known restaurants and many not-so-well-known neighborhood eateries.

  • Movie Theaters–A detailed list of theaters in San Antonio

  • Music/Clubs (Check the San Antonio Express-News Friday "Weekender" for more listings.)

  • Restaurants–There are many great restaurants in San Antonio. Here's a short list of local and nationally recognized restaurants.

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Is there anything to do on the weekends?

Not only is San Antonio a great place to visit, it's a great place to live. Besides the theaters, music, restaurants, and sports listed above, there are major theme parks; several city parks–most with golf courses; the River Walk downtown; several lakes and rivers within an hour's drive; major art museums; the Majestic Theater, which hosts Broadway shows and the San Antonio Symphony; facilities for ball games, swimming, and tennis; specialty shops, antique shops, and flea markets–all within the city limits or within 1-1/2 hours from San Antonio. Austin is only 1 hour away, Houston is 3 hours away, and the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex is a 5-hour drive. The Gulf Coast (Corpus Christi) is only 2-1/2 hours away, snow skiing (Ruidoso, New Mexico) is 13 hours away, and New Orleans (Mardi Gras) is 9 hours away.

  • Flea Markets

    • Austin Country Flea Mart–9500 Hwy 290 East, Austin, TX, (512) 928-2795. Operates: Weekends, Hours: 10 am–6 pm

    • Bussey's Flea Market–18738 Interstate 35 North, Schertz, TX, (210) 651-6830

    • Eisenhauer Road Flea Market–3903 Eisenhauer Rd., San Antonio, TX, (210) 653-7592

    • I-37 Flea Market, Southton Road, San Antonio, TX, (210) 633-2220

    • Interstate 10 Flea Market–11819 W. IH-10, Marion, TX, (830) 914-4447.  Operates: Every Saturday/Sunday, 8 am–5 pm

    • Marbach Flea Market–7014 Marbach Rd., San Antonio, TX, (210) 674-7540

    • San Antonio Flea Market–12280 Hwy 16 South, San Antonio, TX, (210) 624-2666. Operates: weekends

    • W.W. White Flea Market–1265 South W.W. White Road, San Antonio, TX, (210) 333-7711
       

  • Gambling

  • Gulf Coast

    • Corpus Christi  (2 hours, 4 minutes for 143 miles)

    • South Padre Island  (5 hours, 16 minutes for 292.56 miles)

    • Port Aransas  (2 hours, 46 minutes for 171.96 miles)

    • Rockport  (2 hours, 48 minutes for 175.15 miles)
       

  • Lakes/Rivers
         San Antonio is surrounded by lakes and rivers. Many have facilities for boating, fishing, sailing, skiing, swimming, tubing, lodging, and day and overnight camping.

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Would there be a shopping center close to my home?

Most likely. San Antonio has shopping centers all over the city, from downtown to the suburbs, practically all of them are accessible by bus. If you live within San Antonio city limits, there will be a grocery or drug store near your home. 

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What is the weather like in San Antonio?

If you like Spring, Summer, and Fall, you'll like San Antonio. Our Summers can get hot, but we've prepared by having practically everything air conditioned. If it should snow in San Antonio, you'll probably get the day off.

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What is daily life like in San Antonio?

San Antonio is home to several excellent hospitals, school systems, unique neighborhoods, and, of course, Fiesta. In most cases, it's possible to get from one end of town to another in 20 minutes by car. If you prefer, you should be able to reach most places by bus.

Texas has no personal income tax, and San Antonio's cost of living ranked among the lowest of U.S. cities for the 4th quarter of 1999. Apartments range from efficiencies to two-level townhouses. Most apartment complexes consist of two-and three-story structures rather than high-rise buildings.

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Will my spouse be able to find a job if we move to San Antonio?

San Antonio is growing by leaps and bounds. Learn more from the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. 

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What are the school systems like in San Antonio?

All San Antonians take pride in having many area schools receive the National Exemplary Blue Ribbon School award for excellence. The 1999-2000 year was record breaking; eight of the 198 secondary schools recognized nationally were from Bexar County. 

San Antonio is home to many fine secondary educational institutions that offer degree plans from two-year community colleges to graduate programs to medical training.

The Chamber of Commerce has a comprehensive list of the schools in the San Antonio metropolitan area. There are also excellent specialty schools for students who want to focus on health careers, business, communication arts, music, etc.

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San Antonio is often called "culturally diverse." What does that mean?

San Antonio is a melting pot of cultures—not only international cultures, but different American cultures as well—since it was founded. Some of the original settlers in San Antonio and Texas were from the nations that ruled Texas throughout its history. Texas is truly a six-flag state.

  • Texas Under Spain: 1519-1685; 1690-1821.

  • Texas Under France: 1685-1690.

  • Texas Under Mexico: 1821-1836.

  • Texas as a Republic: 1836-1845.

  • Texas in the Confederacy: 1861-1865.

  • Texas in the US: 1845-1861; 1865-Present

People from all over the world have settled in this area. Many people who came to San Antonio because they were stationed at one of the five military bases have chosen to retire in San Antonio.

The ethnic composition of Bexar County, according to the 2000 census, includes 54.3 percent Hispanic or Latino, 35.6 percent white, and 6.9 percent African-American. The median age of San Antonians is 31.3.

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How much crime is there in San Antonio?

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How far behind the rest of the country is San Antonio?

Just because San Antonio is a quaint mixture of old and new, don't think we're behind in development. We were one of the first cities to develop and implement  the TransGuide Intelligent Transportation System for traffic management, which helps keep traffic flowing by alerting drivers of obstructions or construction ahead.

  • Curbside Recycling—San Antonio's recycling program is the largest curbside program in the State of Texas

  • TransGuide–TransGuide, an Intelligent Transportation System was designed by the San Antonio District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This "smart highway" project provides information to motorists about traffic conditions, such as accidents, congestion and construction.

  • Transportation

    • Railroads–include Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and AMTRAK.

    • Airports–Two airports serve the city: International Airport and Stinson Field. Commercial air service is provided by Aerolitoral, Aeromar, Mexicana, American, America West Airlines, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, TWA, and United. 

    • Bus–Greyhound/Trailways, Kerrville Bus Company, and Valley Transit provide passenger bus service to and from San Antonio. 

    • Public transportation–Whether for work or play, VIA can take you almost anywhere in the San Antonio area. VIA operates 106 bus lines, serving an area of 1,233.78 square miles or 99 percent of Bexar County. Bus lines are divided into six categories: radial, limited stop, express, crosstown, circulator, and streetcar. VIA Metropolitan Transit operates eight Park & Ride facilities around the city and 138 vehicles for elderly and handicapped passengers.

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Does everyone drive a truck San Antonio, and will I have to buy a cowboy hat and boots?

Not everyone drives a truck although there are quite a few trucks and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) on the streets in the San Antonio metropolitan area. That doesn't mean we have a lot of cowboys or farmers here. Trucks and SUVs have become the modern suburban vehicle of choice. As a matter of fact, most of the trucks have never even been used to haul anything. And not everyone wears a cowboy hat and boots though you might want to buy a set when the Rodeo comes to town in February.

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Where can I get more information about San Antonio?

These web sites cover more information about activities, dining, events, and attractions in San Antonio.

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July 23, 2010

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