San Antonio is the second most populated city in the state of Texas and the seventh largest city in the United States. The city is characteristic of other Southwest cities in which there are sparsely populated urban areas and a low density rate outside of the city. It was the fourth fastest growing large city in the nation from 2000 through 2006 and the fifth fastest growing from 2007 to 2008.

The Texas city is a popular tourist destination. The jewel of the city is the River Walk, which flows through the downtown area. Residents and tourists alike get to enjoy the numerous shops, bars, and restaurants, as well as the Arneson River Theater, this attraction is transformed into an impressive festival of lights during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, and is suffused with the local sounds of folklorico and flamenco music during the summer, particularly during celebrations such as the Fiesta Noche del Rio.

History

Native Americans originally lived near the San Antonio River Valley, in the San Pedro Springs area, calling the area "Yanaguana," meaning "refreshing waters." In 1536, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, a shipwrecked captive of Native Americans, visited the interior of what would later be called Texas. He saw and described the river, later to be referred to as San Antonio.

In 1716, The Spanish Council of War approved a site on the San Antonio River for construction of a presidio (fort). The Domingo Ramón expedition, accompanied by the trader St. Denis from Louisiana (who had come to the site two years prior) set up a presidio on the river.

San Antonio grew to become the largest Spanish settlement in Texas. From San Antonio the Camino Real, today known as Nacogdoches Road in San Antonio, ran to the American border at the small frontier town of Nacogdoches. After Mexico achieved independence in 1821 American settlers, at the invitation of the Mexican government, began to settle in Texas in the northeast regions of San Antonio. When Antonio López de Santa Anna unilaterally rescinded the Mexican constitution of 1824 resulted in violence in many provinces of Mexico.

In Texas the Anglo settlers joined many Hispanic Texans in calling for the return to the constitution of 1824. In a series of battles the Anglo Texans, who called themselves Texians, were successful in forcing Mexican forces out of the Anglo settlement area. Under the leadership of Ben Milam, in the Battle of Bexar, December, 1835, Texian gained control of San Antonio from forces commanded by General Martin Perfecto de Cos, Santa Anna's brother in law. This gave the forces opposing Santa Anna power over the entire province of Texas.

After tamping down resistance in other regions of Mexico, in the spring of 1836 Santa Anna marched on to San Antonio. Texian leader Sam Houston, believing that San Antonio could not be defended against the Mexican army, called for the Texian forces to forsake the city and join him. A volunteer force under William Barrett Travis, newly arrived in Texas, and including James Bowie, Davy Crockett and his company of Tennesseans, and Juan Seguin's company of Hispanic Texan volunteers, occupied and fortified the deserted mission, the Alamo, and were determined to hold San Antonio against all odds.

The Battle of the Alamo took place from February 23 to March 6, 1836. Santa Anna, without waiting to bring up his heavy artillery, hurled his troops against the walls of the fort in mass assaults. The defenders of the Alamo included both Anglo and Hispanic Texans who fought along side each other under a banner that was the flag of Mexico with the numerals "1824" superimposed. This was meant to indicate that the defenders were fighting for their rights to democratic government under the Mexican constitution of that year.

It was only during the siege that the Texas Congress declared an independent Republic of Texas. After 13 days the 189 Texan defenders were overwhelmed by a final assault from the 4,000 Mexican troops led by Antonio López de Santa Anna. Those defenders who were captured were executed as rebels on the specific orders of Santa Anna. The deaths of these "Martyrs to Texas Independence" fueled greater resistance to Santa Anna's regime, and the cry "Remember the Alamo" became the rallying point of the Texas Revolution. Texas independence was finally achieved at the Battle of San Jacinto the following April. The Alamo, which was in 1836 across the San Antonio River from the city, is now an integral part of downtown. The Alamo is conserved as a shrine and museum, surrounded by many hotels and tourist attractions. It is San Antonio's best known landmark, and is featured in the city's flag and seal and in the city's nickname, "The Alamo City."