| t |  ALMANAC |
San Antonio, Texas |
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| t | ALMANAC |
San Antonio, Texas |
|
Area: |
579 sq km (360 sq mi) |
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| Population:
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1,220,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnic Composition: |
Whites 75.3%, blacks 11.9%, Asians & Pacific Islanders 1.9%, Native Americans 0.4%, mixed 10.6%. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
History:  |
Probably one of the most interesting historical events was the battle for the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. On January 17th, 1836, Sam Houston, the commander of the American revolutionary troops, sent Colonel Jim Bowie and twenty-five men to San Antonio with orders to destroy the Alamo and remove the existing cannon. Bowie, however, decided that he could not remove the cannon without the assistance of oxen and mules, so Bowie decided to defend the fort from the approaching Mexican forces, knowing that General Houston needed time to raise an army to repel Santa Anna. Colonel William Travis arrived at the fort on February 2nd with a small cavalry company, bringing the total defenders of the Alamo to approximately 130 men. On February 9th, Davy Crockett and 14 Tennessee Volunteers rode into the fort. On February 23rd, Santa Anna rode into San Antonio and claimed the city for Mexico. Santa Ana pounded the fort with cannon and rifle fire for 12 straight days and nights, attempting to wear out the defenders by giving them no chance for rest or sleep. On March 2nd, a small group of revolutionaries arrived from the town of Gonzales, bringing the total number of Alamo defenders to approximately 190. On March 6th Santa Anna attacked the Alamo three times before breaching a wall and gaining entry to the fort. The fighting was hand to hand, with knives, pistols, clubbed rifles, lances, knees, and fists. The deal lay everywhere, and in ninety minutes the fight was over. All of the 190 Alamo defenders died, and Santa Anna's loss was a remarkable 1,545 men. One of Santa Anna's officers was heard to comment, "Another such victory will ruin us." The great sacrifice that these Alamo defenders made gave Sam Houston the necessary time to put together an army that eventually won Texas it's independence. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Overview:  |
San Antonio, in South Texas, is the Nation's 10th largest metropolitan area. When you're there you get the feeling that San Antonio is taking the day off; unlike some of the larger cities like Houston or Los Angeles, where you might shake your fist at the guy who just cut you off, San Antonio offers a kind of slow motion existence, an appeal that makes it Texas' number-one visitor destination. The one place you must visit while you're in San Antonio is The Alamo. You will be surprised at how small The Alamo really is. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Transportation:
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International flights, trains, buses, taxis, and car rentals. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Language: |
100% English. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion:
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Mostly Baptists, then Roman Catholics, Methodists, Pentecostals and Lutherans. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literacy: |
100%. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Life
Expectancy: |
76 Years. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Per
Capita Income: |
$21,450. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Currency:
|
U.S. Dollar. |
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| Time Zone: |
Central Time Zone, United States. |
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| Temperature
Range: |
Average temperature 72 degrees. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phone Code: |
210 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electricity:
|
110 volts AC, 60 Mz. |
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| Measurements: |
British Imperial. |
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| Business
Hours: |
Shops are generally open seven days a week, from 8 or 9 AM to 5 or 6 PM. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Banking
Info: |
Banks are generally open from 9 AM to 5 or 6 PM, Monday thru Friday. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Activities: |
San Antonio is loaded with things to do and things to see. Hit the beautiful beaches for a day of sun and relaxation. Too hot? Then cool off at one of the refreshing water parks in the state. Or hire a fishing boat and go out on the Gulf of Mexico and catch the big one. Or play golf on one of the championship courses in the state. Or maybe you're into biking, camping, hiking, surfing, swimming, sailing, or wind surfing. You can also go horseback riding along the beach or on some pretty neat trails. Whatever your pleasure, you're sure to find it in San Antonio. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| San Antonio is a shopper's paradise, especially if you're into western wear. You'll find shops, boutiques, antique stores, mini-malls, and large department stores. You'll find many brand- names represented in jewelry, perfume, crystal, china, and designer accessories. You'll also discover a treasure trove of hand-crafted leather and art items, straw goods, tees, statues, dresses, shoes and boots, and plenty of souvenirs to keep as memories of your wonderful trip. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nightlife: |
There are a number of options available to you in San Antonio. You can bar-hop the nightclubs where you can dance, watch the entertainment, or simply listen to the music. Or you can take in a movie, go bowling, or rack the balls on a pool table at one of the local pubs. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dining: |
You'll have a fantastic dining experience in San Antonio where there are hundreds of restaurants of every type, and for every taste bud. There are delicious steak houses, barbecue pits, good country cooking, and plenty of choices such as Indian, Mexican, Italian, Greek, Polynesian, British, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Jewish, and international dishes of all varieties. And don't forget that fresh Texas Longhorn steak grown on a local ranch. Whatever your palate desires, you'll find your culinary delight in San Antonio. |
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| Beverages: |
You'll find most international beverages served in San Antonio. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taxes:
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You'll find a 6% sales tax in the State of Texas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tipping & Bargaining: |
Tipping is generally 10% to 15%. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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