Bexar County was created on December 20, 1836, and encompassed almost the entire western portion of theRepublic of Texas. This included the disputed areas of eastern New Mexico northward to Wyoming. After statehood, 128 counties were carved out of its area.
The county was named for San Antonio de Béxar, one of the 23 Mexican municipalities (administrative divisions) of Texas at the time of its independence. San Antonio de Béxar—originallyVilla de San Fernando de Béxar—was the first civil government established by the Spanish in theprovince of Texas. Specifically, the municipality was created in 1731 when 55Canary Islanders settled near the system ofmissions that had been established around the source of theSan Antonio River. The new settlement was named after thePresidio San Antonio de Béjar, the Spanish military outpost that protected the missions. The presidio, located at theSan Pedro Springs, was founded in 1718 and named forViceroy Balthasar Manuel de Zúñiga y Guzmán Sotomayor y Sarmiento, second son of the Duke ofBéjar (a town in Spain). The modern city of San Antonio in the U.S. state of Texas also derived its name from San Antonio de Béjar.
Natives that lived in the county included theLipan Apache,Payaya,Tonkawa, andComanche. The last Indian raid in the county may have been on March 18, 1878, when Carl Mueller was killed by Indians inHelotes.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,256 square miles (3,250 km2), of which 16 sq mi (41 km2) (1.3%) are covered by water.[8] Bexar County is in south-central Texas, about 190 miles (310 km) west ofHouston and 140 miles (230 km) from both theUS-Mexican border to the southwest and theGulf of Mexico to the southeast.
TheBalcones Escarpment bisects the county from west to northeast; to the north of the escarpment are the rocky hills, springs and canyons of theTexas Hill Country. South of the escarpment areBlackland Prairie and the South Texas plains. TheSan Antonio River rises from springs north ofDowntown San Antonio, and flows southward and southeastward through the county.
Bexar County has a comprehensive "wagon wheel" highway system, with radial highways and beltways that encircle Downtown San Antonio, allowing for simplified countywide highway access, much like the highway around Houston or Dallas. San Antonio is unique, however, in that unlike Houston or Dallas, none of these highways are currently tolled.
Bexar County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the census[17] of 2000, 1,392,931 people, 488,942 households, and 345,681 families were residing in the county. The population density was 1,117 inhabitants per square mile (431/km2). There were 521,359 housing units at an average density of 418 units per square mile (161/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 68.86% White, 7.18% Black or African American, 0.80% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 17.80% from other races, and 3.64% from two or more races. About 54.35% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of 488,942 households, 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.50% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were not families. About 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the county, the population was distributed as 28.50% under the age of 18, 10.70% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 19.90% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.20 males.
The median income for a household was $38,328, and for a family was $43,724. Males had a median income of $30,756 versus $24,920 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,363. About 12.70% of families and 15.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 12.20% of those age 65 or over.
Bexar County is governed by aCommissioners Court, composed of four Commissioners and one County Judge, who acts as the presiding officer. The Commissioners represent their respective precincts, which are roughly equal in population and geographic area.[19] On July 12, 2011, the Commissioners Court established the Office of the County Manager to streamline "the functions, offices and departments that report to Commissioners Court."[20]
The Bexar County jail facilities are at 200 North Comal in downtownSan Antonio, operated by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office (Javier Salazar, Sheriff).[21] In late 2012, press reports noted an increase in the number of suicides at the facility. The issue was a topic of debate in the election for sheriff that year. The jail holds an average of about 3,800 prisoners in 2012, with a total capacity of 4,596, making it the fourth-largest in the state.[22][23]
In 2016, for the third consecutive year, Bexar County increased the appraised value of businesses and residences. Most will hence find theirproperty taxes will increase for the year, with higher payments for some beginning as early as November 1. The latest 7.5 percent increase in valuation follows an 11 percent rise in 2015, and a 7 percent jump in 2014. The 2016 total value for all property in the county is approximately $163 billion, or $13 billion more than in 2015. County residents express dismay to Mary Kieke, the deputy chief appraiser. "People are very upset. The tax system is absolutely broken," she said.[29]
Cyndi Taylor Krier, first woman and first Republican to be elected to theTexas Senate from Bexar County (1985–1993), and first woman and first Republican to be appointed as a Bexar County administrative judge (1993 to 2001)
James Robertson Nowlin, United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas; one of the first two Republicans since Reconstruction to represent Bexar County in the Texas House of Representatives
Ciro D. Rodriguez, member of Congress, previously 28th District, Texas, now 23rd District, Texas
Joe Sage, one of the first two Republicans since Reconstruction, with James Robertson Nowlin, to represent Bexar County in the Texas House of Representatives
Alan Schoolcraft, former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives
As an urban county, Bexar County has voted forDemocratic candidates in most presidential elections. From 1932 to 2012 it was a nationwide bellwether, supporting the winner in every election except 1968. Former Governor of TexasGeorge W. Bush remains the last Republican to carry the county in presidential elections.
Democrats perform well within theConnally Loop, which contains heavily Hispanic neighborhoods on the south and west sides of San Antonio, and African Americans on the east side. In recent years, Democrats have made inroads on the Northwest Side toward theUniversity of Texas at San Antonio, and the Northeast Side toward Kirby. Republicans' strength is concentrated around the military bases plus wealthier enclaves such as Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills, and the far northern section of the county.[32]
United States presidential election results for Bexar County, Texas[33]
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