About San Antonio
History and Culture
When San Antonio was founded in 1718 by Spanish settlers, a rich heritage of culture, diversity and pride was born. With traditions from Mexican, Tejano, German, Irish and other cultures, there's never a dull moment in San Antonio and history is bursting from the seams of the city.
Over 300 years of Spanish heritage is evident in San Antonio's vibrant culture. San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, along with the Alamo, was named the first World Heritage Site in Texas by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) and includes four of our southernmost missions: Concepción, San José, San Juan and Espada.
UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
Part of the vibrancy of San Antonio is its culture of food. As one of only two cities in the United States to be designated as a Creative City of Gastronomy in 2017 by UNESCO, San Antonio's culinary scene is as diverse as its people. With world famous chefs, award-winning restaurants and local eateries on nearly every corner, you'll find a great meal no matter where you are in the city. Learn more about our designation: https://www.sacityofgastronomy.org/
River Walk
The River Walk is one of San Antonio's icons, with history, culture, tourism and sustainability melded into one beautiful destination. The River Walk flows through five miles of downtown San Antonio and stretches for over 15 miles in total. Learn more about the River Walk here: https://www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com/
Fiesta
Love a great party? Fiesta is the party of the year for San Antonians. Started in 1891 as a small event to honor the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, Fiesta has grown into one of the biggest celebrations of culture and history in the country. With festivals, parades, culinary events, carnivals and more, Fiesta is an 11-day citywide party where everyone is welcome. Learn more about Fiesta: https://fiestasanantonio.org/
Rodeo
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is an annual event attracting over 2 million visitors each year. With fairgrounds and carnival rides, shopping, public stock shows, and rodeo events like bull riding, barrel racing and more, the San Antonio Rodeo is a destination event for both longtime residents and tourists alike. Learn more about the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo here: https://www.sarodeo.com/
More Than a Great Place to Visit
With nearly 1.5 million residents and as the seventh-largest city in the United States, San Antonio is experiencing solid economic growth in industries like bioscience, healthcare and green technologies.
Cultural Attractions and More
San Antonio is steeped in culture and history. From the Alamo, where Texas soldiers fought for independence against Mexican troops, to the world-famous River Walk lined with restaurants and shops to the San Antonio Spurs lighting up the court at AT&T Center, there’s an activity to suit every taste here in San Antonio.
Whether you're visiting or planning to relocate to San Antonio, be sure to check out these major attractions!
- Natural Bridge Caverns, the largest network of caves in Texas, is located just outside San Antonio.
- HemisFair Park, the site of the 1968 World's Fair, features waterfalls, historic buildings, playgrounds, and the iconic Tower of the Americas.
- El Mercado, the Market Square, is an outdoor Mexican-style marketplace featuring authentic Mexican cuisine, shopping and performances.
- San Antonio Spurs, our home NBA team.
For more activities and things to see while in San Antonio, visit https://www.sanantonio.gov/.
Our Neighbors
Neighboring cities like New Braunfels and Boerne help make San Antonio the melting pot of cultures that it is. New Braunfels, a city with a small-town feel to the northeast of San Antonio, has roots in German history. Founded in 1845 by German immigrants, New Braunfels is home to two major Texas rivers, the Comal and the Guadalupe. In the summer months, you'll find both locals and visitors "tubing" the river to relax.
New Braunfels is home to Resolute Baptist Hospital, one of the six hospitals within Baptist Health System.
Boerne is a small town Northwest of San Antonio that offers the peaceful beauty of the Texas Hill Country with the convenience of the big city's proximity. Boerne also boasts German heritage and features several German community organizations that are still active today.
Boerne is the future site of a Baptist Health System full-service, acute care hospital. The property consists of 23 acres located at the Northwest corner of Interstate 10 and State Highway 46.
Diversity and Inclusion
San Antonio is a diverse community that brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. In fact, almost 65 percent of the population identifies as Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census, July 2021).
Baptist Health System values diversity in its employees – it enables us to better relate and respond to patients from all walks of life. But the true advantage of a diverse staff is the rich spectrum of individual talents, experiences and perspectives they offer. We’re far more than the sum of our parts, and we invite you to explore all of what Baptist and San Antonio have to offer.
Resources for More Information and Relocation
To help you decide if San Antonio is right for you and your family, these organizations can help: