Helotes is a city in Bexar County, Texas,
United States. The population was 4,285 at the 2000 census.
History
According to anthropologists, the area was occupied seasonally from about 5,000 B.C. by small bands of migrant Indians in
search of food and game[1]. The
Lipan Apache moved into the area in the late 17th century and occupied it throughout the
18th century. However, the Lipan were forced from the area in the early 1820s by the
Comanche Indians. A small farming and ranching community began to develop in the area shortly
after the Texas Revolution in the late 1830s[2]. The ranches suffered occasional attacks by the Comanches until the late 1870s[2].
In 1858, a Scottish immigrant, Dr. George Marnoch, purchased the land that would later become the site of the town[1]. Marnoch's home at one time served as a
stagecoach stop and a post office for
cowboys driving their cattle from Bandera to auction in
San Antonio[3]. His heirs sold a portion of their property in 1880 to a Swiss immigrant, Arnold Gugger,
who built a home and mercantile store around which the town of Helotes sprang to life[1]. In 1908, Gugger sold his property to Bert Hileman, who opened the
town's first dance hall[1]. He was also
instrumental in getting old Bandera Road paved and opening the town's first filling
station[2]. He sold his
property in downtown Helotes in 1919, when the town's population declined[2].
In 1946, the manager of San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, John T. Floore, opened the
landmark John T. Floore Country Store[4], which
is actually a dance hall (or honky tonk) that draws top Country Western talent, such as Willie Nelson, who still plays
there on occasion. Mr. Floore also financed the first annual Helotes Cornyval festival in the 1960s, which was held
to celebrate the opening of a new post office[5].
Corn played an important role in the heritage of Helotes. The local Indians planted
corn, actually maize, in the fertile valleys of the area, and feed corn was a major crop grown in
the 19th and early 20th centuries[5]. The
town name is derived from the Spanish word helote, which means "green maize," but exactly
how the town came to be called Helotes is still a subject of debate[6].
As the urban sprawl of San Antonio expanded
and approached the outskirts of Helotes in the 1970s, residents determined to take their fate into their own hands. After
a decade of planning and negotiation, Helotes became an incorporated city
in October 1981[7]. To this day, residents
still struggle with the dilemma of maintaining the city's rugged country charm, while at the same time allowing for the
development of modern suburban facilities and businesses[3].
Helotes was the hometown of the late Texas state Senator Frank L. Madla, who
perished after his home on the south side of San Antonio caught fire on November 24, 2006 [8].
Geography
Helotes is located at 29°33′55″N, 98°41′21″W (29.565328,
-98.689251)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area
of 10.9 km² (4.2 mi²), all land.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 4,285 people, 1,471 households, and 1,291 families residing
in the city. The population density was 392.0/km² (1,014.3/mi²). There were 1,525
housing units at an average density of 139.5/km² (361.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.95% White, 2.24% African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.26% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 4.92% from other races, and 3.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 26.49% of the population.
There were 1,471 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 79.9% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.2% were
non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or
older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 27.6% from
45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $76,951, and the median income for a family was $80,090. Males had a median
income of $50,625 versus $38,362 for females. The per capita income for the city was
$29,534. About 2.0% of families and 2.0% of the population were below the poverty
line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Helotes residents are zoned to schools in the Northside Independent
School District. They are:
References
External links
Coordinates:
29.565328° N 98.689251°
W
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