Helotes, Texas

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Helotes, Texas
Location of Helotes, Texas
Location of Helotes, Texas
Coordinates: 29°33′55″N 98°41′21″W / 29.56528, -98.68917
Country United States
State Texas
County Bexar
Area
 - Total 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km²)
 - Land 4.2 sq mi (10.9 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 1,037 ft (316 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 4,285
 - Density 1,014.3/sq mi (391.6/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 78023
Area code(s) 210
FIPS code 48-33146[1]
GNIS feature ID 1337583[2]

Helotes is a city in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The population was 4,285 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] 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[3]. 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[4]. The ranches suffered occasional attacks by the Comanches until the late 1870s[4].

In 1858, a Scottish immigrant, Dr. George Marnoch, purchased the land that would later become the site of the town.[3] 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.[5] 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.[3] In 1908, Gugger sold his property to Bert Hileman, who opened the town's first dance hall.[3] He was also instrumental in getting old Bandera Road paved and opening the town's first filling station.[4] He sold his property in downtown Helotes in 1919, when the town's population declined.[4]

In 1946, the manager of San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, John T. Floore, opened the landmark John T. Floore Country Store,[6] 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[7].

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.[7] 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[8].

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[9]. 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[5].

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. [10]

[edit] Geography

Helotes is located at 29°33′55″N, 98°41′21″W (29.565328, -98.689251)[11].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.2 square miles (10.9 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,285 people, 1,471 households, and 1,291 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.3 people per square mile (392.0/km²). There were 1,525 housing units at an average density of 361.0/sq mi (139.5/km²). 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.

[edit] Education

Helotes residents are zoned to schools in the Northside Independent School District. They are:

[edit] Celebrities Who Have Performed at Floore's Country Store

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ a b c d Texas Historical Commission city marker (archive copy) (JPG). Texas Historical Commission. Palo Alto College. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
  4. ^ a b c d Michael R. Causey (Fall 1998). "Helotes Small Town Research Project (archive copy)". . Palo Alto College Retrieved on December 26.
  5. ^ a b City of Helotes: Tourism. City of Helotes, Texas. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
  6. ^ John T. Floore Country Store. John T. Floore Country Store. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
  7. ^ a b Backgrounder: Helotes Cornyval. Helotes Festival Association. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
  8. ^ The Handbook of Texas Online: Helotes, TX. The Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
  9. ^ City of Helotes: General Information. City of Helotes, Texas. Retrieved on December 26, 2006.
  10. ^ Frank L. Madla. Answers.com. Retrieved on March 12, 2007.
  11. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Bexar County, Texas
County seat: San Antonio
Cites
Bexar County map
Towns
CDPs
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes

‡This city also has portions in adjacent county or counties