According to anthropologists, the area was occupied seasonally from about 5,000 BCE by small bands of nomadic Native American tribes in search of food and game.[6] 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.[7] The ranches suffered occasional attacks by the Comanches until the late 1870s.[7]
In 1858, a Scottish immigrant, Dr. George Marnoch, purchased the land that later became the site of the town.[6] 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.[8] 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 arose.[6] In 1908, Gugger sold his property to Bert Hileman, who opened the town's first dance hall.[6] He was also instrumental in getting old Bandera Road paved and opening the town's first filling station.[7] He sold his property in downtown Helotes in 1919, when the town's population declined.[7]
In 1946, the manager of San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, John T. Floore, opened the landmark John T. Floore Country Store,[9] which is actually a dance hall (or "honky tonk") that draws top country music talent, including Willie Nelson, who still plays the venue on occasion. Floore also financed the first annual Helotes Cornyval festival in the 1960s, which was held to celebrate the opening of a new post office.[10]
Corn played an important role in the heritage of Helotes. The local Native Americans planted corn (maize outside the US) in the fertile valleys of the area, and feed corn was a major crop grown in the 19th and early 20th centuries.[10] The town name is derived from the Spanish word elote, which can mean "ear of maize", "corncob", or simply "corn", but exactly how the town came to be called Helotes is still a subject of debate.[11]
As the urban sprawl of San Antonio expanded and approached the outskirts of Helotes in the 1970s. After a decade of planning and negotiation, Helotes became an incorporated city in October 1981.[12] To this day, residents 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.[8] Helotes was the hometown of late Texas State Senator Frank L. Madla, who died after his home on the south side of San Antonio caught fire on November 24, 2006.[13]
1953 tornado
On April 28, 1953, the town was hit by a violent 1-mile (1.6 km) wide F4 tornado struck the city, damaging or destroying multiple structures. Two people were killed and 15 others were injured.[14]
Overview
Helotes' historic Zion Lutheran Church
When Helotes incorporated in 1981, very little was in the town. Now with a population over 7,000, Helotes is becoming one of the most desirable suburbs of San Antonio. Helotes itself includes the newly renovated Old Town Helotes. Completed in 2011, Old Town Helotes is the revitalized downtown. Helotes is home to Oak Valley golf course.
The Cornyval Festival is an annual city tradition bringing in local vendors and thousands of area residents to celebrate the namesake of the town.
Geography
Helotes is located in northwestern Bexar County in the valley of Helotes Creek where it exits from the Texas Hill Country. The city is about 16 miles (26 km) northwest of downtown San Antonio. Texas State Highway 16 runs through the community, leading northwest 30 mi (48 km) to Bandera. The Charles W. Anderson Loop, the outer beltway around San Antonio, is 2 mi (3 km) southeast of the center of Helotes.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Helotes has a total area of 6.6 sq mi (17.0 km2), of which 0.004 sq mi (0.01 km2), or 0.06%, is covered by water.[5]
As of the 2020 United States census, 9,030 people, 2,837 households, and 2,467 families were residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.3 inhabitants per square mile (391.6/km2). The 1,525 housing units averaged 361.0 per square mile (139.5/km2). Of the 2,837 households, 40.2% had children under 18, 79.9% were married couples living together, and 12.2% were not families. About 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.13 persons.
The population was distributed as 26.8% under 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 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $76,951, and 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 18 and 2.9% of those 65 or older.
^National Weather Service (February 2020). Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado (Report). National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
^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 can be of any race.[17][18]
