Known as the River City, San Antonio is the second largest city in the state of Texas and the seventh largest in the nation. San Antonio is a popular travel destination and features many great sights and attractions that include the Spanish Missions, the River Walk, the Alamo and the Alamo Bowl and many more. San Antonio is always growing and expanding, and it was the fastest growing of the top 10 largest cities in the nation during the past decade.
Named for Saint Anthony of Padua, the city celebrates its namesake with a feast every year on June 13, which brings visitors and tourists from all over the country and the rest of the world. The city hosts over 26 million tourists each year.
This guide will provide you with some helpful tips and information on just about everything you need to know if you're going to be making the move to San Antonio. From the city's neighborhoods and school systems to the employment options and recreational activities available within the city, you'll find it all in this guide so that you can go into your move with the knowledge that is needed to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
San Antonio Climate
The temperature throughout the state of Texas can vary wildly, from extremely hot and dry during the day in the summer to much cooler and even freezing temperatures at night when the sun goes down. The spring and fall seasons tend to be warm and rainy throughout much of the area.
San Antonio is located in a transitional area between a humid subtropical climate zone and a hot semi-arid climate, lending to the extreme heat the region experiences throughout most of the summer and colder temperatures in the winter. Although the city does not see much snowfall during the winter and accumulations are extremely rare, there are several subfreezing nights that occur each year and frost and some freezing precipitation is common.
San Antonio Geography and Neighborhoods
San Antonio is a large city, land-wise, covering over 465 square miles. Therefore, it makes sense that the city is comprised of many different neighborhoods and districts, each one just as diverse and unique as the last. Some of the biggest neighborhoods include Downtown San Antonio, which is the core of the city and the entire metropolitan area where most of the city's main attractions are located, Alamo Heights, Midtown, Uptown and North Central, among many others. The city of San Antonio is located only about 75 miles southwest of the nearest neighboring city, Austin, which also happens to be the state capital of Texas.
Living Costs in the City
The costs of living in San Antonio are fairly low on average, when compared to other similar large cities throughout the country, and the average price of rent is low throughout most of San Antonio, as well as the various living expenses related to average living costs, such as transportation, food and utilities. The median household income in San Antonio is $49,668, which is much lower than the national average for median household income.
The median home price for an average home in San Antonio is around $152,100, also low and well below the national average, but on par with similar real estate prices that exist throughout much of the central Texas region as well as most of the southwestern United States.
Registering Your Car
The first few weeks can be a busy time for anyone who is new to Texas. One must make sure to register their vehicle as soon as they can. In order to do that one can find a local car service provider who will inspect your vehicle. There are also vehicle inspection stations available where one must show detailed proof of adequate insurance and your driver's license.
Upon moving to Texas, one must also apply for a Texas Driver's license. One must go to a driver's license division office of the Texas Department of Public safety. Unless you are a student or a military member you must submit any existing license and apply for a new license here. One has 90 days upon arrival to have a Texas driver's license. You must also make sure to learn about the Texas point system as getting a ticket in Texas can be very expensive.
San Antonio Moving Resources
Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to San Antonio, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in Texas. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:
San Antonio Schools
The city of San Antonio offers a good education system with public schools, over 30 private and charter schools and multiple institutions of higher education. San Antonio and Bexar County contain 17 different public school districts which operate the public elementary, middle and high schools located throughout the city and in the surrounding suburbs. In addition, there a few notable colleges and universities located in the city. The University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University - San Antonio, Alamo Community College, Trinity University, St. Mary's University and the Wayland Baptist University - San Antonio. The city features over 31 institutions of higher learning which educates over 100,000 students on a yearly basis. The largest school in the city is the University of Texas - San Antonio.
San Antonio Employment
There are four major economic sectors in San Antonio. These include finance, government, healthcare and tourism. The defense industry is also another major employer here as San Antonio has one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the world and has a large military presence.
The current unemployment rate is right around 5.7 percent as of April 2013, lower than the national unemployment rate, while the job growth rate is booming at 17.73 percent. San Antonio has several Fortune 500 companies that have headquarters located within the city, such as Valero Energy Corp, Tesoro Corp, USAA, Clear Channel Communications and NuStar Energy. Other companies headquartered in the city include Kinetic Concepts, Whataburger, Rackspace, Newtek and Eye Care Centers of America.
Public Transportation
The VIA Metropolitan Transit system operates a bus service and streetcar service throughout the city and surrounding suburbs and a full-fare monthly unlimited ride pass costs only $35. VIA Primo, which is a rapid bus transit system, began running in December of 2012 and connects the Downtown San Antonio area with other points of interest like the South Texas Medical Center and the main campus of the University of Texas - San Antonio. VIA is one of the most economical mass transit systems available in the United States.
Amtrak also provides the city of San Antonio with passenger rail service, and has a stop in the city on the Texas Eagle line at the San Antonio Amtrak Station. The nearest major airport is the San Antonio International Airport located only eight miles north of Downtown San Antonio. The airport provides daily commercial flights to on 21 major airlines to 44 different destinations both international and domestic.
Culture and Contemporary Life
San Antonio has a rich and colorful history that spans centuries and all of the sights and sounds that the city has to offer are immediately noticeable once you set foot there. From a vibrant art community to numerous historical landmarks, restaurants and cultural institutions, there is never a dull moment in San Antonio. In addition, there are many annual events that take place in the city throughout the year, from Celebrate San Antonio festival that takes place each New Year's Eve, to the city's Cinco de Mayo festival and Fiesta, a 10-day city-wide extravaganza held every April, there's always a reason to celebrate.
The city also has a vibrant nightlife and the downtown area is bursting with restaurants, bars and nightclubs that will appeal to all ages and tastes. Some of the most popular attractions in San Antonio include the River Walk, the Alamo, the Alamodome, the Alameda Theater, and the Tower of the Americas, among many others.
Moving to San Antonio
Whatever your reasons for moving to San Antonio, whether it be for a change of scenery or for employment, the city beckons you with its charm. The first step in the process of moving to San Antonio is choosing a moving company after first checking their BBB ratings, insurance and license. The moving rates are charged by the hour if you are moving within the state boundary, while for a long distance move the charges will depend on the total weight or volume in cubic feet of your belongings. In the latter case, you can ask about a flat rate or any special discounts that are available with the mover.