Editing Helotes, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{For|the fish genus|Helotes (fish)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Helotes, Texas
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| image_skyline            = Floore store 2012.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = The historic [[John T. Floore Country Store|Floore Country Store]] in Helotes
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = <!-- Maps -->
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = <!-- Images -->
| image_map                = TXMap-doton-Helotes.PNG
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location of Helotes, Texas
| image_map1               = Bexar Helotes.svg
| mapsize1                 = 250px
| map_caption1             = <!-- Location -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|33|55|N|98|41|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Bexar County, Texas|Bexar]]

<!-- Government -->| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Rich Whitehead
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 17.96
| area_total_sq_mi         = 6.93
| area_land_km2            = 17.95
| area_land_sq_mi          = 6.93
| area_water_km2           = 0.01
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 1037
| population_total         = 9030
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_density_km2   = 555.04

<!-- General information -->| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 78023
| area_code                = [[Area code 210|210]], [[Area code 726|726]]
| unemployment_rate        = 
| website                  = {{URL|www.helotes-tx.gov}}
| footnotes                = 
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = −6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = −5
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 48-33146<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 1337583<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|1337583}}</ref>
| blank2_name              = ANSI Code
| blank2_info              = 2410736<ref>{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer Files 2016-Places-Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/gazetteer.html|website=US Census|access-date=24 January 2017}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 1437.58
}}

'''Helotes''' ({{IPAc-en|h|ə|ˈ|l|oʊ|t|ᵻ|s}} {{respell|hə|LOH|tis}}) is a city in [[Bexar County, Texas]], United States, located on the far northwestern side of [[San Antonio]]. It is part of the [[San Antonio metropolitan area|San Antonio-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area]]. Its population was 9,030 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4833146| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204447/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US4833146| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Helotes city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=April 11, 2014}}</ref>

==History==

According to anthropologists, the area was occupied seasonally from about 5,000 BCE by small bands of nomadic [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] tribes in search of food and game.<ref name=citymarker>{{cite web | title=Texas Historical Commission city marker (archive copy) | format=JPG | url=http://www.accd.edu/pac/history/rhines/StudentProjects/1998/Helotes/Marker.JPG | work=Texas Historical Commission | publisher=Palo Alto College | location=San Antonio, Texas | access-date=26 December 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227224647/http://www.accd.edu/pac/history/rhines/StudentProjects/1998/Helotes/Marker.JPG | archive-date=27 February 2007}}</ref> The [[Lipan Apache people|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.<ref name=researchpaper>{{cite journal | author=Michael R. Causey | title=Helotes Small Town Research Project (archive copy) | date=Fall 1998 | url=http://www.accd.edu/pac/history/rhines/StudentProjects/1998/Helotes/Helotes.htm | publisher=Palo Alto College | location=San Antonio, Texas | access-date=26 December 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406030133/http://www.accd.edu/pac/history/rhines/StudentProjects/1998/Helotes/Helotes.htm | archive-date=6 April 2007}}</ref> The ranches suffered occasional attacks by the Comanches until the late 1870s. The last Indian raid in Helotes may have been in 1878, when a postmaster, Carl Mueller, was killed by Indians. <ref name=researchpaper/>

In 1858, a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrant, Dr. George Marnoch, purchased the land that later became the site of the town.<ref name=citymarker /> Marnoch's home at one time served as a [[stagecoach]] stop and a [[post office]] for [[cowboy]]s driving their cattle from [[Bandera, Texas|Bandera]] to auction in [[San Antonio]].<ref name=cityhistory>{{cite web | title=City of Helotes: Tourism | url=http://www.helotes-tx.gov/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC={F1BE65BA-CABD-4506-8FA4-0F43ABA1EE2B} | publisher=City of Helotes, Texas | access-date=26 December 2006}}</ref> His heirs sold a portion of their property in 1880 to a [[Swiss people|Swiss]] immigrant, Arnold Gugger, who built a home and mercantile store around which the town of Helotes arose.<ref name=citymarker /> In 1908, Gugger sold his property to Bert Hileman, who opened the town's first dance hall.<ref name=citymarker /> He was also instrumental in getting old Bandera Road paved and opening the town's first [[filling station]].<ref name=researchpaper /> He sold his property in downtown Helotes in 1919, when the town's population declined.<ref name=researchpaper />

In 1946, the manager of San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, John T. Floore, opened the landmark John T. Floore Country Store,<ref name=floore>{{cite web|title=John T. Floore Country Store |url=http://www.liveatfloores.com/index2.htm |publisher=John T. Floore Country Store |access-date=26 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061218152357/http://www.liveatfloores.com/index2.htm |archive-date=18 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref name=cornyval>{{cite web | title=Backgrounder: Helotes Cornyval | publisher=Helotes Festival Association | url=http://www.cornyval.com/ | access-date=26 December 2006}}</ref>

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.<ref name=cornyval /> The town name is derived from the [[Spanish (language)|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.<ref name=online>{{cite web | title=The Handbook of Texas Online: Helotes, TX | url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlh38 | publisher=The Texas State Historical Association | access-date=26 December 2006}}</ref>

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 [[Municipal corporation|incorporated city]] in October 1981.<ref name=cityinfo>{{cite web | title=City of Helotes: General Information | url=http://www.helotes-tx.gov/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={90E823C5-DC0D-4248-8316-49BB7CC9F557} | publisher=City of Helotes, Texas | access-date=26 December 2006}}</ref> 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.<ref name="cityhistory"/> 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.<ref name=madla>{{cite web | title=Frank L. Madla | url=http://www.answers.com/topic/frank-l-madla | publisher=Answers.com | access-date=12 March 2007}}</ref>

===1953 tornado===
On [[April–May 1953 tornado outbreak sequence#April 28 event|April 28, 1953]], the town was hit by a violent 1-mi-wide (1.6 km) F4 tornado struck the city, damaging or destroying multiple structures. Two people were killed and 15 others were injured.<ref name="Helotes">{{cite report|author=National Weather Service|date=February 2020|url=https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=10121802|title=Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information|access-date=4 June 2020}}</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Historical-marker2015-154a helotes zion-methodist.jpeg|thumb|left|upright|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 {{convert|16|mi}} northwest of [[downtown San Antonio]]. [[Texas State Highway 16]] runs through the community, leading northwest {{convert|30|mi|abbr=on}} to [[Bandera, Texas|Bandera]]. The [[Charles W. Anderson Loop]], the outer beltway around San Antonio, is {{convert|2|mi|0|abbr=on}} southeast of the center of Helotes.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Helotes has a total area of {{convert|17.0|km2|disp=flip|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|0.01|sqkm|disp=flip|3|abbr=on}}, or about 2.5 acres, 0.06%, is covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 1535
|2000= 4285
|2010= 7341
|2020= 9030
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Helotes racial composition as of 2020'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4833146&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-24 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|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.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|4,302
|47.64%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|291
|3.22%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|17
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|399
|4.42%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|3
|0.03%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|25
|0.28%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/multiracial]] (NH)
|340
|3.77%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|3,653
|40.45%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''9,030'''
|
|}
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 {{convert|1,014.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 1,525 housing units averaged 361.0 per square mile (139.5/km{{sup|2}}). 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.

==Education==
Helotes residents are zoned to the following schools in the [[Northside Independent School District]]:<ref>"[http://www.helotes-tx.gov/assets/uploads/general/City_Limits__ETJ_Map_(22x34)-500DPI5.pdf Corporate Limits & ETJ Map]." Helotes. Retrieved on July 12, 2018.</ref>
[[File:Sandra Day O'Connor High School.jpg|thumb|[[Sandra Day O'Connor High School (Texas)|Sandra Day O'Connor High School]]]]
Elementary schools:<ref>"[https://nisd.net/sites/default/files/pdf/resource_planning/ES_boundary17-18.pdf 2017-18 Elementary School Attendance Areas]." [[Northside Independent School District]]. Retrieved on July 12, 2018.</ref> 
* Charles L. Kuentz, Jr. Elementary School (Helotes)
* Helotes Elementary School (Helotes)
* Los Reyes Elementary School (Helotes)
* Randall H. Fields Elementary School (San Antonio)

Middle schools:<ref>"[https://nisd.net/sites/default/files/pdf/resource_planning/MS_boundary17-18.pdf 2017-18 Middle School Attendance Areas]." [[Northside Independent School District]]. Retrieved on September 8, 2016.</ref> 
* Dr. Hector P. Garcia Middle School (San Antonio)
* Wallace B. Jefferson Middle School (San Antonio)
* Dr. John Folks Middle School (San Antonio)

High schools:<ref name=HS>"[https://nisd.net/sites/default/files/pdf/resource_planning/HS_boundary17-18.pdf 2017-18 High School Attendance Areas]." [[Northside Independent School District]]. Retrieved on July 12, 2018.</ref>
* [[Sandra Day O'Connor High School (Helotes, Texas)|Sandra Day O'Connor High School]] (Helotes)
* [[Louis D. Brandeis High School|Louis Dembitz Brandeis High School]] (San Antonio)
* [[John Marshall Harlan High School (Texas)|John Marshall Harlan High School]] (San Antonio)

==Notable people==

* [[Phil Gramm]], former US. Senator and US Congressman, Texas' 6th District
* [[Will Hurd]], U.S. congressman
* [[Boone Logan]], former MLB pitcher
* [[Brucene Smith]], [[Miss World USA 1971]] and [[Miss International 1974]]
* [[Carlos Uresti]], attorney and Democratic politician from San Antonio, Texas<ref>{{cite web|author=Uresti, Carlos|url=https://www.chron.com/real-estate/article/Former-State-Senator-Carlos-Uresti-puts-1-7-13066505.php|title=Photos show $1.7M Helotes home of convicted felon and former State Sen. Carlos Uresti|publisher=[[San Antonio Express-News]] at the [[Houston Chronicle]]|date=2018-07-11|access-date=2018-07-12}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Helotes, Texas}}
* [http://www.helotes-tx.gov/ City of Helotes official website]
* [https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hlh38 Helotes, Texas in the Handbook of Texas Online]
{{Greater San Antonio}}
{{Bexar County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Bexar County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Greater San Antonio]]
[[Category:New Braunfels, Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1880]]
[[Category:1880 establishments in Texas]]