| Official Name: | Helotes, Texas |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Image Map1: | Bexar Helotes.svg |
| Mapsize1: | 250px |
| Coordinates: | 29.5653°N -98.6892°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name1: | Texas |
| Subdivision Name2: | Bexar |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Rich Whitehead |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| 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 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1037 |
| Population Total: | 9030 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | 555.04 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 78023 |
| Area Code: | 210, 726 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | −6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −5 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 48-33146[2] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 1337583 |
| Blank2 Name: | ANSI Code |
| Blank2 Info: | 2410736[3] |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1437.58 |
Helotes 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-New Braunfels metropolitan statistical area. Its population was 9,030 at the 2020 census.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6] 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. [6]
In 1858, a Scottish immigrant, Dr. George Marnoch, purchased the land that later became the site of the town. 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.[7] 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. In 1908, Gugger sold his property to Bert Hileman, who opened the town's first dance hall. He was also instrumental in getting old Bandera Road paved and opening the town's first filling station. He sold his property in downtown Helotes in 1919, when the town's population declined.
In 1946, the manager of San Antonio's Majestic Theatre, John T. Floore, opened the landmark John T. Floore Country Store,[8] 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.[9]
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. 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.[10]
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.[11] 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.[7] 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.[12]
On April 28, 1953, the town was hit by a violent 1miles wide F4 tornado struck the city, damaging or destroying multiple structures. Two people were killed and 15 others were injured.[13]
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.
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 northwest of downtown San Antonio. Texas State Highway 16 runs through the community, leading northwest 30miles to Bandera. The Charles W. Anderson Loop, the outer beltway around San Antonio, is 2miles southeast of the center of Helotes.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Helotes has a total area of 17km2, of which 0.013NaN3, or 0.06%, is covered by water.[4]
| White (NH) | 4,302 | 47.64% | |
| Black or African American (NH) | 291 | 3.22% | |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 17 | 0.19% | |
| Asian (NH) | 399 | 4.42% | |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 3 | 0.03% | |
| Some other race (NH) | 25 | 0.28% | |
| Mixed/multiracial (NH) | 340 | 3.77% | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 3,653 | 40.45% | |
| Total | 9,030 |
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.
Helotes residents are zoned to the following schools in the Northside Independent School District:[15] Elementary schools:[16]
Middle schools:[17]
High schools:[18]
