On May 5, 1718, Martin de Alarcon founded the San Antonio de Bexar Presidio on the west side of the San Antonio River, about a quarter league from the San Antonio de Valero Mission that had been established on May 1.

Settlement did not happen immediately but the presidio and the mission were the foundation of the Villa de Bexar, the most important town in Spanish Texas. 

A lot of history has happened in this very special site near San Pedro Springs. What began as a village of Payaya Coahuiltecans called Yanaguana grew into San Antonio, the second most populous city in Texas and the 12th most in North America. It is the oldest municipality in Texas.

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