USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -In 1718, Martín de Alarcón stopped along the San Antonio River on his way to supply the east Texas outposts. Establishing there a halfway post between the Rio Grande and east Texas, he founded the presidio of Bexar and the mission of San Antonio de Valero, which came to be known much later as the Alamo.

Detailed explanation-2: -The first Spanish-speaking settlers established a mission and presidio (fort) around the San Antonio River in 1718. The first settlement, called the Villa de Bexar, was little more than civilian housing for families of soldiers stationed at the presidio.

Detailed explanation-3: -On the first of May 1718, Father Antonio Olivares, a Franciscan missionary, established the mission of San Antonio de Valero which had been founded by the governor “about three-fourths of a league down the creek” from the presidio.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because of the 500 mile journey from east Texas to the Rio Grande, the Spanish needed a settlement midway between New Spain and the missions. Spanish officials chose a site on the San Antonio River to build the presidio San Antonio de Bexar in 1718.

Detailed explanation-5: -The first Spanish-speaking settlers began to group around the San Antonio River in 1718 when the mission and presidio (fort) were established.