USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -San Antonio de Béxar Presidio, the center of Spanish defense in western Texas, was founded by Martín de Alarcón on May 5, 1718, on the west side of the San Antonio River one-fourth league from the San Antonio de Valero Mission.

Detailed explanation-2: -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-3: -San Antonio was founded May 1, 1718, when a Spanish expedition from Mexico established the Mission San Antonio de Valero. The mission, later called the Alamo (Spanish: “Cottonwood”), was one of five founded in the area and was named for St. Anthony of Padua.

Detailed explanation-4: -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-5: -The mission was started by Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares, of the College of Santa Cruz of Querétaro, who first visited the region in 1709.