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Our attorneys are here to help the residents of Bexar County, Texas. Count on Heard & Smith, LLP to assist you with your disability or Social Security claims, as well as estate planning.
Bexar
County, (1,248 square miles)
is located in South Central Texas. Pronounced "Bear,", about 12% of
the terrain is high and hilly with numerous natural springs. The
Glenrose Hills rise to an elevation of 1,200'. The San Antonio River
(the county's main river), and San Pedro Creek originate here and
smaller streams flow into the San Antonio, such as the Medina River
and the Calvares, Helotes, Leon, Medio, and Salado Creeks.
Six National Flags have flown over Bexar County, Texas: Spain.
1519-1685 and 1690-1821; France. 1685-1690; Mexico: 1821-1836; The
Republic of Texas: 1836-1845 Confederate: 1861-1865; and the United
States: 1845-1861 and 1865-Present. Texas was the 28th State in the
Union. San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County since 1860.
Since that time, 128 counties have been formed from the original Bexar
County. Current population of Bexar County (2002) is 1,446,333.
The
Bexar County Courthouse is
included in the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only
major remaining Romanesque style structure in the San Antonio area.
Bexar County's original courthouse (1731) was a one-story adobe
structure (Casas Reales). The floors were dirt, the flagpole was a
cactus, and there was a sundial over the door. The Casa Reales was the
oldest capitol, and courthouse in Texas for over a hundred years. The
greats of their day walked through the doors of Casas Reales,
including
Austin, Bowie, Houston, Ruiz,
Santa Anna and the great
JosŽ Antonio Navarro (1795 - 1871), one of the founders of
Texas.
 The bloody battles of Texas history came right to the Courthouse and
the Council House steps - and inside. The famous Court House Fight
(1840) began during a treaty signing and prisoner exchange with
Commanche Indians. In 1842, General Adrian Well crossed the Rio Grande
with Mexican troops and took possession of the district court. As
court was then in session, members became hostages while court records
were removed or destroyed.
The next courthouse, built in 1850 on Military Plaza, was two-stories
high and included a jail. As the 2nd story became a roosting place for
thousands of bats, it received the nickname of "Old Bat Cave." Court
proceedings were begun with using two long poles and a crosspiece of
timber against the canvas ceiling, to drive the bats out.
Civil War vigilantes, the famous
Belknap Rifles (named for Augustus Belknap, who helped form the
company after admission to the San Antonio Rifles was refused), and
Baptists also met in the "Bat Cave".
Bexar County has had a system of courts since the Texas Constitution
was adopted (1836). In addition to 228 District Courts, there are six
county courts at law, five Justice of the Peace Courts, the District
Attorney, the County Clerk, and the District Clerk located in the
Bexar County Courthouse today. The legal profession contributes
greatly to the economy in Bexar County and San Antonio.
Bexar County's subtropical climate allows a growing season of about
265 days a year. San Antonio de Bexar began as an agricultural
community. Major crops today are generally from the truck farms and
include corn, hay, oats, sorghum, wheat, and fruits and vegetables.
Discovered by Europeans in 1691, (Domingo Teran de los Rios and Fray
Damian Massanet) the villa of San Fernando de Bexar was the first city
in the Spanish province of Texas. Epidemics and attacks by Apache and
Comanche Indians devastated the Spanish Catholic missions, but the
population showed remarkably fast recovery.
Bexar served as the capital of the province of Texas prior to
statehood, though the area was predominantly Mexican at the beginning
of the Texas Revolution. In 1844, San Antonio's population was 1,000,
of which 9/10ths were of Mexican descent.
 In
1835, resolute Texas forces occupied the city of San Antonio. A fierce
attack by Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and government forces
immortalized the
the Alamo on 6 March 1836. Santa Anna's
army was later defeated but the area was fought over for some time.
Despite strong antislavery sentiment, Texas voted for secession and
San Antonio was occupied by Union soldiers after the Civil War. Post
war occupation and mismanagement of resources due to severe monetary
depression triggered an outbreak of cholera in 1866.
In 1877, the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway, connected
San Antonio to the coast. Railroads always made the shipping of local
products more profitable and expanded populations. In San Antonio, it
was responsible for the magnificent cattle drives that this area
became known for.
Oil, a significant portion of this area's economy, was discovered in
Bexar County in 1889.
 Other cities and towns in Bexar County include Alamo Heights, Balcones
Heights, Castle Hills, Converse, Lytle, Olmos Park, Terrell Hills,
Timberwood Park, Universal City, and Windcrest.
One of the most visited attractions in Texas,
the Alamo, is located in the heart of San Antonio. Also, while in
Bexar County, have dinner at the
Tower of the Americas. See
La Villita, (Spanish for little town), the original settlement of
Old San Antonio, comprises one block in downtown San Antonio.
Six Flags Fiesta Texas is America's top show park.
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