History
Canary Island settlers founded Texas's first civilian government in San Antonio in 1731
Fifty-six colonists from the Canary Islands arrived in San Antonio in 1731 and established San Fernando de Béxar—the first formally organized civil government in Texas—and their descendants shaped the city for generations.
By order of King Philip V of Spain, 56 colonists from the Canary Islands traveled more than a year by sea and land to reach San Antonio de Béxar. They arrived March 9, 1731. Led by Juan Leal Goraz, the group formed sixteen families. On July 2, 1731, they began laying out the villa of San Fernando de Béxar. On August 1, they elected Goraz as their first alcalde (mayor).
The Spanish Crown honored the settlers' sacrifice with a rare title. A Viceroy's decree named them and their descendants 'Hijos Dalgo'—Persons of Nobility. The site they chose is today's Main Plaza in downtown San Antonio, known historically as the Plaza de las Islas Canarias. Family names—Leal, Curbelo, Santos, and others—appear throughout San Antonio history.
These settlers joined soldiers, missionaries, and Mexican frontiersmen already living in the area. Early tensions arose over land and water. Over the next century, Spanish, Canary Islander, and Indigenous ancestry mixed and formed the foundation of the Tejano identity that is central to San Antonio culture today. Read the full story at bexar.org/3673 and the TSHA Handbook at tshaonline.org.
Source to confirm: Bexar County – The Canary Islanders