Shavano

A Brief History of the City of Shavano Park, Texas

The City of Shavano Park was originally known just as Shavano, and was located approximately 12 miles north of downtown San Antonio, along the Olmos Creek. Early on; the site had a store operated by A. De Zavala. When a post office was opened in 1881, De Zavala was the first postmaster. A small station and switch was established on the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway in 1884, and at that time Shavano was also a stagecoach stop between San Antonio and Boerne. The original town had a saloon, a carpenter, a grocer, and fifty residents. The population reached close to 100 citizens by 1896, before declining. By 1903 the post office was closed. The site of the later township of Shavano Park became part of the Stowers Ranch. George Arthur Stowers came to Texas in 1889 and opened several successful furniture stores. The land he acquired in this area had originally been given in Spanish land grants. In 1947 Wallace Rogers and Sons purchased the land with the intent to develop it. The city of Shavano Park was incorporated on June 19, 1956.

Today, the city maintains its own water system to the highest ratings of the State Department of Health, its own fire department with station and trucks, a police department with a fleet of fully-outfitted Patrol cars, a modern communication system integrating the departments and those of nearby communities, a well-equipped department of public works, and a municipal court all located within or adjacent to the pictured city hall at 900 Saddle Tree Court.

The City Hall houses the offices of the elected officials, the Mayor and 5 aldermen, the Municipal Court, as well as the City Manager and staff. A city officer heads each department reporting to the City Manager.

The population of Shavano Park has recently grown beyond 2,000 citizens.