A while back I discovered an amazing book called Place Names of San Antonio by David P. Green. Anyone who has ever driven through San Antonio can appreciate the mind-boggling complexity of the City’s layout. The City planners seemed to have had either a twisted sense of humor or a complete disregard for logic. This is the City where a street will run for a few blocks, and then, for no apparent reason whatsoever, all of a sudden change names–only to reappear a few blocks later under the original name. There are streets that have been completely closed off by buildings, so that now they are essentially large, well-paved smoker’s areas. There are Polish towns with German names and streets named after snake attacks and high schools named after non-existent towns and even a little town nearby named after a pipe lost in a creek during an Indian attack. It’s a tangled history, but Green’s book goes a long way towards mapping it. This book gives such a detailed history of San Antonio, and from such a unique perspective, that it has become one of my most frequently consulted reference guides. Highly recommended.
Street Names of San Antonio
Posted by joemckinney on August 27, 2008
https://joemckinney.wordpress.com/2008/08/27/street-names-of-san-antonio/
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Nancy
/ December 20, 2010Who was Brimhall Loop in San Antonio,Texas named for? Was it Onis Brimhall who once worked for the highway department here?
joemckinney
/ December 24, 2010Good question, Nancy. I went through Green’s book and couldn’t find a reference to it. Looks like we’ll have to wait for the next edition to get an answer. In the meantime, if you find out, let me know!
Nanj
/ May 11, 2012what about Quintana Road???? It bridges the gap literally. This was key when Kelly AFB was open.
joemckinney
/ May 11, 2012Here’s another one like Nancy’s question. Quintana Road is not in Green’s book. Sounds like it’s time for the author to come out with a new edition.
Margaret Moran
/ October 19, 2013I would also like to know who Quintana Road was named after. Was it Rafael Quintana who moved from San Antonio and became the first jp in Von Ormy – in spite of Jim Crowe Laws?
joemckinney
/ October 19, 2013Good question! I’d like to know myself. My day job takes me by Quintana Rd almost daily.
Margaret Moran
/ October 19, 2013sorry—- he was the first Hispanic to be elected JP
Kathy
/ May 6, 2014Bexar County Clerk deed records show that Rafael Quintana once owned over 600 acres in that area, I believe. (small cursive writing makes it difficult to decipher) …I challenge Mr. Green to research…may be worth adding to next edition.
joemckinney
/ May 6, 2014Cool. Thanks Kathy.