King William Neighborhood in San Antonio

The King William neighborhood is located south of downtown San Antonio and has an amazing view off the east bank of the San Antonio River. The area was originally farm land that was irrigated by the river. German immigrants came into the area and made it their home and began building mansions. The neighborhood began to attract the wealthy and elite of San Antonio with castle-like homes and lavish landscaping. Today, many of the homes in the neighborhood still ooze of affluence and refinement. King William was the state's first residential historic district. Tourists can participate in walking tours of some of the most beautiful and prominent homes in the neighborhood.

The district is full of history and was established back in the 1840's. The King William neighborhood was originally started by a large group of German immigrants who came to Texas and settled in the city of San Antonio. The German's named the main entry into the area after King Kaiser Wilhelm I. The king was also referred to as William the Great and was the King of Prussia as well as the first German Emperor. It was Wilhelm I that achieved the unification of the German Empire. At one time, the name of the area was changed to Pershing Avenue but a few yeas after World War I, the neighborhood restored the English form of the original name and called the area King William. Many of the districts in King William have a theme of cultural and historical importance. The districts are protected by city ordinances since they are some of the oldest districts in the state. The King William neighborhood has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places.

The King William neighborhood is also noted for the famous authors and poets that have the called the area home. A celebrated poetess, Naomi Shihab Nye currently lives in the neighborhood and short fiction writer Sandra Cisneros lives on the outskirts of the King William area.

The homes in the King William area come in a large range of architectural styles. The main styles of home in the area include Victorian, Greek Revival, and Italiante. When the original homes were built, the neighborhood flourished for years before seeing a decline in value. It was not until the 1960's that the neighborhood begin to flourish again. Part of the revitalization of the King William neighborhood is due to the King William Association which was founded in 1967. The association was started by a neighborhood group that wanted to address neighborhood issues, provide information to residents, and communicate creative ideas to local city officials. As of 2009, the King William Association has over 300 members that are composed of property owners and renters.

Today, the neighborhood is a flourishing community in San Antonio and a desirable place to live. Various events take place during the year in King William including the King William Holiday Home Tour, National Night Out, and the King William Fair Focus that places an emphasis on arts and crafts. Each year, King William and Lavaca neighborhood artisans get together to sell the art work to local residents. The King William fair is one of the neighborhood's most important events and promotes arts, education, and community improvements to the area.