Helotes, Texas

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Helotes is a small city in Bexar County, Texas, on the far northwest side of San Antonio. It’s part of the San Antonio–New Braunfels metro area. The town covers about 6.6 to 6.9 square miles and sits in the valley of Helotes Creek, roughly 16 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio.

History and origin
Long before settlers arrived, Native Americans used the area for hunting. The Lipan Apache lived there in the 1600s and 1700s, but were pushed out by the Comanche in the early 1820s. After the Texas Revolution, farming and ranching grew in the area. The name Helotes likely comes from elote, a Spanish word for corn, though the exact origin is debated. In the 19th century, German and Spanish settlers helped the community develop around stores and a dance hall. The town incorporated in October 1981 as San Antonio’s growth reached its outskirts.

Landmarks and culture
A famous local site is the Floore Country Store, opened in 1946 by John T. Floore. It’s a dance hall that has hosted many country stars, including Willie Nelson, who still plays there occasionally. Floore helped start the Helotes Cornyval festival in the 1960s, a celebration tied to the town’s agricultural heritage.

Today
Helotes preserves a rural feel while expanding with new homes and businesses. Old Town Helotes was renovated in 2011 to revitalize the downtown area. The city is home to Oak Valley Golf Course and continues the Cornyval festival each year.

Location and basics
Helotes lies in northwestern Bexar County in the Helotes Creek area, about 16 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio. Texas State Highway 16 runs through the community, leading 30 miles northwest to Bandera. The outer beltway around San Antonio, the Charles W. Anderson Loop, is about 2 miles southeast of central Helotes. The ZIP code is 78023, and area codes are 210 and 726. As of 2020, about 9,030 people lived in Helotes.