North Central San Antonio

North Central is home to many small cities landlocked within the city of San Antonio. Some of these cities are Castle Hills, Hill Country Village and Hollywood Park.

Castle Hills like many other cities enjoyed a simple beginning. The area was originally settled by a handful of families in the early 1920's attracted by the plentiful water supply provided by the Olmos Creek. Many of these first families of Castle Hills were tied to the oil industry. Perhaps most notable, the Slimp Family, whose house was set atop a hill for which the city was named. The town quickly grew into a cohesive, thriving community. In fact, the development of some of today's thoroughfares and public facilities was provided through the generosity of its early citizens.

As the community grew, the residents pulled together to find ways to serve the area's growing needs. The result was the subsequent formation of the "Castle Hills Improvement League".

In response to rapid postwar northward expansion by the City of San Antonio, the decision was made to take steps to incorporate the community. It's boundaries were defined by existing streets and railroad tracks. A problem arose when, based on technicalities, San Antonio declared the initial incorporation efforts null and void and proceeded to attempt to annex the City of Castle Hills. Mr. Ralph Brite, an attorney, eventually was able to resolve the dispute and the City of Castle Hills finally became incorporated in 1951. The city's first elected Council Members were: Adolf Dolch, Jim Sierdevan, Jimmy Hanning, Harold Grist, Leslie Dunn and Leonard Yeckel as their first Mayor.

Also, after incorporation, a group of citizens formed the Castle Hills Volunteer Fire Department. They started out with nothing except a strong desire to make their fire department the best that it could be. With much hard work, a self imposed tax, and various fund raising efforts. credited in large part to the Woman's Club, the department was able to buy it's first fire truck.

The city has undergone many changes since it's incorporation in 1951. Castle Hills has manged to evolve and develop at a comfortable pace. Most of the property in Castle Hills remains private residential property, with large lots, and abundance of trees, superior education and public leadership, all of which exemplify the best of small city government.

The City of Hill Country Village is a "Type A" general-law municipality founded in 1956 and located in north-central Bexar County, Texas about 20 minutes north of Downtown San Antonio and two miles north of the San Antonio International Airport. The 2.1 square mile city is surrounded by the corporate limits of the City of San Antonio and the Town of Hollywood Park. Although situated in an urban environment, its 1,052 residents enjoy a rural type of living second to none in the area. The city has effectively combined commercial and residential ventures by strategically balancing the commercial district along the eastern boundary of the city with the environmentally aware and rustic residential area. Though sometimes thought of as a "bedroom" community, the city is a dynamic example of a professional/residential suburb.

Nestled in the Hill Country foothills in northern suburban San Antonio, the Town of Hollywood Park provides country living just minutes from downtown San Antonio. The Town of Hollywood Park was originally incorporated in 1955, the Town of Hollywood Park was once a rural community but has now been surrounded by the continued growth of San Antonio. The Town of Hollywood Park has a small-community atmosphere with quiet streets, city parks, and complete services such as fire and police protection. Homes are generally built on large lots ranging from 1/2 to 1 acre in size, with a few sites even larger. Hollywood Park is encouraging development of the few remaining commercial land sites adjacent to the town. Sites are available along Highway 281 North and North Loop 1604. Hollywood Park offers quiet country living with the conveniences of big city life of San Antonio nearby.

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