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August 1, 2023
Today in Texas History
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
The Bandera Prophet
On this day in 1731, Capt. Juan Antonio Pérez de Almazán, the commander of San Antonio de Béxar Presidio, presided over what was probably the first election in Texas history.
In March, he had welcomed a group of settlers from the Canary Islands by laying out a place for their homes and by establishing a municipal government. The immigrants formed the nucleus of the villa of San Fernando de Béxar, the first regularly organized civil government in Texas.
On Aug. 1 the new city council met to elect alcaldes, and electoral politics was off and running.
In March, he had welcomed a group of settlers from the Canary Islands by laying out a place for their homes and by establishing a municipal government. The immigrants formed the nucleus of the villa of San Fernando de Béxar, the first regularly organized civil government in Texas.
On Aug. 1 the new city council met to elect alcaldes, and electoral politics was off and running.