Castle Hills Overview:
A city in a city, Castle Hills has been nestled within the boundaries of San Antonio since its humble beginnings in the 1920s. The North Central city was instrumental in San Antonio's early transformation and is now considered one of the more upscale neighborhoods in the city. Though it is mostly residential, there are many fine restaurants and nearby recreational opportunities.
The boundaries of Castle Hills are:
- Lockhill-Selma Rd. on the North
- Jackson-Keller Rd. on the South
- Blanco Rd. on the East
- The Texas and New Orleans Railroad (T&NORR) tracks on the West
Castle Hills Number Crunching:
Population: 4,202 (as of 2005)
Median Age: 54 (slightly more females than males)
Houses: 1,930
Median Housing Cost: $179, 900
Median Income: $53,688
ZIP Code: 78213
Post Office: 3731 West Ave
Fire Dept.: 209 Lemonwood Dr
City Public Service (electricity): 7000 San Pedro Ave
Bexar Met Water District: 2706 W Southcross Blvd
Median Age: 54 (slightly more females than males)
Houses: 1,930
Median Housing Cost: $179, 900
Median Income: $53,688
ZIP Code: 78213
Post Office: 3731 West Ave
Fire Dept.: 209 Lemonwood Dr
City Public Service (electricity): 7000 San Pedro Ave
Bexar Met Water District: 2706 W Southcross Blvd
Castle Hills Apartments and Real Estate:
Over 75% of all homes in Castle Hills are owned by the occupant, which doesn't leave a lot of options for renters. Apartment complexes are few and far between, leaving houses as the main renting option. The median condo/house price in Castle Hills is $179,900 as of 2005. Only 42% of these homes have a mortgage, as many of the abundance of retirees in the area have paid off their obligation.
Castle Hills Schools:
The City of Castle Hills has many great schools to offer residents, but surprisingly only two of them are public. Both Castle Hills Elementary and Jackson Keller Elementary are governed by the North East Independent School District (NEISD). There are junior (Eisenhower) and high school (Robert E. Lee) options very close by for students that are also overseen by the NEISD, however they are not considered to be within the Castle Hills city limits.
Some of the more prominent private schools in the area include Antonian H.S., Holy Spirit Catholic School, Cornerstone Christian School, Mount Sacred Heart and many others.
Castle Hills History:
Castle Hills started as a missionary outpost that was initially settled by rich families in the burgeoning local oil industry. The proximity of Castle Hills to the nearby railroad and the commerce that came with it was a big plus and lead to a number of homes being built, many of which are still standing today. These homes reflect the architecture of the time and some are even considered historical, with great measures taken to preserve their original integrity.
Castle Hills was incorporated by San Antonio on July 3, 1951 and has its own Post Office, Police Department, Fire Station and City Hall.
Castle Hills Restaurants:
There are many restaurants in Castle Hills, and very few of them are the garden variety chain restaurants that haunt many cities. The vast majority of the better restaurants are family or locally owned and operated. Some of the better restaurants include La Fogata (winner of several local Best Margarita awards), La Scala (Fine European dining), GO Dai Sushi Bar & Restaurant, Carmelo's Pizza and The Lodge Restaurant of Castle Hills. You can truly get just about any type of food or atmosphere somewhere in Castle Hills.
Castle Hills Activities, Attractions and Shopping:
Castle Hills provides easy access to Loop 410, which goes around the city and will take you just about anywhere. Though there isn't much in the way of big time attractions in residential-heavy Castle Hills, many famous landmarks and fun things to do are just a hop, skip and a jump on 410 away. Recreational opportunities in the nearby area include golf, gardens and the aforementioned fine dining that dots the Castle Hills landscape.