Converse is a city in northeast Bexar County approximately 13 miles from downtown San Antonio. Its neighboring cities include Live Oak and Universal City. According to the US census in 2000, the population was 11,508. Though by 2006, it was estimated that the amount of residents bulged by nearly 25% to a record 13,937.
With a median income of $52,700, Converse is rated higher in income than the state average by nearly $10,000. The zip code for the city is 78109, with over 3,400 families and 400 businesses calling it home.
The average median housing cost in Converse in 2005 was $100,200. This is a huge jump from just five years earlier in 2000, when the median house price was just $78,800. The jump in housing value reflects the population growth as more families with higher incomes move to the suburbs.
There are several subdivisions under construction due to the growth of Converse. Many of these homes are 3-4 bedroom, single-family detached houses. Empty lots for custom building can also be found in Converse, though these are more rare as development takes over many empty spaces in the city limits.
Parents of children in Converse will send their kids to the schools of the Judson Independent School District. The youngest of the many school district of Bexar County, it is also one of the largest as well with over 20,000 attendees.
Children from Converse, Universal City, Kirby, Selma, Live Oak, Schertz and parts of San Antonio. Judson ISD is known for their great athletic programs and their Performance Art Center (PAC) which encourages the Arts and creativity in students.
The history of the City of Converse goes back over 100 years, like much of South Texas. It was named after Major Converse, who was the chief engineer of the Southern Pacific Railroad at the time. He wanted to settle in the area, and being wealthy he bought a huge partition of land in 1877 that eventually became the heart of the City of Converse as we know it today.
In just 20 years the city already had a grocery store, a saloon and two cotton gins which became the basis for commerce in the area.
Over 100 years later, the city is now a suburb of San Antonio and amongst the safest areas to live in the metro area. It is a Home-Rule City meaning there is an elected mayor and city council who must equally share duties and votes that pertain to the future of Converse.
For more information about all elected officials, visit the city's official home Web page at conversetx.net. Under the watchful eye of these council members, the city continues to grow, as the population has exploded to nearly 10 times the rate of just 50 years ago.