Besides being similar in size, both San Antonio and Oklahoma City both played significant roles in 19th -century American history. For San Antonio, this centered on the Alamo and the battle for Texas independence in 1836. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, basically sprang out of the 1889 Land Run (or land rush), when thousands of homesteaders lined up and charged off to claim lots in the “unassigned lands.” Within hours, Oklahoma City was a community of 10,000 people.
Today there is also a similar urban renewal theme in both cities. San Antonio has its famous Riverwalk. Oklahoma City has revitalized its downtown with the less well known but successful Bricktown neighborhood. A canal through an old warehouse area plied by water taxis, the city has defined a vibrant entertainment district.
