You’ve arrived at San Angelo, the paradise of West Texas. San Angelo sits in the Concho Valley, which is bounded by the Osage Plains to the north, Central Texas to the east, the Permian Basin to the west, and the Chihuahuan Desert to the south.
This area is truly unique due to its strategic location and the merging of the three tributaries that make up the Concho River. Lake Nasworthy is located in San Angelo, and the beautiful Concho River flows right through the city.
From its humble beginnings as a frontier fort town, San Angelo has blossomed into a thriving metropolis that celebrates its past while forging forth into an exciting new frontier full of world-class restaurants, galleries, and nightlife. There are hardly any instances of traffic jams in this West Texas metropolis. Try a nearby winery, brewery, or concert for a unique bottleneck experience.
The city’s area is 58.61 square miles. San Angelo, Texas, is conveniently located between two major U.S. highways (Interstates 10 and 20). I-10 is accessible from San Angelo by traveling 64 miles south, while I-20 is accessible by traveling 70 to 80 miles west. San Angelo is conveniently accessible from major U.S. routes 67, 87, and 277.
San Angelo’s population of 100,000 takes pride in its many institutions of excellence, including Angelo State University, Goodfellow Air Force Base, the International Waterlily Collection, excellent healthcare options, and lively cultural scene. San Angelo State Park’s versatility is one of the reasons why the city is so highly regarded as a top biking destination by Livability.com. The American Planning Association has included the Concho River Walk as one of five Great Public Spaces on its yearly list of Great Places in America.
San Angelo has a long history of being recognized as one of the best little communities in which to launch a career or find satisfying employment. San Angelo was named by Forbes as one of 2015’s top 25 retirement communities. San Angelo was recognized by Livability.com as a top city for veterans in 2016. San Angelo has been recognized by Forbes as a top small city for business and advancing one’s career in 2019.
San Angelo offers a delightful blend of West Texas arts and culture, from a sophisticated symphony, to country and western music, to a civic ballet whose students routinely earn spots at top national dance academies to Mexican folk dances. Angelo Civic Theatre, the state’s longest-running theater, and the Angelo State University campus both provide live theatrical performances. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, a world-class museum that earned the desired National Museum Service Award, has constantly changed exhibitions by artists from Texas and worldwide. The San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, which began in 1932 and is one of the longest-running rodeos in the world, is also from the Concho Valley.
Fort Concho was established in 1867 to accommodate up to 500 troops stationed there to guard the West Texas region. It is now a National Historic Landmark. Buffalo troops, African American troops who served in the western frontier after the American Civil War, were among its numerous occupants. During Fort Concho’s active time, elements from all four Buffalo Soldier regiments were stationed there. The old US Army base contains 24 original and renovated structures, the majority of which are made of natural limestone. The fort offers both guided and self-guided excursions. The fort also has a museum, research library, and archives, all of which include significant items from the American Indian Wars era, including information on frontier and pioneer life, Native American communities, and military actions.
San Angelo State Park, established in 1995 on the beaches of the O.C. Fisher Reservoir, is a popular site for local animals and scenic beauty. The park has 80 kilometers of hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding paths, as well as a small Dinosaur Trail for youngsters to examine prehistoric species’ fossilized trackways. To go fishing in the Concho River or the O.C. Fisher Reservoir, rent a rod and reel. Spend the night under the stars in a tent or in an on-site rustic log cabin. Educational tours of the bison and longhorn habitats, as well as ecology, history, and star-gazing activities, are led by park rangers.Â
San Angelo has various museums that offer a variety of chances to learn about the area’s art and history. Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum was a real bordello that operated on historic Concho Avenue, San Angelo’s first thoroughfare, from 1902 until 1952. Visitors may now explore the house and learn about local history while seeing historical details. They can also enjoy a meal and relax with a refreshing beverage at Miss Hattie’s Restaurant Cathouse lounge. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts has permanent and traveling exhibits, as well as collections of photography, sculpture, painting, and other media. The museum houses a huge collection of artwork by Texas painters. The Pop Art Museum and Paintbrush Alley were built by the local nonprofit Art in Uncommon Places to showcase contemporary artwork by local artists.Â
You can enjoy a taste of authentic cowboy life in San Angelo, a laid-back West Texas escape. This oasis draws visitors who want to stroll the grounds of Fort Concho National Historic Landmark, hike San Angelo State Park, kayak the Concho River, embrace their inner cowboy (or cowgirl) at the San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo, explore local museums, and more.Â
San Angelo’s height of 1,900 feet, location on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan desert, and closeness to rivers and lakes all contribute to magnificent blue sky and a very comfortable environment. San Angelo has an average morning humidity of 79%, which reduces to a pleasant 44% in the afternoons due to the city’s three lakes and two rivers. Summer temperatures approach the 100s, while moderate humidity in the 15% to 25% range keeps the “heat index” low. Snow and sleet are uncommon, occurring about once or twice a year. There are no missed work days due to winter, according to employers.
The average annual temperature is 64.9 degrees, with highs of 78.1 degrees and lows of 51.6 degrees. San Angelo has 251 days of sunlight per year with an annual rainfall of 20.45 inches.
