Hondo is the county seat of Medina County, Texas, on the Medina River about 40 miles west of San Antonio. It is part of the San Antonio metropolitan area, and its population is about 8,300. The city anchors the northern edge of the South Texas plains where they meet the Texas Hill Country. The city's history reflects the agricultural and transportation development of South Texas. Hondo grew as a regional trade center for the farms and ranches of Medina County, and during World War II it served as a significant aviation training location. The city also holds a colorful footnote in history as the scene of two bank robberies in the early 1920s by the famed Newton Gang, among the most successful outlaws in American history. Hondo's economy remains rooted in agriculture, with ranching, farming, and the services that support the surrounding countryside. U.S. Route 90 runs through the city, and the nearby Medina Dam, completed in 1913 and once the fourth-largest in the nation, shapes the region's water and recreation landscape. The Medina River and Medina Lake provide fishing, boating, and outdoor access. Hondo ISD serves about 1,800 students across Medina and Frio counties. For residents, the appeal is a practical, family-oriented county seat with deep agricultural roots and convenient access to San Antonio's employment and amenities while keeping a distinctly rural Texas character. The town's compact downtown, built around the courthouse square, retains the feel of a classic South Texas county seat, with local businesses serving both residents and the surrounding farm communities.