San Antonio, or unofficially San Ann as the locals call it, is a city in Pasco County, Florida founded back in 1882. It is said that these two men walked up a “pine covered hill” (where St. Leo Abbey now stands) looking down up the perfect lake on the day of the feast of St. Jovita. Later Judge Dunne (one of the two men) planned out a town named San Antonio to honor St. Anthony of Padua. This land was plotted streets, residential lots, an area for schools, a monastery and more. In the center of town he laid out a public square in an European style (which still remains today).

 In addition, the first concrete block structure in Pasco County was built in 1912. St Leo Hall using “Palmer” blocks for the construction. It remained until 1978 and is remembered by a monument to the industry. This was one of the areas first planned communities designed to be small villages. During the early 1920’s era when the first land boom hit Pasco county, in order to modernize the area some of the road names where changed such as Pius IX Avenue to Curley Street.

From its time of the Orange Belt Railroad and miles of orange groves to today, this city has kept its original planned designed of community that the original Judge Dunne envisioned. It is located approximately 32 miles from Tampa, FL..

Today, San Antonio is home to the 15 acre Lagoon Mirada, also known as the Connected City. The Connected City is known as a forward thinking community that I believe the Judge would have approved of.

Things to do in San Antonio

The area is home to a unique small town square full of antique’s and the famous Al’s Pizza. East Pasco is conveniently located with easy commutes to downtown Tampa, Lakeland and near the Florida beaches. It is a suburb of the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area and is expanding rapidly.