Living in Universal City, TX

Universal City is a city of about 20,000 in northeast Bexar County, roughly 15 miles northeast of downtown San Antonio, with a small part in Guadalupe County. It sits right next to Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, and part of the historic Randolph Field area lies within the city limits.

Getting around

Pat Booker Road (SH 218) is the main corridor, running from I-35 past Loop 1604 to the main gate of JBSA-Randolph at FM 78. I-35 runs along the north side toward New Braunfels and downtown San Antonio, and Loop 1604 connects to I-10 and the north side. San Antonio International Airport is about 15 miles away.

Things to do

The Cibolo Creek trails, a network of nature trails along the creek, with the main trail running about 1.7 miles
Universal City Park, 32 acres of sports facilities, plus an 18-hole disc golf course nearby on Cibolo Trail
Veterans Park, 8 acres along the creek trails with a jet-shaped playground, and Red Horse Park, with playgrounds and a walking trail
Olympia Hills Golf & Event Center, a public golf course in the city
The "Taj Mahal" at JBSA-Randolph, the base's 1931 administration building and part of a National Historic Landmark district

Schools

Universal City is split between Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD and Judson ISD. Because the line runs through the city, I always confirm the school assignment for a specific address. Northeast Lakeview College, part of the Alamo Colleges, is also in Universal City.

Homes and neighborhoods

Universal City has older homes near the Pat Booker Road corridor from the city's early decades, established neighborhoods such as Olympia Hills, and some newer construction on the edges of the city. There's a good mix of single-story homes, along with townhomes and rentals near the main corridors. Since the city crosses into Guadalupe County, I always check the county and tax rate for each home.

A little history

In 1929, three San Antonio doctors bought farmland here, expecting the new Randolph Field to bring homes and businesses. The tract was named Universal City in 1931, and the city incorporated in 1960.