This is the boundary within which the women are compelled to live according to law.During the earlier years of the state, San Antonio was Texas' largest city.

One of the city's most important business leaders was Jack Harris, who established the Vaudeville Theater and Saloon in 1872, in what would later become the Sporting District.

[4] The Sporting District was formally established in 1889 by the San Antonio city council to contain and regulate prostitution.

[6] In 1911 businesses in the area provided the city with approximately $50,000 ($1.64 million in today's dollars) annually in licensing fees.

[6] Despite its fame and economic significance however, very little was recorded about the District because neither city officials nor journalists were typically willing to acknowledge knowing about the illegal activities.

[7] Between the world wars, particularly during the Depression, the District deteriorated as higher-class prostitutes abandoned the area in favor of working as call girls in hotels.

[1][9] In July 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had signed into law a federal ban on prostitution near naval and army bases.

Another famous venue was Fannie Porter's Sporting House, which was actually located a block outside the borders of the district as defined by the city.