Why is the "J" in San Jacinto pronounced like an English "J" instead of an "H" in Texas?

Question

Many Spanish words taken into English have a "J" sounding like "H", but San Jacinto follows a different rule: - San Jose - La Jolla - San Juan - Jimenez Why is San Jacinto not pronounced San Hacinto in English? The [languagehat](http://www.languagehat.com/archives/001699.php) article mentioned in comments shows that the J in Jacinto is under attack in Texas, but it doesn't explain why Texans don't pronounce Jacinto like every other Spanish J word.

Answer 1

The simplest answer is that many words that come to English from other languages, particularly geographical places, become Anglicized as time goes by. Other examples of places whose names have Spanish origins but are not pronounced to reflect that are Los Angeles, Colorado, Texas, and Amarillo.