PHARR, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS: Fifty-eight miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. First building, 1911. Present population, 600. Irrigation system. Bank, hotel, numerous commercial houses, and modern school buildings. MCALLEN, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS: Sixty miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. First building, 1905. Present population about 2,000. IrrigaBanks, hotels, numerous commercial houses. Hidalgo on the Rio tion system. Telephone. Modern school buildings. Grande lies seven miles south. MISSION, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS: Sixty-five miles northwest from Brownsville, on branch line. First building, 1907. Present population about 2,500. Irrigation system. Banks, hotels, numerous commercial houses. Modern school buildings. 18,000 acres in cultivation. Is supply base for all ranches up to Samfordyce, on the west, and Hidalgo on southeast. Three miles south is old La Lomita mission and Theological Seminary of Oblate Fathers. HIDALGO, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS: Fifty-eight miles from Brownsville by Military or River Highway. A few commercial houses and telephone. Maintains branches of the immigration and customs service. First inhabited as early as 1774 while Mexico under dominion of Spain. Until county site removed to Edinburg in 1908 Hidalgo was the most important town along the Rio Grande between Brownsville and Rio Grande City. In January, 1852, was county site of Hidalgo County and remained as such until 1908. For many years was maintained as camp for U. S. troops. Present population about 1,000. Modern school building. No bank nor hotel. RIO GRANDE CITY, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS: One hundred and five miles northwest from Brownsville, on Military or River Highway. Altitude, 521 feet above sea level. Twenty-one miles west from Samfordyce which is 80 miles from Brownsville. Present population, about 3,000. Is the county site for Starr County. Maintains customs and immigration service. Banks, hotels, and numerous commercial houses. Largest town between Brownsville and Laredo. Is the supply base for the territory west as far as Roma (14 miles) and for most of the country in Tamaulipas, Mexico, adjacent to the Rio Grande. Its east line is but two hundred yards from the west line of Fort Ringgold. Courthouse on high gravel hill and overlooks valley for many miles in all directions. From this hill may be seen the Sierra Madre ridge of mountains even those surrounding Monterrey. The mountains at Cerralvo, Mexico, 45 miles distant, present beautiful landscape. Rio Grande, sometimes called "Rancho Davis" in honor of Henry Clay Davis, one of the first American settlers in 1845, was a ranch as far back as 1767 when the early settlers of Camargo, directly opposite on the Mexican side of the river, recognized the value of the unusual elevation. No rail communication, but maintains telephone. All freight hauled by ox-wagons. Was incorporated January 10, 1850. FORT RINGGOLD, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS: One hundred and five miles northwest from Brownsville. Altitude, 521 feet above sea level. Established October 26, 1848, at Davis' landing by Capt. J. H. La Motte, 1st U. S. Infantry. Named in honor of Brevet-Major David Ringgold, 4th U. S. Artillery, killed at Palo Alto. On July 16, 1849, name changed to Ringgold Barracks. Troops were withdrawn March 3, 1859, and post remained vacant until December 29, 1859, two days after defeat of Cortina by Heintzelman. Was abandoned in 1861 and reoccupied by U. S. troops in June, 1865. Gen. Robert E. Lee was stationed at Ringgold during the Cortina troubles about 1858 and while he was there the old post was built of lumber and logs. Camargo, Tamaulipas, is five miles distant from Ringgold but on the Mexican side. Ringgold Barracks is on a hill overlooking the Valley and the reservation consists of about 150 acres which the government purchased in 1873. The new post where it now stands was begun in 1869 and finished in 1875. Abandoned again in 1907 but reëstablished 1912. ROMA, STARR COUNTY, TEXAS: One hundred and nineteen miles northwest from Brownsville. Roma was founded in 1848. It is situated just 14 miles west from Rio Grande City, or say 119 miles west from Brownsville. Present population, 500. Before the American occupation it was also known as the Garcia Ranch. On banks of Rio Grande. Nearly opposite to Mier which is on the Mexican side. ZAPATA, ZAPATA COUNTY, TEXAS: About 158 miles west from Brownsville, on Military or River Highway. Sixty miles east from Laredo. First established about 1770. For many years known as Carrizo. No banks or hotels. County site with courthouse. Military telephone to Laredo. Present population about 200. On banks Rio Grande nearly opposite to Guerrero which is on Mexican side.. SAN YGNACIO, ZAPATA COUNTY, TEXAS: About 178 miles west from Brownsville on Military Highway. First established about 1790. Present population about 500. On banks of Rio Grande. MONTE CRISTO, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS: About 10 miles north of Mission. First house, 1909. Present population about 100. Terminus of branch railroad line from Mission. PROGRESO, HIDALGO COUNTY, TEXAS: About 42 miles west from Brownsville. Mexicans and Spaniards inhabited as early as 1836, under name of Toluca. Present population, 50. SANTA MARIA, CAMERON COUNTY, TEXAS: About 26 miles west from Brownsville. First houses, 1780. First house of new town, 1872. Present population about 200. Terminus of San Benito railroad. Hotel. MEXICAN SIDE OF RIO GRANDE GUERRERO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO: About a mile south of Rio Grande, opposite to Zapata. Founded in 1750 by Spaniards under name REVILLA. Present population less than 1,000. Narrow streets, houses touching sidewalks. No modern conveniences. MIER, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO: About three miles west from Rio Grande, and same distance from Roma. Founded 1753 by Spaniards. Present population about 1,500. Typical Mexican town. No modern conveniences. Here was fought the battle between Americans under Ewin Cameron and Thomas Green in 1842, known as MIER EXPEDITION. CAMARGO, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO: About three miles from Rio Grande but the San Juan River runs through the city. Is three miles from Rio Grande City. Typical Mexican town. Suffered from great overflows in 1905 and 1910. Present population about 1,000. Mexican National Railroad passes two miles south. Founded 1749 by Spaniards. REYNOSA, TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO: On Rio Grande directly opposite to Hidalgo, Texas. Founded in 1749. Typical Mexican town. Present population about 800. Mexican National Railroad passes through town. |