Hidalgo County, Texas
- Profile
- Images
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: hidalgo_county us_history Texas
| ... ... ... is a part of Texas history. Join: Texas Project Discuss: Texas |
- Texas Space Page
- The leader of this project is: Mary Richardson.
Contents |
The Valley and Hidalgo
Hidalgo County, Texas The county is named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest.
|
| Old Hidalgo Courthouse. |
History/Timeline
- 1852 Hidalgo County was created from Cameron and Starr counties and organized the same year. It was named for leader of Mexico’s independence movement of 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costillo.[1]
Empresarios were granted large grants to bring in settlers to the Texas Colony and later to the Republic of Texas.. The closest example to this county was James McGloin and McMullens colony around San Patricio colony. the Germans settled in colonies surrounding Bexar in the Hill Country.
Texas' Colonies- were large areas embracing one or more settlements and the surrounding rural territory., Within Texas area or colony there could be found Bexar, Goliad, Nacogdoches DeWitts, Adelverain, and Robertson's colony. The Rio Grande valley was settled later. There were areas of light settlement and areas of light settlement and ranching with no major roads.
- Prior to the revolution of Texas against Mexico, there was no political subdivision at the county level. In 1835, Texas had colonies, Brazos Colony, Nacogdoches Colony , Harris Colony, DeWitt's Colony, McGloin's Colony, Robertson Colony, Liberty Colony, San Patricio colony, and others. Following the Revolution there was Peter's colony in North Texas, the Panhandle developed, with settlers applying for land grants to the State of Texas, Red River Colony, etc.
|
| New Courthouse. |
- Archaic period -Artifacts indicate that inhabitants of the region were semi-nomadic hunters/gatherers and kept no domestic animals except a few dogs.
- 11,000 years Nomadic Coahuiltecan Indians inhabitedregion.Karankawa Indians lived along the coast.
- Early Native Americans began experimenting with farming. As they began cultivating and growing food, they settled in one given area.
|
| view of Mexico |
- 1519 the coast was mapped and named Amichel by Alonzo Álvarez de Pineda. [2]
- 1530's - Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca crossed the area.[2]
- 1554 a fleet of twenty ships was wrecked on South Padre Island in the Willacy area.[2]
- No evidence has been seen of Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
- (2) two small settlements were started near the current Starr County. It is said that sometime later the settlers moved the towns across the river... Grantees did find land that would support cattle and sheep raising.
- August 1638 Jacinto García de Sepulveda crossed the Rio Grande into the area at the site of Mier in search of Dutch sailors reported on the Texas]] coast. He had followed The Rio Grande.
- Aug 1687 - The 2nd trip by Alonso De León as he looked for Fort St. Louis.
- 1747 Miguel de la Garza Falcón reconnoitered the northern bank of the river in search of suitable land to establish a settlement. He found the land unsuitable even for stock raising and condemned it as uninhabitable. He wanted good land to develop colony. THIS IS the very fertile VALLEY
- 1749 Spanish crown looked at the area, assigning José de Escandón to colonize the area.
- 1763 - First settlement by Francisco de la Garza Martinéz, son of Blas María de la Garza Falcón,
- 1763 Second settlement- Corrales de los Saenz, by the Saenz family.
- 1767. The community fell within porciones 71 and 72, which were issued to Juan Salinas and Juan Ángel Saens,
- 1798 - Two other land grants in the Willacy County area were made to Vicente de Ynojosa by Spain [2]
- (2) two small settlements were started near the current Starr County. It is said that sometime later the settlers moved the towns across the river... Grantees did find land that would support cattle and sheep raising.
- Between 1749-1846: ' en land grants and seventy-one portions in E part of Starr.
- 1763 - First settlement by Francisco de la Garza Martinéz, son of Blas María de la Garza Falcón,
- Feb 22, 1792 - the Spanish land grant was El Agostadero de San Juan Carricitos, to José Narciso Cabazos. [2]
- Cabazos immediately developed and settled the land with ranch with 900 cattle; his grant contained more than a half million acres. This was the area of future Willacy County and parts of Hidalgo and Kenedy counties.[2]
- 1811 - after Ynojosa died, descendants kept control of the land. Indians drove the Ynojosa descendants away. This area was not near the Rio Grande River.[2]
- 1821 -a trade path/road was built from Matamoros through the future Willacy County to San Patricio [2]
- Republic of Texas 1836-1845- The origin of Texas county government can be found in the Spanish system of government.," with colonization under Spanish government and rule. Many of the oldest land grants in the State of Texas are still showing the Spanish grant. All were called Colonies in early years as Spain explored, established missions. See New Spain subproject| sub sub project Texas ( part of US Southern Colonies. Originally it was just Texas, then it became Bexar, then the colonies formed.
- post Texas Revolution - area fell within the territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces River, that was in territorial dispute over Texas or Mexico.[2]
- 1835-1836, the Rio Grande Valley was a territory, México considered part of Mexico, yet Texas claimed the river as part of Texas.. General Santa Ana when captured in the Battle of San Jacinto agreed to the border as southern border. After Revolution this area was in dispute as both Mexico and Republic of Texas claimed it.
- 1846-1848 - Gen. Zachary Taylor crossed the Arroyo Colorado at Paso Real when he was in the area during the Mexican War, known as General Taylor's Road.[2]
- "General Taylor's Road" This road and the Old San Antonio Road west of La Sal Vieja were the only routes overland into the lower Rio Grande valley. [2] Zachary Taylor supplied men, supplies on an unpaved track that eventually became the Old Military Road. Their activity and forays into Mexico to transport men and supplies were during the years,
- See Also Old Alice Road
- 1846-48- Mexican American War
- '1847 - Henry Clay Davis established Rancho Davis on the Rio Grande.
- '1848 Treaty of Hidalgo, Hidalgo County, Texas was part of the disputed territory during the Mexican-American War. After the Mexican-American War. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848]] the area became part of San Patricio area first. . In the same year the region was further subdivided and became part of Cameron County.
- 1848. The end of this war stopped the disagreement of boundary and established the boundary to be the Rio Grande River.to supply his men in Mexico during the war.].
- 10 Feb 1848, Starr County, Texas was created from Nueces County, Texas. (Texas Laws 1847, 2d leg., ch. 31/p. 24)
- 07 Aug 1848 Starr fully organized. (Kennedy, 159)
- Oct 26, 1848 - Camp Ringgold, later Fort Ringgold, was built at Rancho Davis in Cameron county area..[3]
|
| Fort Ringgold |
- 1849 the area became a popular stopping point for gold seekers from the United States on the way to California. The Old Military Road had become part of the Gila Route to the West Coast.
- 1850 -Los Saenz was renamed Roma-Los Saenz and became a thriving community. Thirty-nine ranches operating. Texas and Mexico were the main markets for fruits, vegetables, such as squash, citrus fruit, corn.
- 1850 - Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1850) ended the Mexican War in 1848 and this area became Nueces County.
- 1852 - Starr County lost a large portion of its E astern lands when Hidalgo County was formed.
- 1849 the "Oblates of Mary Immaculate" periodically visited the ranches between Brownsville and Laredo.
- 1852 The county had 40-45 ranches. As land was parceled out from one generation to the next the ranches located along the river developed into villages. In this way, ranches gave rise to the communities of La Habitación, Relampago, and Peñitas. Ranches away from the river included Laguna Seca Ranch, founded in 1867, Mora Relámpago Ranch (1875), and San Manuel Ranch (1876). Farmers in the N, made a living by stock raising, while those along the river were involved in transportation, agriculture, and trade México .
|
| . |
- Sept. 2,1852 - La Habitación was renamed Edinburg, Texas and made county seat. The first county court convened on September 2, 1852, and as its first act issued licences to ferries at Hidalgo County, San Luis, Penitas, and Las Cuevas. José M. J. Carbajal was an early court reporter.
- Jan 1858, Starr lost land to creation of Zapata. (Texas Laws 1857, 7th leg., ch. 55, sec. 7/p. 60)
- 1860 Rancho Davis was renamed into “Rio Grande City” to encourage investors and settlers [3] Rancho Davis AKA Rio Rio Grande City was made county seat. Zapata County was formed from part of Starr's land.
- 1860-:Cortina Wars when Juan Nepomuceno Cortina the Mexican Robin Hood), on his way to a robbery, was intercepted by a force of Texas Rangers. This encounter was known as the Battle of La Bolsa.
- 1861-65- Civil War -Paso Real became an important crossing point for Confederate cotton exports. [2] County residents were isolated from each other, however, and from the population center of Brownsville in neighboring Cameron County.
- 1861-65 -Hidalgo County was a haven for outlaws from both sides of the river, taking advantage of the US and Texas' forces' 'attention to the Civil War. Lawlessness occurred in the Valley as Mexican bandits tried to take over. Paso Real became an important crossing point for Confederate cotton exports. [2]
- Dec 28, 1862 Armed Mexican bandits crossed into Los Ebanos, Texas, captured a Confederate wagon-train, and killed 3 teamsters. At other times Mexican cattle rustlers would cross into Texas to steal cattle. No counties prospered following the Civil War. The Valley began to prosperafter the Civil War as did Cameron County, Texas . The Valley instead found itself battling cattle rustlers,as well as by Union and Confederate deserters.
- 26 Jul 1870, Starr lost land to Space: Duval County, Texas and Nueces.[4]
- 1872 to 1875 Sheriff Alex J. Leo repeatedly wired Washington requesting troops to curtail cattle rustling and end the "Cattle Wars," but his efforts were in vain.
- April 2, 1875, Capt. Leander H. McNelly and a band of Texas Ranger arrived to help.
- 1886 - Oranges were introduced by ranchman, Cantú, who brought seeds from Montemorelos, Nuevo León, to his ranch near La Sal Vieja. Ball family successful ill the enterprise.[2]
- 1886 Edinburg, Texas was washed away by a severe flood, after which it was moved to another flood-prone site about two miles north of the river.
- 1891 The Garza War came to an end , when Catarino Erasmo Garza and his men were defeated at La Joya in southwest Hidalgo County.
- 1904 - More Anglo settlement came after the building of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway organized the Raymond Town and Improvement Company [2]
- 1905-1910, Developers sponsored tickets for prospective farmers to buy a 30-day round trip ticket to see and learn the prospects of the "magic valley. They bought land, planned by the ranchers or land developers - not all stayed.
- 1908 Chapin was established , was soon made county seat and renamed Edinburg, Texas . The old county seat, Edinburg, Texas, was moved away from the river and renamed Hidalgo.
- 1911 - Willacy County was separated and created from parts of Cameron, Hidalgo counties included Kenedy County. This was named for state senator John G. Willacy.[2]
|
| ONIONS. |
- 11 Mar 1911, Starr lost to the creation of Brooks. (Texas Laws 1911, 32d leg., reg. sess., ch. 39/pp. 55-57)
- 1912 - Milt White introduced the Bermuda onion to Willacy County, grew well. This onion farming gradually displaced much of the ranchland in the southern part of the county. It became the most important crop. Everyone uses onions in cooking. [5]
Raymondville held an annual Onion Festival. The catch phrase: "The Breath of a Nation."[2] {Image|file=Willacy_County_Texas-1.jpg |align=r |size=200 |caption=Onion Festival.
}}- 1912-1915 Border raids claimed at (30) Anglo lives and several (100) Mexican lives.
This converted the area into a combat zone, and brought settlement to a halt. Though the raiders disrupted lives and stole cattle, law-enforcement officers were also accused of excessive violence and unjust practices.
- 1920's The Bermuda onion crops were successful, the salt enterprise was being supplied by La Sal Vieja, yet the county had no paved roads.[2]Segregation was the norm. Inexperienced teacher taught at the Mexican schools, which were overcrowded, ill equipped. There were no high schools for them as Hispanics were not expected if parents did not removed the children to help support the family.
- 1921 Kenedy split from Willacy. Early settled ranchers in the Northern part of the county wanted to be separated from the newcomers, farmers of the Southern part. [2]
- 1927 the Arroyo Colorado Navigation District of Cameron and Willacy counties was formed.[2]
- 1940 -the first oil wells were sunk in the county's Willamar Oil Field. This oil production is a major part of the local economy today. Now natural gas is also rising. Sorghum introduced.[2]
- 1941 -Hidalgo County received its first military base , when Moore Air Field was built twelve miles northwest of Mission, Texas. The field was operated by the United States Army Air Force during World War II and was named for Lt. Frank Murchison Moore, a Texan.
- 1960's -The civil-rights movement that had swept the country during the 1960s brought increased participation of Hispanics in Hidalgo County, Texas politics., "Pharr Police Riot" of 1971 illustrates. In Donna, Texas , migrant farm workers' children were sent to a separate school until the late 1970s.
|
|
| Here's an image. |
- 1982, 91% of the land was in farms and ranches, (52% of farmland under cultivation and 85% irrigated; 51- to 60% of the county was considered prime farmland. The primary crops were sorghum, cotton, corn, and vegetables; Hidalgo County led Texas counties in the production of cabbage, onions, cantaloupes, carrots, and watermelons. The primary fruits and nuts grown in the county were grapefruit, oranges, and pecans. Cattle, milk cows, and hogs were the primary livestock products.
- 2015- a large-scale prison riot at the leading employer for the county in South Texas. Tent City. -housed undocumented immigrants awaiting deportation). These rioting immigrants who were serving federal criminal sentences illegally entering the U.S) . Cause- inadequate medical care, filthy toilets and maggot-infested food.
- Inmates set fire to 3 of the 10 Kevlar tents that lend the South Texas prison its nickname, Tent City, and damaged the plumbing and electrical systems. The prison called in the FBI. Tear gas was fired and armored vehicles entered. Inmates also sliced open the tents that were not burned. By the time prison authorities regained control of the prison, the $60 million facility was reduced to a shambles; the federal Bureau of Prisons declared it “uninhabitable. Prisoners were moved. The county lost its leading employer of county residents.
- Bass Family Ranches, Location in Aranasas, Atascosa, Brooks, Hidalgo, Johnson, Kenedy, Kleberg, Parker, Red River and Tarrant counties (ACREAGE: 150,000 Acres)
- The Basses are similar to the Easts. The family is very tightlipped. Neither the family or employees will confirm location, acreage. According to what we can find, there are 3 Texas ranches.
- 1) Lee Bass owns El Coyote (S of Falfurrias )
- 2) Ed owns the Wainscot (SW of Fort Worth)
- 3) the Bass family owns the San Jose cattle company on the Gulf Coast as well as additional acreage scattered around Texas..
- 4) Winfield Scott founded Winscott, founded by Winfield Scott (Fort Worth millionaire)
- 5) San Jose Ranch is located on San Jose Island (north of South Padre. Cattle would have to swim or be transported by barge to and from the mainland. (The Island has an airstrip, but is used for people).[6]
County Seat
- Edinburg (population 85,456) is the county’s seat of government and the home of the University of Texas-Pan American, Hidalgo County, Texas. Other communities include
McAllen, Texas (138,356), Mission, Texas| (81,581), and Pharr, Texas (74,344).
Adjacent counties
| Northwest |
North Brooks County, Texas |
Northeast Kenedy County, Texas |
||
 |
||||
| West Starr County, Texas |
 |
Hidalgo County, Texas |  |
East Willacy County, Texas Cameron County, Texas |
 |
||||
| Southwest |
South Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas , Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and Río Bravo Municipality, Tamaulipas Tamaulipas, Mexico |
Southeast Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas México |
||
- Brooks County Free Space
- Kenedy County Free Space
- Willacy County Free Space
- Cameron County Free Space
- Starr County Free Space
Geography
Hidalgo County is located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,583 square miles (4,100 sq. km), of which 1,571 square miles (4,070 sq. km) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (0.8%).
Northern part of the county has sandy and light loamy soils over deep reddish or mottled, clayey subsoils. In some areas limestone lies within forty inches of the surface. The southern part of the county has moderately deep to deep loamy surfaces over clayey subsoils. Along the Rio Grande brown to red clays occur.
Vegetation
Hidalgo County is in the South Texas Plains vegetation area, which features grasses, mesquite, live oaks, and chaparral. Native plants, reduced in recent years by extensive farming, include chapote, guayacan, ebony, huisache, brasil, and yucca.
Natural Resources/Minerals
Natural resources included caliche, sand, gravel, oil, and gas. Oil and gas production in 1982 totaled 98,487,211,000 cubic feet (2.7888472×109 cu. m) of gas-well gas, 139,995 barrels of crude oil, 1,101,666 barrels of condensate, and 15,784,000 cubic feet (447,000 cu. m) of casinghead gas.
Climate
The climate is subtropical and sub-humid. Temperatures range from an average low of 47 °F (8 °C) in January to an average high to 96 °F (36 °C) in July; the average annual temperature is 73 °F (23 °C). Rainfall averages 23 inches (580 mm) a year, and the growing season lasts for 320 days of the year.
National Protected Areas
- Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part)
- Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
- Rio Grande River
- Ports of Entry
August 1638 Jacinto García de Sepulveda crossed the Rio Grande into the area at the site of Mier in search of Dutch sailors reported on the Texas]] coast.
In 1687 the second expedition of Alonso De León in search of Fort St. Louis also followed the river route.
In the 1720s - Spain's renewed interests in establishing colonies in the future State of Texas due to rapid expansion of British and French colonization.
In 1747 Miguel de la Garza Falcón reconnoitered the northern bank of the river in search of suitable land to establish a settlement. He found the land unsuitable even for stock raising and condemned it as uninhabitable.
Despite de la Garza Falcon's judgement, the area again drew the attention of the Spanish crown, and in 1749 José de Escandón was assigned the task of colonizing the area. He established four towns on the southern banks of the Rio Bravo (Rio Grande) including Reynosa, Tamaulipas(1749), which was originally located across the river from the site of present-day Penitas. He founded Camargo (1749), Mier (1750), and Revilla (now Guerrero) (1752). Settlers from these colonies later crossed the Rio Grande and settled the northern banks of the river.
About eighty porciones in about nineteen grants were issued in the future Hidalgo County, Texas by the Spanish and Mexican governments. Colonization was left in the hands of the grantees, who established settlements along the river as well as in the northern reaches of the future county.
A settlement called La Habitación, also known as Rancho San Luis or San Luisito, was established north of the river, in 1774. Because the land was suitable for cattle and sheep raising the grantees turned to ranching with great success. Among the first settlers was Juan José Ynojosa de Ballí, who was issued the Llano Grande grant on May 29, 1790.
Another successful rancher was José Manuel Gómez, who received the Santa Anita grant in 1798. In 1798 he established the Santa Anita Ranch, which was still in operation in 1995 under the name McAllen Ranch. Most of the other grantees also managed to settle their land and become successful ranchers.
Parent County/Formed From
Established in 1852 from San Patricio County and Cameron County
Demographics
Despite political turmoil and cattle rustling, the county population grew to 6,534 by 1890.
The county population was estimated at 6,837 in 1900.
The population was estimated at 13,728 in 1910.
In 1920 the population was 38,110, more than double what it had been in 1910,
In 1930 the county's population was estimated at 77,004, of which 41,522 individuals were identified as "Mexican."
Great Depression, the county's population increased to 106,059 in 1940. The number of residents fluctuated, however, during any given year due to migrant farm workers and winter Texans or "snowbirds" coming or going.
The population was estimated at 160,446 in 1950.
The population was estimated at 180,904 in 1960.
1970 the population had reached 181,533.
Immigration increased throughout the 1970s. The population doubled between 1970 and 1977, to an estimated 232,300.
In 1980 the population was estimated at 283,229, including 15,868 retired workers.
In 1982 Hidalgo County was ranked sixty-fourth among all United States counties in the highest birth rate and twelfth in highest percent of Hispanic-origin residents. The county has never experienced a decrease in population.
In 1988 Hidalgo County, Texas hosted 80,000 "winter Texans."
By 1990, the population numbered 383,545
In 1992 it was discovered that an unusually high number of children born in the county were being born with anencephaly, a neural birth defect. As of 1989, twenty-seven out of every 10,000 babies born to Hispanic women in the area had neural birth defects, and this situation had not improved by 1992, when women of child-bearing age were told to consume folic acid to prevent further defects while various organizations studied the problem.
Economy
Ranching dominated the economy in 1860, when 10,695 cattle and 3,330 sheep were counted; the latter produced 10,900 pounds of wool. Rustling also thrived.
In 1870 rustlers were attracted to a county with 18,141 cattle and 11,270 sheep and a population of only 2,387.
Ranching reached its peak in 1890 with 71,176 cattle; 20,906 sheep gave 41,074 pounds of wool.
The Hidalgo Advance, the county's first newspaper, went into publication in March 1903. It was published for the sole purpose of advertising the county and attracting a railroad. When it arrived in 1904, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway made a big difference. In 1903 land sold for twenty-five cents an acre, but by 1906 it was selling at fifty dollars an acre, and by 1910 the price had increased to as much as $300 an acre. In 1911 the San Benito and San Benito and Rio Grande Valley Railway made the junction with the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway at San Benito. The Texas and New Orleans built into the Valley in 1927.
With the introduction of the railroad and the influx of settlers wishing to establish farms during the first decade of the twentieth century, the county's economic base shifted toward farming. The primary crops were corn and cotton.
Farming in Hidalgo County was not practiced on a large scale until the latter part of the nineteenth century. Citrus fruits were among the first products cultivated. By
'1878, Carlota Vela at the Laguna Seca Ranch had a small orange grove that was known for the quality of its fruit. Later the primary crops were cotton and sugarcane planted on large plantations for export. The first attempt at growing cane on a large scale was made in 1883 by John Closner, who established a plantation and mill near the site of present-day Pharr. Attempts to irrigate rice were unsuccessful, but citrus fruits and vegetables were produced on a commercial basis starting around 1907, when W. A. Fitch planted a commercial-scale grapefruit orchard near Mercedes, Texas.
1920 Farms had increased to 1,727, seven times the number of farms in 1890. John H. Shary, who became a successful land developer and promoter, arrived in Hidalgo County in 1912. Shary, who developed the citrus industry, was selling his grapefruit by 1919. In 1924 a regional Texas Agricultural Experiment Station was established in Weslaco. Thriving towns sprang up across the southern part of the county east to west along U.S. Highway 83, which by 1930 was described as the "longest main street in the world."
- 1930 the conversion of the economy to truck farming was complete. That year there were only 34,505 cattle, and the number of farms had increased to 4,321, more than double the number in 1920. The primary crops were cotton, planted on 131,884 acres, and corn, planted on 14,658 acres. Stock farming and ranching continued mainly in the northern part of the county, where cattle, sheep, and poultry were the main livestock.
- The first producing oil well in the county was brought in on September 18, 1934, by Otto C. Woods. The oil and gas industry soon became important in the county. With the increase in population the number of farms grew by 1940 to 5,094.
1941 the county's sixty-two manufacturing establishments produced $6,502,129 in products. By 1950 the county had 5,314 farms, and citrus fruit production had become the most important industry. That year's harvest yielded 3,093,792 boxes of oranges and 169,245 tons of grapefruit. Cotton production was 197,267 bales, and corn production was 72,495 bushels.
1967 the county had produced twenty million barrels of oil. In 1969 an estimated $50 million came from Hidalgo County's winter vegetables, citrus fruit, and cotton. That year the number of farms had declined to 4,124, a decrease attributable to the increase in farming corporations.
1978 Hidalgo County was averaging $188 million in annual farm income, 90 percent of which came from cotton, corn, citrus fruit, sugarcane, and grain. Also by that year the average annual income from mineral production, including oil and gas, was $65 million. The peso devaluation of 1976 did not have an immediate effect on the economy of the Rio Grande Valley.
- Merchants that catered to Mexican nationals experienced a negative effect of the devaluations occurring in that decade. Merchants such as clothiers, jewelers, car dealers, and some real estate agents were hurt; agribusiness, ranching, and the oil industry suffered less.
1980 Industries with the most workers were agribusiness, tourism, oil and gas field servicing, construction, frozen food processing and canning, meat packing, and soft drink bottling, which earned an aggregate of $1,575,879,000. In 1982 Hidalgo County had 171 manufacturers with 7,100 employees and products valued at $211.9 million.
1987 The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area had the lowest per capita income (est. $7,001) in the United States. Hidalgo County had the state's highest unemployment rate, and county government was underfunded resulting its independent health-care program ran out of money halfway through the fiscal year. Corporations were doing well. 1988 more than $1 billion a year in goods passed through the foreign trade zone located south of McAllen in south central Hidalgo County. After its warehouses filled up that year, the foreign trade zone had to turn away tenants.
1988 Retail sales rose 22.6 percent that year. Little profit found its way to the poor people. Rife of the colonia residents (many were migrant farm workers) was shown in the colonia dwellers (52,000) lived in 366 colonies, with problems of inadequate water supply and substandard housing.
1990- Residents were 383,545 composed of Hispanics, Germans, and Anglo-Americans are the three largest ethnic groups. The labor force that made Hidalgo County, a prosperous agricultural region had a labor force that wasthe poorest in the nation. It was hoped that in the 1990s part of the problem would be solved by new trade and opportunities for employment brought by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Because of its proximity to Mexico, Hidalgo County, Texas was also a favored entry point for drug smugglers.
2002 the county had 2,104 farms and ranches covering 593,158 acres, with 68 percent devoted to crops and 28 percent to pasture. That year farmers and ranchers in the area earned $202,073,000; crop sales accounted for $182,431,000 of the total. Sugar cane, vegetables, grain, citrus, cotton, and cattle were the chief agricultural products. More than 2,777,000 barrels of oil, and 234,486,500 thousand cubic feet of gas well gas, were produced in the county in 2004; by the end of that year 110,100,000 barrels of petroleum had been taken from county lands since 1934.
- Food processing and other agribusinesses, tourism and mineral operations were important elements of the local economy.
Government, Politics, and Political History
- 1886 Courthouse this served as the courthouse for Hidalgo following construction, until the county seat was moved to Chapin. Chapin was later renamed Edinburg). Brick construction made in Reynosa, Mexico. "This building functioned as the Hidalgo County Courthouse from its construction in 1886 until the County Seat was moved to Chapin. This was later renamed Edinburg It originally was two story, but the cupola, roof, 2nd floor were destroyed in a fire. Later this building later served as an immigration and customs facility."
Recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1963.
|
| 1886 courthouse before fire. |
|
| 1886 Hidalgo courthouse after the roof was altered. |
- 1908 When the government and offices moved to Chapin. the County Judge Chaplin became involved in a trial, so the county changed the name of the town to Edinburg......[7]
|
|
| New Courthouse. |
Politics
Politically, the County had become a battleground, as various groups vied for dominance of local politics. Party affiliations, especially with the Reds and Blues, were firmly entrenched by 1869.
Members of the Democratic party, known as the Reds, included Thaddeus Rhodes, Ben Kidder, Pete Champion, W. P. Dougherty and James Dougherty. The Reds ruled the county for most of the last third of the nineteenth century. Their ineffective government was blamed for the county's having eight sheriffs between 1869 and 1876. It was alleged that the Reds kept control of the county by using the pachanga or block vote, which entailed rounding up men, filling them with food and liquor, and paying their poll tax.
The Republican party members, the Blues, included John McAllen, Jesse Bennett, and Dr. Alexander M. Headley.
Martin "Big Drunk" Norgraves was first county clerk and was credited as the organizer of block voting. By 1880 the population was 4,347, and all except women and the 114 African Americans were fair game for the parties looking for votes.
Closner became sheriff in 1890.
|
| News article, death, Closner, lawman without a gun |
While pioneering in farming and irrigation, Closner also brought law and order to the outlaw-plagued county. After 1884-1890 service as deputy, was elected sheriff in 1890-- the ninth in 7 years. Without using six-gun or killing a man, tamed gangs of rustlers and bandits. When he retired in 1912, he had enforced six-shooter law (no guns worn)-- a border first.Closner lived in retirement until his death, on June 3, 1932.[8][9]
During his rule he brought peace to the county and was seen as such an effective leader that he was nicknamed the "father" of Hidalgo County. By 1882, when John Closner was elected deputy sheriff, was control over cattle rustlers achieved. In the process, however, he made enemies. During the 1890s his rivals tried to have him assassinated twice and brought a ranger investigation against him. Though Closner's Reds were effective in bringing law and order to the county, the rivalry with the Blues did not abate. It came to a head in August 1890, when the Blues set up their polls and judges while the Reds held elections. This effectively gave the county two sets of officials. The Blues wanted to stop the Reds' use of the pachanga, which gave undocumented aliens access to the polls. Consequently, Dr. Headley and a company of 150 Blues took over Edinburg and ruled for several days under the moniker "Independent Republic of Hidalgo." United States officials ended Headley's "republic" when he attempted to collect customs at the border.
During the first decade of the twentieth century Closner ran unopposed, and nominees for district and state offices received 90 percent of the votes. In 1914 the county had only 700 Anglo-American farmers who had paid their poll tax, as opposed to the 1,200 Hispanics that the Democratic machine could mobilize. In 1914 the Good Government League was established after Judge James H. Edwards was ousted by the Closner regime. The league was made up exclusively of Anglo farmers, businessmen, and professionals who supported Edwards and promised to "clean up" Hidalgo County politics.
Sheriff Anderson Y. Baker then took control over the Democratic machine and maintained it for twelve years, through voter manipulation, election fraud, and large-scale graft.
Because of the machine's shenanigans the Weslaco ballot box was thrown out during the 1928 county election. In the resulting "Hidalgo County Rebellion" the citizens of Weslaco armed themselves against the Mexican voters, whom they considered pawns of the machine. Weslaco's Anglo voters, all new farmers to the area and opposed to the regime, asked for and got a federal investigation. The investigation not only hurt the machine but further marginalized Hispanic voters, who were scared away from the polls. In 1929, in yet another attempt to oust the remnants of boss rule, the Good Government League, headed by Charles H. Pease, led a successful struggle to remove county government from control of a faction that monopolized irrigation projects and oil. Thus Wells and Closner's political machine, which ran Hidalgo County and caused its economic boom, was in the end ousted by the settlers it attracted.
Politics Today
Hidalgo County tends to vote for the Democratic Party, although there is representation of the Republican Party in some of the offices that affect the county. Hidalgo County is represented by Ruben Hinojosa of Texas's 15th congressional district, and Henry Cuellar of Texas's 28th congressional district. In the 2012 presidential election, 70.4% of the voters voted for Barack Obama while 28.6% voted for Mitt Romney. The last time Hidalgo County voted Republican was in the 1972 presidential election when Richard Nixon won over 55% of the votes.
Inhabitants of Hidalgo County consistently voted Democratic in presidential elections from 1852 to 2000; the only exceptions occurred in 1860, when Constitutional Union candidate John Bell carried the area, and in 1928, 1952, 1956, and 1972, when Republicans did. In 2004, however, Republican George W. Bush took the county with a comfortable margin of victory.
County Offices
| Position | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Judge | Ramon Garcia | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 1 | A.C. Cuellar, Jr. | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 3 | Joe M. Flores | Democratic | |
| Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Joseph Palacios | Democratic | |
| Criminal District Attorney | Ricardo Rodriguez | Democratic | |
| District Clerk | Laura Hinojosa | Democratic | |
| County Clerk | Arturo Guajardo, Jr. | Democratic | |
| Sheriff | J.E. "Eddie" Guerra | Democratic | |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | Pablo "Paul" Villarreal | Democratic | |
| Treasurer | Norma Garcia | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 1 | Celestino Avila, Jr. | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 2 | Martin Cantu | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 3 | Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. | Democratic | |
| Constable, Precinct 4 | Atanacio "J.R." Gaitan | Democratic | |
Census
The U.S. census counted 831,073 people living in Hidalgo County in 2014. About 91 percent were Hispanic and 7.3 percent were Anglo. Of residents age twenty-five and older, 51 percent had completed high school, and 13 percent had college degrees.
Cities
- Alamo
- Alton
- Donna
- Edcouch
- Edinburg
- Elsa
- Granjeno
- Hildago, Texas
- La Joya
- La Villa
- McAllen
- Mercedes
- Mission
- Palmhurst
- Palmview
- Penitas
- Pharr
- Progreso
- Progreso Lakes
- San Juan
- Sullivan City
- Weslaco
Census-designated places
- Abram-Perezville, Texas
- Alton North, Texas
- Cesar Chavez, Texas
- Citrus City, Texas
- Cuevitas
- Doffing, Texas
- Doolittle, Texas
- El Gato, Texas
- Faysville
- Hargill
- Havana, Texas
- Heidelberg, Texas
- Indian Hills, Texas
- La Blanca, Texas
- La Homa, Texas
- Laguna Seca
- Llano Grande, Texas
- Lopezville, Texas
- Los Ebanos
- McCook, Texas
- Midway North, Texas
- Midway South, Texas
- Mila Doce, Texa
- Monte Alto, Texas
- Muniz, Texas
- North Alamo, Hildago County, Texas
- Nurillo, Texas
- Olivarez, Texas
- Palmview South, Texas
- Relampago
- Runn, Texas
- San Carlos, Texas
- San Manuel-Linn, Texas
- Scissors, Texas
- South Alamo, Hildago County, Texas
- Villa Verde, Texas
- West Sharyland, Texas
Notables
- Juan José Ynojosa de Ballí, est. a ranch
- José Manuel Gómez, est. Santa Anita Ranch
- José M. J. Carbajal, early court reporter
- Tom (Thomas Wade) Landry (b. September 11, 1924 in Mission, Tx, d. February 12, 2000),
Wiki Tree Profiles
- Jacinto García de Sepulveda
- Alonso De Leon
- Miguel de la Garza Falcón
- Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
- Sergeant Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, (1946 - 1968 KIA), USMC Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient born Edinburg.
- Pedro Cano, WWII Medal of Honor recipient, United States Army
- José de Escandón
Servicemen
- Silvestre Gomez, Army Hidalgo county, Texas
Grants
- José Manuel Gómez, who received the Santa Anita grant
Cemeteries
|
Tourist Attractions/Things to Do/See/Recreation
Recreational facilities in the county include the Hidalgo County Historical Corridor which spans the southern portion of the county and various parks and wildlife refuges, including Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge and the Las Palomas Wildlife Management area.
Special events include the Citrus Fiesta, the Weslaco Sugarfest, and the Rio Grande Valley Stock Show.
Fishing and hunting are also available throughout the year.
The county has several museums and historic homes. La Lomita Mission is located in Mission, and the Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine is in San Juan.
Sources
- ↑ https://texasalmanac.com/topics/government/hidalgo-county
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 Handbook of Texas Online, Alicia A. Garza, "Willacy County," accessed July 10, 2016, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcw10.Uploaded on June 15, 2010. Modified on February 22, 2016. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Grande_City,_Texas
- ↑ (Texas Laws 1870, 12th leg., called session., ch. 27/p. 40)
- ↑ Willacy onions
- ↑ http://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/the-biggest-ranches/
- ↑ http://www.texasescapes.com/SouthTexasTowns/HidalgoTexas/Hidalgo-Texas-1886-Hidalgo-County-Courthouse.htm
- ↑ John Closner
- ↑ http://www.stxmaps.com/go/texas-historic-landmark-john-closner-home.html
- ↑ http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/a_c/cabezadevaca.htm
- ↑ Handbook of Texas Online, Donald E. Chipman, "Cabeza De Vaca, Alvar Nunez," accessed May 10, 2016, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fca06.
- Hidalgo county
- James Lewellyn Allhands, Gringo Builders (Joplin, Missouri, Dallas, Texas, 1931).
- Evan Anders, Boss Rule in South Texas: The Progressive Era (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982).
- Guide to Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in South Texas (Austin: Texas General Land Office, 1988).
- Thomas Hester, Digging into South Texas Prehistory: A Guide for Amateur Archaeologists (San Antonio: Corona Press, 1980).
- Hidalgo County Centennial Corporation, The Centennial Celebration of the Organization of Hidalgo County in Texas (Mission, Texas: Times Publishing Company, 1952).
- David Montejano, Anglos and Mexicans in the Making of Texas, 1836–1986 (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1987).
- W. Clyde Norris, History of Hidalgo County (M.A. thesis, Texas College of Arts and Industries, 1924).
- J. Lee and Lillian J. Stambaugh, The Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas (San Antonio: Naylor, 1954).
- Vertical Files, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. David Martell Vigness, The Lower Rio Grande Valley: 1836–1846 (M.A. thesis, University of Texas, 1948).
- Login to edit this profile and add images.
- Private Messages: Contact the Profile Managers privately: Mary Richardson and Paula J. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
- Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)
Mary Richardson