Texas Almanac, 1968-1969 Page: 87
[706] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this book.
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The history of sprawling Webb County
centers around two cities that adjoin on the
Rio Grande: Laredo, No. 1 on the map, the
county seat; and Nuevo Laredo, No. 2 on the
map, in the Republic of Mexico. While they
share much history, each has historic sites.
This region has been an international cross-
roads since the first Spanish explorers and
mission fathers came northward from the
interior of Mexico. Among those who were
here were Alonso de Leon who crossed the
Rio Grande and the northwest corner of pres-
ent Webb County in 1689; and Miguel de la
Garza Falcon who explored along the north-
ern bank of the Rio Grande in 1747.
Laredo was established on May 15, 1755,
by Tomas Sanchez as a part of the coloniza-
tion program of Jose de Escandon. A mis-
sion was established in 1762 and the site
named Villa de San Agustin de Laredo.
Their Spanish heritage caused the early
settlers of Laredo to maintain close ties with
Mexico rather than to become adherents of
the Anglo-American independence movement
in the 1830s. For example, when Santa Anna
and his army came through Laredo in 1836
enroute to capture the Alamo, he and his offi-
cers were entertained at a ball. Despite the
victory of the Texans at San Jacinto, Laredo
and practically all of the area south of the
Nueces River remained under Mexican rule.
This resulted in the formation of the Re-
public of the Rio Grande on Jan. 18, 1840,
with Laredo as its capital. Jesus Cardenas
was elected president, a constitution and flag
were adopted and an army established. The
capitol building now is the museum of the
Laredo Historical Society and flies the flag
of the Republic of the Rio Grande as well as
the other Six Flags of Texas.
In 1846 a Texas Ranger raised the flag of
the United States at Laredo and Mirabeau B.
Lamar during the Mexican War took com-
mand of the town and organized a municipal
government.
Fort McIntosh, which was In operation
continuously from 1848 until the close of
World War II, is one of the historic sites;
now occupied by Laredo Junior College, it
still has some of the original buildings. Other
landmarks include San Agustin Church, on a
site where worship has been continuous for
two centuries; Casa Blanca Club, where Mex-
ican and Texas forces--the Texans led by
Erastus ("Deaf") Smith-skirmished, and
others.
Pictured are a bull fight at Nuevo Laredo,
one of the traditions of that city; San Agus-
tin Church in Laredo and Laredo Junior Col-
S, lege Administration Building, formerly part of
Fort McIntosh.Historic Sites
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Texas Almanac, 1968-1969, book, 1967; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113809/m1/89/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.