Hidalgo County, Texas

Hidalgo County History, Geography, Demographics, Cities and Towns, and Education

Etymology - Origin of County Name

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: Census Bureau Quick Facts

County History

Hidalgo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. It is named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain. The seat of the county is Edinburg, while the largest city is McAllen.

Hidalgo County was formed in 1852 and named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla,^qv who gave the "cry for Mexican independence" from Spanish rule. By 1852 the county had between forty and forty-five 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). Generally, inhabitants of the area, especially those in the north, made a living by stock raising, while those along the river were involved in transportation, agriculture, and trade with Mexico. In 1852 La Habitación was renamed Edinburgh and made county seat. The first county court convened on September 2, 1852, and as its first act issued licences to ferries at Hidalgo, San Luis, Peñitas, and Las Cuevas. José M. J. Carbajal^qv was an early court reporter. County residents were isolated from each other, however, and from the population center of Brownsville in neighboring Cameron County. Because of their sense of neglect by state and federal governments, residents adopted the name "Republic of Hidalgo." Isolation and ineffective law enforcement led to general chaos and lawlessness, mostly in the form of cattle raids and shootouts. The "Cortina Wars" also caused disturbances, especially when Juan Nepomuceno Cortina,^qv on his way to a robbery, was intercepted by a force of Texas Rangers.^qv The skirmish known as the battle of La Bolsa occurred on February 4, 1860, in El Zacatal, south of Progreso in southeast Hidalgo County. Despite difficulties, 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. As early as December 28, 1862, armed Mexican bandits crossed into Los Ebanos, captured a Confederate wagontrain, and killed three teamsters. At other times Mexican cattle rustlers would cross into Texas with the purpose of stealing as many cattle as possible. Hidalgo County did not prosper from the Civil War^qv as did Cameron County, but instead found itself battling cattle rustlers, who were joined by both Union and Confederate deserters. In 1870 rustlers were attracted to a county with 18,141 cattle and 11,270 sheep and a population of only 2,387. From 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. On April 2, 1875, Capt. Leander H. McNelly^qv and a band of Texas Rangers arrived to help

More at Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. "," http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/HH/hch14.html (accessed November 6, 2008).

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,583 square miles (4,099 km²), of which, 1,570 square miles (4,066 km²) of it is land and 13 square miles (33 km²) of it (0.82%) is water.

Neighboring Counties:

• Brooks County (north)
• Kenedy County (northeast)
• Willacy County (east)
• Cameron County (east)
• Starr County (west)
• Ciudad Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
• Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
• Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
• Río Bravo, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)

Cities and Towns:

County Resources:

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