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The recently
restored Hidalgo Pumping Station
TE Photo 2001 |
Historical Marker:
Hidalgo Irrigation
Pump Plant
The semi-arid Lower
Rio Grande Valley was productive only for cattle grazing until several
steam-powered irrigation systems were established in the early 20th
century. In 1909, a steam pump was built here to channel Rio Grande
water to about 40,000 acres of land. The Louisiana-Rio Grande Canal
Company installed additional equipment in 1911-12 to increase production
to the Pharr-San
Juan-Alamo area. Sold to the
Hidalgo County Water Improvement District in 1920, the pump plant
continued in operation until 1983, when an all-electric plant opened
downstream.
(1989) |
Hidalgo Pumping
Station in operation with two original smokestacks
Photo courtesy Museum of South Texas History |
The Hidalgo Pumping
Station and irrigation canal
Robert Runyon Collection, Center for American History, UT Austin |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact
us. |
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