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History
in a Pecan Shell
Early
travelers between Goliad
and Mier stopped to use the springs that fed San Diego Creek
in what was to become San Diego.
Around 1800 Julián and Ventura Flores (father and son) received two
land grants known as San Diego de Arriba and San Diego de Abajo. The
grants were surveyed in 1806 and they received their deed in 1812.
In 1828 the first birth was recorded and the population was estimated
at 25 families by 1844. In 1846 Gen. Zachary Taylor and his troops
briefly occupied the town during the Mexican War.
In 1848 Ventura Flores sold land to Pablo Pérez, who built houses
and named the town Perezville. |
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The Casa
Blanca
The town's first post office was opened in 1852 in a small
white building known as the Casa Blanca. It is said that Perezville
was renamed San Diego at this time. Another story claims 1867
as the year the post office opened.
This building was occupied by Confederate forces during the Civil
War and it later served as a store, a speakeasy, a residence and
a bar. It remains standing today.
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Casa
Blanca Bar
Photo courtesy Rudy Torres, May 2007 |
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In 1875
the population was about 550 people.
In 1867 the only church between Corpus
Christi and the Mexican border was built by Father Claude Jaillet.
When Duval
County was organized in 1868 San Diego was chosen as the county
seat.
After the Civil War (1878) 2,000 federal troops were stationed in
San Diego to protect the townspeople from Mexican raiders. During
a drought - a fight erupted over a waterhole and five men were shot
dead in the street.
In 1879 the Corpus
Christi, San Diego and Rio Grande Railroad reached the town,
making the all-important connection with the port at Corpus
Christi. Then in 1881 the Texas-Mexican Railway took
over the Corpus
Christi, San Diego and Rio Grande and completed the road to
Laredo.
The town's first newsaper opened in 1882 and the population
was 1,000 by 1884. In 1890 it had risen to 1,500.
In 1907, John Cleary, the county tax assessor was assassinated
and Archer "Archie" Parr came to power - establishing the illegal
(but familiar) "Patron" system of government. Archer was the father
of George Parr who would later become known as "The Duke of Duval".
In 1915 Basilio Ramos, Jr. was arrested in McAllen.
Ramos was carrying a copy of what became known as the Plan of San
Diego - a scheme that was to link Mexico and Germany in WWI
and after the defeat of the U.S. - give back all former Mexican
lands to Mexico.
© John Troesser
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San
Diego Architecture
TE Photo, 2001 |
San
Diego Museum
Photo courtesy Rudy Torres, May 2007
More Texas Museums |
The
oldest home in San Diego
Photo courtesy Rudy Torres, May 2007 |
"I
think that is the former Bruno Rios drugstore downtown." - Tom
Garcia
Photo courtesy Rudy Torres, May 2007 |
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San Diego
Texas Forum
Subject:
The Church in San Diego
I happen to grow up in San Diego Texas and came across your website
today. The information was interesting except for a photo of the
church. The church you placed under San Diego , TX is the wrong
Church. The church you have pictured is actually the church of a
near by town, Benavides,
TX. Their church's name is Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church.
The church in San Diego is Saint Francis de Paula Catholic Church.
You can find it on Victoria St. in San Diego. It is a really beautiful
church with lots of history itself. Thank you, Elaine Montemayor-Gonzalez,
April 17, 2006
Subject:
San Diego, TX
Most of the entire side of my family, the Vela's, lives in and around
San Diego Texas. They own a small ranch home, 15 min. outside of
any major road or intersection. I haven't visited their home in
many years, but what I remember of San Diego was the miles of Mesquite
trees on the land. There was so much Mesquite that my relatives
could easily supply all the fire wood they needed for cooking their
hunt from the ranch which was usually deer, quail, or wild pig even.
The downtown area of the town is very small. We would go into it
for grain for chickens and such items. There was an annual event
in the downtown called "Pan De Campo", held with dancing, booths
with Mexican crafts and foods, and live Tejano music. The only other
cloest town was Alice, where we could go for the movie theater or
groceries. The Vela family lives strong in San Diego, Texas. - Jimmy
Vela, April 21, 2005
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