Our Community

History

Zapata County has a long history, going as far back as 8,000 B.C. when reportedly the first people to live in the America’s crossed over from Asia. The first exploration along the Rio Grande River was conducted in 1520, but only along the mouth of the river. At that time many different groups were found living along the river, speaking diverse languages. However, by the 1700’s, settlement of the coastal areas had forced many Native Americans from their lands onto neighboring tribal lands.

In on about 1746, Don Jose de Escandon, Count of Sierra Gorda, was commissioned by the Viceroy of New Spain to command the exploration and settlement of a large land area known then as Nuevo Santander. Zapata County was a small part of that province. Escandon was a wise choice because he was a distinguished businessman, astute military leader and successful colonizer. Escandon requested a fellow explorer to accompany him on this project of exploring and settling this vast area. Captain Miguel de la Garza Falcon was Escandon’s choice. Falcon personally explored the northern bank of the Rio Grande, from present day Eagle pass to the mouth of the Rio Grande River. In order to attract settlers to this area, porciones, or tracts of land were granted to men and their families and form colonies. Within set periods of time, grantees were required to occupy, make improvements, mark boundaries, stock the lands and establish homes. Vacating lands were grounds for canceling the grants.

The townsite of Zapata is the largest in population in the county is the county seat. The town of Zapata is located on the porcione allotted to Colonel Jose Antonio Zapata. Col. Antonio Zapata was a native of Guerrero, Mexico, a village located just across of the Rio Grande River. The county and the town carry his name because he was highly respected individual, rancher, a well-known Indian fighter and an honorable military solider who gave his life for the cause of personal liberties during a short time lived and ill-fated attempt to establish the Republic of the Rio Grande.

Texas proudly relates its history of having been under six flags – France, Spain, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The Confederacy, and the United States. Zapata County and the surrounding area can add a seventh flag; that of the Republic of the Rio Grande.

Until 1821, the area of present day Zapata County was part of the Spanish province of Nuevo Santander. From 1821-1836, this area was part of Mexico and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. From 1836-1848, this vast area was claimed by Texas as well as by Mexico. (From March 1840 until November 6, 1840 Zapata County as part of the The Republic of the Rio Grande). The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, signed in 1848, settled the boundary of Mexico and Texas. All land north of the Rio Grande River became part of the United States, and all land south of the river remained as part of Mexico. The land now known as Zapata County was, for about 100 years, directly under the control of Spain, and almost all of this land was granted to individuals and families by the Crown of Spain. Many of the original grants were made before the United State, Texas or Mexico even existed. Provisions in the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo guaranteed that all grants and land ownership were to be honored by the new country, the United State of America.

The Coahuiltecan Indians were inhabitants of this area during the 17th and 18th Century, but became extinct by the year 1840. The people that came from Mexico to settle this area called the Indians “Corrizos” because there was a lot of cane growing here and in the Spanish language cane is called “corrizos”. Many of the porcinoes were granted often echo the names by which they are owned today. Zapata County towns developed from ranches. If a ranch prospered, it soon took the appearance of a town. Thus developed the villages of Escobas, Ramireno, Lopeno, Falcon, Bustamante, and San Ygnacio.

From 1851-1853, military posts were temporarily maintained in the area to combat border disturbances and Indian attacks. However, Indian incursions continued well into the later part of the 19th century.

The Civil War period again brought unrest to the area when Juan Nepomuceno Cortina seized the opportunity to instigate hostilities between the wealthy landowners and the poor laborers. Confederate troops from Fort McIntosh in Laredo marched to the area and soon quelled the disturbances. In 1913, due to the Mexican Revolution, the population of the town of Zapata increased by about 500 people. The people of old Guerrero fled across the river to Zapata to seek safety from the horrors of the war. Many of these people already owned property on the American side of the river, and life was not much different that it had been in Guerrero.

Federal troops again came to the area in 1915-1916 during a time of banditry along the river. This strife stemmed from the over throw of the Mexican President Diaz, followed by the years of turmoil in Mexico during the years of its revolution. By the 1930’s, petroleum had been discovered in the county and some oil and gas activity began. Another improvement occurred in approximately 1935, when Highway 83 was completed from Brownsville to Laredo. This connected Zapata to markets to both the north and south for the first time. Due to this new highway, agriculture became important to the county. Within a period of about 10 years, Zapata county developed over 12,000 acres under cultivation and irrigation from the Rio Grande River. The cattle, goat, and sheep industries prospered also, as it was now no longer necessary to drive cattle by to shipping points. With the new highway, cattle could be shipped to San Antonio by truck, with little or no loss of animal lives or weight of the animals. Two other significant accomplishments of the 1930’s included the establishment of a water system in the town of Zapata and the construction of an international bridge across the Rio Grande River connecting Old Zapata with Old Guerrero, Mexico. Before these two improvements, water had to be carried to the people from the river by donkey-pulled carts, and people crossed from one side of the river to the other flat boats called “chalanes.”

The economy of the county continued to improve as more progress developed. Highway 83 was paved in Zapata County in the early 1940’s. Previously, the highway was paved to the Webb-Zapata County line on the north and the Starr-Zapata County line to the south. What is now Highway 16 connecting Zapata with Hebbronville and other points to the east was also constructed and paved during the 1940’s. In 1955, the Falcon Dam across the Rio Grande was completed. Residents and businesses of Zapata, Ramireno, Falcon and Lopeno had to relocate farther east of the river on higher ground. Several months after the dam was finished, there were back to back hurricanes bringing enough rainfall to fill the lake.

The Spanish-Mexican culture of the county is very influential, as this land was, for over 300 years, dominated by the Spanish, and the Mexican, or descendants of these two groups of people. The language, religion, and social traditions were all passed down from generation to generation.

The faith and fortitude of the people of this land of saga and sun make Zapata County the warm and friendly progressive community that it is today.

Zapata boasts of being the “Home of Falcon Lake.” Considered the largest fresh water lake in Texas, Falcon Lake was voted number one fishing spot in Texas by the Bass Fishing Clubs. Falcon Lake’s 87,300 acres along the Rio Grande River entices men and women around the country to take part in our year round fishing of black bass, white bass, crappie, stripers and monster-sized catfish.

Zapata County hosts many fishing and golfing tournaments mainly through the sponsorship of the Chamber of Commerce. On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, the local parish holds a festival known as “La Jamaica” consisting of a Queen contest, games, folkloric dancers, music, and foods of every variety.

On the second week in March, the Zapata County Fair Association holds its annual livestock show lasting a whole week. The show begins with a County Queen contest, followed by a trail ride, a parade, a livestock auction, a carnival, and lots of other activities that include numerous music groups from other parts of Texas and Mexico.

From the water to the sky, Zapata is sure to keep you entertained. Witness our native Green Jay, CaraCara, Roadrunners, hummingbirds, White-Collard Seed Eater, White Pelicans, Cormorants, Blue and Green Herons as well as the White faced Ibis and Osprey. For the Hunters, Zapata County has some of the best wildlife resources in the South Texas region, including: javelina, quail, mourning Dove, white wing dove, and deer.

Tourism continues to play a growing role in the occupation of many citizens. Fishing and hunting have been local staples for many years, and continues to bring thousands of visitors to Zapata, but there is a growing interest in bird watching, hang gliding, rock collecting, night sky watching, and historical tours that provide exploration of the remaining historic buildings and communities that were not destroyed by the rising waters of Falcon Lake.