|
SAN YGNACIO,
TEXAS
Zapata County, South
Texas
27°2'38"N 99°26'23"W (27.043938, -99.439726).
Between the Rio Grande and U.S. Highway 83
30 miles SE of Laredo
14 miles NW of Zapata
the county seat
Zip Code 78067
Population: 667 (2010) 853 (2000) 895 (1990)
San
Ygnacio, Texas Area Hotels ›
Laredo
Hotels | Zapata
Hotels |
|
|
The
1851 sundial and doorway
TE Photo |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The town of San
Ygnacio was settled in 1830 - making it the oldest town in Zapata
County. It was named for the patron saint of Guerrero, Saint Ignatius
Loyola.
The land was originally granted by Col. José de Escandón to José Vázquez
Borrego and was one of 23 settlements founded by Escandón.
Jesús Treviño, the leader of the settlers built a fortified residence
at the site. (See
Readers' Comments)
A small sundial was placed at the home in 1851 - an unusual item considering
the time and place. (
See Sundial
in San Ygnacio)
Confederate troops fought followers of Juan Cortina here during the
Civil War.
In 1890 revolutionaries against the regime of Porfirio Díaz led raids
into Mexico from San Ygnacio. In June of 1916, troops of President
Carranza crossed the border and engaged a U. S. Cavalry unit stationed
there.
During the early 1900s San Ygnacio had a post office, several stores,
a drugstore and remained a commercial center for the region.
The population in 1908 was just under 200 persons. It doubled by 1931
but decreased back to 225 by the end of WWII.
San Ignacio was used (like Roma) for
scenes in the 1951 movie Viva Zapata with Marlon Brandon in the title
role. |
|
|
Part
of the Treviño compound
An Endangered Historic Property
TE Photo |
San Ygnacio
Historic District
San Ygnacio was
to be included on the list of other towns flooded for the building
of Falcon Dam, but in 1951 residents petitioned to have their
town spared on the grounds that they were high enough to escape flooding.
The town was spared, but was damaged in a flood two years later.
The 36 buildings that comprise the Historic District are the same
style as those found in Old Guerrero and Revilla, which
now sits underwater in the Falcon Reservoir.
Many of the homes have been beautifully and authentically restored,
and San Ygnacio joins Jefferson
and Castroville
in the small sorority of Texas communities that have somehow managed
to escape progress.
1982 the La Paz Museum was opened as the official Zapata County museum
on the campus of the Arturo L. Benevides Elementary School, which
was built in 1967 and enlarged in 1981.
The post office,
established in 1876 by first postmaster Fernando Uribe, is in the
historic Trinidad Uribe home, built in 1874 and restored in 1984
by María Eva Uribe Ramírez. (See Forum
below)
|
|
|
Cactus
on roof top
TE Photo |
San Ygnacio
Chronicles
Sundial
in San Ygnacio by Mike Cox
The weathered sundial positioned on top of the arched entrance to
the old family fort at San Ygnacio tells more than the time – it
tells a story.
|
|
|
The
1851 sundial placed by Jose Villareal
TE Photo |
San Ygnacio,
Texas Forum
Subject:
Treviño Fort/Post Office San Ygnacio Texas
(1)Jesús Treviño, the leader of the settlers built a fortified residence
at the site.
(2)The post office, established in 1876 by first postmaster Fernando
Uribe, is in the historic Trinidad Uribe home, built in 1874 and restored
in 1984 by María Eva Uribe Ramírez.
Would like to make a correction on Treviño Fort in San Ygnacio, Texas.
Also known as Treviño/Uribe Fort. Fort is on land bought by don Jesus
Treviño who built a ONE room stone building in 1830 for protection
from Indians and for him to stay when he visited the ranch. Room was
18 feet by 20 feet with one door facing South. It was after his death
in 1843 that his daughter inherited the ranch site that his son in
law, don Blas Maria Uribe, built the Indian fort as it is known. Work
on rooms facing river and walls on South, East and North were added
in 1850 to 1854. Again, don Blas added a room to Northeast corner
of fort in 1871 and in late 1800s and early 1900s, don Jose Dionicio
Uribe, his son who bought out his brothers and became sole owner of
the Fort, made several modifications.. making enclosed Kitchen next
to original room made by don Jesus.
Original Post Office in San Ygnacio was at don Fernando Uribe's
house, across from Nortwest corner of Fort. That was original Post
Office and doña Margarita Sanchez de Uribe, present owner and resident
of that house, has several items from original Post Office, including
certificate naming don Fernando Post Master.
Please read story on San Ygnacio, written by Roberto D. Uribe and
part of story pertaining to building of Fort also written by Roberto
and edited by me since he left us for a better world.
http://www.incdef.com/san%20ignacio/ignacio.asp http://www.incdef.com/san%20ignacio/chapter2.asp
Thank You - Antonio E. Uribe, February 16, 2004
The Trevino Fort has been National Historic Landmark
since 1998. It is co-owned by the River Pierce Foundation and
the heirs (Alfonso Herrera, Raquel H. Ramirez, and Abigail H. Molina)
of the family who founded San Ygnacio. The River Pierce Foundation,
founded in 1990 is dedicated to the cultural and historic preservation
of San Ygnacio. - Christopher Rincon, Director, The River Pierce Foundation,
June 19, 2003 |
 |
Zapata
County 1907 postal map showing San Ygnacio
Notice Starr County
line to the East
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
|
|
HOME
