Ranch Headquarters & the Early Counties of South Texas, circa 1885

With the establishment of dependable and regular train service in the 1870s the rich lands south of Austin were promoted for settlers coming to Texas.  Towns prospered as new farms and ranches were established.  The rolling plains attracted large groups of Polish, French, Czech, and German settlers who joined the earlier immigrants from America’s eastern states – as well as the Hispanic residents who had original Land Grants issued by the Spanish Crown and the Mexican Government.

When the Texas & Mexican Railway was completed between Laredo and the port of Corpus Christi an important commercial link was established.  Interestingly south of that line very few towns had been organized north of the Rio Grande Valley, so the headquarters of the large ranches – marked on this map such as “R. Santo Domingo”- were in fact the focus of travel, commerce and respite as well as the principal settlements in South Texas.  On the Santa Gertrudis River “King’s Ranch” is recorded.

A Museum Quality Print of this Fine Original Map is also available. Please contact the gallery for details. You can also find the historic reproduction in the Historic Texas Map Print section of our website.