Nueces County, Texas

1919 Storm 1941 Corpus Christi Seawall 1966 Farm Workers Rally and March Agua Dulce Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda Alta Vista Hotel, Site of Antonio E. Garcia Aransas Pass Light Station Aransas Pass, C.S.A. Artesian Park and Sulphur Well Arthur Edward Spohn, M.D. and Spohn Hospital Banquete Cemetery Banquete, C.S.A. Battle of Agua Dulce Bishop Boby's Residence (PL65 - now Merriman House) Broadway Bluff Improvement Business Building (DEMOLISHED) Calallen Camp Scurry Captain Enrique Villarreal and Rincon del Oso Land Grant Casa Blanca Land Grant Cattle Drives from South Texas Centennial House Centennial Memorial Museum Chapman Ranch Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Clara Driscoll, The Driscoll Foundation and Driscoll Children's Hospital Coastal Hide, Tallow and Packing Industries Confederate Army Deserters Hanged in Corpus Christi Corpus Christi and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Corpus Christi Cathedral Corpus Christi College-Academy Corpus Christi Fire Department Corpus Christi, 1861-1865 De Pineda, Alonzo Alvarez Duncan Cemetery Early History of Port of Corpus Christi Eli Todd Merriman Elihu Harrison Ropes Explosion of the Steamship Dayton Felix von Blucher First Baptist Church of Bishop First Baptist Church of Corpus Christi First Methodist Church of Corpus Christi First Presbyterian Church of Corpus Christi First United Methodist Church of Bishop First United Methodist Church of Robstown Flour Bluff Flour Bluff Independent School District Fort Lipantitlan Fort Lipantitlan French-Galvan House Galvan Ballroom General W.W. Sterling George H. Paul Building Site George Owens German POW Camp at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Gold Star Court of Honor Grande-Grossman House Grossman-Graham House Guaranty Title Company Gutzon Borglum and the Corpus Christi Bayfront Hebrew Rest Cemetery Henry Lawrence Kinney Hilltop Tuberculosis Sanitorium Hotel Brendle Irishtown Jalufka-Govatos House John Bernard Murphy John Dix John Dunn, Jr. Homesite Jovita González de Mireles Julius Lichtenstein House Karankawa Indians Kelsey Memorial Methodist Church (Iglesia Metodista Kelsey Memorial) Lone Star Fair Louis de Planque LULAC Martha (Reagan) Rabb (February 25, 1826-March 20, 1901) Matthew Dunn Matthew Nolan McCampell House Menger Elementary School Moravian Club of Nueces County Mother Margaret Mary Healy Murphy Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Mustang Island Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Nicholas Bluntzer Nueces County Nueces County Nueces County Courthouse of 1914 Nuecestown (4 Miles North) Nuecestown Cemetery Nuecestown Raid Nuecestown Schoolhouse Old Bayview Cemetery Old Bayview Cemetery Old Saint Anthony's Catholic Church Old St. Patrick's Church One Mile Northeast is the Site of Fort Lipantitlan Padre Island and Padre Nicolas Balli Pat Dunn Ranch Rabbi Sidney A. Wolf Restland Memory Park Richard and Minerva King House Ritz Theater Robstown Labor Camp Robstown Record Santa Margarita Crossing Sidbury House Sidbury-Savage House Simon Gugenheim House Sisters of the Incarnate Word Site of Cheston L. Heath School Site of Kinney's Trading Post Site of Old Salt Mill Site of Santa Petronila Ranch Site of the Corpus Christi Lighthouse Site of the Nueces Hotel Snapka Drive Inn Solomon Coles (1844-1924) and Solomon Coles School St. John Baptist Church St. John Lutheran Church St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church St. Paul Lutheran Church and School Stanley L. Kostoryz Stout Jackson and the Carpa Theaters Sunshine Cemetery Tarpon Inn Temple Beth El The American G.I. Forum The Corpus Christi Caller-Times The Mercer Family on Mustang Island The Ranchero Theodore Merchant Lawrence (January 16, 1861-August 10, 1941) Thomas S. Parker Travis Baptist Church United States Coast Guard on Mustang Island Ward Island William DeRyee William Henderson Maltby World War II Coastal Defenses at the Aransas Pass Wynn Seale Junior High School

Nueces County, located in southern Texas, has a rich and diverse history that spans several centuries. The area first saw human habitation thousands of years ago, with Native American tribes such as the Karankawa and Coahuiltecan peoples inhabiting the region. European exploration of the area began in the 16th century, with Spanish explorers claiming the land for the Spanish crown. However, it wasn't until the early 18th century that the first permanent settlements were established.

In 1828, the Mexican government granted land to Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney, an American entrepreneur, who founded the trading post of Kinney's Trading Post near the Nueces River. This marked the beginning of Anglo settlement in the area. Nueces County was officially established in 1846, following the Texas Revolution and subsequent annexation of Texas by the United States.

Throughout the 19th century, Nueces County played a significant role in Texas' development. The town of Corpus Christi, which served as the county seat, became an important regional trade center due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The county flourished as a shipping hub for livestock, cotton, and other agricultural goods.

The county's history was greatly influenced by its participation in several military conflicts. During the American Civil War, Corpus Christi served as a center for Confederate forces, and the county witnessed both Union and Confederate occupation. Additionally, the county played an important role during World War II, with Corpus Christi becoming a major training center for Navy pilots.

In recent times, Nueces County has continued to grow and evolve. The county's economy has diversified, with tourism, oil and gas, and the military being major contributors. The region boasts numerous attractions, including beautiful coastal beaches, cultural sites, and a vibrant culinary scene. Today, Nueces County remains an important and thriving part of Texas' history and economy.
Brief timeline of the history of Nueces County, Texas:

  • 1836 - Nueces County is established as one of the original counties in the Republic of Texas.
  • 1845 - Texas becomes a state of the United States, and Nueces County remains part of the state.
  • 1848 - The county seat is established in Corpus Christi.
  • 1850 - The population of Nueces County reaches 756 residents.
  • 1852 - The Corpus Christi Cathedral is constructed, becoming a significant landmark in the county.
  • 1872 - The railroad reaches Nueces County, leading to increased economic development and population growth.
  • 1875 - The Nueces County Courthouse, built in the Renaissance Revival style, is completed.
  • 1900 - A devastating hurricane strikes the county, causing significant damage and loss of life.
  • 1914 - The Port of Corpus Christi is established, becoming a major hub for trade and industry.
  • 1931 - The Nueces County Courthouse is expanded and remodeled to its current appearance.
  • 1940 - Nueces County experiences a population boom, with the county's residents totaling over 101,000.
  • 1987 - Hurricane Gilbert causes widespread destruction in Nueces County and the surrounding areas.
  • Present - Nueces County continues to be a thriving center for commerce, industry, and tourism.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Nueces County, Texas.