|
| In
early 1846 United States troops under the command of Gen.
Zachary Taylor
marched
into the disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio
Grande and constructed a defensive position across from
Matamoros. The temporary fort was originally called Fort Texas
but was renamed Fort Brown a short time later, in honor of Maj.
Jacob Brown, who died during a Mexican attack on the stronghold.
On April 25, 1846, a skirmish occurred between United States and
Mexican troops at Las Rucias (Las Rusias), in southwest Cameron
County, which became known as the spot where "American
blood was shed on American soil," the verbal spark that
ignited the Mexican War. Two other Mexican War battles were
fought in Cameron County, the battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846)
and the battle of Resaca de la Palma
(May 9, 1846). |
|
On
February 12, 1848, the Texas legislature decreed the existence
of Cameron County, and with the signing of the Treaty of
Guadalupe-Hidalgo
on
July 4 the area officially became part of the United States. The
new county encompassed 3,308 square miles, including parts of
the future Hidalgo, Willacy, Kenedy, and Brooks counties. |
 |
|
An
election of county officers was held on August 7, but
organization was not completed until September 11. Santa Rita,
five miles downstream from Fort Brown and believed to be the
earliest English-speaking town in the area, was made the county
seat. The same year Charles Stillman
established
Brownsville just west of Fort Brown. In December another
election was held, and after intense effort on Stillman's part
Brownsville was chosen county seat. |
Cameron County is named
for Captain Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and in
the ill fated Mier Expedition. He was executed by a special order from
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
Cities and towns
and Unincorporated areas
|
Arroyo Alto |
Lasana |
|
Arroyo Colorado
Estates |
Laureles |
|
Arroyo
Gardens-La Tina Ranch |
Los Fresnos |
|
Bayview |
Los Indios |
|
Bixby |
Lozano |
|
Bluetown-Iglesia
Antigua |
Olmito |
|
Brownsville |
Palm Valley |
|
Cameron Park |
Port Isabel |
|
Chula Vista-Orason |
Primera |
|
Combes |
Rancho Viejo |
|
Del Mar Heights |
Rangerville |
|
El Camino
Angosto |
Ratamosa |
|
Encantada-Ranchito
El Calaboz |
Reid Hope King |
|
Grand Acres |
Rio Hondo |
|
Green Valley
Farms |
San Benito |
|
Harlingen |
San Pedro |
|
Indian Lake |
Santa Maria |
|
La Feria |
Santa Rosa |
|
La Feria North |
Solis |
|
La Paloma |
South Padre
Island |
|
Lago |
South Point |
|
Laguna Heights |
Tierra Bonita |
|
Laguna Vista |
Villa del Sol |
|
Las
Palmas-Juarez |
Villa Pancho |
| |
Yznaga |
|
|
|
ONLINE
DATA |
|
|
|
Mockingbird
State Bird
|
|
|
|
If
you have information that you'd like to share about any town,
family, county or subject, please send it to us and we'll make
sure it gets posted to the right county. We are looking for
Census, Births, Deaths, Marriages, Biographies, Obituaries, and
Newspaper Stories, Email
me |
|