Kingsville, Texas. (original) (raw)

History in a Pecan Shell

First there was the King Ranch. Then Henrietta King sold off enough land for the railroad (the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway) to build to Brownsville.

In 1903, Robert Justus Kleberg formed the Kleberg Town and Improvement Company and three miles east of the ranch, they started the town, naming it after Richard King.

In 1904, a post office opened and railroad passenger service came through.

The railroad located their headquarters and shops there and one-third of the population of Kingsville were railroad employees. By 1912 the population was 4,000.

The King Ranch built a hotel, an ice factory (now a museum), a cotton gin and the Henrietta King High School.

In 1913 Kleberg County was formed with Kingsville designated the county seat. In 1920 natural gas was found and piped into homes and businesses. In 1925 South Texas Teachers College was opened and in 1929, it underwent a name change to Texas College of Arts and Industries and then in 1993 it finally became Texas A&M University at Kingsville.

The Naval Air Station, Kingsville was opened in 1942 as the Kingsville Naval Auxiliary Station and during World War II the base housed between 6,000 and 7,000 personnel. The base closed in 1946, but reopened in 1951.

Kingsville, Texas Landmarks & Attractions

1914 Photo courtesy Martha Rogers Ward Garbarino Photo Collection

St. Martins Catholic Church
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, October 2010

The former Texas Theater in downtown Kingsville
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, October 2010

Kingsville Tourist Information:

Kingsville Chamber of Commerce
635 E. King Kingsville, Texas 78363
Local call: (361) 592-6438
Long Distance: 1-888-223-0633 Fax: (361) 592-0866
http://www.kingsville.org/

Kingsville Convention and Visitors Bureau
1501 Highway 77 Kingsville, Texas 78363
(361) 592-8516 or (800) 333-5032
http://www.kingsvilletexas.com/

Kingsville Hotels> Book Hotel Here

	Kingsville street scene TE photo October 2203

	The Bookmobile TE photo October 2003

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