Refugio Texas. (original) (raw)

Old Downtown Refugio
TE photo, 2000

History in a Pecan Shell

Refugio nearly disappeared twice. The "Battle of Refugio" took place in 1836 and nearly everyone abandoned the town. They finally got a post office in 1847. Later during the Civil War, the town was once again all but abandoned.

In 1999, a widening of Highway 77 revealed graves just a few hundred feet from the site of the historic marker, exactly in front of the doors of the church.

The St. Louis, Brownsville and and Mexico Railroad came to Refugio County in 1902 and the town paid $30,000 to insure that they weren't bypassed. The tracks and a depot were finished by 1905.

The mid 20s saw 933 people in Refugio and by 1930 there were just over 2,000. A small oil boom in 28 helped bring people into Refugio and some of them stayed.

The population has been declining from the 5,000 high point it enjoyed in the mid-1960s. The 2010 Census showed 2,890 people called Refugio home.

Refugio, Texas Landmarks

A former bank building in Refugio
TE photo, 2000
More Texas Banks

Our Lady Of Refuge Catholic Church
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, May 2005

Another view of the Catholic Church
TE photo, 2000
More Texas Churches

Refugio County Tourist Information
Refugio Community Development - (361) 526-5337
107 Roca Refugio, Texas 78377
http://www.refugiocountytx.com/