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History in a Pecan Shell
The town was founded by Reading W. Black in 1854. The name he chose for the new town was Encina.
A monument to Black in the form of a huge petrified tree trunk sits in the very spacious and under-used Pioneer Cemetery which is the entire 500 block of N. Park Street.
A historical marker telling the story of notorious King Fisher is also found here.
The flamboyant and handsome John King Fisher was a gunman turned lawman. He occasionally protected the area against banditti from Mexico - but it may have also been to protect his huge claim of land. Fisher wore Leopard chaps - obtained legend says, when he shot a caged tiger at a circus and paid the circus manager the going rate for leopards.
Fisher was shot in the staircase of a Vaudeville theater in San Antonio with Ben Thompson, Austin's Marshall. Both were slain by assassins before they could draw their guns in the narrow stairwell.
Fort Inge, just one and a half miles south and east of town, protected Uvalde's citizens from Indian raids. The county was organized in 1856 and the following year they were granted a post office.
The town and county were named after Juan de Ugalde, the former Spanish Governor, but the name was corrupted with time into the current spelling. The population of Uvalde was 2,000 people in 1890 and in addition to the East-West Railroad - shorter lines extended North and South to Camp Wood and Crystal City.
John Nance Garner, Vice-President of the United States under Roosevelt bequeathed his home for use as a museum and is buried just west of town. Garner was famous for his fairness, his outspoken manner and his crusty personality.
Garner loved this part of Texas. He was very good friends with fellow Texan Sam Rayburn of Bonham.
Uvalde, Texas Landmarks / Attractions
- The Uvalde County Courthouse
- Garner State Park : 26 miles North of town off Hwy 83
- Pioneer Cemetery
- Fort Inge County Park on the Leona River -
site of former U.S. Cavalry outpost c. 1849. - For scenic drive, continue onto Leakey,
take FM 337 to Vanderpool to Lost Maples Natural Area. - Aviation Museum of Texas: Just East of Uvalde at the airport.
- Garner Memorial Museum: 333 N. Park St.
- Grand Opera House c. 1891:
Open Monday through Friday 9 to 3 for tours. - Fish Hatchery: FM 481 South -
A Federal facility for warm water fish. - Uvalde Hotels
Chamber of Commerce: 300 E. Main St. Uvalde, TX 78801
830-278-3361 Website: www.uvalde.org
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Garner Memorial Museum in Uvalde TE photo |
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The Uvalde Grand Opera House c. 1891 TE photo |
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Railroad bridge on US 90 near Uvalde
TE photo, 2001
PEOPLE
Uvalde County 1907 postal map
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
Uvalde County 1920s map
From Texas state map #10749
Courtesy Texas General Land Office
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