A Brief History of Brownsville TX

Brownsville's earliest history begins with the exploration and subsequent colonization of the area by Spain, after the conquest of Mexico. Colonization north of the Rio Grande River began in 1748,when General Jose de Escandon was appointed by Spain to colonize Tamaulipas, wherein Brownsville was later located.

During the Civil War, Brownsville figured prominently as a major port through which large quantities of cotton and other products were exported by the Confederate States of America. The last battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Ranch, was fought on a field located a short distance from Brownsville.

From 1865 to 1916, much time was spent in reconstruction and maintenance of law and order. It was necessary for U.S. Government troops, state militia and Texas Rangers to be kept in the area to protect the citizens of Brownsville from raids by bandits, Mexican revolutionaries and American outlaws.

By the early 1900's, Brownsville was enjoying prosperity and a rapid increase in population, in 1904, the St.Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railroad was completed and a telephone system came into being. Electricity, water and sewer systems were dedicated in 1908, and the Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge across the Rio Grande River was opened in 1909.