About Counties: Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb & Zapata by George Dresser

In newsletter 19-4 we looked at the three counties in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council. In this newsletter we move northwest, up the Rio Grande River to the four counties that comprise the South Tex- as Development Council (STDC), one of the 24 state planning regions. These counties with the exception of the City of Laredo are sparsely settled, but none the less fun to visit with a variety of scenery, wildlife, histori- cal structures and a decidedly Hispanic culture. The Texas County map with these four counties highlighted in red will get you oriented. We will see a total of 9 precancels, one each in Jim Hogg, Starr, and Zapata Counties and six in Webb County. None of the precancels are scarce, so you can fill in your album spaces with no seri- ous challenges. We will meet each county as we travel up-river.

The first county we come to traveling up-river from Hidalgo County (covered in 19-4) is Starr County. Take a look at the adjacent Starr County map. U.S. Highway 83 traverses the county just north of the Rio Grande River connecting numerous towns the largest being Rio Grande City with a population of 14,132 and Roma with a population of 9,830. There are three U.S. Port of Entry locations connecting Texas with Mexico. Prior to Spanish settlement in about 1749 the area was inhabited by the Coahuiltecan Indian peoples. Fort Ringgold was established in 1848. Fort Ringgold, the southernmost installation of the western tier of forts constructed at the end of the Mexican War, stood guard for nearly a century over the Rio Grande and Rio Grande City. The county was organized in 1848 and named for Dr. J. H. Starr, secretary of treasury of the Republic of Texas. The first building used as a courthouse was a warehouse building. The first constructed courthouse was de- signed by Brownsville Architect Samuel W. Brooks in 1886. The courthouse was replaced in 1939 (images next page).

Supplement to Texas Precancels 20-1 Page 1 Starr County Courthouse Constructed 1886

Starr County Courthouse Constructed 1939

Despite it’s many towns, Starr County has had only one precancel, Rio Grande City Type 843.

Continuing up-river, the next county we encounter is Zapata County. The county is named for Col. Antonio Zapata a pioneer rancher and was organized in 1858. Like Starr County the population is located in several towns located close to the Rio Grande River, Medina, population 4,150 and Zapata, population 5,091 are the two largest towns with Zapata also being the county seat. Other towns include Falcon, population 185, Lopeno, population 180 and San Ygnacio, population 659. The county is known for Falcon State Park and International Falcon Reservoir with the Texas-Mexico boarder running through the middle of the reservoir. Besides its recreation activity Zapata County has minerals (natural gas, oil and caliche) and agriculture (cattle, onions, cantaloupes, melons and goats. Most of land in the county is rural and undeveloped other than for farming.

Supplement to Texas Precancels 20-1 Page 2 Zapata County Courthouse Constructed 1901 Zapata County Courthouse Constructed 2006

Falcon Lake Bass 10 lb. 7 oz. Residence Historic District San Ygnacio

More world records in hang gliding have been set from Zapata than any other location in the world. The World Record Encampment has been taking place at the Zapata County Airport since 2000, and the first hang glider flights to break the 308-mile barrier took place there the first year. A distance record of 438 miles was set by Mike Barber in 2002. Three new world records were set in 2005, with the current world record, 472 miles, set by Dustin Martin in July, 2012.To set a record hang gliding ride on the Texas wind Jonny Durand and Dustin Martin set out from Zapata, Tex. and headed north as far as the warm winds would take them. The two were towed from the Texas flatlands. Once released, their race against time, gravity and each other was on. The distance that Durand and Martin had to beat was 438 miles. Eleven hours and more than 470 miles later, they landed near the Texas panhandle. That is the equivalent of flying from Times Square to the outskirts of Detroit or from Paris to Dublin. All this from the Zapata County Airport.

Despite its several towns, Zapata County has had only one precancel, Zapata Type 835.

Supplement to Texas Precancels 20-1 Page 3 Continuing north along the Rio Grande River from Zapata County we enter Webb County. Webb County is urban with Laredo population 266,673 being the county seat. As with the other counties the Coahuiltecan Indian peoples inhabited this region until they were forced out by the Comanches, Apaches and then the Spanish settlers. Laredo was founded in 1755 by Thomas Sanchez. The county, named for Republic of Tex- as leader James Webb, was organized in 1848. The economy is based on international trade, manufacturing, tourism, government/services, natural gas, oil and agriculture. Agriculture production includes onions, mel- ons, cattle, horses and goats. Hunting leases are important. Most of the county’s 266,673 residents live in Laredo, population 254,190. Other towns include Bruni, population 390, El Cenizo, population 3,319, Mi- rando City, population 392, Oilton, population 367 and Rio Bravo, population 4,833. As with Starr and Za- pata county, the towns are located close to the river. The county is known for its tourist and recreational ac- tivities which include serving as a gateway to Mexico, State Park, Museum of Republic of the Rio Grande, Fort McIntosh and the annual Washington’s Birthday celebration. The City of Laredo is a major urban area with trade, education, hospitals, sports and entertainment. It is the home of Texas A&M International University.

Fort McIntosh was a U.S. Army base in Laredo from 1849 to 1946.The fort was established to guard the Texas frontier at the site of a strategic river crossing. The fort was abandoned by Federal troops at the outbreak of the American Civil War. The Battle of Laredo took place near the fort on March 19, 1864, when seventy-two men repelled three attacks from a force of two hundred Federal soldiers sent from Brownsville, Texas. On October 23, 1865, the post was re-occupied by Federal troops. In the late 19th century, Several African American units among them the Tenth Cavalry, the "Buffalo Soldiers", were stationed at Fort McIntosh. During World War I, the fort was used as a training base and saw over 15,000 recruits pass through the gates. During World War II, the 8th Service Com- mand, the 56th Cavalry Brigade, the Southern Land Frontier, the Civil Air Patrol and a battalion of military police all were stationed at the facility at one time or another. The fort was deactivated in 1946, and the land is now part of the campus of Laredo Community College main cam- pus. Undated post card for Fort McIntosh

Supplement to Texas Precancels 20-1 Page 4 There was a time when I was a navigator and tactical coordinator flying anti-submarine air- planes out of Naval Air Station Dallas and sub- sequently Naval Air Station New Orleans that the , the City of Laredo and the City of Nuevo Laredo were favorite weekend destinations. The Air Force provided great hospitality and quarters for visiting flight crews, the City of Laredo provided great shop- ping and Nuevo Laredo provided great restau- rants and night life with many live bands, the Cadillac Bar being just one favorite. The base which opened in 1942 was closed in 1972 and is today Laredo International Airport.

WASP Aircrew Flight Line AAF Laredo 1944

Third Webb County Courthouse Designed by San Antonio Architect Alfred Giles and Constructed in 1907.

Webb County has precancels for two of its towns, four for the City of Laredo and two for the little town of Mirando Second Webb County Courthouse Con- City. Why do you suppose Mirando City, population 392, structed in 1885 and Burned 1906 has two precancels?

734 841 232 455 701 745

Supplement to Texas Precancels 20-1 Page 5 Jim Hogg County was formed in 1913 from portions of Brooks and Duval counties. It was named after James Stephen Hogg the 21st Governor of Texas, and the first governor born in the state of Texas. Hebbronville is the county seat with a population of 5,255. The county is rural with 85 percent of the county’s populations re- siding in Hebbronville. The other Census designated places are Guerra, population 6, Las Lomitas, population 232, South Fork Estates, population 74 and Thompsonville, population 45. There are no incorporated cities in the county. The county has some oil production, cattle, hay, and milk goats. When visiting do take your hunt- ing rifle for white-tailed dear and bobwhite quail in season.

The courthouse was constructed in 1913 and designed by San Antonio architect Henry T. Phelps in the Texas Renaissance style. It was later remodeled in the Classi- cal Revival style, and covered with stuc- co. Unlike most of the counties we have previously discussed, the 1913 courthouse is the only courthouse the county has ever had.

Jim Hogg County Courthouse Constructed in 1913

The original part of Hotel Viggo: was built by C. F. Luque in 1915 for the owner, Viggo Kohler, to accommodate businessmen and area travelers. Soon after it opened, Hotel Viggo served as a fortress when area ranchers feared an attack by Pancho Villa's men. As a re- sult of the town's oil boom, a south wing was added in 1924. The mission revival hotel has been a landmark on the Jim Hogg County Courthouse Square since Hebbronville's early days. What a sad sight to see this historic landmark deteriorated and unused. Restoration, while expensive, could restore this structure to a wonderful Hotel Viggo Hebbronville Constructed in 1914 destination hotel and introduce visitors to a remarkable part of Texas.

Jim Hogg County has one town with a precancel, a Hebbronville Type 742.

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