land
grant on the Santa Gertrudis Creek. When King died, his widow, Henrietta,
continued to build a ranch that now extends over 825,000 acres.Kingsville was born on July 4, 1904, when the first regular passenger train of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railroad arrived. The much celebrated event was the culmination of a great deal of work and planning over a number of years.
Kingsville's roots go much deeper than the railroad, although the city marks it's birthday from that event.
In 1853, Captain Richard King purchased land that was once part of the Rincon
de Santa Gertrudis Spanish land
grant on the Santa Gertrudis Creek. When King died, his widow, Henrietta,
continued to build a ranch that now extends over 825,000 acres.
The headquarters of the ranch are located a half mile west of the city limits on State Highway 141.
One of the King's children, Alice, married Robert J. Kleberg, a lawyer and a man of great vision. As he worked to build the ranch, he and Mrs. King dreamed of a city near the ranch with a railroad that would expand the agricultural potential of the area.
Kingsville started as a tent city as workers put down tracks for the trains. Within a year, it was a small city with businesses and homes.
Today many view this region of South Texas as a prime growth area of the "Sun Belt" of the nation. While Kingsville's development has been steady, there has been little congestion or overcrowding. There is still plenty of open space, fresh air, and friendly hospitality that characterizes small town America.
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