A Brief History of Kingsville TeXas:
Kingsville, Texas, was officially established in 1904, when the railroad came through town, but the history of this region goes back long before that time. The King Ranch, still a working cattle ranch, was founded in 1853, when Captain Richard King purchased land that was once part of the Rincon de Santa Gertrudis Mexican Land Grant. The land was originally called the Wild Horse Desert by early settlers. Captain King and his family, with the help of an entire village of people from Mexico, cleared and fenced the land, fought off raiding Indians and made the area safe for settlers. These same villagers became some of Texas’s first cowboys (the Kineños) and their descendants are a vital part of the community today.
In 1913, Texas legislators created the County of Kleberg, with Kingsville as the county seat. Shortly thereafter various events provided the impetus to further spur the growth of Kingsville: the discovery of gas and oil; the establishment of South Texas State Teacher’s College (now Texas A & M University – Kingsville); and the building of NAS-Kingsville, a premier flight training facility.
Kingsville still retains much of its early charm today as evidenced in the downtown area, designated as a Texas Main Street, with the 1904 train depot, Flato Opera House, Sims and Ragland Mercantile buildings and the 1930s post office and bandstand.
About Kingsville Texas
Kingsville, Texas, is a South Texas city with its own unique small-town charm. Kingsville is located approximately 45 miles southwest of Corpus Christi and 120 miles north of the Mexico border. It has a population of approximately 26, 000 people, not including military personnel or university students. The climate, consisting of mild winters and warm summers, makes this city a wonderful place to stay anytime of the year.
We are home to Naval Air Station – Kingsville, where Navy and Marine Corps pilots train to receive their “Wings of Gold.” The world-famous King Ranch was born here and provides opportunities to learn about the history of farming and ranching in Texas. Educational opportunities are among the best in the state, with Texas A&M University – Kingsville and Coastal Bend College leading higher education pursuits, and our four independent school districts catering to the needs of younger learners.
Kingsville also provides top-quality medical care opportunities available with Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg, a public hospital, and a choice of health care providers and health clinics.
For those seeking recreational adventures, Kingsville offers sporting activities such as fishing, hunting and golf, as well as museums and historical sites for exploration. Kingsville is a vibrant and thriving community that has plenty to offer whether you and your families are visiting for a day, a weekend or a lifetime.