|
|
The
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Floresville
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2005 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
Canary Island immigrant Don Francisco Flores de Abrego is credited
with founding the town in the 18th century. Don Francisco's ranch
(six miles NW of present Floresville) was essentially the center of
things in the 1830s since the chapel and cemetery were on his property.
The community was later called Lodi and under that name it
served as the county seat from 1867 to March 1871, and from July 1871
to 1873.
When, in 1867, the town of Floresville (named after a local family)
was founded, the city limits include what had been Lodi. The town
was platted in the early 1870s.
A post office was granted in 1872 and the town was made county seat
the following year. |
Things really got rolling in 1883, with the announcement of the impending
arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad. Floresville
was thriving in 1885 with a population of 400, stores, hotels and
a weekly newspaper.
In 1890 when the population had reached 1,500, the town decided to
incorporate. Growth slowed somewhat, the population only increasing
to 1,800 by 1910.
From a population of 1,581 in 1931, it doubled by 1965. In 1990 it
reached 5,414 in 1990. The city's proximity allows a relative easy
commute to San Antonio.
|
"Peanut
Capital of Texas"
Peanut production
started with the introduction of irrigation by grower Andrew G. Pickett.
The town promoted itself as "Peanut Capital of Texas" although many
other counties surpass the Wilson county production.
Since 1938 Floresville has had an annual Peanut Festival and a cement
peanut on the courthouse lawn provides a photo-op for tourists.
Floresville
Hotels >
Book Your Hotel Here & Save
© John Troesser |
Floresville
People and Stories:
Pedro
Gonzalez-Gonzalez
A Guy So Nice - They Named Him Twice
Almost literally "born in a trunk" - Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez entered
the world in Aquilares, Texas (now
considered a ghost town) in 1926. His mother was a dancer from Mexico
and his father was a trumpet player from Floresville, Texas. Mrs.
Gonzalez performed under the stage name "La Perla Fronteriza" (Pearl
of the Frontier" and reportedly once danced for Francisco "Poncho"
Villa and his troops during one or another of the Mexican Revolutions.
... more
Sundays
in Floresville During the 30's by Lois Wauson |
|
|
