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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 >
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© 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
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stories, photos & towns:
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