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Robert
J. Kleberg Public Library in Kingsville
TE Photo, October 2003 |
History
in a Pecan Shell
First there was the King Ranch. Then Henrietta King sold off enough
land for the railroad (the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway)
to build to Brownsville.
In 1903, Robert Justus Kleberg formed the Kleberg Town and Improvement
Company and three miles east of the ranch, they started the town,
naming it after Richard King. |
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The former depot now sits vacant
TE photo October 2003 |
In 1904, a post
office opened and railroad passenger service came through.
The railroad located their headquarters and shops there and one-third
of the population of Kingsville were railroad employees. By 1912 the
population was 4,000.
The King Ranch built a hotel, an ice factory (now a museum), a cotton
gin and the Henrietta
King High School.
In 1913 Kleberg County was formed with Kingsville designated the county
seat. In 1920 natural gas was found and a piped into homes and businesses.
In 1925 South Texas Teachers College was opened and in 1929, it underwent
a name change to Texas College of Arts and Industries and then in
1993 it finally became Texas A&M University at Kingsville.
The Naval Air Station, Kingsville was opened in 1942 as the Kingsville
Naval Auxiliary Station and during World War II the base housed between
6,000 and 7,000 personnel. The base closed in 1946, but reopened in
1951.
Kleberg
County Courthouse
Henrietta
King High School |
Kingsville
Tourist Information:
Kingsville
Chamber of Commerce
635 E. King Kingsville, Texas 78363
Local call: (361) 592-6438
Long Distance: 1-888-223-0633 Fax: (361) 592-0866
http://www.kingsville.org/
Kingsville Convention and Visitors Bureau
1501 Highway 77 Kingsville, Texas 78363
(361) 592-8516 or (800) 333-5032
http://www.kingsvilletexas.com/
Kingsville
Hotels
Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
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1904
building in Kingsville
TE photo October 2003 |
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The former Texas Theater in downtown Kingsville
TE photo October 2003 |
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Kingsville
street scene
TE photo October 2203 |
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The
Bookmobile
TE photo October 2003 |
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