Havana
La Joya, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Located on land known as Porcion 46, ceded by the crown of Spain to Don Jose Matias Tijerina in 1767, the community of Havana was named for Havana, Cuba, where Tijerina had stopped on his journey from Europe. Among the early settlers here were the families of Josefa de la Garza Salinas and Civil War Union soldier Patricio Perez. A frame church was built in 1891 and named for St. Joseph. Descendants of early settlers still live in the area. Many Havana pioneers are buried here in the Havana Cemetery. (1988)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The community of Havana stands on Porcion 46, land granted by the Spanish crown to Don Jose Matias Tijerina in 1767, who is said to have named it for the Cuban city where he had stopped on his voyage from Europe. Early families settled here, among them a Civil War Union soldier, Patricio Perez, and in 1891 they built a frame church dedicated to St. Joseph. Descendants of those pioneers still live in the area, and many are buried in the Havana Cemetery.
Why it matters
Havana traces its origins to the Spanish porciones that first organized settlement along the lower Rio Grande, a colonial land system whose legacy still shapes South Texas today.
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Related people
- · Jose Matias Tijerina
- · Patricio Perez
Themes & tags
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