La Noria Cardenena
Linn, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Parts of present Hidalgo, Cameron, Willacy, and Kenedy counties were once included in two Spanish land grants, San Juan de Carricitos and San Salvador del Tule. The original grantee of the Carricitos grant was Jose Narciso Cavazos. After his death, ownership of the land passed to his heirs. The Tule lands were granted to Juan Jose Balli in 1798. Balli obtained a business loan from Antonio Cardenas of Reynosa, Mexico. Following Balli's death and subsequent litigation over the loan, the lands reverted to Cardenas heirs in 1828. The Cardenas family established La Noria Cardenena Ranch in 1829, so named because of the fresh water wells (norias) found in the region. Gradually, the Cardenas and Cavazos families were joined by a number of marriages, which also combined property interests. Although the families endured many hardships, including years of indian and bandit attacks, they continued to run a strong ranching operation. Still in existence on part of the ranch is a small cemetery, begun in 1835 and named Nino Jesus de Praga in 1863. Also surviving are the mid-19th century main ranch house and a church built next to the cemetery in 1944. (1988)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Much of what is now Hidalgo and neighboring counties lay within two great Spanish land grants, San Juan de Carricitos and San Salvador del Tule, first awarded in the late 1700s. Through a business loan and later litigation, the Tule lands passed to the Cardenas family, who founded La Noria Cardenena Ranch in 1829, naming it for the fresh-water wells, or norias, of the region. Despite years of raids, the Cardenas and Cavazos families intermarried and built a durable ranching operation, leaving behind an old cemetery, ranch house, and chapel.
Why it matters
The ranch embodies the enduring Spanish and Tejano landholding tradition that shaped South Texas long before statehood.
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Related people
- · Jose Narciso Cavazos
- · Juan Jose Balli
- · Antonio Cardenas
Themes & tags
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