LeGrande Survey of 1833
Ector County, Ector County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Made in era of Mexico rule in Texas for John Beales, who through partnerships, acquired 70,000,000 acres of land and gained the title of "Texas" largest land king. Alexander LeGrande's survey covered about 2,000 miles in west Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle and Eastern New Mexico then south to the 32nd parallel. Hardship and tragedy plagued LeGrande's abandoned survey. First exploration here is usually credited to Capt. R. B. Marcy, U.S. Army; LeGrande's work was years earlier.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1833, while Texas was still under Mexican rule, Alexander LeGrande carried out a sweeping survey for empresario John Beales, whose land dealings gave him claim to a staggering 70 million acres and the title of Texas's greatest land king. LeGrande's route ran some 2,000 miles across West Texas, the Oklahoma Panhandle, and eastern New Mexico, an effort dogged by hardship and tragedy and ultimately abandoned. His work preceded the better-known exploration credited to Captain R. B. Marcy of the U.S. Army by years.
Why it matters
The survey marks the ambitious, often doomed land speculation of Mexican Texas, and reminds us that Anglo mapping of the West Texas plains began well before the U.S. Army's celebrated expeditions.
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Related people
- · Alexander LeGrande
- · John Beales
- · R. B. Marcy
Related events
- · LeGrande Survey of 1833
Themes & tags
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