Los Ejidos De Reynosa Vieja
La Joya, Hidalgo County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1749, Col. Jose de Escandon founded Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Reynosa. Surveyors marked off over 10,000 acres for Los Ejidos, the town commons, for settlers to farm and ranch. The remaining land bordered each side of the Rio Grande and each of the 80 porciones (allotments) had river access. Besides ranching, Los Ejidos was important commercially as a transfer site for the area's salt trade. The commons mission, San Joaquin del Monte, played a prominent role in Christianizing native tribes and as a school and church for settlers. In 1802, the villa moved due to flooding. Old Reynosa (now Reynosa Diaz) continues to exist, with La Joya, Abram-Perezville and Penitas now existing on the former ejidos. (2010)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1749 the Spanish colonizer José de Escandón founded Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Reynosa on the Rio Grande, and surveyors laid out more than 10,000 acres of Los Ejidos—town commons—alongside 80 riverfront porciones so every settler had water access. Beyond ranching and farming, the commons served as a hub of the regional salt trade, while its mission, San Joaquín del Monte, worked to Christianize local tribes and taught settlers' children. After flooding forced the villa to move in 1802, the old lands gave rise to communities like La Joya, Abram-Perezville, and Peñitas that endure today.
Why it matters
It marks the Spanish colonial land-grant system that shaped settlement, ranching, and Indigenous encounter along the lower Rio Grande long before Texas was American.
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Related people
- · José de Escandón
Related events
- · founding of Reynosa, 1749
Themes & tags
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