Rancho de Santa Maria

Part of Spain's 1777 La Feria Grant (12.5 leagues), partitioned into 6 units 1843. Here in 1850's was a sub-post of Fort Brown (28 mi. SE) and Fort Ringgold (65 mi. NW). This was proposed site in 1860's for "Homeville", this locality's first small-acreage promotion. Present compound, built 1870 by L.J. Hynes, has buildings for dairy, kitchen, ammunition. Hynes, first Postmaster (1876), had stage depot, general store, telegraph office, shipping wharf on river. Chapel was built 1880. In 1892, Frank Rabb bought the ranch. In 1916 border troubles, U.S. Army established headquarters here.

Rancho de Santa Maria is a historical marker in Santa Maria, Cameron County, dedicated in 1968. It is one of 116 historical markers documented in Cameron County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 194 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 26.0736, -97.8356 near Santa Maria. The nearest cataloged historic site is Our Lady of Visitation Catholic Church (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Longoria Cemetery, Champion Cemetery, and Near Routes of Alonso de Leon Expeditions.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5061004182. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.