Brownsville Grew Up Around a U.S. Army Fort on the Rio Grande

The site of Brownsville was part of a large Spanish land grant made in 1781 to José Salvador de la Garza, who ranched on the north bank of the Rio Grande. The town itself was laid out by Charles Stillman in 1848, right beside the army fort that had been built two years earlier during the Mexican-American War.

Early Brownsville was a crossroads of cultures. Many residents had previously lived in Mexico and had absorbed Mexican customs. They spoke Spanish, English, French, or German, and newcomers also included Irish and German immigrants. The town grew quickly as a trade hub between the U.S. and Mexico. The county seat today remains Brownsville, which had a population of about 187,831 as of 2021.