Spanish Ranchers Settled This Area More Than 275 Years Ago

In 1749, Spanish official José de Escandón led settlers to the Rio Grande frontier. This was more than 275 years ago. The area that is now Hidalgo County is one of the oldest settled regions in Texas.

Over time, large land grants were split among family members. Riverside ranches grew into small villages. Some of those places are still around today—La Habitación (now the city of Hidalgo), Relampago, and Peñitas all trace back to that era.

This deep ranching history still shapes how land is owned and sold in the region. Many families have roots here going back many generations. If you buy property here, you may be dealing with land that has passed through the same family for a very long time.