Goliad's name is an anagram — here's why that matters

The town was first called La Bahia. That name came from a nearby Spanish fort and mission. In 1829, a local leader asked the Mexican government to change the name.

The new name chosen was Goliad. It is an anagram of 'Hidalgo.' That is a tribute to Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. He started Mexico's war of independence from Spain.

On February 4, 1829, La Bahia officially became Villa de Goliad. The area has a layered past. It was shaped by Spanish, Mexican, Tejano, and Anglo-Texan people at different times. The Texas State Historical Association's Handbook of Texas covers this history in detail.