Laredo Has Flown Seven Flags Over Its History

Laredo has been ruled under seven flags: Spain, France (briefly, by claim), Mexico, the Republic of the Rio Grande, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. The border shifted many times over 270 years. Each shift brought a new flag over Laredo.

Each period left marks in buildings, land records, and culture. San Agustin Plaza dates to the Spanish colonial era and was laid out by royal commissioners in 1767. Nearby San Agustin Cathedral grew from a parish founded in 1760. The current church was built from 1866 to 1872. That layered past is part of why Laredo feels distinct.