Matamoros

History

One knows few things of the Indian tribes which preceded the Spanish colonists.

During a forwarding in 1519, the Captain Alonso Alvarez baptized current the Rio Bravo name of Rio of mow Palmas (River of the palms).

One knows no other event having taken place here before 1686 when the Captain Alonso de León " el Mozo" receives the mission of exploring the area surrounding the river. The Captain mentions in his report/ratio that the river is sufficiently deep to sail there to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico.

The place of the beautiful estuaries

The Captain Juan Jose de Hinojosa explores the area in 1706. He is impressed by the beauty and the number of the marshes which characterize the place. What it does that it names it " Paraje of los Esteros Hermosos" (The place of beautiful the Estuary S).

In 1749 gift Matías of los Santos Coy establishes a ranch named there " San Juan of los Esteros Hermosos" (Midsummer's Day of the beautiful estuaries). It was located at the intersection of current the 5th Street and Matamoros, but gift Matias was constrained to give up its ranch because of the many attacks of Indians.

Thirteen families

The sector is the prey of frequent floods caused by the Rio Grande. In 1747 gift Jose de Escandón and the Captain Blas María of Garza describes this territory like not very interesting to develop. This does not prevent thirteen families undertaking from being established there. In 1774 the 13 families found a congregation which they also name " San Juan of los Esteros Hermosos" , on the same site as the old ranch of gift Matías.

The Captain Ignacio Anastacio de Ayala, to whom one gave authority on the congregation, offers 13 sites of breeding to the founders families. These families are at the origin of the town of Matamoros, so far, it remained important members of the city.

The Villa del Refugio (the city of the refuge)

In 1793 of the Franciscain S of the seminar Apostólico de Guadalupe Zacatecas arrive in the congregation and propose a new name for the community which consequently names " Nuestra Señora del Refugio of los Esteros" (Notre Dame of the refuge of the estuaries). To go to shortest, the inhabitants invite it in fact " El Refugio" (The Refuge) or " Villa del Refugio" (The city of the Refuge). Following the frequent floods, the original site of the " Villa del Refugio" is moved in 1814 on the highest part which fears less the overflows of the Rio Grande.

Villa de Matamoros (Town of Matamoros)

In 1826 the governor Lucas Fernández publishes a decree re-electing the city " Villa of Matamoros" in the honor of the hero of independence Mariano Matamoros. This name will remain until our days and in 1834 the city obtains the statute of city. At the beginning of the américano-Mexican War, Matamoros is with the fronts stations. Vis-a-vis it, General U.S. Zachary Taylor makes build Fort Texas (today Brownsville). It is in the immediate surroundings of Matamoros that take place the starting factor (the Thornton business the April 25th 1846) and the first battles of the war, those of Palo Alto (May 8th 1846) and of the Resaca of Palma (May 9th 1846). The city is then occupied by army U.S. as of the May 18th 1846.

In 1851 the city is defended heroically against the troops of the signatories of the Plan of Loba . The troops of the General Francisco Avalos and the civilians taken along by Macedonio Capistrán demolish the enemy.

Following this victory, the Parliament of the state of Tamaulipas grants to the city the titles Invicta (Unconquered) and " Heroica" (Heroic). The federal government also grants to him the title of Leal (Honest). The official name of the east city thus preceded by the " H" of its title of " Heroica".

The time of cotton

Thus named Time of Cotton , the period of 1948 with 1962, during which, Matamoros, saw one period of economic boom. The businesses are flourishing and the quality of its cotton is recognized overall. However, with time the courses of cotton fall because of new synthetic fibers. Currently the area is a large producer of sorghum.

The industry of the Maquiladora S

Today the saving in Matamoros is centered on the Maquiladora S (free zones established with the Mexico, to produce intended products with export there). This industry developed there in the years 1960. Aujourdhui the city counts approximately 150 factories. The Maquiladora S are a source of employment for number of " Matamorenses" like for the inhabitants of the surroundings, they became a big factor of regional development. But they are also known to have ruined preexistent industries, to pollute (standards of pollution being lower to the Mexico) and to offer very difficult living conditions to the women (who must often entrust their children to come there to work).

External bonds

Official site
Matamoros on Enciclopedia of los Municipios of Mexico City
matamoros.com

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