Brownsville, Texas

Brownsville is a city located in Cameron County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 139,722. It is the county seat of Cameron County{{GR|6}}.

History

Pre-Brownsville History

• Fort Texas, a fort on the Mexican border was commissioned in 1845 less than a mile from what would become downtown Brownsville.
• Not even completed yet, the Mexican Army began the Siege of Fort Texas on May 3-9, 1846. One of the only two American soldiers who died in the attack was the Fort's commander, Major Jacob Brown, in honor of whom the post was renamed to Fort Brown.
• The Battle of Palo Alto occurred five miles from what would be downtown Brownsville on May 8, 1846, the first battle of the Mexican American War. The very next day, May 9, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma was fought.

Brownsville History

• Brownsville was established in January 13, 1849 by Charles Stillman.
• On July 13 1859, the First Cortina War started. Juan Nepomuceno Cortina would become one of the most important historical figures of the area, and continued to exert a decisive influence in the local events until his arrest in 1875. The First Cortina War ended on December 27, 1859. In May of 1861, the brief Second Cortina War took place.
• During the Civil War Brownsville was used as a smuggling point for Confederate goods into Mexico.
• On May 15, 1865 a month after the surrender had been signed at Appomattox Court House the Battle of Palmito Ranch was fought.
• On Valentine's day, 1895, 2 inches of snow fell in Brownsville. This was the first recorded instance of snow in recorded history of the region.
• On August 13, and 14th 1906 Brownsville was the site of the Brownsville Raid.
• On December 8, 1911 Brownsville's first international bridge was opened, which was called the Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge.
• On September 8, 1926 The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley now known as Texas Southmost College as in the University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College admitted its first class.
• In 1945 Fort Brown was decommissioned and in 1948 the City and College acquired the land.
• From 1945 to 1970 Brownsville population doubled from 25,000 to 52,000 people.
• In 1991 Brownsville receives a University via the partnership between the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
• Brownsville was declared an All-America City in the year 2001.
• On December 25, 2004, Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley had their first instance of measurable snow in 109 years, with 1 1/2 inches, and with this their very first White Christmas. This was part of the 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm.
• Brownsville Independent School District, at current, is the 17th. largest school district in Texas.