Page Contents for Laredo, Texas

Statistics & Facts

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Schools.

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Statistics & Facts

The Texas state capital is Austin.
The population of Laredo is approximately 236091 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 33,998 (1990), 63545 (2010).
The amount of land area in Laredo is 85.139 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.929 sq kilometers.
The distance from Laredo to Washington DC is 1554 miles.
The distance to the Texas state capital is 218 miles. (as the crow flies)
Laredo is positioned 27.53 degrees north of the equator and 99.48 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Laredo elevation is 438 feet above sea level.

History & History Related Items

Laredo is the only city in Texas to have flown under seven flags.
Founded on May 15, 1755, Laredo was settled when Captain Tomas Sanchez, along with three families, came to the land on the Rio Grande. He came from Dolores across the river. He was born in 1709 in Nuevo Leon and was a rancher and military veteran. In 1767, New Spain officially named the new "villa" San Agustin de Laredo after a town in Spain. The town was set up with a plaza and land grants (prociones), along with a church, a jail and a captain's house. The new villa prospered and many moved to set up their ranchos. Ranching and trading were the main economy of the area. In the early 1800's, there were problems with raiding Comanche and Apache tribes as well as drought and floods, but the area continued to grow. By 1836 there were 2,000 residents in Laredo.

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Attractions

Heritage Trolley Tour
Tours begin and end at the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum at 1005 Zaragoza St. Reservations are recommended. Please call (956) 727-0977

Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra

Nuevo Santander Children's Museum
on the Laredo Junior College Campus
Phone: 210-725-2299

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Laredo Schools

Texas A&M International University
Call for more information: 326-2270