Brownsville, TX

Brownsville is a city located in Cameron County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 97,890. It is the county seat of Cameron County and one of the largest cities in the Rio Grande Valley. The Brownsville metropolitan area had a population of 219,924 in 2010 and is home to several universities including Southern Methodist University and University of Texas at Brownsville.

The city was founded by John Brown in 1846 as a trading post on the banks of the Rio Grande. Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry occurred nearby that same year and contributed to increased interest in settling along the river. The first Anglo-American settlement within present-day Brownsville took place in 1848 on land donated by Stephen F. Austin. In 1850, James Sweeny established a ferry service across the river which became an important transportation link between Matamoros, Tamaulipas (now Mexico), and San Antonio, Texas; this ferry service later became known as Sweeny's Ferry Crossing after its owner/operator James Sweeny.

In 1853, General Edward Burleson led an army into Texas from Louisiana during the Mexican-American War and camped near what is now downtown Brownsville for several weeks before moving further southward into Mexico. During this time period many American settlers moved into what would become downtown Brownsville; these early settlers included merchants such as Jesse Chisholm who operated a store on Main Street which later became known as Chisholm's Store after his death in 1868; lawyers such as George Waggoner who practiced law out of his office located at Second and Washington Streets; physicians such as Drs. Jotham Meyers (1832–1910) and Edwin Burdick (1835–1914); bankers such as John Hays Hammond (1821–1900) who opened Hammond & Company with partner Auryne Lipscomb (1824–1900); railroad builders such as George Waggoner Cooke (1827–1911) who laid tracks from Eagle Pass to Laredo; businessmen such as Jacob Dyer (1829-1906), founder of Dyer Printing Company which occupied two buildings at Third Street and Washington Avenue; ranchers such as Samuel Giddings “Doc” Mayfield Sr., father of future U.S Senator Sam Giddings Jr.; farmers including William Pemberton “Billy” Rowland Sr., co-founder with his brother Willard Rowland Jr., of Rowland Brothers Seed Company which operated out of their farm near what is now South First Street; artisans including blacksmiths like Joe Clements (b 1830) who made horseshoes near where Central Park now stands; cabinetmakers like Charles Ransom Shook Sr.(b 1840), son-in-law to Henry Clay Shook whose workshop was located at Fourth Street between Washington Avenue and Commerce Street; jewelers like Augustus Hines Ward Sr.(b 1840), son-in-law to Louis Hines Ward whose store was located at Fifth Street between Washington Avenue and Commerce Street while marblecutters like James Meeks worked on building facades along Main Street.[1]

Brownsville prospered during its early years due to its strategic location along major transportation routes connecting East Texas with California via Eagle Pass or San Antonio via Sweeny's Ferry Crossing.[2] The arrival of railroads played an important role in this growth – first came the Galveston & Houston Railroad which reached Brownsville from Galveston Bay via Houston in 1875,[3] followed by Union Pacific Railroad which reached Brownsville from El Paso via Fort Worth two years later.[4] These railroads made it possible for farmers living east of Dallas/ Fort Worth to sell their crops directly to markets across North America without having to go through intermediate ports like Corpus Christi or New Orleans.[5]

As commercial activity increased within downtown Brownsville new businesses were born – among them were banks like National City Bank[6], Western Union Telegraph Company,[7], J&M Coffee Roasters,[8], Woolworth's[9], Sears Roebuck & Co.[10], Montgomery Ward & Co.[11], Kress Department Store[12], Maxey Brothers Grocery[13]; insurance companies including Lloyd's Of London,[14]; real estate firms including Realty Investment Corporation,[15]; hotels including Hotel del Norte,[16]; restaurants including Ben Franklin Restaurant[17]and El Tiempo Cantina [18].

The city also saw rapid growth during its early days due to immigration – among those arriving were Irish immigrants working on construction projects related to railroads or farming while Germans settled primarily around South First Street near present day IH 35E junction while Mexican Americans began arriving soon thereafter working on ranches or entering domestic service.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] By 1910 there were over 50 different ethnic groups living within present day Brownsville making it oneofthe most diverse cities in North America – this diversity has been instrumental in sustaining economic prosperity throughoutits history despite periodic economic downturns caused by factors outside its control such as world wars or natural disasters).[28]

Today, Downtown Brownsville remains an important commercial center with numerous businesses still operating outof original buildings dating backto whenthe citywas foundedincluding: J&M Coffee Roasters(established 1888), Montgomery Ward(established 1886), Maxey Brothers Grocery(established 1898), Woolworth's(opened 1902), Realty Investment Corporation(established 1936)[29],[30],[31],[32],[33],[34],[35],[36],[37 ], Hotel del Norte(opened 1923)[38 ], Ben Franklin Restaurant(opened 1929)[39 ], El Tiempo Cantina(opened 1951)[40 ]and numerous other small businesses cateringto local residentsand tourists alikeincluding: tattoo parlors,[41 ], hair salons,[42 ], bookstores:[43 ][44 ][45 ][46 ][47 ][48 ]and antique stores:[49 ].