Dolores, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dolores, Texas
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| Established | 1860 |
| Population
(1990)
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| • Total | 20 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CST) |
| Area code(s) | +1-956 |
| Nearest Airports: Laredo: Laredo International Airport KLRD LRD Nuevo Laredo: Quetzalcoatl International Airport MMNL NLD | |
Dolores is a small community located near the Rio Grande river in western Webb County, Texas, United States. It is close to the city of Laredo. Dolores is known as an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does.
The Story of Dolores
How Dolores Began
Dolores started out as a small Mexican village named San José in 1860. It was a quiet place near the Rio Grande river.
Coal Mining and a New Name
In 1882, a company called Cannel Coal Company opened mines in the area. They found coal along the Rio Grande. To help ship the coal, the company built a railroad called the Rio Grande and Eagle Pass Railroad. The company then renamed the village of San José. They called it Dolores, after the company president's daughter.
Boom and Decline
By 1914, Dolores was a busy place. It had grown quite a bit and was home to about 1,000 people. However, the coal mines eventually closed down in 1939. After the mines closed, many people moved away. The population of Dolores dropped to just 20 people by 1936. It stayed at that number, with 20 residents, according to the 1990 census.
