History of Corpus Christi, Texas facts for kids

Map of Corpus Christi in 1887

Corpus Christi is a city located on the coast of Texas in the United States. It is the main city of Nueces County and also reaches into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties.

In 2000, about 277,454 people lived there, making it one of the largest cities in Texas. The name "Corpus Christi" comes from Latin and means "Body of Christ." This name was given by the Spanish to honor a special religious celebration. The city is sometimes called The Sparkling City by the Sea.

Before it was known as Corpus Christi, the area was called the Old Indian Trading Grounds. As early as 1829, traders used this spot to secretly trade goods with people in Mexico.

Early History and Conflicts

Founding the Trading Post

Corpus Christi was started in 1839 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney. He set up a small trading post called Kinney's Trading Post or Kinney's Ranch. This was just three years after Texas became independent from Mexico. The trading post helped supply a Mexican revolutionary army nearby.

At that time, the area was considered "disputed territory." This means both Texas and Mexico claimed it as their own.

Mexican-American War

In July 1845, United States troops arrived. General Zachary Taylor led these soldiers. They set up camp in Corpus Christi to get ready for a possible war with Mexico. The troops stayed there until March 1846. Then, they marched south to the Rio Grande river. Their goal was to make sure that river became the southern border of the United States.

Civil War in Corpus Christi

During the American Civil War, Texas decided to join the Confederate States of America. In February 1861, people in Corpus Christi voted on this. Most people voted to join the Confederacy. However, many people in the city supported the Union (the North). Some of these people were from the North, and others had fought in the Mexican War.

In August 1862, five Union warships sailed into Corpus Christi Bay. They began to attack the city with their cannons. Stores and houses near the water were easy targets. The attack caused a lot of damage to the town. Many people had left before the battle started. After the fighting, people began to return. The Confederates then took revenge. They took property from people known to support the Union.

Port of Corpus Christi

The Port of Corpus Christi officially opened in 1925. People had been working since 1848 to create a deep-water port here. A deep-water port allows very large ships to come in.

Today, the Port of Corpus Christi is one of the largest ports in the U.S. It is also the deepest port on the Gulf of Mexico that is located inland. The port mainly handles oil and farm products. In 2005, it was ranked as the 47th largest port in the world based on the amount of cargo it moved.

Natural Disasters

Hurricanes

Corpus Christi has been hit by many hurricanes and tropical storms over the years. These powerful storms can cause a lot of damage. Some of the notable ones include:

• 1916 Texas hurricane
• 1919 Florida Keys hurricane
• Hurricane Carla (1961)
• Hurricane Beulah (1967)
• Hurricane Celia (1970)
• Tropical Storm Amelia (1978)
• Hurricane Bret (1999)

Important Dates in History

Early Discoveries and Settlements

• 1519: A Spanish explorer named Alonso Álvarez de Pineda discovered a beautiful bay. He named it Corpus Christi Bay, after a special religious holiday.
• 1828: The area was known as the Old Indian Trading Grounds. Some officials thought Corpus Christi would be a good port, even though there wasn't a city there yet.
• 1821: Mexico became independent from Spain. The Old Indian Trading Grounds became part of Mexico.
• 1829: Traders were known to land on the coast of Corpus Christi Bay. There was no town or city there at the time.
• 1836: Texas became independent from Mexico. The Old Indian Trading Grounds became part of the Republic of Texas. However, both Texas and Mexico still claimed the area.
• 1839: Henry Kinney founded Kinney's Trading Post, also known as Kinney's Ranch.

Growth and Official Recognition

• 1840: For a short time, an unrecognized country called the Republic of the Rio Grande claimed the area. But it soon collapsed, and the land returned to Texas.
• 1845: Kinney's Ranch became an important military base. The United States officially took over Texas in December. Kinney's Ranch then became part of the United States.
• 1847: The settlement officially took the name Corpus Christi. This was done to make it easier to send mail.
• 1852: Corpus Christi officially became a city on September 9. Residents elected their first mayor, Benjamin F. Neal.
• 1860: The U.S. Census showed that Corpus Christi had a population of 175 people.
• 1861: Corpus Christi became part of the Confederate States of America.
• 1865: The Confederate States of America collapsed, and Corpus Christi returned to the United States.
• 1876: The city adopted its own rules for how it would be governed.

20th Century Milestones

After Hurricane Allen, 1980

• 1914: The Rotary Club of Corpus Christi was formed. This group helped a lot with the early development of the city, including the Chamber of Commerce and the Port.
• 1926: The Port of Corpus Christi officially opened, allowing large ships to come and go.
• 1941: Naval Air Station Corpus Christi was officially opened on March 12.
• 1959: The Corpus Christi Harbor Bridge opened, connecting different parts of the city.
• 1980: Hurricane Allen hit the city, causing damage.
• 1985: The Port of Corpus Christi was named a "foreign trade zone." This means it has special rules to encourage international trade.
• 1995: Selena, a very popular Mexican-American pop singer, passed away in Corpus Christi.

21st Century Recognition

• 2003: Corpus Christi was chosen as an All-American City. This award recognizes cities for working together to solve problems and improve their communities.