Los Ojuelos, Texas facts for kids

Los Ojuelos is a ghost town located in Webb County, Texas, United States. It is near Mirando City. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, leaving behind empty buildings. Los Ojuelos became a ghost town after oil drilling stopped in the area.

History of Los Ojuelos

Los Ojuelos has a long history, starting with its important water source.

Early Settlement Attempts

Long ago, Native American tribes often camped near Los Ojuelos. This was because it had the only reliable water springs in the dry area.

In 1810, a person named Eugenio Gutiérrez tried to settle there. But he had to leave because of frequent attacks from Native Americans. Later, in 1835, Eugenio's son also tried to resettle the area. He too was forced to leave due to attacks.

Protection and Growth

By 1850, things changed. A group of Texas Rangers were stationed at Los Ojuelos. Their job was to protect the important trade route between Laredo and Corpus Christi.

In 1857, José María Guerra, who was Eugenio Gutiérrez's grandson, made the settlement safer. He built an irrigation system to bring water to crops. He also built a wall around Los Ojuelos to protect it from attacks.

By 1860, Los Ojuelos had grown quite a bit, with about 400 people living there.

Changes and Decline

In 1855, a new railroad line, the Texas-Mexican railroad, was built. However, it did not go directly through Los Ojuelos. It passed a few miles away. This meant the town was not directly connected to the new transportation route.

By 1904, the population of Los Ojuelos had dropped to 174 people.

In 1920, oil was discovered nearby. This led to an oil boom in the region. A new town, Mirando City, was established because of the oil. The oil boom helped Los Ojuelos grow for a while. However, by 1950, oil drilling in the area stopped. When the oil industry left, most people also left Los Ojuelos. Today, it remains a ghost town with no permanent residents.

Los Ojuelos on the National Register of Historic Places

Los Ojuelos is recognized as an important historical site. In 1976, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history.

The site is important because it can teach us a lot about the past. It also shows examples of old building styles from the 1800s. These include Mission and Spanish Revival architecture. Some of the important buildings still standing include a religious building, a school, and a special store.