Mico, Texas facts for kids
Mico is a small community in Medina County, Texas, United States. It is not a city with its own government, but rather an "unincorporated community." Mico is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) west of Downtown San Antonio. It is part of the larger San Antonio metropolitan area.
How Mico Began
Mico was originally built as a camp for workers. The Medina Irrigation Company (MICO) created it to house about 1500 Mexican workers and their families. These workers built the Medina Dam. When finished in 1913, this dam was the fourth largest in the United States. Today, the dam is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
The Medina Dam and Lake
The Medina Dam created Lake Medina. This large lake was designed to hold water for irrigation. Irrigation means supplying water to farmland. The lake was meant to water about 60,000 acres of land.
The Medina Irrigation Company was started by Dr. Frederick Stark Pearson. He was an engineer who designed the dam. He also found money for the project by selling shares to investors, mostly from Britain. However, when World War I started, the money stopped flowing. Pearson's company faced problems in 1914 and was eventually sold in 1924. Today, a local water group manages the dam and the lake.
Mico's Name Changes
The town was first called MICO, using the capital letters from the company's name. In 1916, its name changed to Medina Lake. But in 1923, the community went back to being called Mico.
Life in Mico Today
Today, Mico has a group of volunteers who help manage the community. It also has a Volunteer Fire Department, made up of people who volunteer their time to help keep everyone safe. Visitors to Mico can enjoy staying at a local bed and breakfast.
