Pilares, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pilares, Texas
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 Pilares, Texas
Location in Texas
Pilares, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Presidio |
| Elevation | 3,022 ft (921 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
79854
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| Area code | 432 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1376919 |
Pilares was once a small village in Presidio County, Texas, in the United States. It was located in the western part of Texas, close to the Rio Grande river. This area is known as the Trans-Pecos region. Pilares is now an uninhabited ghost town. From its location, you can see the Chihuahuan Desert and parts of northern Mexico.
Contents
What Was the Presidio de Pilares?
The Presidio de Pilares was a Spanish fort built in 1774. It was also known as El Principe. This fort was located in what is now northern Chihuahua, Mexico. This area was part of New Spain back then.
Why Was the Fort Built?
The Spanish built the Presidio to protect their lands. It acted like a defensive wall against attacks. These attacks came from Native American groups during the Mexican Indian Wars. The fort helped keep the Spanish territory safe.
History of Spanish Forts Along the Rio Grande
In the mid-1700s, Charles III of Spain wanted to learn more about his lands. He sent important people like Marquis of Rubí and José de Gálvez on special trips. They explored and observed the Spanish forts, called presidios, in the northern parts of New Spain.
New Rules for Spanish Forts
On September 10, 1772, the Spanish Empire created new rules. These rules were for all the forts built near the Rio Grande. These forts were in the northern territories of Mexico.
In 1776, the Viceroyalty of New Spain made more changes. They set up new Spanish provinces on the Spanish America frontier. This was part of bigger changes called the Bourbon Reforms. These changes helped Spain control its territories better. The Spanish forts helped develop the land in Chihuahua. They also made the Spanish missions in Texas stronger and safer.
