San Vicente, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
San Vicente, Texas
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 San Vicente, Texas
Location in Texas
San Vicente, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Brewster |
| Elevation | 1,896 ft (578 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes |
79834
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| Area code | 432 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1367543 |
San Vicente was a small village in Brewster County, Texas, United States. It was located near a big bend in the Rio Grande river. Today, San Vicente is a ghost town, meaning no one lives there anymore.
The village was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the San Vicente Crossing. This area is now part of Big Bend National Park. From the old village site, you can see amazing views of the Chisos Mountains and the Sierra San Vicente mountains stretching into Northern Mexico.
San Vicente's Spanish Fort
In 1772, the Spanish Empire made new rules for forts, called presidios, in New Spain. These forts were built along the southern edge of the Rio Grande river basin. One of these forts, Presidio de San Vicente, was built in 1773.
Why the Fort Was Built
The fort offered a safe place for Spanish Texas pioneers. These pioneers were people exploring and settling new lands. They used the San Vicente Crossing to cross the Rio Grande.
The fort itself was made of adobe and built in the Pueblo style. It was like a military base, protecting people from attacks by Plains Indians during the Mexican Indian Wars.
How the Fort Helped Spain
The Spanish Presidio helped Spain control new areas in what are now the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. It also made the Spanish missions in Texas stronger. Missions were religious settlements built by the Spanish.
