Santa Rita, Texas facts for kids

Santa Rita, Texas, is a fascinating ghost town located near Brownsville in Cameron County, Texas, United States. A ghost town is a place where almost everyone has left, and little or nothing remains of the original settlement. Santa Rita was once a small community that played an important role in the early history of Cameron County.

What Was Santa Rita?

Santa Rita was an early settlement in Texas. It is thought to be one of the first towns in the area named by English-speaking people. This area was first used for ranching in the late 1700s. This was even before the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, was officially started in 1826.

A Brief Time as County Seat

In 1848, Santa Rita was believed to be the very first "government seat" for Cameron County. A government seat, also called a county seat, is the main town where the county government offices are located. This means important decisions for the county were made there. However, Santa Rita's time as the county seat was very short. Just a few months later, Brownsville was chosen instead.

Why People Moved Away

When Brownsville became the new county seat, many people living in Santa Rita decided to move. They packed up and went to Brownsville, which was now the center of activity. Because so many people left, Santa Rita slowly faded away. By the late 1930s, there was almost nothing left of the town.

Santa Rita Today

Today, Santa Rita is no longer a town with people living there. It is now considered a historical site. You can find the area where Santa Rita once stood near a community called Villa Nueva. This area is part of the Rio Grande Valley, located northwest of Brownsville. It serves as a reminder of the early days of settlement in this part of Texas.