Corpus Christi in Nueces County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Nuecestown
(4 Miles North)
Henry L. Kinney (b. 1914), who founded Corpus Christi, established Nuecestown in 1852 at the location of the first ferry crossing on the Nueces River west of Corpus Christi. He sent agents to Europe, primarily England and Germany, to promote his new settlement. Each immigrant purchased 100 acres of land, a town lot, and 10 head of cattle.
Nuecestown, known locally as "The Motts" because of several clusters of trees, grew to have, in addition to the ferry, a hotel, packery, and one of the county's first cotton gins. A Post Office opened in 1859.
After the Civil War it was a gathering place for cattle drovers in the area herding longhorns to be driven to northern railheads. On Good Friday, March 26, 1875, Mexican bandits entered the region on a raid, causing many Corpus Christi residents to flee. After plundering the Frank Store (3 MI. E), the raiders turned on Nuecestown, looting and burning T.J. Noake's store and Post Office, killing one man, and capturing several hostages. A party of citizens pursued the attackers unsuccessfully, and another man was killed.
When bypassed by the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway about 1905, Nuecestown began to decline. The post office closed in 1927.
Erected 1973 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6327.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 27° 51.343′ N, 97° 35.59′ W. Marker is in Corpus Christi, Texas, in Nueces County. It is on Up River Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11802 Up River Rd, Corpus Christi TX 78410, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Nuecestown Raid (here, next to this marker); Nuecestown Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Nuecestown Schoolhouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hilltop Tuberculosis Sanitorium (approx. 0.6 miles away); Calallen (approx. 2.2 miles away); Old Saint Anthony's Catholic Church (approx. 5.1 miles away); Sie Sind Willkommen (approx. 5.1 miles away); Violet, Texas (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corpus Christi.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 24, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 811 times since then and 136 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 18, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

