Near Kingsville in Kleberg County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

King Ranch, C.S.A.

Photographed by Brian Anderson, March 28, 2025

1. King Ranch, C.S.A. Marker

Inscription. A major South Texas way-station on cotton road, lifeline of southern states in the Civil War. Had water, food, mules, oxen and bunks for drivers of wagons hauling cotton to trade for war goods. Also bivouacked Confederate troops in war marches.

Founded 1853 by Capt. Richard King, who by 1861 had - in partnership with Mifflin Kennedy and James Walworth - 20,000 cattle and 3,000 horses. Walworth was a delegate to Texas Secession Convention. In wartime, King managed ranch and salt works on coast, to benefit Texas and the Confederacy. Kenedy ran the partnership's 22 boats from Gulf to Rio Grande City; ferried cotton from Texas to Matamoros, Mex., where it was exchanged for guns, factory goods, ammunition, medicines and coffee, scarce in the Confederacy; and took cotton from Bagdad, Mex., out to ocean vessels riding high seas to dodge the Federal blockade.

King and partners were supply agents for the Rio Grande military sub-district. With concentration of goods here, ranch tempted bandits and was target of Federals seeking to break up cotton road activity and get beef, cotton and horses for their planned Texas conquest. After Federal raids, was patrolled by the Confederate cavalry of Col. John S. (RIP) Ford.

Erected 1965 by Texas State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 2950.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • War, US Civil.

Location. 27° 31.069′ N, 97° 54.571′ W. Marker is near Kingsville, Texas, in Kleberg County. It can be reached from West King Avenue (State Highway 141). This marker is located within the King Ranch and is only visible when taking a ranch tour. The address provided on this listing is for the King Ranch visitor center, which is the only publicly accessible area of the ranch

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and from where all ranch tours depart. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2205 TX-141 West, Kingsville TX 78363, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the American 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Santa Gertrudis (approx. half a mile away); King Ranch Quarter Horses (approx. 0.8 miles away); a different marker also named The King Ranch (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mexican Activities at Santa Gertrudis in the 1830's (approx. 0.9 miles away); Kleberg County (approx. 0.9 miles away); Camp Kingsville, U.S.A. (approx. 0.9 miles away); Texas A&M University-Kingsville (approx. 1.7 miles away); Chamberlain Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kingsville.

Also see . . .
1. Visit Us - King Ranch.

Photographed by Brian Anderson, March 28, 2025

2. King Ranch, C.S.A. Marker

Link to information regarding tours, events, the King Ranch Museum, and Saddle Shop. (Submitted on April 12, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)

2. King Ranch - The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) (Submitted on April 12, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 349 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.