About Us | City of San Juan, Texas

Our History

The History of San Juan, Texas

Illustration of a person holding a shovel or outside tool.

1767-1850

An old sepia toned photo of-who we believe to be-Maria Balli. She is sitting in a rocking chair, wearing a white dress with a dark skirt. A dark shawl covers her head, drapes down her shoulders and to her sides. The cabin she sits in front of is made of rough wood. In the background is a field with light colored laundry hanging out to dry.

2 Spanish grants given to Narciso Cabazos and Jose Maria Balli, who were likely farmers and ranchers.

1883

Black and white photograph showing a group of men and women standing in front of three early 20th-century automobiles with a vintage passenger train car behind them.

John Closner arrives in RGV as a railroad worker, becomes elected county sheriff and county tax assessor.

Three squiggly lines in top-down orientation.

1895

Black and white photo of an industrial pumping plant with two tall smokestacks, several buildings, and a water canal in front.

The first irrigation system is installed in the area, pumping plant created near the Rio Grande River.

1909

Sepia-toned portrait of John Closner, wearing a suit and tie, seated with one hand resting on his lap and the other on an armrest, against a dark background.

San Juan, Texas is organized by John Closner.
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Estimated Population: 175

Icon of a large building with a flag waving on the roof.

1917 - 1919

A pixelated photo of a two story building that is the first high-school in San Juan, Texas. The architecture is reminiscent of the Palazzo style of buildings found in larger schoolhouses of this time.

San Juan, Texas is incorporated, the first official school house is built, San Juan is titled as a city Feb. 18, 1919 by the city commissioners.

1920 - 1925

Black and white photo of San Juan Hotel, a two-story building with Spanish-style architecture, palm trees in front, and a vintage station wagon parked on the street.

San Juan Motel strategically built between Texas and Mexico. Agricultural businesses thrive. City invests in new water works.
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Estimated Population: 1,200+

Icon of two ascending/descending blue arrow forming a line graph, symbolizing growth or progress.

1945

Community grows to 47 businesses. The largest plant in the south for the manufacture of concrete pipe for irrigation and drainage, citrus and packing houses, shippers equipment manufacturing plant, & iron foundry.

1950

A saturated photo of a gothic style white brick church chapel with a high steeple that reaches toward the sky. A hedge and wrought iron fence surrounds the property that is covered in a lush green lawn.

Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine is constructed.

(Colorized Photo)

Icon of a document or book with an exclamation point beside it

1970

A black and white photo of a partially destroyed gothic style chapel. The roof is missing and only framing is left in poor condition. There are walls intact, although they appear to have soot and burn marks. A different portion of the building appears to be undamaged.
There is a group of firefighters using large streams of fire hose water to put out the remaining fires. There are also groups of people who appear to be assisting with the removal of furniture.

Pilot crashes into the Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine.

Estimated Population: 5,000+

Blue wrench and screwdriver crossed to form an X.

1980

A black and white photo of the rebuilt Church Basilica. A large steeple, twice the height of the building, hangs over the structure complete with a cross on top. The church building has a large open stairway leading up to the entry doors. There is a large vehicle on site as part of the construction activity.

$1.5M are raised to complete the restoration of the 2nd Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine.
74 businesses are reported in the city.

Estimated Population: 7,083