Drive down Texas Boulevard on any given day and you will see a city revitalized and restored, seamlessly blending the present with the splendor of days gone by.

The town was named Weslaco, an acronym for W.E. Stewart Land Company. Early settlers came as a result of excursion parties brought from: Chicago, Kansas City and the Midwest. These settlers converted wild brush land into thriving agricultural land irrigated by pump stations and canal systems.

Couch and Reeves auctioned lots for homes and businesses. Soon a park, a bank and a post office appeared, followed by more stores, a movie theater, churches, government buildings and schools. By the late 1920’s, Weslaco stretched north and south along Texas Boulevard from the railroad track and the dirt road now known as Business U.S. 83.

In 1928, architect R. Newell Waters designed the Weslaco City Hall, which included an attached fire station. Waters specialized in design elements from Spanish architecture and, drawing on the area’s history of Spanish settlement, he incorporated those elements into the homes and public buildings throughout the Mid-Valley. The City Hall and fire station remain in use today. Another important structure is the Cortez Hotel, renamed theVilla de Cortez and renovated in 1998, as well as Bugambilias Marketplace, which originally housed a chiropractor and service station.

Today, Weslaco’s Main Street offers much to city dwellers and travelers alike. Come to Weslaco and discover a village of shops, restaurants, and specialty stores! For other exciting Weslaco attractions, visit the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce.

WESLACO IS RICH AND ALIVE!