Raymondville, the county seat of Willacy County, is at the intersection of State Highways 186 and 448 and is bordered on the east by U.S. Highway 77; the community is twenty-two miles west of Port Mansfield on the Missouri Pacific line in the center of the county.
Edward Burleson Raymond. Founder of Raymondville. Born in a log house on Congress Avenue, Austin, son of Republic of Texas lawyer and newspaperman N. C. Raymond and wife Lucinda (Riggs), E. B. Raymond came on horseback to South Texas in 1870.
After herding cattle trail to Kansas, he was hired in 1874 by Richard King to open El Sauz Ranch and managed King-Kenedy interests for 37 years.
He also developed his own ranch, married Juanita Rodriguez, and was the father of two sons, Fred N. and Edward Charles.
He was made postmaster when El Sauz Post Office was created in 1893.
He was a school official and served as a commissioner of Cameron County from 1898 to 1910.
He joined other ranchers in deeding the right of way for the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway and donated a station site near his Las Majadas Ranch.
Railway officials named the station in his honor.
In 1904, the year rail service was formally inaugurated on July 4th, he organized Raymond Town & Improvement Co.; in 1907, he became president of the town's first bank, set up a telephone exchange, and built a cotton gin.
Raymondville, a town with a rich history, became the county seat of Willacy County in 1921.
This was a significant milestone for the town, as it marked the establishment of Raymondville as the county's administrative center.
Willacy County was formed in 1911 with Sarita as the county seat.
In 1921, Willacy County was reorganized, as Kenedy County was formed from the northern portion of Willacy County.
Sarita was in this northern portion.
This transition not only changed the geographical landscape but also symbolized the growth and development of Raymondville, a testament to the vision and efforts of its founder, Edward Burleson Raymond.
Raymondville, Texas, in Willacy County, was once known as the "breath of the nation."
But there was a fouler situation than most folks realized. Behind the scenes, there were racial, social, and economic divides too wide for any non-Anglo to cross.
The Anglo landowners and city officials took advantage of the poor and undereducated Hispanics who had virtually no representation in the city government.
The injustice to the Hispanic community over unfair wages in the onion fields that had been taking place for decades sprouted resistance in the Hispanic community.
This unity of the Hispanic community inspired them to challenge the farm owners for fair wages.
This finally resulted in the Onion Strike of 1979.
The onion strike ended in disaster and made a rift in the entire community that may have lasted for decades.
Raymondville, Texas, was once the onion capital of the world.
Anglo farm owners relied heavily on poor Hispanic migrant workers.
This largest onion-producing region in the world had one of the most improvised labor communities in the country.
Examples of farm owners in Raymondville taking advantage of low-income people happened before the onion strike in 1979.
Raymondville was the first city in Texas history to have peonage cases brought against it.
People experiencing poverty were the primary target of this practice when there was a "worker shortage."
Mexican/Hispanic, African Americans and poor Anglos were charged with vagrancy, and the "friendly farmer" Anglo landowners would pay their fines to force them into working off their debt under the watch of an armed guard.
The federal government investigated and found over 400 vagrancy cases filed in the Raymondville court.
As stated earlier, decades later, on April 4th, 1979, farm workers left their jobs on one of the largest agricultural farms in south Texas.
A large strike, which was even depicted in a movie, made the Hispanic community aware and vigilant that it was time for their voices to be heard and for them to have representation in local politics.
Many believed that if the Hispanic community could gain a political voice, they could improve their economic lives, improving the social status of the Hispanics.
So, they took to the streets and organized marches.
Hispanic organizers encouraged the local Hispanics to vote, which most should have done.
The strike ended in tragedy for the Raymondville Hispanic workers.
Before almost reaching a deal for higher wages, a large landowner from McAllen ended the strike by buying all the produce in the fields and bringing in his laborers to pick the crops.
Not only did the people of Raymondville lose the strike, but they lost their only source of income.
This was a devastating loss to the local people of Raymondville, and some were forced to migrate to other states to seek jobs in the fields.
Unfortunately, some of the families never returned.
They lost both the strike and their jobs to workers who were sourced from outside the town.
However, losing the battle for better wages in the fields did not mean that the Mexican Americans lost the war of seeking a better economic status and social justice.
Soon after the Mexican Americans in the community began to enter the political arena, they sought equality for themselves.
Today, all is well, and now Hispanics are involved in every aspect of local government and own most of the small businesses around town.
Thanks to the efforts of the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce, Raymondville is on the move, and new businesses are on the way.
Let's step back in time and celebrate the tremendous legacy of iconic Raymondville businesses that were started in the 20th century; some still exist today and others went the way side....
Rios Boot Shop, Harding Properties, Lumberg Hotel, Addintons, Navarro's Auto Parts, Bob Allen Vegetable Company, Cantu's Meat Market, McDonalds, Ace Harware, Pizza Hut Inn, La Retama Nursing Home, The Tulsa Cafe, Dr. Heins, Lara's Bakery, Hotel Davidson, Max Body Shop, Oscar Cavazos Attny. at Law, Stones, Sanitary Plumbing, KSOX Radio Station, Superette Market, Rhodes Duster Service, Dairy Queen, Diana's, Cisneros Groceries, Fambrough Realty and Insurance, Firestone, H&R Block, Pete Munguia's Barber Shop, Low Insurance, The Ice House, Salazar's Agri-Business, VoLee Cafe & Humble Station, Shaver's Food Srore, R&R Barbecue, HEB Grocery, Bland (Buddy) Puente Attny. at Law Offices, State Bank, Buffo and Berkman Accounting, Walmart, Joe Garza's Mechanic Shop, Juan Guerra Law Offices, The Black Sun, Jeff Rivers Motor Co., First National Bank, Garretts, Brook's Super Market, Kinsey Hair Fashions, Robingson Law Offices, Terry Ferris, Scurlock's Grocery, El Chapparal Grocery Market, Vuittonet Lawn and Garden, Carl Braley Real Estate, Temple Lumber Co., Elias's Store, Stewards Furniture Co., Pierce Floral, Loya Welding, MacManus Foods, Dr Pickard's Veteinary Clinic,Stars Drive Inn, Ralph's Hair Salon, Hanshaw's, Edelstiens Furniture Store, Vuittonet School of Self Defense, Raymondville Hospital, Welch Motor Co., Johnny Western Auto, Oneal's Exxon, Jackson's Feed Store, The American Legion, Remicks Drug, Neece's City Drug, Watson's City Drug, Brown and Haynes, Armando's Boot Company, Hanley's U. S. Tire Store, Caldwell's Nursery, Salazar's Neighborhood Store, Frost Bank, Tide Chemical, J J Dance Land, Hernandez Funeral Home, Bartellie's Filing Station, The Delta Franklin Co., Savage's, Hommel Construction, Investigation Security Observation Group, Inc, Eco-Tech, Dr Garcia's Veteinary Clinic, The White Wing Hotel, JJ's Upholstery, Winns, Gene Smith Studios, Handy Mart, Pena's Tires, Rapp's Jewelry, Leal's Insurance, Eddie's Bike Shop, McMannus Meat Market, Aunt and Uncles, Mark Brown's State Farm, The White Rabbit, Raymondville Golf Course, The Love Inn, The Southern, Vuittonet's Feed and Seed, The Rock Courts, Peeples Sales, The VFW Bldg, , Aunt and Uncle's Restaurant, Hocott Implements, Sun Glow Home Health,The Tall Palms Motel, Fonseca's Meat Market, Chunkies Resteraunt, Raymondville Chronicle, USDA,The White Castel, Vasquez's, Natcho's Barber Shop, Dr. Spence, Deb N' Heir Clothing, Munguia's Barber Shop, The Mecca Restaurant, Villareal's Barber Shop, Edde Vuittonet Private Investigator, Pete's Tires, Federal Butane, La Rosita Home Health, El Rey Theater, Dr. Smith MD Clinic, The Texas Theater, The Corral Drive Inn, The Bearkat, Whimpy's Drive Inn , Portal Electric, Amigos del Valle, Cantu's Printing, Danny's Drive Inn, Arriaga's Building Supply, La Casa Blanca, Bartellie's Filing Station, Guerra's Food & Gas Store, Pinapples Fruit Stand, Dewitt Farms,The Roping Arena, Valley Telephone, Lopez Trucking, Dr. Benavidez Medical Clinic, Chui-Chui a Go-Go Meats, Gloria Garza's Tawkoondo Academy, King Shwayze and Fred Stone Farm Supply, Los Tres Pericos Bar, The Tall Palms Motel, Olga's Grocery and Bar, Su Clinica, Victor's Farm Implement Repair, Victor's Auto Sales, Antoinette Vuittonet RN Nursing, Natchos Cabinet Shop, Alamo Lumber, Dr. Sanchez Clinic, Fred Hernandez Insurance, The Fun Spot, Los Vecinos Adult Day Care, Honey Dew Handy Man Service, Vasquez's Bar, Cissie's School of Dance, Galindo's, Dude's Ice House, Juan Vuittonet Charolais Cattle Co., The Ponderosa Drive Inn, Raymondville Lumber Yard, King's Hardware and Supply, Maverick Convenience Store, Brake Quik, Dr. Sinha's Family Clinic, Dr. Mongommery Davis OD, Villarrel's Bar, Thomas Ranch, Tavo's Salvage, Dr. Spence Clinic, Raymondville Lumber Yard, The King Bee Bar, Florence Farms, Pennington Farms, Wetagrow's, Raul Cisneros Estates, Princess Jewelry, De Leon's, Bland's, Eddie & Edgar Enterprises, Fox Duster Service, Whites Hrdware, Roland Dusters, Harbin Farms, Gilbert's Fried Chicken, Duddlestons, The Vuittonet Ranch, Holland Farms, Carmen Garza's Ranch, Ring Ranch, El Mesquite Cafe, Cherry Wood Store, Alexander's Jewelry, Barnhart's, Vera's Wheel and Axle, Rudy's Brake & Axle, Casteneda's Quick Marts, Alcia's Flower Shop, Ken's Furniture, Dr. Cantu's Clinic, Garza's Drive Thru, El Farolito Cafe and Bar, Kivett's Ford, La Mecca Cafe, Early Bird Home Health, Rodriguez Filing Station, El Canario Bar, The Desperado, The Ramon Hotel, The Ramon Cafe, Gizzar's Auto Glass, Tuff Stuff Furniture,The Rio Theater, Villareal Electric, ISOG, Inc, Alcantar's Electronics, Zamora's Laundry, Dr. Ralph Jackson Optometrist, Dude's Feed and Seed, Lala's Bar, 9 plus 9, and so many more.
Raymondville has a strong Chamber of Commerce that is spearheaded by Elma Chavez, which helps augment and grow the local businesss, as well as, ensures that every local business has an equal level of opportunity to compete and thrive.
These beloved establishments have helped shape the identity of Raymondville.
Whether you're a proud local looking to reconnect with your roots or a history enthusiast eager to explore the rich heritage of Willacy County and Raymondville, come on down and enjoy the memories and traditions of Raymondville and the Willacy community at large.
Edward Burleson Raymond. Founder of Raymondville. Born in a log house on Congress Avenue, Austin, son of Republic of Texas lawyer and newspaperman N. C. Raymond and wife Lucinda (Riggs), E. B. Raymond came on horseback to South Texas in 1870.
After herding cattle trail to Kansas, he was hired in 1874 by Richard King to open El Sauz Ranch and managed King-Kenedy interests for 37 years.
He also developed his own ranch, married Juanita Rodriguez, and was the father of two sons, Fred N. and Edward Charles.
He was made postmaster when El Sauz Post Office was created in 1893.
He was a school official and served as a commissioner of Cameron County from 1898 to 1910.
He joined other ranchers in deeding the right of way for the St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway and donated a station site near his Las Majadas Ranch.
Railway officials named the station in his honor.
In 1904, the year rail service was formally inaugurated on July 4th, he organized Raymond Town & Improvement Co.; in 1907, he became president of the town's first bank, set up a telephone exchange, and built a cotton gin.
Raymondville, a town with a rich history, became the county seat of Willacy County in 1921.
This was a significant milestone for the town, as it marked the establishment of Raymondville as the county's administrative center.
Willacy County was formed in 1911 with Sarita as the county seat.
In 1921, Willacy County was reorganized, as Kenedy County was formed from the northern portion of Willacy County.
Sarita was in this northern portion.
This transition not only changed the geographical landscape but also symbolized the growth and development of Raymondville, a testament to the vision and efforts of its founder, Edward Burleson Raymond.
Raymondville, Texas, in Willacy County, was once known as the "breath of the nation."
But there was a fouler situation than most folks realized. Behind the scenes, there were racial, social, and economic divides too wide for any non-Anglo to cross.
The Anglo landowners and city officials took advantage of the poor and undereducated Hispanics who had virtually no representation in the city government.
The injustice to the Hispanic community over unfair wages in the onion fields that had been taking place for decades sprouted resistance in the Hispanic community.
This unity of the Hispanic community inspired them to challenge the farm owners for fair wages.
This finally resulted in the Onion Strike of 1979.
The onion strike ended in disaster and made a rift in the entire community that may have lasted for decades.
Raymondville, Texas, was once the onion capital of the world.
Anglo farm owners relied heavily on poor Hispanic migrant workers.
This largest onion-producing region in the world had one of the most improvised labor communities in the country.
Examples of farm owners in Raymondville taking advantage of low-income people happened before the onion strike in 1979.
Raymondville was the first city in Texas history to have peonage cases brought against it.
People experiencing poverty were the primary target of this practice when there was a "worker shortage."
Mexican/Hispanic, African Americans and poor Anglos were charged with vagrancy, and the "friendly farmer" Anglo landowners would pay their fines to force them into working off their debt under the watch of an armed guard.
The federal government investigated and found over 400 vagrancy cases filed in the Raymondville court.
As stated earlier, decades later, on April 4th, 1979, farm workers left their jobs on one of the largest agricultural farms in south Texas.
A large strike, which was even depicted in a movie, made the Hispanic community aware and vigilant that it was time for their voices to be heard and for them to have representation in local politics.
Many believed that if the Hispanic community could gain a political voice, they could improve their economic lives, improving the social status of the Hispanics.
So, they took to the streets and organized marches.
Hispanic organizers encouraged the local Hispanics to vote, which most should have done.
The strike ended in tragedy for the Raymondville Hispanic workers.
Before almost reaching a deal for higher wages, a large landowner from McAllen ended the strike by buying all the produce in the fields and bringing in his laborers to pick the crops.
Not only did the people of Raymondville lose the strike, but they lost their only source of income.
This was a devastating loss to the local people of Raymondville, and some were forced to migrate to other states to seek jobs in the fields.
Unfortunately, some of the families never returned.
They lost both the strike and their jobs to workers who were sourced from outside the town.
However, losing the battle for better wages in the fields did not mean that the Mexican Americans lost the war of seeking a better economic status and social justice.
Soon after the Mexican Americans in the community began to enter the political arena, they sought equality for themselves.
Today, all is well, and now Hispanics are involved in every aspect of local government and own most of the small businesses around town.
Thanks to the efforts of the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce, Raymondville is on the move, and new businesses are on the way.
Let's step back in time and celebrate the tremendous legacy of iconic Raymondville businesses that were started in the 20th century; some still exist today and others went the way side....
Rios Boot Shop, Harding Properties, Lumberg Hotel, Addintons, Navarro's Auto Parts, Bob Allen Vegetable Company, Cantu's Meat Market, McDonalds, Ace Harware, Pizza Hut Inn, La Retama Nursing Home, The Tulsa Cafe, Dr. Heins, Lara's Bakery, Hotel Davidson, Max Body Shop, Oscar Cavazos Attny. at Law, Stones, Sanitary Plumbing, KSOX Radio Station, Superette Market, Rhodes Duster Service, Dairy Queen, Diana's, Cisneros Groceries, Fambrough Realty and Insurance, Firestone, H&R Block, Pete Munguia's Barber Shop, Low Insurance, The Ice House, Salazar's Agri-Business, VoLee Cafe & Humble Station, Shaver's Food Srore, R&R Barbecue, HEB Grocery, Bland (Buddy) Puente Attny. at Law Offices, State Bank, Buffo and Berkman Accounting, Walmart, Joe Garza's Mechanic Shop, Juan Guerra Law Offices, The Black Sun, Jeff Rivers Motor Co., First National Bank, Garretts, Brook's Super Market, Kinsey Hair Fashions, Robingson Law Offices, Terry Ferris, Scurlock's Grocery, El Chapparal Grocery Market, Vuittonet Lawn and Garden, Carl Braley Real Estate, Temple Lumber Co., Elias's Store, Stewards Furniture Co., Pierce Floral, Loya Welding, MacManus Foods, Dr Pickard's Veteinary Clinic,Stars Drive Inn, Ralph's Hair Salon, Hanshaw's, Edelstiens Furniture Store, Vuittonet School of Self Defense, Raymondville Hospital, Welch Motor Co., Johnny Western Auto, Oneal's Exxon, Jackson's Feed Store, The American Legion, Remicks Drug, Neece's City Drug, Watson's City Drug, Brown and Haynes, Armando's Boot Company, Hanley's U. S. Tire Store, Caldwell's Nursery, Salazar's Neighborhood Store, Frost Bank, Tide Chemical, J J Dance Land, Hernandez Funeral Home, Bartellie's Filing Station, The Delta Franklin Co., Savage's, Hommel Construction, Investigation Security Observation Group, Inc, Eco-Tech, Dr Garcia's Veteinary Clinic, The White Wing Hotel, JJ's Upholstery, Winns, Gene Smith Studios, Handy Mart, Pena's Tires, Rapp's Jewelry, Leal's Insurance, Eddie's Bike Shop, McMannus Meat Market, Aunt and Uncles, Mark Brown's State Farm, The White Rabbit, Raymondville Golf Course, The Love Inn, The Southern, Vuittonet's Feed and Seed, The Rock Courts, Peeples Sales, The VFW Bldg, , Aunt and Uncle's Restaurant, Hocott Implements, Sun Glow Home Health,The Tall Palms Motel, Fonseca's Meat Market, Chunkies Resteraunt, Raymondville Chronicle, USDA,The White Castel, Vasquez's, Natcho's Barber Shop, Dr. Spence, Deb N' Heir Clothing, Munguia's Barber Shop, The Mecca Restaurant, Villareal's Barber Shop, Edde Vuittonet Private Investigator, Pete's Tires, Federal Butane, La Rosita Home Health, El Rey Theater, Dr. Smith MD Clinic, The Texas Theater, The Corral Drive Inn, The Bearkat, Whimpy's Drive Inn , Portal Electric, Amigos del Valle, Cantu's Printing, Danny's Drive Inn, Arriaga's Building Supply, La Casa Blanca, Bartellie's Filing Station, Guerra's Food & Gas Store, Pinapples Fruit Stand, Dewitt Farms,The Roping Arena, Valley Telephone, Lopez Trucking, Dr. Benavidez Medical Clinic, Chui-Chui a Go-Go Meats, Gloria Garza's Tawkoondo Academy, King Shwayze and Fred Stone Farm Supply, Los Tres Pericos Bar, The Tall Palms Motel, Olga's Grocery and Bar, Su Clinica, Victor's Farm Implement Repair, Victor's Auto Sales, Antoinette Vuittonet RN Nursing, Natchos Cabinet Shop, Alamo Lumber, Dr. Sanchez Clinic, Fred Hernandez Insurance, The Fun Spot, Los Vecinos Adult Day Care, Honey Dew Handy Man Service, Vasquez's Bar, Cissie's School of Dance, Galindo's, Dude's Ice House, Juan Vuittonet Charolais Cattle Co., The Ponderosa Drive Inn, Raymondville Lumber Yard, King's Hardware and Supply, Maverick Convenience Store, Brake Quik, Dr. Sinha's Family Clinic, Dr. Mongommery Davis OD, Villarrel's Bar, Thomas Ranch, Tavo's Salvage, Dr. Spence Clinic, Raymondville Lumber Yard, The King Bee Bar, Florence Farms, Pennington Farms, Wetagrow's, Raul Cisneros Estates, Princess Jewelry, De Leon's, Bland's, Eddie & Edgar Enterprises, Fox Duster Service, Whites Hrdware, Roland Dusters, Harbin Farms, Gilbert's Fried Chicken, Duddlestons, The Vuittonet Ranch, Holland Farms, Carmen Garza's Ranch, Ring Ranch, El Mesquite Cafe, Cherry Wood Store, Alexander's Jewelry, Barnhart's, Vera's Wheel and Axle, Rudy's Brake & Axle, Casteneda's Quick Marts, Alcia's Flower Shop, Ken's Furniture, Dr. Cantu's Clinic, Garza's Drive Thru, El Farolito Cafe and Bar, Kivett's Ford, La Mecca Cafe, Early Bird Home Health, Rodriguez Filing Station, El Canario Bar, The Desperado, The Ramon Hotel, The Ramon Cafe, Gizzar's Auto Glass, Tuff Stuff Furniture,The Rio Theater, Villareal Electric, ISOG, Inc, Alcantar's Electronics, Zamora's Laundry, Dr. Ralph Jackson Optometrist, Dude's Feed and Seed, Lala's Bar, 9 plus 9, and so many more.
Raymondville has a strong Chamber of Commerce that is spearheaded by Elma Chavez, which helps augment and grow the local businesss, as well as, ensures that every local business has an equal level of opportunity to compete and thrive.
These beloved establishments have helped shape the identity of Raymondville.
Whether you're a proud local looking to reconnect with your roots or a history enthusiast eager to explore the rich heritage of Willacy County and Raymondville, come on down and enjoy the memories and traditions of Raymondville and the Willacy community at large.
20th Century Business Startup's
A Brief History of Raymondville, Tx.
Raymondville, Texas - Willacy County - Raymondville.Com
Raymondville.com
