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Hidalgo County is in the souternmost region of Texas, about 40 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The county seat is Edinburg and the largest city is McAllen. Hidalgo county is named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain. In 2002, it wass one of the fastest growing counties in the USA. Because Hidalgo is close to the coast, it isn't as dry as most of the border counties but the only reliable potable water source is the Rio Grande.Hidalgo County was created from Cameron County in 1852 and has had four county seats: Edinburgh, Hidalgo, Hidalgo, Chapin (Edinburg). In 1852, the town of La Habitacion was renamed Edinburgh and became the county seat. Later, the name of the town was changed to Hidalgo. After a severe flood in 1886, the town was moved two miles north. Later, Edinburgh was moved away from the Rio Grande River - the present site and town of Hidalgo. In 1908, the town of Chapin became the county seat. In 1911, Chapins's name was changed to Edinburg. [FamilySearch.org]
Records may be a little sketchy because of the flood in 1886.
This award was won by Peggy Tebbetts