Nueces County has deep Tejano and Hispanic roots going back centuries

Spanish settlers were in the Corpus Christi area long before Texas became a state. Irish colonists came in the 1820s on land grants from Mexico. After Texas joined the United States, many Mexican-descent families — called Tejanos — stayed. They built ranching communities across the county.

Cotton farming and cattle ranching drew more workers here in the 20th century. Today, about 62 percent of Nueces County residents say they are Hispanic. That long history is still easy to see. It shows up in place names, buildings, food, and local traditions all around the area.