History of Corpus Christi
It is said that Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda came upon a rich semi-tropical bay, along what is known today as Texas’ southern coast, on the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi in 1519. The bay, and ultimately the city that was later instituted in the area, was named for that day of celebration.
Current-day Corpus Christi was founded more than three centuries later in 1838-1839 by Colonel Henry Lawrence Kinney. It was established as a frontier trading post, known as Kinney’s Trading Post or Kinney’s Ranch. The area remained relatively unknown until the arrival of U.S. troops, under guidance of General Zachary Taylor, in July of 1845. The troops set up camp in preparation for war with Mexico and stayed until heading south to the Rio Grande in March of 1846.
One year later, the city decided to take on the name of Corpus Christi for postal reasons and was designated the county seat of the newly formed Nueces County. Corpus Christi expanded greatly, thanks to the discovery of gold in California, and was eventually incorporated on September 9, 1852.
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