Historic Laredo

Laredo was transformed from a villa to a
booming “gateway” city with the arrival of the
railroads in 1881, becoming a major trade thoroughfare
between the U.S. and Mexico. The city’s
population tripled from 3,521 in 1880 to 11,319
in 1890 as emigrants from Europe and all parts of
the U.S. moved to Laredo seeking employment
and business opportunities.
The 1890 city map shows an expanded town
plan with twenty-three plazas. All of the ejido
land was subdivided into blocks, creating the
eastern and western divisions with Zacate Creek
being the point of division.
The automobile spurred expansion of Laredo’s
residential areas. In 1921, Laredoans voted bonds to
pave 104 blocks of streets. One of the first developments
outside ejido boundaries was Calton Gardens,
north of the City, platted in 1926. South Laredo
neighborhoods of Montrose, Chacon, and Santo
Niño developed within ejido lands. Sometime after
1935, San Bernardo Avenue replaced Santa Maria
Avenue as the road to San Antonio. Tourist camps,
restaurants, auto repair shops, and filling stations
lined the avenue to accommodate the auto tourist.
With the establishment of the Laredo Air Base
by the U.S. Army on 1,500 acres during World
War II, the city expanded northward. To meet the
demands of the post-war boom, the City created
the Planning Commission charged with developing
a master plan for city development in 1956.
The Commission was also charged with exercising
control over platting and making recommendations
to the Council for a zoning plan. In 1964,
the Commission’s name was changed to the
Planning and Zoning Commission.
To implement growth and development based
on modern planning principles, the City established
a Planning Department in 1979. In 1980, a
Land Development Ordinance was adopted by the
City Council, providing for subdivision regulations.
A Zoning Ordinance was adopted in 1983. In
1991, the City’s Comprehensive Plan, which was
adopted in 1965, was amended. At the same time,
the Major Thoroughfare Plan and the Future Land
Use Plan were adopted. These plans established
policies toward growth, development and the provision
of public facilities and services through the
2010-planning horizon.
Today, the Planning Department is recognized
for its binational planning process. The Urban
Plan of Los Dos Laredos incorporates the elements
of land use and transportation while defining joint
planning goals which include environmental protection,
development of tourism, alleviation of
traffic congestion, historical and cultural preservation
and facilitation of international commerce.
In its 245-year history, Laredo has undergone a
metamorphosis from a small Spanish villa to the
largest inland port in the United States. Today, the
task of guiding Laredo’s fast paced development,
meeting transportation infrastructure demands,
and revitalizing the city’s historic core is lead by
Elizabeth G. Flores. Flores, who made her mark in
history as the city’s first woman mayor in 1998,
continues the city’s tradition of strong leadership
and individual character.
✧
Top: Laredo’s first woman mayor,
Elizabeth G. Flores.
PHOTO COURTESY CALEB BOLCH, AVALON
STUDIOS.
Below: A perspective map of
Laredo, 1890.
Sharing the Heritage ✦ 93