This favored bit of Texas known today as Victoria County is where the history of Texas began. In 1685 the French explorer, Rene’ Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, arrived and established an outpost near the southeastern tip of present day Victoria County. Nearly 140 years after LaSalle’s arrival, the Republic of Mexico approved Don Martin de Leon’s request to establish a colony on the lower Guadalupe River in 1824. De Leon named it Villa Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Jesus Victoria, commemorating Our Lady of the Guadalupe and the first president of Mexico, a close personal friend of his.
The town was developed around a main street, “la Calle de los Diez Amigos”, which referred to influential men and friends of de Leon. The town was known as Guadalupe Victoria until Texas gained her independence from Mexico in 1836. Since then, it has been known as Victoria. The only way to truly understand the uniqueness of Victoria is to come see it for yourself. Whether you are shopping, dining, or exploring the exciting attractions that are offered, we welcome you to experience the charm of Victoria and the Guadalupe River….where Texas history began!
