Progreso Lakes

Rancho Santa Mar?a is a mile east of Santa Maria on U.S. Highway 281 in southwestern Cameron County close to the Rio Grande. The ranch was located in the La Feria grant, which was given to Capt. Jos? Mar?a Ball? by the King of Spain and inherited by his wife, Rosa Mar?a Hinojosa de Ball? , upon his death. The survey was completed in 1790. In 1845 William Neale bought land from Francisco Ball? Trevi?o for $800 and established his ranch, which he called Buena Vista. It became the second largest settlement in Cameron County. It was located at the Bolsa Bend of the Rio Grande and included the Baston Ranch and the Santa Mar?a. Because of flooding, the ranch headquarters was moved a half mile west to high ground at the banco ( see ??BANCOS OF THE RIO GRANDE ), and the buildings and corral were rebuilt. Neale established a general store and drew trade from both sides of the river. His best customer was Lipan Indian chief Palomo Blanco. In 1859 Juan N. Cortina and his men burned and destroyed everything on the ranch; Neale filed a claim for $33,733. The ranch headquarters at Santa Mar?a was probably not rebuilt. In 1870 L. J. Hynes acquired 7,500 acres in this area and built brick buildings on the west side of the banco at the present location of Rancho Santa Mar?a. The adobe bricks were made on the ranch. Hynes operated the telegraph for the army unit stationed west of the ranch headquarters. He also had a general store and stagecoach stop. In 1880 he donated land for a mission church, which is still standing and has a historical marker placed by the Daughters of American Colonists qv