National Historic Landmark

King Ranch

Kingsville and, Kenedy County, Texas
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
66000820

About this property

The King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States, comprising some 825,000 acres (3,340 km2; 1,289 sq mi). It is mainly a cattle ranch, but has also produced racehorses. The headquarters of the King Ranch are in an office building in Houston, Texas. The ranch itself is located in South Texas between Corpus Christi and Brownsville, adjacent to Kingsville. It was founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King and Gideon K. Lewis. It includes parts of six Texas counties: most of Kleberg, much of Kenedy, and parts of Brooks, Jim Wells, Nueces, and Willacy counties. The ranch consists of four divisions of land: Santa Gertrudis, Laureles, Encino, and Norias. The Santa Gertrudis and Laureles divisions share a short length of border, and the Encino and Norias divisions are both entirely separate. The ranch was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted the ranch in 2019. The King Ranch was one of the first ranches to be added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, because of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 which was signed that same day.

Location

Kingsville and, Kenedy County, Texas
27.52221, -97.90930

Categories

AGRICULTUREEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
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The Community
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Rivers & Rail
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Nearby Historic Sites

Ragland, John B., Mercantile Company Building
Industrial
2.7 mi
King, Henrietta M., High School
Industrial
2.7 mi
Nance-Jones House
Industrial
2.9 mi
Brooks County Courthouse
Industrial
25 mi
Old St. Anthony's Catholic Church
Industrial
26.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Agua Dulce (Frontier Raid 1837)
1837Early Republic
11.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was King Ranch listed on the National Register?

King Ranch was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is King Ranch?

King Ranch is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is King Ranch a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. King Ranch has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for King Ranch?

The period of significance for King Ranch is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near King Ranch?

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