La Joya, Hidalgo County
In 1749, Col. Jose de Escandon founded Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Reynosa. Surveyors marked off over 10,000 acres for Los Ejidos, the town commons, for settlers to farm and ranch. The remaining land bordered each side of the Rio Grande and each of the 80 porciones (allotments) had river access. Besides ranching, Los Ejidos was important commercially as a transfer site for the area's salt trade. The commons mission, San Joaquin del Monte, played a prominent role in Christianizing native tribes and as a school and church for settlers. In 1802, the villa moved due to flooding. Old Reynosa (now Reynosa Diaz) continues to exist, with La Joya, Abram-Perezville and Penitas now existing on the former ejidos. (2010)