History of King Ranch
1847
Richard King arrives in Texas to join Mifflin Kenedy for service during the Mexican War. Richard King also becomes a riverboat Captain.
1852
Richard King travels from Brownsville to attend the first Texas State Fair in Corpus Christi, Texas. He camps on the banks of the Santa Gertrudis Creek and realizes the potential the area offers.
1853
The founding date of Rancho de Santa Gertrudes (King Ranch) with the purchase of Rincon de Santa Gertrudis land grant (15,500 acres) for $300.
1854
The Santa Gertrudis de la Garza land grant (53,000 acres) is purchased. - Entrada de Los Kineños. - Richard King and Henrietta Marie Morse Chamberlain are married in Brownsville.
1867
Captain Richard King begins operating his own saddlery at Santa Gertrudis which would later become the King Ranch Saddle Shop.
1912
Original Main House burns to the ground at Santa Gertrudis.
1915
The new Main Residence is completed. It was designed by the architectural firm of Adams & Adams of San Antonio and furnished by Louis Tiffany & Co.
1920
MONKEY (3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn), foundation sire of the Santa Gertrudis cattle breed, is calved.
1940
The Santa Gertrudis cattle breed is recognized as the first beef breed ever produced in America, and the first world-wide, to be so recognized in over a century by the United States Department of Agriculture.
1946
ASSAULT wins the prestigious Triple Crown. He is the seventh horse to do so in racing history and the only horse from Texas to do so.
1961
King Ranch is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
1998
Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership formed. It becomes the largest citrus provider in the US.
2020
King Ranch partners with the Fertitta family to forge King Ranch Texas Kitchen