Referred to by many as “The Queen City on the Rio Grande,” Del Rio was founded in 1868 and incorporated in November of 1911. The area grew quickly in the latter part of the 19th century. People were attracted to the wide open spaces, land and water in the region. To this day, over 90 million gallons of natural spring water flow through the area. The Black Seminoles were key members of the community, having stabilized the border town from opposing Natives, who were often involved in raids and battles before, during and shortly after the Civil War.