Laredo
Laredo is a city located in the county of Webb, Texas. The city is located on the north coast of Rio Grande. Laredo has a population of 236 091 people, making it the third most populous city in the region on the border of the United States and Mexico.
The city covers an area of two hundred and six square kilometres. Laredo is located east of the Mexican mountains. Near Laredo are large water areas. This incudes Lake Casa Blanca, which covers seven square kilometres. Among the streams crossing the city are Chacon Creek, San Ygnacio Creek, Santa Isabel Creek, Zacate Creek, which flow into the Rio Grande River. Among the several water reservoirs, is Lake Creek and San Ildefonso Creek Lake.
Laredo city was founded in 1755 as a villa. Gradually, the area grew into a city of the Republic of Rio Grande. Villa San Agustin de Laredo was built by Don Tomas Sanchez, when the region was part of Nuevo Santander region in the Spanish colony of New Spain.
Villa San Agustin de Laredo was named after the city of Laredo in Cantabria, Spain and in honour of St. Augustin. In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, the town was occupied by the Texas Rangers. After the war, the town was sold to the United States. The city had a referendum to remain under the control of the U.S. military government.
This was rejected and the majority of the population crossed the river and ended up in Mexican territory, where they founded the city of Nuevo Laredo. In 1849, military forces founded Fort McIntosh. Laredo had been recognized as a city in 1852. The city has become an inspiration for the creation of a cowboy ballad "Streets of Laredo", which was very popular in the late nineteenth century.
In the area of the city is Laredo International Airport. The city boasts two professional sports teams - Bucks and Heat. Today, the city has four international bridges and one railway bridge.
The biggest festival that is held in the city is for celebrating the birthday of Washington. During the festival, thousands of tourists arrive from all over the world, to attend the ceremony. The city also holds the Jalapeno Festival.
