Editing San Benito, Texas (section)

==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2020}}
San Benito is known as the "Resaca City". The Resaca de los Fresnos, {{convert|400|ft|m|abbr=on}} wide, flows through the city. As indicated by its Spanish name, the [[resaca (channel)|''resaca'']] is a dry river bed. It is now the main [[canal]] of a large [[irrigation]] system.

San Benito was at first named "Diaz" in honor of [[Porfirio Díaz]], [[President of Mexico]] at that time. The people in the San Benito area were predominantly of [[Tejano|Mexican ancestry]]. The Anglo settlers came after the completion of the first irrigation system in 1906. Prior to that time, this region was an [[arid]], [[mesquite]]- and [[cactus]]-covered [[Tamaulipan mezquital|wilderness]]. Irrigation water touched off  crop production, supported by the [[railroad]].

On July 4, 1904, the first passenger train arrived at Diaz. To celebrate the coming of the new railroad, the community leaders renamed the railroad station "Bessie", in honor of Bessie Yoakum, whose father, [[Benjamin Franklin Yoakum]], was instrumental in the construction of the railroad.

Some time later, when the town site was surveyed, the name was changed to "San Benito" in honor of Benjamin Hicks. He was a pioneer rancher whose charitable attitude endeared him to the population. The name was suggested by Rafael Moreno, the popular 90-year-old camp cook of the surveying party. Moreno suggested the name "San Benito" for his beloved "Saint Benjamin" Hicks.

San Benito was a village with a moderate number of homes, businesses, churches, and public schools several years before the town was incorporated in 1911. The original map of the townsite was recorded 28 April 1907. The first school was established in 1907 with 48 pupils and Miss Kate Purvis as the teacher. The post office also opened in 1907. San Benito (Benny) Montalvo was born on September 20, 1907, to Ismael and Francisca Esparza Montalvo. On the night he was born, the city of San Benito was having a celebration in honor of its new name. Upon learning of Benny's birth, Col. Sam Robertson suggested to Ismael and Francisca Montalvo to name their new son San Benito, which is how Benny got his name.

In 1927, the city adopted a commission form of government operating under a [[home rule]] charter.

In 1920, when the city was included in the U.S. Census count for the first time, San Benito had become a city of 4,070 people. By 1950, the census count expanded to 13,271. In 1960, the population had grown to 16,422. <!--when?  The present population is estimated at 24,500. -->

The irrigation district was organized in 1906. As a result of the availability of irrigation water, San Benito and all of the Lower [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]] cities came to serve a newly developing agricultural territory.

The original townsite, created in 1911, contained {{convert|1280|acre|ha}}. Since then, a series of annexations has increased the incorporated area to {{convert|4092.17|acre|ha}}.

The mild winter climate in this southmost section of Texas has played a dominant role in the growth of San Benito and the other cities of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Crops grow and flowers bloom year-round. The city has become a hotspot for winter tourists and retired people, providing a substantial percentage of the buying power of this community.