Editing Roma, Texas (section)

==History==

Roma was established in 1821 in what had been the Spanish province of [[Nuevo Santander]].

Prior to Texas's independence from Mexico in 1836, the town was listed as under the jurisdiction of the town of [[Ciudad Mier|Mier]], Tamaulipas, and prior to [[Mexican independence]] existed under [[Spain|Spanish]] rule.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cityofroma.net/History.htm |title=Untitled Document |access-date=2007-11-04 |archive-date=2007-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103232023/http://www.cityofroma.net/History.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The site offered a convenient crossing on the Rio Grande, which became known as ''El Paso de la Mula'' (Pass of the Mule). The area was notable for a salt trade from the Roma area to Monterrey. The Roma area became the Mexican state of Tamaulipas with the Mexican Constitution of 1824. Texas claimed Roma with the establishment of the [[Republic of Texas]] in 1835, but Mexico continued to control this area. A Texan force sought to take Roma in the [[Mier Expedition]] of 1842, which resulted in the death, capture, or execution of many volunteers.

After the [[Mexican–American War]] established U.S. control over the northern bank of the Rio Grande in 1846, Texas governed Roma. During the [[American Civil War]], the region became wealthy on the cotton trade, which was transshipped via Mexico to Europe. While steamboats were able to access Roma through the mid-19th century, lowering water levels as a result of development upstream ended river shipment by the 1880s. Bypassed by railroads, Roma stagnated and inadvertently preserved itself from development.<ref name="nrhpinv1">{{cite web|url={{NHLS url|id=72001371}}|title=National Historic Landmark Nomination|last=Weitze|first=Karen J. |author2=Corbett, Michael R. |author3=Charleton, James H.|date=April 19, 1993|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=2009-06-18}}</ref>

The [[Roma Historic District|Roma National Historic Landmark District]] contains over 30 structures built before 1900. Some of those buildings include:
* The '''Customs House''' (Casa de Aduanas, in Spanish) is where shippers and brokers came to pay customs fees for imported goods from Europe and Mexico on steamboats.
* The '''John Vale/Noah Cox House''' was built in 1853 by Swedish immigrant John Vale; its front elevation has finely carved sandstone with classical details on the cornice.
* the '''Leocadia Garcia House''', built in the 1840s, served first as a dwelling for José Maria Garcia, husband of Leocadia, and then as a store and dance hall.
* '''Ramirez Hall''' is the two-story home of Lino Ramirez and three generations of the Ramirez family. Built by architect Heinrich Portscheller, who personally laid brick around windows and doors,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uncoveredtexas.com/texas-historical-markers-detail.php?city=Roma&county=Starr&type=&an=5427004174|title=Ramirez Hall|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2016|website=uncoveredtexas.com|publisher=Crowdpoper Media|access-date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124120122/http://www.uncoveredtexas.com/texas-historical-markers-detail.php?city=Roma&county=Starr&type=&an=5427004174|archive-date=January 24, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stxmaps.com/go/texas-historical-marker-ramirez-hall.html|title=Texas Historical Marker - Ramirez Hall|website=www.stxmaps.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth435142/|title=[Historic Marker Application: Ramirez Hall]|first=Texas Historical|last=Commission|date=10 March 1973|website=The Portal to Texas History}}</ref> it was used as fictitious "Rosita's Cantina" in the 1950s film ''[[Viva Zapata]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/brownsville-to-laredo-on-u-s-83-and-mexico-highway-2-2/|title=Brownsville to Laredo on U.S. 83 and Mexico Highway 2|date=1 May 2002|website=Texas Monthly}}</ref>
* The '''Manuel Guerra Building''' is the crown jewel of restored buildings in Roma.
* The '''Néstor Saenz Store''' has direct access to the wharf area, just below Juarez Street, where steamboats anchored.
* The '''Edward Hord Office''' was  built in 1853 for Edward R. Hord, who represented Mexican heirs of original landowners in the area, and during the Civil War, functioned as a military building,
* The '''Filomeno Gongora House''', built from sandstone blocks, was erected around the 1830s, the oldest house in Roma.
* '''Our Lady of Refuge Church''' was built in 1853 by Father [[Pierre Yves Kéralum]] (1817–1872), a carpenter-turned-priest of the Oblates.
* The '''Parish Hall''' housed the convent of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word (1880s–1913) and the Sisters of Mercy (1813–1940).

<!-- already cited  ''For more information, see the article for the [[Roma Historic District]].'' -->