Realitos

Realitos is on Macho Creek and the Texas-Mexican Railway twelve miles southwest of Benavides in south central Duval County. It was established on the former Santos García Spanish land grant and in 1885 was described as "a settlement, also a ranch." A post office was established there in 1886 with Charles Shaw as postmaster. By 1890 Realitos had a Methodist church, two general stores, and a population of 400. Two years later the population was an estimated 800, and the town supported two churches, a school, two saloons, a cotton gin, and a combination barber and confectioner's shop. During the 1906–07 school year fifty pupils attended the Realitos school.

The town was the local ranching headquarters for Edward C. Lasater, the bitter enemy of Duval County political boss Archer Parr. In 1913 Parr's supporters on the county commissioners' court deprived Realitos of a voting box in its contest with Benavides to choose the county seat of the proposed Pat Dunn County. Voters in Realitos would thus have had to travel to Benavides to cast their ballots. The issue was rendered moot when the legislation establishing Dunn County was ruled unconstitutional on a technicality.

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Martin Donell Kohout | © TSHA

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Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.

Belongs to

Realitos is part of or belongs to the following places:

Currently Exists

Yes

Place type

Realitos is classified as a Town

Location

Latitude: 27.44475760
Longitude: -98.52834710

Has Post Office

Yes

Is Incorporated

No

Population Count, 2021 View more »

84