Now Accepting Input for This Destination!

Use the left menu to submit listings, photos & travel tips.

Port Isabel, Texas is a friendly waterfront senior tourist and retirement town.

Port Isabel TX History

Port Isabel is the oldest city in south Texas. The area was first known to coastal Barrado Indians and to pirates. The Spanish explorer Pineda discovered the area in 1519 while on a mapping expedition of the Gulf shores. Spain established control in the late 1700’s, as ranchers began moving in from Mexico. By the 1830’s, a small settlement called El Fronton de Santa Isabella, served as headquarters for a large Mexican ranch.

Later, the Port Isabel region was under the Republic of Texas and then, the state of Texas. During the United States-Mexican War in 1846, Port Isabel received the wounded from area battles fought between the United States and Mexico and served as an American supply depot for the duration of the war. During the first three years of the Civil War, Port Isabel was a haven for blockade runners due to its proximity to Mexico. Foreign supplies earmarked for the Confederacy were often off-loaded here, causing constant interest from both Union and Confederate naval units. Confederate forces held the area in the early stages of the war, but all the ships in the harbor were destroyed or captured during a Union attack on May 30, 1863.

Port Isabel Texas – Small Town Charm & Tropical Landscapes

Today, senior tourists can still experience the charm and history of Port Isabel, Texas with its brightly colored trees, tropical landscapes and friendly atmosphere.