It was the sight of Spanish exploration and missionary activity and thriving Indian communities, but it wasn't until the early 1800's that Victoria became an official Mexican settlement. In 1824 Don Martin de Leon was given a land grant by the Mexican government which detailed the layout for a town to be built on the eastern bank of the Guadalupe River. The new town was named after the patron saint of Mexico and would be known as Victoria. Victoria's initial population was composed of forty-one Mexican families but soon it would take on the characteristics of a melting pot, attracting settlers from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Ireland, Lebanon and the United States. During the Texas War for Independence from Mexico, Victorian citizens fought valiantly to win freedom from the Mexican government.
Visitors still come to the area to visit famous war sights and memorials.
With their independence won, Victoria was recognized early on as community rich in deep-Southern traditions built on a foundation of wealth from farming and cattle ranching. After the civil war, Victoria continued to prosper as an agricultural and industrial center. In later years, it would make its mark as a financial center, spawning two of Texas' oldest banks. Later, with the discovery of local oil and natural gas deposits along with their growing importance as a source of fuel, Victoria would become a center for the oil and gas industry, an industry that still plays a vital role in Victoria's economy. Victoria has grown quite a bit since its founding in 1824.