History of Port Mansfield
The origin of Port Mansfield's name is difficult to trace due to the lack of reliable historical records so several different versions exist. I was actually able to find 3 to 4 different versions on the origin of the name Mansfield.
The first version suggests the origin of Port Mansfield's name came from Richard “Dick” Mansfield. Mansfield was a former slave who settled in the area during the 1800s. According to this version, Mansfield was a skilled fisherman who worked as a fishing guide in the area. He was well-respected in the community for his knowledge of the local waters and when the town was established in the early 20th century, it was named after him in honor of his contributions to the local fishing industry.
Another version of the origin of Port Mansfield's name suggests that it was named after a United States Army officer named Richard B. Mansfield. According to this version, Mansfield was stationed at nearby Fort Brown during the 1850s and was involved in surveying and mapping the area. The town was named after him in recognition of his contributions to the development of the region.
A third version says the channel was named after Richard S. Mansfield, a Union general who served during the Civil War and who later became a prominent lawyer and politician in New York. Mansfield never visited Texas, but his name was bestowed on the channel in recognition of his support for the construction of the jetties that helped to stabilize the channel and make it navigable.
All three versions of the origin of Port Mansfield's name are based on historical accounts and oral traditions passed down through generations, however, there is no definitive evidence to confirm either version of the story, and it is possible that the true origin of the name may be lost to history. It is also possible that all three versions of the story are partially true, with elements of each contributing to the name's origin.
The first inhabitants of the area now known as Port Mansfield were the Karankawa Indians, who lived along the Gulf Coast for centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The Karankawa were a nomadic tribe, subsisting on fish, shellfish, and small game, and were known for their fierce resistance to Spanish colonial expansion and being one of the northernmost cannibalistic tribes. Despite their efforts, the Spanish did eventually establish a presence in the region, with a series of missions and settlements dotting the coast throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
It wasn't until the late 19th century that Port Mansfield began to take shape as a settlement. In 1891, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway (later part of the Southern Pacific Railroad) completed a line that ran from Brownsville to Point Isabel, just south of what is now Port Mansfield. The railroad brought new settlers to the area, including a group of fishermen who established a small village near the mouth of the Rio Grande. This village, which became known as Red Fish Landing, was the precursor to Port Mansfield.
In the early years, Red Fish Landing was a thriving fishing community, with boats coming and going all hours of the day and night. The town was situated at the mouth of the Port Mansfield Channel, a narrow waterway that connected the Gulf of Mexico to the Laguna Madre.
Throughout the early 20th century, Port Mansfield continued to grow and develop as a fishing town. In the 1920s and 30s, a number of small businesses sprang up along the waterfront, including fish markets, boatyards, and repair shops. The town also became a popular destination for sports fishermen, drawn to the area's abundant game fish, including redfish, speckled trout, and flounder. Over the years, a number of fishing tournaments were held in Port Mansfield, attracting anglers from all over Texas and beyond.
Despite its relative prosperity, Port Mansfield remained a small and isolated community for much of its history. Access to the town was limited to a single road, which often washed out during heavy rains or was blocked by flooding from the Laguna Madre. In the 1950s and 60s, however, this began to change. In 1954, the Texas Department of Transportation completed a new highway that connected Port Mansfield to Raymondville, about 20 miles to the north. This new road, combined with the increasing popularity of recreational fishing, helped to put Port Mansfield on the map as a tourist destination.
Today, Port Mansfield is a quiet and laid-back community, with a population of just a few hundred residents. The town remains a popular spot for fishermen and boaters, and its location on the Laguna Madre makes it a sportsman's paradise along with other outdoor activities. Despite its small size, Port Mansfield has a rich and fascinating history, shaped by the region's unique geography and the people who have lived there over the years.