Victoria helped write Texas history
Victoria is the place where Texas history was written and the legendary Texas cattle industry began. It is also one of the state's old, historic cities. The original colony, founded in 1824 by impresario Don Martin de Leon, was named for the first president of Mexico, Don Guadalupe Victoria. The town was established at a site known earlier as Cypress Grove due to the abundant cypress trees growing along the banks of the Guadalupe River.

Victoria was platted by Jose M.J. Carbajal and developed an early importance as a stop on the La Bahia Road, as a stock-raising center, and as a shipping center for the port of Linnville. By 1,834 about 300 people were living in the municipality, which was governed by a Council of Ten Friends from 1824 to 1829 and by four alcaldes from 1828 to 1836.

Though primarily a Mexican settlement, Victorian citizens contributed volunteers, supplies, and arms to the Texas cause in the Texas War for Independence from Mexico. Its superior defensive position on the banks of the Guadalupe induced Sam Houston to order James W. Fannin to retreat there from Goliad in 1836. After Fannin was defeated at the battle of Coleto, however, Victoria was occupied by the Mexican army until the Texas victory at San Jacinto.  

Victoria was incorporated under the Republic of Texas in 1839, making it the second oldest incorporated city in Texas. In August 1840, several citizens were killed in the great Comanche raid that destroyed Linnville. In 1846, the year the post office was established, the town suffered a horrible cholera epidemic. Victoria continued to grow as a trade center, especially as Indianola became an important port of entry for both goods and thousands of immigrants who settled in the area. By 1850 the population was 806, and Victoria had three public houses, a variety of stores, a weekly newspaper, and a courthouse.  

After the civil war, Victoria continued to prosper as an industrial and agricultural center. Telegraph service reached the city in 1870, and local telephone service was established in 1889. A safe and vault company, the only institution of its kind south of Cincinnati, and the Texas Continental Meat Company, established in 1883, were precursors of new techniques. Ranching was the area's first major enterprise with the U.S. Census showing 42,993 beef cattle by 1880 and 75,495 by 1900, One of the first meat packing plants was established in 1869 and by 1900 three banks served the area. The Victoria Advocate, the state's second oldest existing newspaper, first appeared in 1846 and by 1897 was publishing a daily edition.  

During the post-World War II era, Victoria became one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. Its historic industries have contributed to increased prosperity. As a result of increased population reflected in the 1980 Census, Victoria became a standard metropolitan statistical area in 1981.

Victoria has seen rapid growth since its humble beginnings in 1824. Now home to over 60,000 people, the city's origins can still be celebrated by a visit to the historic downtown district.