DEL RIO

city, seat (1885) of Val Verde county, southwestern Texas, U.S. It lies along the Rio Grande, there bridged to Ciudad Acua, Mex., 145 miles (233 km) west of San Antonio. The original Spanish mission of San Felipe del Rio (c. 1675) on the site was destroyed by Indians, but the name survived until 1833, when it was shortened to avoid confusion with San Felipe de Austin. The present community was founded in 1872. Remnants of an old canal system, which carried water from the prolific San Felipe Springs, survive. A port of entry with a busy tourist trade, Del Rio is also a marketing centre for an extensive ranching area. Laughlin Air Force Base lies immediately to the east. The international Amistad Dam with its 84,000-acre (34,000-hectare) lake and recreation area is 12 miles (19 km) upstream. Inc. 1911. Pop. (1991 est.) 31,360.