City of Del Rio

Duane's take

The way the marker at Del Rio tells it, here's what the record shows. Del Rio was selected as the Val Verde County seat when the county was organized in 1885. That was the official word.

The seat of power, right there on the river. But here's the thing about power in a young Texas town: havin' it on paper and buildin' a government around it are two very different matters. It would be another twenty years before the first city government was established.

Twenty years. The county seat, waiting on itself. In 1905, city residents finally voted to incorporate, and a man named James McLymont was elected the first mayor.

First mayor of Del Rio. That's a name worth sayin' out loud. Now, records from the early 1900s are scarce, the marker is honest about that, but what indications do exist suggest that Del Rio unincorporated after 1906.

Just like that. Gone. Which means the story wasn't over.

It was barely started. Come November of 1911, voters went back to the polls and elected to incorporate again, this time under the city commission form of government. They weren't done refinin' things either.

A home rule charter was adopted in 1918, giving the city greater flexibility in governing. The commission held on for decades after that, all the way until a 1967 election set up a council-manager system of government for Del Rio. From a county seat without a city government, to a first mayor, to unincorporated and back again, to home rule, to a whole new system entirely.

Del Rio didn't just grow into its government. It kept choosing one.

What the marker says

City of Del Rio Del Rio was selected as Val Verde County seat when the county was organized in 1885, but it was another 20 years before the first city government was established. In 1905, city residents voted to incorporate, and James McLymont was elected first mayor. Although records from the early 1900s are scarce, there are indications that Del Rio unincorporated after 1906. In November 1911, voters elected to incorporate again under the city commission form of government. A home rule charter was adopted in 1918, allowing for greater flexibility in governing. The city commission remained in place until a 1967 election set up a council-manager system of government for Del Rio. (2002)