San Ygnacio Historic District
Also known as: See also:Trevino--Uribe Rancho NHL
Why it's listed
San Ygnacio is a small Rio Grande community in Zapata County, Texas, whose historic core is bounded by the river, U.S. Highway 85, Mina Street and Matamoros Street. Jesus Trevino founded it in 1830 by building a small stone residence, and settlement continued through the end of the century. Most buildings are square hewn sandstone blocks with plastered exteriors, and many early houses have flat roofs of beams, decking and caliche. Large cooking chimneys are common. Notable examples include the 1873 Delfino Lozano House, the Jesus Trevino House complex with its 1851 sundial and stone gargoyles, and the 1887 Manuel Benavides Trevino House with its carved cornice and original grilles. The district was recognized because it is the last south Texas community preserving a large group of 19th century sandstone buildings, reflecting Spanish and Mexican building traditions and a close link to the older settlement at Revilla. Most buildings remain private residences.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that San Ygnacio is the last south Texas community with a large number of the once numerous sandstone structures of the middle and late 19th century. Its thirty-six inventoried buildings show a vernacular style with Spanish and Mexican influence. It is described as an intact community that expresses its total 19th century development, closely related in style and period to structures at Revilla.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001988, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Town of San Ygnacio, San Ygnacio |
|---|---|
| County | Zapata County |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001988 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Spanish/Mexican influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most buildings are still used as residences; condition is marked good and unaltered, on the original site. |
| Acreage | 294.5 |
| Coordinates | 27.04586, -99.44310 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001988.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999624
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.