A latecomer by border standards, Weslaco, platted in 1919, literally reflects real estate development in the Valley. Its acronym town name was derived from the W. E. Stewart Land Company. The platted lots, presented for sale at an all-day auction in December 1919, with cars added as promotional prizes, were sold despite the negative campaign of nearby towns to discourage residents from moving to the new community. The streets are named for midwestern states south of the rail tracks and in Spanish to the north, indicating historic segregation patterns. Architecturally, Weslaco's built heritage documents the professional evolution of R. Newell Waters from eclectic revivalist to modern architect.
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