The Rancheria Grande

Since the earliest Spanish journeys into Texas, explorers encountered the twenty-three Coahuiltecan clan groups that lived in the Ranchería Grande, as soldiers and missionaries traveled to and from the east Texas missions, San Antonio, and La Bahía. The Ranchería Grande was a large commercial center within the vast Tejas Alliance where tribal groups came from all directions to conduct ceremonies, inter-marry, and trade. The appointed Native Governor of the Ranchería Grande, El Cuilón, requested a mission for his people, and the Spanish established the temporary Mission San Xavier de Najerá that was later moved to the San Gabriel River in Milam County. The San Xavier Mission Complex was in existence from 1746 - 1755. The missions were then transferred to the banks of the San Marcos River. During the following years, the Coahuiltecan clans of the Ranchería Grande provided for the safe passage of large herds of Spanish cattle through their land during the American Revolutionary war.

• At least 23 clan groups (nations, tribes) maintained semi-permanent village sites during its period of historical significance (1300-1843).
• While the existence of the Rancheria Grande was well known, its location was only recently determined to be in SE Milam County, as well as in surrounding counties.
• The first Spanish expedition that documented it was in the early 1700’s.
• The Spanish established a camp in the Rancheria Grande that was used for nearly 100 years by travelers of the Camino.