Marker Inscription
Padre Island, off the South Texas coast, is named for Padre Jose Nicolas Balli (177?-1829), whose family migrated from Spain in 1569 and became large landowners in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In 1800 Balli applied to King Charles IV of Spain for 11 1/2 leagues of land on the island, and in 1804 started its first settlement, Rancho Santa Cruz. Padre Balli served as collector of finances for all the churches in the Rio Grande Valley and founded the first mission in present Cameron County. Padre Balli's ministry was a great influence on the lives of early South Texas settlers.
About this site
Padre J. Nicolas Balli is a historical marker in Port Isabel, Cameron County, dedicated in 1983. It is one of 116 historical markers documented in Cameron County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 194 historic sites cataloged across the county.
The site sits at 26.0850, -97.1674 near Port Isabel. The nearest cataloged historic site is 1923 Point Isabel Coast Guard Building (historical marker), about 0.8 miles away. Others within a short drive include Brazos Santiago Pass and Brazos Island Military Depot, Brazos Santiago, C.S.A., and Queen Isabel Inn.
This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5061003909. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.
