Monte Christo

(2.5 mi. North) One of the towns that sprang up in the Rio Grande Valley in the early 20th century, Monte Christo was platted in 1909 by the Melado Land Co. Among the first settlers were Otto Woods (1882-1956), who managed the townsite, and Virgil Lott (1878-1960), who published a newspaper called "The Hustler". At its height, Monte Christo had a bank, school, railroad station, cotton gin, two hotels, and a population of 1500. Residents began to move away during the bandit raids of 1914-1916. Others left when the water supply proved inadequate. By 1934 Monte Christo was a ghost town. (1985)

Monte Christo is a historical marker in Alton, Hidalgo County, dedicated in 1985. It is one of 138 historical markers documented in Hidalgo County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 221 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 26.3608, -98.3010 near Alton. The nearest cataloged historic site is Moore Field (historical marker), about 2.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include John H. Shary Home, Home of William Jennings Bryan, and Valley Memorial Gardens.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5215004836. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.