Edcouch Real Estate

Edcouch was named in 1927 for Edward Couch, a landowner, political figure and banker in the area. He may or may not have named the site after himself. He did, after all own part of the land, and probably had some influence regarding the moniker.

Mr. Couch was influential in bringing the railway to this part of The Valley. He petitioned the Southern Pacific line to build tracks through his property and into Harlingen, making Edcouch the first new town near this section of the railway.

Once the locomotive lines were established, Mr. Couch got busy advertising the property for sale. He placed full-page ads in local newspapers touting the benefits of buying land in this new town. Irrigation lines were a draw for agricultural pursuits. The proximity to surrounding hamlets like Mercedes, Weslaco (another one of Mr. Couch's endeavors) and Harlingen was also advertised as a benefit. The promise of a good education system, banks, and mercantile rounded out the marketing strategy.

Living in Edcouch

Mr. Couch's efforts paid off nicely. Lots were sold, and the community was off to a running start. Telephone lines were established, connecting people and commerce to neighboring hubs. Within a couple of years of the original auction, there were stores, banks, homes, and a post office in the bustling district.

Side note: Mr. Couch left the area to assume a role as a railway insurance expert with the Texas state government in Austin. This career development came after a faint smudge on his resume regarding misappropriating funds related to one of his banks. Ooops.

New and interesting varieties of produce began springing up in the area. Exotic crops like broccoli and cauliflower took root in The Valley. These new arrivals were not due to local demand, but for buyers in the northeast portion of the U.S.

An offshoot of local crops sent to far-away markets was the need to keep the produce from wilting or spoiling. Make way for ice factories. These were the days before refrigeration was perfected, but there was still a demand for low-temperature rail cars. Ice plants were built to provide massive quantities of ice used to keep fruits and vegetables from spoiling.

Real Estate in Edcouch

Ranches still make up a good part of the real estate in Edcouch. With the agricultural heritage enjoyed by the area, you'll find citrus trees alongside fertile soil ready for commercial crops. If the farm life is not your speed, land that was once used for farming gives room to roam on modern-day estates.

Our neighbor community of Elsa shares the school district with Edcouch. A bond formed long ago with this close town, and unlike friendly rivalries of other surrounding cities, we work together for the betterment of our citizens. The most obvious piece of evidence of this union is found in high school sports. The Edcouch-Elsa school district is a regional contender every year for the top spot.

Contact us today to help you become part of this great community.

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