Penitas Real Estate for Sale 

In South Texas, there are traces of Spanish presence dating back all the way to 1520. Penitas is located right on the Rio Grande, about 13 miles west of McAllen in the southwestern Hidalgo County and around the nearby port of Brazos Santiago on Brazos Island on the Texas coast near the mouth of the Rio Grande River.

Penitas History

Local tradition claims that the Town of Penitas was founded by Fray Zamora and five Spanish officers and their slaves, who were survivors of the Panfilo de Narvaez expedition and shipwreck of 1520. This expedition was formed to arrest the conqueror of Mexico, Hernando Cortez, who was accused of being a traitor against the King of Spain. The expedition did not succeed after Narvaez and his men lost in battle and were imprisoned by Cortez. The tradition has been passed down by the inhabitants of the town and claims that Fray Zamora and his five officers became friends with the local Calero Indians and settled in the site, which was the founding moment of the town of Penitas. 

Penitas means “little stones.” The Spaniards then built stone houses and Fray Zamora traveled to Mexico City to secure a proper title to the land. Today, there is a historical marker that U.S. Congressman Kika De La Garza dedicated to the site of Penitas, indicating that the tiny village has been inhabited by descendants of the first Spaniards since it was founded in 1520.

By the year 1850, Penitas had several ranches housed within its boundaries. By 1904, the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railways had reached Penitas. Penitas’ population had totaled to approximately 100 people from 1925-1948 and during the 1950s, the town’s population peaked to 300 people before slowly decreasing in the 1960s. The town had a population of over 1,000 people by the year 1992. In 2010, the population increased to 4,400 people and then grew to 7,500 people in the year 2013. 

Living in Penitas

Penitas offers a wide variety of facilities and outdoor activities, including several historical sites and a community park, for your enjoyment. One of the most popular attractions for people in Penitas is the San Juan Ranch Guided Hunts and Tours, which offers a presentation including historical info about the ranch and a tour of the old hunting camp and the modern hunting lodge. You can even catch a glimpse of longhorn steers, feral hogs, deer, javelinas, turkeys, and nilgai!

Learning in Penitas, Texas

Penitas is served by the La Joya Independent School District and additionally, the South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve the Penitas community. The La Joya Independent School District has a peak enrollment of 23,444 students and is one of the fastest growing school districts in Texas with an estimated increase of 1,400 students each year. La Joya has over 30 campuses, twenty three elementary schools, eight middle schools, four alternative education centers, three “Early College” high schools, and three comprehensive high schools. The La Joya Independent School District employs over 4,260 people from all across the Rio Grande Valley and even some from overseas.

Students can participate in a number of activities:

• Athletics
• Fine Arts
• UIL
• Reading Renaissance
• Texas Virtual Classes 

The La Joya Independent School District is an excellent place for your child’s education to begin. There are countless opportunities for students to grow and relish in all of the wealth of knowledge available within the district. If you are planning to move to the city of Penitas, the school district is a feature that is sure to help make your decision to move, an easy one for you and your children to thrive in this exciting community.

Real Estate For Sale In Penitas Texas

There is a lot of variety in the types of real estate for sale in Penitas. The population is growing rapidly because of all that Penitas has to offer its community.

You will see a mixture of commercial and residential properties available for sale. From Spanish-style homes to modern and updated homes, Penitas has it all.  

For buyers looking for rental income property, there are apartment buildings for sale in Penitas, along with single family homes and other multi-family units. 

We are here to help you make your place in this notable community in the Rio Grande Valley. Contact us today for your personal tour and to begin your journey to call Penitas your new home.

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