History
Port usage
After its founding, El Copano was a common port used by pirates and smugglers.[2] In 1785, it was officially opened by New Spain Viceroy Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez for entry into Texas. Around this time, a customshouse and freshwater tank were all that could be found on land, but the port was valued. General Juan Almonte described it as the deepest port on the Texas coast during an 1834 inspection for Antonio López de Santa Anna,[2] and it was described as the "safest" on the coast, due to its protection by Copano Reef.[2] Copano was also used by many Irish emigrants from 1828 to 1835, many of whom landed at the port during their trek from New York City to the Irish colony of San Patricio. At least 200 of these settlers died of cholera upon arrival and were buried on Copano Beach.[2]
During the Texas Revolution, the port was used by both the Mexican and Texian armies. General Martín Perfecto de Cos of Mexico, entered at Copano en route to the missions at San Antonio and Goliad in September 1835. It was fortified by the Texians the following month, and used to transport food and supplies until it was captured by Mexican General José de Urrea in March 1836. The Mexicans held on to the port until the end of the war, and used it to obtain reinforcements and send the injured and prisoners to Mexico. At the end of the war, several Mexican vessels, soldiers, and supplies were taken by the "Horse Marines" led by Texian Major Isaac Burton and the Texas Rangers.[2]
Settlement
James Power and business partner James Hewetson were granted the land between the Lavaca River and the Nueces River as empresarios in 1825, to create an Irish and Mexican settlement. However, in 1828, the settlement was restricted to only include the area between the Guadalupe River and Lavaca. Although this restriction was reversed in 1829, land disputes with local citizens and hostilities between the Texians and Mexicans prevented any colonization attempts at Copano.[3]
After signing the Texas Declaration of Independence and winning independence from Mexico, Power established a permanent settlement at Copano in 1836.[4] The house of Joseph E. Plummer is believed to be the first of nearly a dozen homes that had been constructed, using oyster-shell concrete (shellcrete) obtained from Copano Beach. Power was completing a two-story house of his own at the site prior to his death in 1852.[5] A school was built, as was a post office, which was used until 1864. Three wharves were built on the bay front to accommodate traders contributing to the prosperity of the settlement; their primary goods included cotton, hides, and tallow.[2]
Decline
During the American Civil War, Copano continued to flourish, unlike other blockaded Confederate ports, because of its location on a point, which allowed goods to be shipped without being noticed by the Union forces.[2] This came to an end in 1864, when a Union fleet anchored just off Copano, causing the settlers to leave for several days.[2] After several failed attempts to build railroads to Goliad and San Antonio, and trouble maintaining a supply of fresh water, most settlers relocated to Refugio.[2] The abandonment was complete by 1888[4] after a wave of destructive hurricanes.[1]
