Nacogdoches

Nacogdoches derives its name from the Caddo tribe that once lived in central East Texas along Banita and LaNana Creeks. Franciscan father Antonio Jesus de Margil established a mission for the Caddo people there in 1716. In 1779, Antonio Gil Y�Barbo founded the puebla of Nacogdoches and built the Stone House, or Stone Fort, the town�s most enduring symbol of European influence. Nacogdoches served as headquarters for one of three administrative districts in Texas under Mexican authority and played a significant role in the Texas Revolution before stabilizing into a predominately rural and agricultural society. Two notable 20th-century developments�the selection of Nacogdoches as the home of Stephen F. Austin State University and the founding of Texas Farm Products, the city�s first major industry�changed the community into a regional education, medical, and commercial center.