Timeline
1824
Richard King is born in NYC.
1847
Richard King arrives in Texas to join Mifflin Kenedy for service during the Mexican War.
1853
Rancho de Santa Gertrudis (King Ranch) is founded with the purchase of the Rincon de Santa Gertrudis land grant.
1869
The first Rancho de Santa Gertrudis’ cattle drive to Northern markets.
1886
Henrietta King asks Robert Justus Kleberg (Sr.) to manage the Ranch’s affairs and he marries Alice Gertrudis King.
1891
The first dipping vats developed with cooperation from the U.S. Bureau of Animal Industry to rid cattle of the Texas Fever tick.
1899
The area's first successful artesian well drilled, speeding the development of agriculture, railroad construction and small communities.
1912-1915
The present Main House is constructed.
1915
The first mechanized attempts at pasture improvement initiated on the Ranch.
1920
Monkey (3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn) the foundation sire for Santa Gertrudis is calved.
1933
King Ranch net wire fencing is developed as an innovative fencing method.
1935
The root plow invented and put to use of the Ranch to reclaim land from ever-encroaching brush.
1938
Begin adding minerals and vitamins to cattle diets.
1940
The Santa Gertrudis breed recognized by the U.S. Dept of Agriculture as first beef breed ever produced in America and the first new breed in over 100 years.
1943
Thoroughbred ASSAULT foaled on the Ranch; in 1946 ASSAULT wins the Triple Crown.
1951
The Twin D-8 caterpillar invented, allowing heavy brush growth to be grubbed and land plowed and seeded, all at the same time, with a single operator.
1961
King Ranch designated a National Historic Landmark.
1974
Quarter horse PEPPY SAN BADGER foaled; he would become the all-time leading sire of NCHA cutting horses.
1994
King Ranch Santa Cruz, cross-breed cattle, developed to meet modern consumer's beef expectations.
1994
Cattle sorting facility using air pressure to sort 500 head of cattle per hour invented on the Ranch.
1998
Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership formed. It becomes the largest citrus provider in the US.
2003
King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management established.