History of Corpus Christi

& Andy’s Country Kitchen

In the Year 1519

On the Roman Catholic Feast Day of Corpus Christi, Spanish explorer Alonzo Alvarez de Pineda discovered a lush semi-tropical bay (Corpus Christi Bay). The bay took the name of the feast day celebrating the "Body of Christ."

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1800’s

1828

Corpus Christi is known as the Old Indian Trading Grounds.

1821

Mexico gains independence from Spain. The Old Indian Trading Grounds become part of Mexico.

1829

Traders are known to have landed on the coast on the Corpus Christi Bay.  

1836

Texas gains independence from Mexico.  The Old Indian Trading Grounds become part of the Republic of Texas, although the area was claimed by both Texas and Mexico.

1839

Corpus Christi is known as Kinney's Ranch or Kinney's Trading Post which was founded by Henry Kinney.

1840

On January 17, the unrecognized country of the Republic of the Rio Grande claimed the area

south of the Nueces River which included Kinney's Ranch.  On November 6, the Republic of the Rio

Grande collapsed.  Possession of the area returns to the Republic of Texas while Mexico still claimed

the area as its own.

1845

Kinney's Ranch became a major military outpost with the concentration of half the Army under the command of Zachary Taylor.  The United States annexes the Republic of Texas on December 29.  Kinney's Ranch becomes part of the United States of America.

1847

The city took the name Corpus Christi because a “more definite postmark for letters was needed.”

1852

Corpus Christi was incorporated on September 9.  Residents elected a city council and a mayor, Benjamin F. Neal, who served from 1852 to 1855.

1860

Corpus Christi Population: 175 - City, 2,960 - County.

1861

Corpus Christi becomes part of the Confederate States of America.

1862

Henry Kinney was killed in a gunfight in Mexico on March 3, 1862.

1865

Confederate States of America collapses and possession returns to the

United States of America.

1876

A city charter was adopted.

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1900’s

1919

The Hurricane of 1919 almost destroys Corpus Christi.

1920

Population: 10,522 - City, 22,807 - County.

1926

The Port of Corpus Christi opens.

1941

NAS Corpus Christi was commissioned on March 12.

1958

Agueda ‘Agie’ was born in Veracruz, Veracruz Mexico to Zozimo & Graciela Vazquez.

Andy’s Coffee Cove opens for business on Shoreline Drive.  Andy’s and Agie are born in the same year.

1959

The Harbor Bridge opens.

1960

Population: 167,690 - City, 221,573 - County.  Corpus Christi National Airport Opens.

1977

Agueda ‘Agie’ Vasquez moves to the United States

1978

Andy’s moves to 5802 S. Staples – Opens for business as Andy’s Country Kitchen.

1980

Agie marries the love of her life and becomes ‘Mrs. Israel Dominguez.’

1986

Agie becomes a waitress at Andy’s Country Kitchen

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2000's

2000

Population: 277,454 - City.

2003

Corpus Christi is selected as an All-American City.

2008

Agie Dominguez, a favorite waitress at Andy’s for over 20 years, becomes the new owner of Andy’s Country Kitchen.