THE COLONY

A group of colony people coming from Villa of Guerrero settled on their own and taking risks in the Piedras Negras Passage in April of 1850, but later they decided to add the territory to the top of the Rio Grande Department, that was Villa of Guerrero and before the Sub inspector, Colonel, Juan Manuel Maldonado, the 56 neighbors decided on June 15 of 1850, to request the foundation of the Village, with the name of New Villa of Herrera, in honor of the President of the Republic, Don Jose Joaquin of Herrera, naming by majority of votes to Don Luciano of the Cerda as Mayor and Don Antonio Arredondo in syndical matters , according to the act of foundation of the city, to which they only signed. Being left for history the names of 34 neighbors who signed the act and who officially founded to the today City of Piedras Negras.

Two months later, the military command of the Military Colonies of East decided the establishment of a Military Colony in the Piedras Negras Passage, which was denominated Guerrero’s Military Colony in Piedras Negras, 2º name that Piedras Negras had, establishing it officially August the 14th of that year, leaving to Villa of Herrera totally fused the new Military Colony, under the command of Captain 1º, Jose Maria Andrade.

In August of 1855 the Military Colony was suppresses and the population returns to the civil life when Villa de Piedras Negras was created, 3rd name that the city had; the border Customs of Villa of Guerrero is relocated to Piedras Negras, on August the 26th of that year. At this time Villa de Piedras Negras underwent invasions of texans and filibusters that set fires and sacked the population, in addition to manifold incidents with the Fort Duncan military; the French armed intervention also approached the imperialistic followers that invaded Piedras Negras, that soon were expelled by the loyal forces of President Juárez.

In 1883 the Train arrived with Ferrocarril Internacional Mexicano Company and contributed to the Piedras Negras progress, product of the communication with cities of Texas, Coahuila and the whlole country.

On December 1st 1888, the Village acquires the category of city with the name of Porfirio Diaz, 4th name of the population, in honor of the President of the Republic, General Porfirio Diaz Mori. On September the 10th 1890, the population undergoes its first great flood, that in addition seriously affected Villa de Fuente, then independent city, creating a great chaos and destruction, although without victims, because people could put themselves out of danger in the hills. Villa de Fuente could not surpass to this catastrophe and disappeared like independent city 4 years later. General Porfirio Diaz visited the city that took to its name February the 2nd 1902 and contributed to improve our lifestyle in the railway branch, telegraphic, telephone, agricultural, commercial, mining, industrial and educational.