Del Rio [key], city (2020 pop. 34,673), seat of Val Verde co., W Tex., on the Rio Grande opposite Ciudad Acuña, Mexico; founded 1868, inc. 1911. It is the marketing and distribution center for a region known for its sheep, wool, and mohair. Irrigated farms also yield truck crops and fruits (especially grapes). Its bridge to Mexico has made Del Rio important in tourist traffic and in importing from Mexican factories (see maquiladoras). Laughlin Air Force Base is to the east. The spectacular S-shaped International Amistad (Friendship) Dam and its lake on the Rio Grande are 12 mi (19 km) northeast. Del Rio suffered disastrous floods in Aug., 1998.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Political Geography
