Region: Gulf Coast
The railroad reached the area in the 1880s, and Mexican cowboys who brought
cattle herds to the railhead called the site el campo, the camp. When the
cowboys bedded down, they could see the lights of a little village called
Prairie Switch. They said it looked like a "pearl on the prairie." When El Campo
incorporated in 1905, city fathers used the Spanish words in naming city. The
city still refers to itself as pearl of the prairie. Now it is a center for
agriculture (largest rice-producing county in state), oil, gas and
manufacturing.
El Campo is known for its great waterfowl hunting and excellent fishing. The
city boasts a variety of restaurants and is famous for its barbecue.
More than 20 historical murals painted on buildings can be found throughout
the town.