• 1519 Alonso de Piñeda sailed his ships into and spent 40 days in the Laguna Madre. Reported seeing about forty Indian pueblos below what is now Brownsville. 
• 1520 Eight separate attempts were made to populate the Rio de Las Palmas area until 1684 
• 1520 Camargo brought brick, lime and masons for the purpose of establishing a settlement on the north bank of the river 
• 1523 Francisco Garay arrived in harbor St. James Day (July 25th) and named the harbor Brazos de Santiago, a name which it still holds. He also established what would be the first organized government (local) in the U.S. 
• 1524-1527? After Garay's death Hernan Cortes organized three separate attempts to colonize the area of Point Isabel 
• 1528 Sancho de Cañiedo made another failed attempt to colonize this area 
• 1553 Wreck of the great Spanish fleet, which cast about 300 survivors on the shore of South Padre Island. All were killed by native Karankawa Indians, only two survived to tell the story. 
• 1682 Spanish pirate Peñalosa collaborated with French to propose a settlement at the mouth of the Rio Grande. They departed New Orleans but reached no further than Galveston in 1684 
• 1765 Official confirmation of Land Grant of "La Isla de la Laguna" and las tierras de Azataranas on November 24. 
• 1795 Jose Nicolas Balli, inherits "La Isla de Santiago" along with the ranch of "Atazaranas" from his father, will dated August 9. It appears "Atazaranas" was located across the lagoon, either on the mainland or on Brazos Island. 
• 1820 Brazos Santiago was known as a Mexican port of entry as early as 1820 according to Matamoros customs archives.
• 1823 Fishing Village of El Fronton de Santa Isabel established. 
• 1823 When Matamoros was established, and there was still no steamship traffic, goods were shipped through Brazos de Santiago to Matamoros over land or up the Boca Chica beach and upriver. 
• 1828 On June 6, a survey of Padre Island was completed by Domingo de la Fuente by order of governor of Tamaulipas, Vital Fernandez 
• 1829 Rafael Garcia and Family known to have inhabited the area since 1826, a resident of Matamoros, applies for over seven leagues of land known as the Santa Isabel headland. Applied 1827, surveyed and granted 1828 concession on Mar. 2, 1829 
• 1846 General Taylor's forces arrive Point Isabel on March 27, the settlement is already known as El Fronton and is populated by Mexicans. 
• 1846 Fort Polk established and served as base of supplies for Taylor 1846-1848 
• 1846 "The American Flag" an army newspaper reports on July 21, the appointment of postmaster at Point Isabel. Believed to be the first post office south of Corpus Christi 
• 1847 Simon Mussina established the town of Point Isabel, when he purchased 5/6 of 3 leagues of land including El Fronton de Santa Isabel 
• 1848 Ferry opened between Brazos Santiago and Point Isabel on Feb 21 
• 1850 Town is surveyed as municipality, and platted as the "city of Point Isabel" Feb 25. The platted city lay westward from the headland along the shore of Laguna Madre, and included the area where the Yacht Club and Yacht basic are now located. 
• 1851 Simon Mussina gives up contract to town and the lands revert to daughter of original grantee Rafael Garcia. 
• 1852 Old lighthouse built on site of Fort Polk. Land east of Fort Polk was not included in the original town site. 
• 1852 Point Isabel became less important with the advent of the Kenedy and Company line of steamships. Brazos remained a principle port, but all freight bound for Matamoros traveled by steamship instead of oxcart. 
• 1870 Rio Grande railroad built linking Point Isabel and Brownsville 
• 1870-1904 The "Golden Age" when Point Isabel boomed and attracted millions in commerce from all over the world. 
• 1904 Gulf Coast lines completed, spelled doom ahead for the area when it upset much of the traditional shipping trade. 
• 1908 Charles Champion and James Wells became owners of the Point Isabel town site 
• 1908-1927 Point Isabel patronized mainly by recreation seekers. The only industry was seafood. 
• 1927 Town site sold to Capt. C. R.. Tyrell and associates on August 30. 1930 Name officially changed from Point Isabel to Port Isabel on August 1 

The Port of Port Isabel is one of a select few classified Texas deep water ports and is positioned at the southernmost tip of Texas, 29 miles north of the mouthof the Rio Grand River, within Cameron County,  to serve Mexico, Central and South America. 

Through the Texas Intercoastal Waterway, the Port can serve points as close as Corpus Christi and as far as 
St. Louis and Chicago.

The Port has a mean elevation of 15 feet above sea level and is located :
 

which places it in a semi-arid, subtropical zone with an annual normal mean temperature of 73.6 F. degrees. 

Average rainfall registers 27.62". 

Prevailing winds are south / southeast.

With a controlling depth of 36 feet, the Port's1000 X 1500 foot Turning Basin allows maneuverability for vessels of up to 700 feet in length. 

The Port is situated just 25 minuets from the South Padre Jetties and sea lanes, with no overhead obstructions. 
Waters interface with the Port include Brownsville Ship Channel, the Intercoastal Waterway, Gulf of Mexico and Port Isabel Channel. 
Port Isabel has several deep water channels providing recreational vessel with up to 8' access to private docking .

For recreational Sailors we want to mention that you have to use the Port Channels to avoid the old power line with max.OVHD clearance of 60 feet to get from the ICW to the South Padre Jetties- and if you are already in Port Isabel you can make use of the municipal dock in the fingers to stay a week for free and fill up on provision before you cruise into the Golf. 
Supermarket are in walking distance and Taxi fare is $ 3,- flat for within Port Isabel city limits. Make use of this wonderful opportunity to see Port Isabel, shop Port Isabel and lodge in Port Isabel .