The area surrounding the international bridge was used as a river crossing for centuries by Indian tribes because of its shallowness, and later by Spanish conquistadores for its shorter distance between Bahia del Espiritu Santo and Nuevo Leon. Around 1746, Spanish soldiers named the crossing El Paso de Jacinto after their leader Jacinto de León. In 1755 Tomás Sánchez established a ranch two leagues from El Paso de Jacinto. The area flourished and by 1757, the town of Laredo was established with 185 residents. The origins of the crossing are also seen in its references as El Paso de los Indios, El Paso del Indio, and “Old Indian Crossing.” Traditionally river crossings were by chalán (canoe), but in 1767 the viceroy granted Laredo ferry privileges. A ferry was placed on common property, so that Laredo residents did not pay crossing charges, while visitors were charged two reales per person and one real per freight package. In later years conflict arose over who had the right to transport people and goods. In 1880, a series of lawsuits and land disputes were resolved when the Texas supreme court decided in favor of city ownership. The era of foot crossings, chalanes and ferries slowly came to an end with the erection of an international bridge. On May 12, 1883, the city passed an ordinance granting C.M. MacDonnell the right to construct a bridge across the Rio Grande, and in 1884 the U.S. House of Representatives approved creation of the International Bridge and Tramway Company. The bridge opened on April 6, 1889 and in 1946 the city purchased the American end. By 2011 the city owned and operated the American side of four bridges.