County seat of Hidalgo County 1852-1908 * Known as Edinburgh in 1852 * * Name changed in 1861 to Hidalgo in honor of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, 1753-1811, parish priest who led the movement in 1810 for Mexican independence * * Almost completely washed away by an overflow of the Rio Grande in September, 1887. Erected by the State of Texas 1936