Zacate Creek

{{Infobox river | name = Zacate Creek | image = Zacate Creek Northern Branch.jpg | image_caption = A northern branch of Zacate Creek | source1_location = [[Laredo, Texas]] | mouth_location = [[Rio Grande]] at [[Laredo, Texas]] | length = {{convert|10|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|423|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|352|ft|m|-1|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = }} '''Zacate Creek''' is inside [[Laredo, Texas]] city limits and runs southwest for {{convert|10|mi}} until it connects to the [[Rio Grande]]. Zacate Creek has several [[ditch]]es leading to it. The terrain surrounding the creek is mostly clay. The vegetation surrounding the creek is mostly made up of [[mesquite]], [[cacti]], and [[grass]]es. Zacate Creek and branches cross several highways in Laredo, Texas among them are: [[Interstate 35]], [[Special routes of U.S. Route 59#Laredo business loop|Business United States Route 59]], [[Texas State Highway Spur 400]], [[Texas State Highway 359]], and [[United States Route 83]].<ref>[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/rbccr Handbook of Texas Online (accessed November 25, 2008)]</ref> The northern branch of the Zacate Creek has a small dam which formed a pond located in Northeast Laredo which is usually filled during storms. The city of Laredo has developed the Zacate Creek Park and the Zacate Creek Greenway, a three mile ({{convert|3|mi|disp=out}}) trail near the creek.<ref>[http://www.texastrails.org/traildetail.cfm?id=923 texastrails.org; Zacate Creek Greenway]</ref>

==Battle of Laredo== During the [[American Civil War]], Laredo was a main route to export cotton to [[Mexico]] on behalf of the [[Confederate States]]. On March 18, 1864, Major [[Alfred Holt]] led a [[Union Army]] detachment of about 200 men from [[Brownsville, Texas]] to destroy 5,000 bales of cotton stacked at the [[San Agustin Cathedral|San Agustín Plaza]]. [[Santos Benavides|Colonel Santos Benavides]] commanded 42 men and repelled three Union attacks at Zacate Creek in what is known as the [[Battle of Laredo]].<ref>[http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fbe47 Handbook of Texas Online; Colonel Santos Benavides (accessed November 25, 2008)]</ref><ref>[http://www.webbheritage.org/waronriograde.htm Webb County Heritage Foundation; War on the Rio Grande]</ref>

==Coordinates== * Source: <small>{{coord|27|32|22.85|N|99|30|00.07|W}}</small> in [[Laredo, Texas]] * Mouth: <small>{{coord|27|29|56.05|N|99|29|39.50|W|}}</small> [[Rio Grande]]

==See also== * [[List of rivers of Texas]] * [[List of tributaries of the Rio Grande]]

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:Tributaries of the Rio Grande]] [[Category:Geography of Laredo, Texas]] [[Category:Rivers of Texas]]