Conflict and Commerce on the Rio Grande: Laredo, 1775-1955 (Volume 12)

Canseco-Keck History Series #12

by John A. Adams Jr.

Laredo is a city at the crossroads of North American history. Founded by the Spanish in 1755, it has stood at the intersection of regional commerce since its earliest days. Now, John A. Adams, Jr. provides the first-ever panoramic business and economic history of Laredo. He traces the evolution of the region from its early days as a ranching center into the mid-twentieth century, when Laredo had become what it remains today: a booming port of trade and a principal center of commerce and financial services on the southern border of the United States.

In Commerce and Conflict on the Rio Grande Adams demonstrates how the increasingly diversified economy of the region fed the fortunes of the city. His narrative, buttressed throughout by tables and statistics, paints a vivid mural of both the economic forces and the farsighted and ambitious individuals that combined to bring prosperity to this unique American city. Readers will find a wealth of insights into regional economics, history, and borderlands themes.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2008

About the author

John A. Adams, Jr. received a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in History from Texas A&M. He also completed the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and holds Certified Economic Developer (CED) credentials. Adams was a Captain in the United States Air Force and served as President and CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., which is the only public-private statewide economic development organization in the nation.

Adams served as a delegate to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations in Geneva, an advisor to the World Trade Organization, Chairman of the Industry Sector Advisory council for trade policy review at the U.S. Department of Commerce and has provided Congressional testimony on U.S.-Mexico border infrastructure issues.

He was an Adjunct Professor of International Banking and Finance at Texas A& M International University in Laredo, Texas. Adams is the author of several books on Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets, We Are the Aggies, Softly Call the Muster, Keepers of the Spirit and co-author of Texas Aggies Go To War as well as many other books on international trade, economic development and history.