Refugio, TX

Refugio is the seat of Refugio County, on the north bank of the Mission River where US 183, US 77, and State 202 meet. The town’s name reaches back to Nuestra Señora del Refugio Mission, which was moved to the Mission River after an earlier site was attacked in 1793. Refugio later became one of the original counties of the Republic of Texas, though the town was nearly destroyed during the Texas Revolution before rebuilding around its county-seat role. Baseball fans know another piece of the local story: Nolan Ryan was born here. The quick local read is mission history, coastal-plain roads, county government, and a Hall of Fame name.