La Joya offers two distinct points of reference for planning your trip. The town is centrally located on the Caminos del Rio Heritage Corridor, which highlights the history and architecture of this section of the Texas–Mexico border. The Texas Tropical Trail also runs through La Joya between Laredo, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville. The Heritage Corridor focuses on the historical and architectural heritage of this border region, while the three named cities mark the Texas Tropical Trail’s route. This can help you decide whether to view La Joya in terms of the border region’s cultural heritage or the trail’s route.

Landscape and Recreation

The landscape adds a connection to nature to these cultural themes. Fertile farmland along the Rio Grande meets gently rolling terrain and lakes; this setting attracts birds and other native wildlife. Landscape and wildlife therefore feature alongside architecture and border history as themes to consider when planning your trip. Fishing is also one of the activities available to visitors in La Joya, adding a specific recreational pursuit to the nature-focused experience. When weighing your interests, you can consider cultural history, landscapes and wildlife, or fishing as distinct focuses for your stay.

The City of La Joya Parks and Recreation Department manages three municipal parks with a variety of recreational opportunities. Fishing is one specific activity; the parks offer a variety of recreational opportunities.

School and Trade History

Nellie Leo Schunior School has its roots in the one-room schoolhouse in the former settlement of Havana. The term describes the type of school: lessons took place in a school building with just one room. Children from the surrounding area were taught there between 1890 and 1944. A new school was built in La Joya in 1926 and named in honor of Nellie Leo Schunior. The two dates have different roles: 1890 to 1944 is the period during which classes were held at the schoolhouse in Havana; 1926 is the year the new school in La Joya was built.

Another point of historical interest is Los Ejidos. The area included more than 10,000 acres of communal land used by settlers for farming and ranching. Los Ejidos also served as a trading post for the region’s salt trade. The acreage gives a sense of the extent of the communal land; its agricultural use complemented its role in the salt trade. Unlike the school history, the focus here is on land use and the movement of goods.

Getting Around Town

To reach La Joya Cemetery, the directions start at the intersection of US 83 and FM 2521 and take you 0.3 miles south on FM 2521. Then turn right onto 5th Street and continue west for two blocks.

Discover more destinations: Mercedes, Mcallen, Linn, Edinburg, San Juan, Alamo, Donna, Hidalgo

Return to the main travel overview: Hidalgo.