Did you know that South Padre Island’s original inhabitants were the Karankawa Native Americans? It wasn’t until the 1700s that European settlers came to the Island after the King of Spain granted land to Nicolás BallÃ. Since then, the long stretch of beach grew with housing, commerce, and people.
The Island got its name thanks to the grandson of Nicolás BallÃ, who was a Father in the church and ministered to the people who lived here throughout his lifetime. He treated all inhabitants of the Island with kindness and compassion. Father (Padre) José Nicolás Ballà was a beloved figure, so after his passing the island’s name changed from Isla de Santiago to La Isla Padre, or Padre Island in English.
This information was gleaned from South Padre Island’s website (sopadre.com/about/history). There’s so much more to learn about this great place we call home, so we hope you’ll take a trip here soon to see this rich, beautiful place for yourself.
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