According to Cuero’s promotional literature about the city, Cuero is a Spanish word and was named after Cuero Creek, Arroyo del Cuero, or Creek of the Rawhide. The Spanish called it Arroyo del Cuero because the Native Americans from the area would tan their cattle hides in the creek beds.
Since it was named after Cuero Creek, or Arroyo del Cuero, or Creek of the Rawhide, let’s dive into the translations. The Spanish to English translation of the word “arroyo” is creek or stream, which is generally given as the explanation for how Cuero got its name. The Spanish to English translation of the word “cuero” is leather, skin, or hide.
Now, if we really want to get into the nitty-gritty of the name, let’s look at the word “rawhide.” The English to Spanish translation of rawhide is “cuero crudo”—cuero meaning leather, skin or hide and “crudo” meaning raw. I know, it’s a bit confusing! So, a literal translation of the name of our town could be “Skin” (ugh!), “Leather,” or “Hide.”
What I’m really guessing the Spanish were saying when they said, Arroyo del Cuero was “Leather Creek or Hide Creek” and not raw hide otherwise our town would be named “Cuero Crudo“, but I really don’t know I wasn’t there nor am I a linguist. I’m simply breaking down the meaning of the word Cuero. But what I do know is that we have this history with the Spanish which should be a good enough reason to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
Another interesting fact about Cuero’s rich Hispanic roots is that after Mexico got its independence from Spain it was Mexico that granted Green DeWitt the land to settle Cuero. Yep! it was those Mexicans who gave the Empresario Green DeWitt (Odd but interesting name) the opportunity to settle Europeans in what is now Cuero. And the Mexicans didn’t care if these Europeans had a green card or if they were legal citizens. They gave them an opportunity for a better life than the life they had in their mother country. It was part of Mexico’s efforts to encourage settlement in Texas.
The Hispanic community constitutes approximately 46.4 percent of Cuero’s population, and their rich history and vibrant culture are deeply woven into the fabric of our town. Hispanic Heritage Month is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to learn, appreciate, and enjoy the contributions of the Hispanic community.
Hispanic Heritage Month was first introduced on September 17, 1968, when Congress passed Public Law 90-48, officially authorizing and requesting the president to issue annual proclamations declaring September 15 and 16 to mark the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Week. It called upon the “people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first Hispanic Heritage Week presidential proclamation that same day.
From 1968 to 1988, Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan each issued annual proclamations designating a week to honor Hispanic Americans. In 1987, this week-long observance was extended to the current 31-day period.
National Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration recognizing the contributions, the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities. It runs from Sunday, September 15, 2024, to Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
The U.S. Latino and Hispanic population are descendants of people from Hispanic countries typically the lands colonized by Spain and where Spanish is the predominant language. These countries are primarily located in Latin America, including Mexico, most of Central and South America, and parts of the Caribbean.
The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refers to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race. On the 2020 Census form, people were counted as Hispanic or Latino or Spanish if they could identify as having Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.
Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American countries. September 15 marks the beginning of this month to correspond with the independence anniversaries of five Central American nations—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—which all proclaimed their independence from Spain on that date in 1821. Mexico announced its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810, and Chile celebrates its Independence Day on September 18, 1810. Meanwhile, Belize gained its independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981.
Read: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: 5 Pioneers in Education (cueroedfoundation.org)
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If you would like to Advertise and sponsor a Hispanic Heritage Month Article email: CueroOnlinenews@gmail.com or call T. Garcia at 361-621-5183
