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Progreso Bridge and Nuevo Progreso. Their history is intertwined.

Nuevo Progreso's History

The area was originally called Las Flores, which was the name of the rancho that was there. The river has moved around a bit over the years and used to pass to the South of town's current location. The area where the town sits was previously on the US side, but the river flooded and changed course in that year. About 500 acres of land was transferred back to Mexico and the whole town in now built on land that the River took back. They built the dam at Lake Falcon and brought all the river's periodic floods under control in the late 1940's.

The name of the city was changed to Nuevo Progreso about 1933. The full name is now officially La Villa Nuevo Progreso, but most folks just call it Progreso, which can be confused with the Texas town of that name just north of the border.

There were about 40 or 50 houses here until Campo Treviño was built South of town in the early 1950's. The was so Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) company could drill for gas and much machinery was brought from the US side using the first bridge. By 1960 there were a number of stores that had been built to sell products to the employees of the drilling camp.

The first grocery store, called Abarrotera Pulido, was built by the Pulido family onn October 15, 1959. Arturo's Restaurant and Licores Gavilan were built in 1953.. There were a number of cantinas on the Southeast side of town with numerous bordellos which developed into what become known as "Boy's Town". In all, this area grew to include about sixty houses, coffee houses, cantinas and beer joints. All of this unsavory area was moved south of town about 1980 when the main streets were being developed and the town was evolving into what exists today.

The period from the mid-1950's saw some growth in the business community. There were a couple of meat markets, a fish market, and tortilla factories. The Pavi Indian Market, the first curios shop, was opened by Pablo Bautista about 1965 or 1966. A bunch of shops and beauty parlors and barber shops opened during this time also. Enrique Abrigo opened a restuarant, called Henry's.

During the 1950's there were two medical doctors, Dr. Aguirre and Dr. Mandragon (1953) and Dr. Borrego established his office in 1955. Pharmacies began to be developed in the latter part of the 1970's and the early 1980's. There were only two pharmacies, two doctors and one dentist who had been there since the earliest days. Many of the pharmacies we see today began to be developed during the 1980s and now there are about sixty stores, or stores with pharmacy departments in the major part of town.

Dr. Jesus Aguirre was the first dentist, having started almost 40years ago.  He remembers working in the little village when the streets were dirt and turned to slush whenever it rained.  Under his tutelage about fifteen of today's dentists were developed and eventually moved into practise on their own.  The dental community today numbers about a hundred doctors, both men and women. He has been a vital member of the community and involved in the Red Cross, Rotary International, and the Lion's Club and remains active in his church. 

More will be told about the various businesses on their webpages.  Go check them out by clicking on the yellow buttons to the left.