Candelaria, Texas
Candelaria (/ˌkændɪˈlɛəriə/ KAN-dih-LAIR-ee-ə) is an unincorporated community in Presidio County, Texas, United States, with approximately 75 inhabitants.
Candelaria, Texas | |
|---|---|
Unincorporated community | |
| Nickname(s): Cadelaria, Texas | |
Candelaria, Texas Location within Texas | |
| Coordinates: 30°08′19″N 104°40′59″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Presidio |
| Elevation | 2,858 ft (871 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 79845 |
| Area code | 432 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1331836 |
The town stands in the Chihuahuan Desert on the north bank of the Rio Grande, just across from the small Mexican town of San Antonio Del Bravo. The two towns were linked by a bridge across the river that enabled the inhabitants of San Antonio to buy groceries and supplies from Candelaria; some sent their children to school there. However, in 2008 the bridge was controversially removed by the U.S. Border Patrol because of concerns that it had become, in the words of Border Patrol chief John Smietana, "a route for terrorists, drug traffickers and illegals." As of 2019, local United States citizens would still cross illegally due to lack of local service creating some informal reciprocal helps with local Border Patrol agents.