The city of Laredo is located on Rio Grand River's northern bank and is the biggest city in the county of Webb. The city of Laredo presently has three bridges, with a fourth being built along the Tamualipas border. Two border crossings are now maintained by Laredo City; One with the Mexican State of Nuevo Leon at Columbia and one with the Mexican State of Tamaulipas at Nuevo Laredo. The principal port of entry into Mexico in the city of Laredo can be accessed on the Pan American Highway.
During the springtime, the average maximum temperature is 89 degrees Fahrenheit with a minimum average temperature is roughly 54 degrees Fahrenheit. The highs during summer months are near 100 F and the low is 73 F. The temperatures during fall vary from a high of 95 F and a low of 70 F. Throughout wintertime, the temperature varies from 71ºF to 46 F. There is around 19 inches of precipitation per year and the average humidity is 62 percent.
The name of the city came from a small town within Santander, located on the north shore of Spain. Spaniard Jose de Escandon established one of the last northern provinces of New Spain, Nuevo Santander. The aim was to colonize the country Mexico. The city was colonized during 1755 and was first referred to as San Agustin de Laredo. Together with the city of Laredo, six other settlements were founded along the Rio Grande by Escandon, including Carmargo and Reynosa in 1749, Dolores and Revilla in 1750, and Mier during the year 1752. The city of Laredo is thought to be the oldest independent settlement within the state of Texas because there were no missions connected with its founding. It is currently the only remaining Spanish colonial settlement on the north bank of the lower Rio Grande.
Captain Tomas Sanchez settled 15 leagues of land on the Rio Grande, together with three other families on May 15, 1755. The family raised cattle, sheep, horses, goats, oxen and mules. The city was laid out by 1767 with the economy mostly focused on ranching.
There are four South Texas banking institutions in the city of Laredo, consisting of International Bank of Commerce, the Falcon International Bank, Texas Community Bank and BBVA Compass. Laredo is also the biggest inland port within the USA because of its strategic location, the North American Free Trade Agreement, several twin assembly plants, and dozens of import export agencies. Shoppers from Mexico flock to the city of Laredo as a shopping destination, that helps supplement the economy.