In the mid-1800's, this area was part of the Asadores Ranch owned by Salvador and San Juana Cavazos. In 1898, east Texas rice farmers A.F. Hester, Sr. and T.J. Hooks bought land in the vicinity. They and others began La Blanca Agricultural Company and the Arroyo Canal Company to build an irrigation system, and they also helped usher the railroad into the area. By 1904, Ed and George Ruthven had moved here; Ed established a store and served as postmaster for the community of Run, a contraction of his surname, while George built irrigation pumps. Andrew Champion also owned a general store. A school opened in 1905, but many area residents began moving to Donna after a devastating flood four years later.