Mission Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria was first established by Franciscan missionaries in 1749 on the San Gabriel River with the hope of civilizing and Christianizing the Coco, Mayene, Karankawa, Orcoquiza, and other Indian tribes. It was reestablished under the same name on the San Marcos River in 1755, then removed to this site on the Nueces River for the conversion of the Lipan Apaches in 1762. It was abandoned in 1769.