The early development and agricultural boom of this area owed much to the San Benito & Rio Grande Valley Railroad. Begun in 1912 by Missouri native Sam A. Robertson (1867-1938), it became known as the Spiderweb Railroad for its intricate network of lines and spurs. In 1926, the railroad built a station here as the hub of a community and citrus production center planned by the Progreso Development Co. Through early valley shipping centers such as Progreso, local produce was first transported to markets nationwide.