Laredo is a city and the county seat of Webb County, in far South Texas on the north bank of the Rio Grande, directly across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. It lies about 150 miles south of San Antonio at the southern terminus of Interstate 35, and it anchors the largest metropolitan area on the Texas-Mexico border. Laredo is among the oldest cities in Texas. It was established in 1755 by Tomás Sánchez as a ferry crossing — unlike most Spanish settlements, which grew around missions or forts — and was named for Laredo, Spain. The town later served briefly as capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande, and after the Mexican-American War the U.S. Army established a post that became Fort McIntosh. Laredo's Spanish and Mexican heritage remains central to its identity: it is a predominantly Hispanic city whose culture bridges two nations. Trade defines modern Laredo. The city is the largest inland port in the United States and the busiest land port on the U.S.-Mexico border, handling hundreds of billions of dollars in goods annually and channeling trade along Interstate 35 into the heart of the country. Rail and air cargo supplement the truck traffic crossing the international bridges, and logistics, warehousing, and customs brokerage underpin the local economy. Laredo International Airport supports both commercial and cargo aviation. Beyond trade, Laredo is a substantial city of roughly 255,000 people with two major school districts — Laredo ISD and United ISD — and Texas A&M International University. Its signature event, the Washington's Birthday Celebration, began in 1898 and has grown into a month-long, binational festival attended by hundreds of thousands. Laredo suits families, international traders, and anyone drawn to a bilingual border metropolis with deep history, strong schools, and a gateway position in North American commerce.