San Felipe Springs Oasis for explorers, soldiers, freighters--from 1542 onward. In 1675 priests named the 7 springs for King of Spain. In 18th century Comanches camped here on their war trail into Mexico. In 1808 a mission was established 3 miles downstream, on San Felipe Creek. By 1856-57, springs were on the 1470-mile San Antonio-to-San Diego Mail Route and on Chihuahua Road for wagons hauling silver adn gold from Mexico to Indianola, then chief port on Texas coast. After settlers came in 1864, irrigation "Mother Ditch" was dug; soon Del Rio was founded.