History
Altamira was founded on May 2, 1759 by José de Escandón the Sierra Gorda Count, in honor of Juan Rodríguez de Albuerne, Altamira's Marquis in Spain and dedicated to Our Lady of Las Caldas. The founding of Altamira is in accordance with the colonization of the mexican coast, being formed by 285 people belonging to 28 families plus the Royal Squadron commanded by Captain Juan Barberena.
In the ancient village of Altamira, from July 24 to July 31, they celebrated their first holiday to celebrate that the church was terminated, which was made of stone walls and palm leaves roofing. The apostle St. James was named patrón of the church, since the coronel in charge of the military base, José de Escandón was a member of the Knights of Apostle St. James.
In 1829, before rendering, General Isidro Barradas came to Altamira to take part in a fierce battle with the commands of General Mier y Terán. Several families under the command of Juan Villatoro, left from this location to found what currently is Tampico, or Modern Tampico as of April 1823, with the name of Santa Anna de Tampico.
An order from the Congress of the Indepent Government of Tamaulipas, changed its' category to become a City on October 27, 1848, naming it Villerías, eventhough it has always maintained its original name of Altamira, as it is currently known.