Who Owns King Ranch

King Ranch, one of the largest and oldest cattle ranches in the United States, has been owned and operated by the Kleberg family since its inception in 1853. The ranch spans more than 825,000 acres throughout South Texas and is currently managed by 13th and 14th generation family members.

Richard King, the man behind the King Ranch, is the patriarch of the family. He was born on January 22, 1824, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania and grew up in New Orleans. His family moved to Texas when he was 18 years old. He initially worked as a horse breaker and found success as a freight specialist transporting goods between New Orleans and Mexico.

In 1853, King purchased half interest of the Rio Grande Country, but it wasn’t until five years later that he officially started the King Ranch. He used the land to raise longhorn cattle for the growing hamburger industry in the United States.

King married Henrietta Chamberlain in 1855 and their four sons managed the ranch after their father’s death. The sons, Robert Jr., Richard Jr., Bose, and Walter, along with other family members, managed the ranch until 1989.

In the late 1800s, King Ranch began breeding Santa Gertrudis cattle, a breed of longhorn descended from three Shorthorn-Longhorn crosses. This practice revolutionized the U.S. cattle industry and modernized the production of high-grade beef.

Today, King Ranch remains one of the largest cattle ranches and working farms in the United States. It is owned and managed by a board composed of 13th and 14th generation King family members and non-family members. The ranch still specializes in producing the highest quality beef, but has diversified its services to include a research and development center, energy development and production, citrus, grain, and recreation and conservation. King Ranch is still owned and operated by the Kleberg family, an iconic symbol of American fortune and tenacity.