Uvalde is a city in and the county seat of Uvalde County, Texas, set at the southern edge of the Texas Hill Country on the Edwards Plateau, along the Leona River and near the Frio River. It lies about 85 miles west of San Antonio and 70 miles east of Del Rio, at the junction of U.S. Highways 90 and 83. The town was founded in 1853 as Encina by Reading Wood Black and renamed Uvalde in 1856, when the county was organized, after Spanish governor Juan de Ugalde — a name that has been spelled "Uvalde" ever since. Agriculture has long defined the local economy. The area is famous for its light-colored huajillo honey, earning Uvalde a reputation as a honey capital, and the surrounding Winter Garden region produces vegetables, cotton, corn, grain, hay, and onions. Ranching contributes wool and mohair from angora goats, and the Uvalde National Fish Hatchery raises catfish, bluegill, and other species. The city anchors a broad retail and service area for the surrounding ranching country. Uvalde suits people drawn to Hill Country scenery, hunting and fishing, and a slower, small-town pace. The Frio River and Garner State Park are short drives away, offering swimming, tubing, camping, and star parties. Education runs from Uvalde CISD through Southwest Texas Junior College, whose main campus sits on Garner Field Road. The city's downtown, built around the courthouse and plaza, hosts events such as the annual Honey Festival, and its history is tied to native son John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner, who served as vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt.