Goliad is a small city and the county seat of Goliad County, Texas, situated along the San Antonio River in the state's southeastern coastal plain. It is one of the oldest settlements in Texas, with roots reaching back to the Spanish colonial era, and it carries an outsized place in Texas history. The name "Goliad" is an anagram of Hidalgo, honoring Father Miguel Hidalgo, a leader of Mexican independence. The town's defining chapter came in 1836, during the Texas Revolution, when the Goliad Massacre took place — a pivotal and tragic event that remains central to the area's identity. Today that history is preserved in a remarkable cluster of landmarks: Presidio La Bahía, a National Historic Landmark and 18th-century Spanish fort; the reconstructed Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga within Goliad State Park; and the Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Site, honoring General Ignacio Zaragoza. The historic Goliad County Courthouse anchors the town square. Goliad is the only incorporated community in its county, which has a population of about 7,000, and the town itself is home to roughly 1,600 residents. It functions as the civic and commercial center of the surrounding ranch country, with the Goliad Independent School District serving the county and community life centered on the courthouse, schools, and fairgrounds. The San Antonio River runs through the area and supports the Goliad Paddling Trail, while Goliad State Park offers camping, hiking, and biking. U.S. Route 59 passes through the center of town as Pearl Street, connecting Goliad to Victoria about 26 miles to the northeast and Beeville about 29 miles to the southwest. As part of the Victoria metropolitan area, Goliad offers residents a historic, small-town lifestyle with regional services within an easy drive.