Victoria, city, seat of Victoria County, southern Texas, on the Guadalupe River. It is linked with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway by the Victoria Barge Canal (completed early 1960s). Located in an area producing much grain, livestock, petroleum, and natural gas, the city has industries manufacturing petrochemicals, oil-field equipment, construction materials, and processed food. The University of Houston Victoria Campus (1973), an art museum, and a zoo are here. The community, founded by Mexicans in 1824, is named for Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Jesus Victoria (Our Lady of Guadalupe) and Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of Mexico. It grew as a center of a great longhorn cattle region. Population 50,695 (1980); 55,076 (1990); 60,603 (2000).
