King Ranch, Inc. - Introduction

Introduction

3 River Way, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77056
U.S.A.
Telephone: (832) 681-5700
Fax: (832) 681-5759
Web site: http://www.king-ranch.com

Private Company
Incorporated: 1934
Employees: 400
Sales: $300 million (2003 est.)
NAIC: 112111 Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming; 448320 Luggage and Leather Goods Stores; 444210 Outdoor Power Equipment Stores; 11192 Cotton Farming; 111199 All Other Grain Farming; 111930 Sugarcane Farming; 111310 Orange Groves

King Ranch, Inc. operates one of the largest and most famous cattle ranches in the world. The King Ranch itself covers about 825,000 acres—slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island—on four separate divisions of land in South Texas known as the "Home Ranches": Santa Gertrudis, Laureles, Norias, and Encino. The company represents a colorful part of Texas history. From its beginnings in the mid-19th century as a family cattle ranch, the company has evolved into a major multinational operation active in a variety of agricultural and energy-related activities. Although it is perhaps most famous for its agribusiness segment (cattle breeding; horse breeding; farming; citrus groves; commodity marketing and processing; commercial hunting leases), King Ranch also oversees retail operations including luggage and leather goods, farm equipment, commercial printing, and tourism. A private company, King Ranch is owned by 60 or so descendants of company founder Captain Richard King, a legendary figure in the history of cattle ranching in the United States. King Ranch celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2003.