In the 1800s plentiful cinnabar, a red-mercury sulfide, from which mercury can be extracted, was discovered that the area.

After that 100 of miners came to the area. Then Jack Dawson’s discovered mercury in 1888.
The population had risen to 2.000 and by 1900 there were four mining companies operating in the area.

The mining peaked during the first World War and by the start of the second World War the big Chisos Mining Company had filed for bankruptcy.
By the end of the war Terlingua was a ghost town.

In the 1960s, however, people began returning to Terlingua. Some of them are living there today.

The closeness to Big bend Nationalpark brings a lot of visitors, therefore the inhabitants opened the Starlight Theatre and a Cafe.