In the year 1755, the first Spanish colonists settled on both sides of Bravo River, on the northeast limit of what is currently the State of Tamaulipas. In 1767, it was named Villa de Laredo and was kept as such for almost a century.

During the dictatorship of General Santa Anna in Mexico, the country was submerged in a war against its neighboring country of the north; it was defeated and paid a very high price for it. In 1848, the agreement that ended the war between the two sovereign nations was called Treaty of Guadalupe "– Hidalgo, where Mexico accepted to hand over almost half its territory to the victorious enemy. This defined a new frontier to the north of the country, limited by Bravo River, which divided the inhabitants of Villa de Laredo into two countries.

Those who didn't wish to become North Americans crossed the river and settled in the Mexican side of the villa, thus giving birth to the current city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas; name given by the then governor of the state to the new population south of Bravo River, Governor Francisco Vital Fernández.

Mexico's Congress granted it a city category in the year 1891.

Its strategic geographic location as border city has played an essential role in the development of this warm city. Currently, its customs infrastructure has International Bridge I Las Americas, International Bridge II Juárez "– Lincoln and the World Commerce Bridge Nuevo Laredo III, in addition to the Exports Bridge IV (railroad), through which thousands of millions of dollars in merchandise cross each year in the 3 thousand trucks and 1,500 railway carriages that cross through this border every day.

This important bridge between the two American nations is distinguished for the modernity of its service structure, allowing an efficient and agile handling of the freight.

The economy of Nuevo Laredo is also greatly sustained by the manufacturing plants for exports established within its limits.