Boom and Bust traces developments in the Matamoras, Brownsville, Texas, and the Rio Grande delta from the earliest traces of human occupation to present-day controversies over maquiladoras and free trade. This treasure trove of local and regional history draws from research carried out by the authors and by other scholars and researchers. It is spiced with dichos (folk sayings) gathered in the area and is attractively illustrated by Peter Gawenda, who has collaborated with the authors on other works.