Cities in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas

The Cities of The Rio Grande Valley

ALAMO

Alamo, Texas, is a town in the irrigated area of southern Hidalgo County, Texas. This town was

incorporated in 1924, and it was named for the Alamo Land and Sugar Company. It is located in an

area of abundant vegetable farming and citrus groves, and it is a noted winter resort/retirement town.

Alamo is also one of the Rio Grande Valley's gateways to Mexico, via U.S. Route 281 and Nuevo

Progreso, Tamaulipas.

Alamo's population was just 14,760 at the time of the 2000 U.S. Census.

ROWNSVILLE

Brownsville is a city in

and the county seat of Cameron County, Texas, United States.

Brownsville is

the 15th largest city in the state of Texas and the 129th largest in the United

States. The population

was 139,722 at the 2000 census. Brownsville is also the

southernmost city in Texas.

Brownsville is

located on the U.S.-Mexico border

across from

Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The low latitude and

elevation give Brownsville a

subtropical climate. This is characterized with hot and humid summers

and mild winters.

The ocean waters of the Gulf of Mexico help keep Brownsville cooler during the summer

relative to

cities further inland such as Laredo and McAllen.

Thus temperatures rarely

exceed 100.

ONNA

Donna is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 14,768 at the 2000

census. The city's motto is "The Heart of the Valley."

The region was originally part of the La Blanca Land Grant, given to Lino Cabazos on May 18, 1834.

The first Anglo-American Settler was John F. Webber, who in 1839 moved to escape persecution of

his marriage to Sylvia Hector, a former slave.

In 1902, Thomas Jefferson Hooks formed the LaBlanca

Agricultural Company, which purchased 23,000 acres in Hidalgo County. Part of this purchase was

given to his daughter, Donna Hooks Fletcher, a divorcee. In 1904, The St. Louis, Brownsville, and

Mexico Railway reached the area, and a town was formed that July. In 1907, the town was given a

depot station, which was named Donna in Hooks' honor.

DINBURG

Edinburg is a city in

and the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States.

The population

was 48,465 at the 2000 census.

In 1908, John Closner, William Briggs, Argyle McAllen, Plutarco de la Viña and Dennis B. Chapin

developed a new community (the town square of which is now located at the crossroads of U.S.

Highway 281 and State Highway 107). The town was named Chapin in honor of one of the

developers. It became the county seat of Hidalgo County in a dramatic, nighttime covert operation in

which the county records were removed from the previous county seat, Hidalgo, Texas.

When

Dennis

Chapin was involved in the shooting death of Oscar J. Rountree at the Dan Breen Saloon in

San

Antonio, Texas, the community changed its name to Edinburg to honor a prominent businessman

who

was born in

Edinburg. The city was incorporated in 1919.

ARLINGEN

Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, United

States, about 30 miles

from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than 34 square

miles, and is the second largest city in Cameron County and the third largest in the Rio Grande

Valley,

after Brownsville and McAllen. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 57,564.

Harlingen's strategic location at the intersection of U.S. highways 77 and 83 in northwestern

Cameron

County fostered its development as a distribution, shipping, and industrial center. In 1904

Lon C. Hill

envisioned the Arroyo Colorado as a commercial waterway. He named the town he

founded on the

north bank after the city of Harlingen, Netherlands. The town's post office was

established that year.

The first school opened with fifteen pupils in 1905 near the Hill home, the first

residence built in

Harlingen. Harlingen incorporated on April 15, 1910, when the population totaled

1,126. In 1920 the

census listed 1,748. The local economy at first was almost entirely agricultural.

HIDALGO

Hidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,322 at the 2000

census.

Modern-day Hidalgo was first settled by Spanish colonists led by José de Escandón in about

1749. The colony was known by multiple names: La Habitación, Rancho San Luís, and San Luisito.

1852, John Young settled in the area and renamed the town Edinburgh after his place of birth,

Edinburgh, Scotland; Edinburgh became the county seat of Hidalgo County. The town was

incorporated in 1876, and its name was changed to Hidalgo in 1885.

LA FERIA

La Feria is a city in Cameron County, Texas. The population was 6,115 at the 2000 census.

On May 20,1915, La Feria, "The Village Beautiful," was incorporated. Among the pioneers who left

footprints upon its sands was Bailey H. Dunlap, the first elected mayor.

From a population of about

four hundred in 1915, when the city was founded, it has grown to its present size and remains the

most western city in Cameron County right in the center of the Rio Grande Valley.

S FRESNOS

Los Fresnos (Spanish for The Ashes) is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. The

population was 4,512 at the 2000 census.

Located in south central Cameron County, the

ity was

named for the fresnos (Fraxinus berlandieriana) scattered in the woods and along streams. In 1912,

Lon Hill, an early land owner, formed a company to develop a canal system which would use the Rio

Grande to irrigate land for farming. Railroad construction in the early 1900s began to bring settlers to

the area, and by 1915 a post office was established. Because of the fertile, irrigated land, farm

products increased and with the long growing season in the Rio Grande Valley, farming flourished.

Today the city is still surrounded by fertile farm/ranch land.

MC ALLEN

McAllen

the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas

is one of the fastest growing cities in the country.

The population was 106,414 at the 2000

census, while the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan

Statistical Area had a population of

569,463

apid growth pushed the metropolitan area's population

to 710,514 by 2007.

It is the 187th largest city in the U.S. and the 70th largest metropolitan area. Its

southern boundary is

located about five miles from the U.S.-Mexico border and the Mexican city of

Reynosa, the Rio

Grande River and about 70 miles west of South Padre Island and the Gulf of

Mexico.

A Foreign trade zone is located on the southwest side of the city. In addition to the industrial

activity,

there is a vibrant retail sector that is dependent on purchases made by wealthier, and largely,

Mexican middle and upper middle-class consumers. This sector benefits greatly from the express

highway links, on the Mexican side of the border, to Monterrey, Cd. Victoria and Tampico.

MERCEDES

Mercedes is known as the "The Queen City of the Valley" or "La Reina del Valle."

The city of Mercedes was founded September 15, 1907 by the American Rio Grande Land & Irrigation

Company, and was incorporated March 8, 1909. It is one of the oldest towns in the Rio Grande Valley,

and the city celebrated its centennial in 2007.

The city was located in Capisallo Pasture, part of

Capisallo Ranch owned by Jim Welles. This location was known as the Pear Orchard owing to the

vast numbers of prickly pear cactus growing there at that time.

MISSION

The City of Mission is a great place to live and do business! With a mixture of old and new, there's

something for everybody in Mission, Texas.

Located along the U.S./Mexico border, Mission is part of

one of the fastest growing MSAs in the country. It has experienced tremendous growth in population,

business development and its economy in recent years.

The City of Mission is also widely known for

ecotourism and is the premiere spot for birding in South Texas. Birders and nature enthusiasts flock to

Mission for the World Birding Center headquarters at Bentsen State Park and the Texas Butterfly

Festival.

PHARR

Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,660. Pharr

is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–

Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The community was named after sugar planter Henry Newton Pharr. In 1900 Henry N. Pharr was a

director of the State National Bank of New Iberia, Louisiana, and was a former president of the

Louisiana - Rio Grande Sugar Company and the Louisiana - Rio Grande Canal Company, which at

one time owned eight thousand acres and which, in 1910, on this land built the town of Pharr.

Around

the beginning of the 21st century, Pharr experienced strong growth and economic development. By

2009, its population had steadily increased to over 60,000 people

In 2006, Pharr received "The All America City" award.

PORT ISABEL

Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan

Statistical Area. The population was 4,865 at the 2000 census. Port Isabel is one of the oldest

continually inhabited areas founded by Europeans in North America as it was settled in 1554.

Port Isabel has a long and interesting history dating back to 1519 when it was charted by Spanish

explorer Alonzo de Pineda. There are tales of pirate

s treasures still buried on South Padre Island.

Port Isabel is home to three world class museums which bring our history to life. The Port Isabel

Historic Museum, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, and the 1852 Port Isabel Lighthouse are

monuments to our rich past. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage, on the grounds of the Port Isabel

lighthouse also highlights the maritime history of the Laguna Madre area.

RAYMONDVILLE

Raymondville is a city in and the county seat of Willacy County, Texas

and is known as the "Gateway

to the Rio Grande Valley."

The population was 9,733 at the 2000 census.

Raymondville was formed

in 1904 by Edward Burleson Raymond, a foreman of the El Sauz Ranch portion of the King Ranch

and owner of the Las Majadas Ranch.

RIO HONDO

Rio Hondo is a city in Cameron County, Texas. The population was 1,942 at the 2000 census. It is

part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area.

SAN BENITO

San Benito is a city in Cameron County, Texas. The population was 23,444 at the 2000 census. It is

the birthplace of Country and Tex-Mex music icon Freddy Fender. San Benito celebrated the 100th

anniversary of the naming of the city April 3, 2007. The post office was named Diaz from April to May

1907. The San Benito Museum, Freddy Fender Museum and Conjunto Music Museum opened in the

same building Nov. 17, 2007.

San Benito is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical

Area.

SAN JUAN

San Juan is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. The population in July 2008 was 33,970. The name

reflects that of a founding father. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical

Area. The community was organized in 1909, in part, due to the efforts of John Closner.

The City of

San Juan is most commonly known for "Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan" which is one of the largest

& biggest church in the Rio Grande Valley.

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

South Padre Island is a town in Cameron County, Texas. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen

Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,422 at the 2000 census. The town is located on

South Padre Island, a barrier island along the Texas Gulf Coast accessible via a causeway from the

town of Port Isabel. South Padre Island is named after José Nicolás Ballí (Padre Ballí), a Catholic

priest and settler. South Padre is home to many watersport activities with personal water craft rental

and dolphin watches being the most popular. Other favorites are horseback riding adventures on the

beach and ecological tours that explore Padre Island National Seashore.

Fishing is also popular. Also,

every year the Texas International Fishing Tournament is held in late summer with winnings totaling

almost a quarter million. Along with many other fishing tournaments such as Ladies Kingfish

Tournament, Hooters Tournament, Redfish Rodeo just to name a few.

The island is a popular spring

break destination for high school and college students.

WESLACO

Weslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. The population was 26,935 at the 2000 census. Weslaco

derives its name from the W.E. Stewart Land Company. It was the hometown of Harlon Block, one of

the Marines photographed raising the flag at Iwo Jima.

Weslaco is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.

ZAPATA

Zapata is the county seat of Zapata County, Texas. The population was 4,856 at the 2000 census. As

an unincorporated community, Zapata has no municipal government but like all 254 Texas counties

has four elected county commissioners chosen by single-member districts and a countywide elected

administrative judge.

Zapata was named for Colonel Jose Antonio de Zapata, the revolutionary

commander who served in the cavalry of the Republic of the Rio Grande, of which the town was a

part.

Falcon International Reservoir located in Zapata is becoming well known for its bass fishing. The

community hosts numerous "Winter Texans" between November and April, most residing in travel

camper trailers.