Brownsville, Texas
Encyclopedia
Brownsville is a city in the southernmost tip of the state of Texas
, in the United States
. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande
, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas
, Mexico
. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of 175,023. In addition, the Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area
counts with a population of 1,136,995, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area
in the Mexico-US border.
The area in Brownsville is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States
. The city's population dramatically increased after it experienced a boom in the steel industry during the 1900s, where it produced three times its annual capacity. Nowadays, the Port of Brownsville
is a major economic hub for South Texas
, where shipments from Mexico
, other parts of the United States
and the world arrive. Brownsville's economy is mainly based on its international trade with Mexico
through the NAFTA agreement, and is home to one of the fastest manufacturing
sectors in the nation. In addition, Brownsville's climate has often been recognized among the best pro-business climates in the United States
, and it has also been ranked among the least expensive places to live in the U.S.
Brownsville's historical significance is due to the fact that it served as a site for several battles and events in the Texas Revolution
, the Mexican American War, and the American Civil War
. And right across the U.S-Mexico border lies Matamoros, Tamaulipas
, a city with a population of 700,000 people and a major site of the Mexican War of Independence
, the Mexican Revolution
, and the French Intervention
. On another note, Brownsville and Matamoros, Tamaulipas
are home to the Charro Days
and Sombrero Festival
annual celebrations, which are a two–nation fiestas that commemorate the heritage of the U.S. and Mexico.
or Río Bravo del Norte) from Matamoros
, Tamaulipas
.
Broadleaf evergreen plants, including palms
, dominate Brownsville neighborhoods to a greater degree than is seen elsewhere in Texas—even in nearby cities such as Harlingen
and San Benito
. Soils are mostly of clay to silty clay loam texture, moderately alkaline (pH 8.2
) to strongly alkaline (pH8.5
) and with a significant degree of salinity in many places.http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
According to the City of Brownsville, the city has a total area of 147.5 square miles (382 km²), making it by far the largest American city by land area in the lower Rio Grande Valley
and third largest American city by land area along the U.S.-Mexico border, after San Diego, California and El Paso, Texas
. 144.9 square miles (375.3 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (3.16%) is water.
In addition to being the southernmost city in Texas, Brownsville is among the southernmost of all U.S. cities. Only Hawaii
and a handful of municipalities in Miami-Dade
and Monroe
counties (plus tiny Everglades City
in Collier County
) in Florida
are at a more southerly latitude than Brownsville, which lies at roughly the same latitude as North Miami Beach
in northern Miami-Dade County; thus, Brownsville is farther south than such well-known, subtropical Florida cities as West Palm Beach
, Ft. Myers
, and Fort Lauderdale
.
Brownsville is now one of the first cities in the U.S. and Texas to ban the use of plastic shopping bags, reaching closer toward its goals of a greener, cleaner city. This has led other cities in the area to also consider such a ban. In addition, Forbes has identified Brownsville as one of 12 metro areas in the U.S. with the cleanest air; Laredo, Texas
was the only other Texas metro area to be among the 12.
Brownsville received the theoretical maximum worst score (72) for its level of human influence on the environment. This is the place where the maximum was observed. It ranked higher than the most populous metropolitan cities.
Brownsville has a warm, sub-tropical climate (Köppen
Cfa), with mild winters, and hot, humid summers. Yet the nearby 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 above 100 °F (38 °C) are uncommon. At the other extreme, there may be a few nights per year with freezing temperatures. Rainfall tends to be the heaviest in summer and early part of fall, although it is not unheard of for Brownsville to go for weeks or sometimes months without any rainfall even during the "wet" season. Extreme temperatures range from 12 °F (-11 °C) in February 1899 to 106 °F (41 °C) in March 1984. The greatest snowfall in a day and a season was 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), which fell on December 25, 2004.
Brownsville's location at the intersection of different climate regimes (subtropical, Chihuahuan desert, Gulf Coast plain, and Great Plains) causes it to be a birding location. Its unique network of resacas (distributaries of the Rio Grande and oxbow lakes) provide habitat for nesting / breeding birds of various types - most notably during the Spring and Fall migrations.
of 2010, there were 175,023 people, 38,174 households, and 32,180 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,207.1 people per square mile (466.0/km2). There were 53,936 housing units at an average density of 372.0 per square mile (143.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 85.73% White, 0.19% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93.19% of the population.
There were 38,174 households out of which 50.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.62 and the average family size was 3.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,468, and the median income for a family was $26,186. Males had a median income of $21,739 versus $17,116 for females.
Brownsville has been ranked the third "least brainy" city in the U.S.
In 1845, construction of a fort on the Mexican border was commissioned, due to increased instability in the region. Before completion, the Mexican Army began the Siege of Fort Texas
, during the first active campaign in the Mexican-American War, between 3–9 May 1846. The first battle of the war occurred on 8 May 1846, when General Zachary Taylor
received word of the siege of the fort. They rushed to help, but were intercepted, resulting in the Battle of Palo Alto
about 5 miles (8 km) north of present-day Brownsville. The next morning the Mexican forces had retreated, and Taylor's troops caught up with them, resulting in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma
, which was fought within the present city limits. When Taylor finally arrived at the besieged Fort Texas, it was found that two soldiers had died, one of which was the fort's commander, Major Jacob Brown. In his honor, General Taylor renamed the fort Fort Brown
. An old cannon at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
marks the spot where Major Brown was fatally wounded.
Contrary to popular belief, however, there is little, if any, evidence that the Fort was called "Fort Texas." In fact, most official correspondence from the time describes the fort as "camp near Matamoros."
The city of Brownsville was originally established late in 1848 by Charles Stillman
, and was made the county seat of the new Cameron County
on 13 January 1849. The city was originally incorporated by the state on 24 January 1850. This was repealed on 1 April 1852, due to a land ownership dispute between Stillman and the former owners. The state reincorporated the city on 7 February 1853, which remains in effect. The issue of ownership was not decided until 1879, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Stillman.
On July 13, 1859, the First Cortina War
started. Juan Nepomuceno Cortina
would become one of the most important historical figures of the area, and continued to exert a decisive influence in the local events until his arrest in 1875. The First Cortina War ended on December 27, 1859. In May 1861, the brief Second Cortina War
took place.
During the Civil War
Brownsville was used as a smuggling point for Confederate goods into Mexico
, most importantly cotton smuggled to European ships waiting at the Mexican port of Bagdad
. Fort Brown was controlled by the Confederates. In November 1863, Union troops landed at Port Isabel
and marched for Brownsville to stop the smuggling. In the ensuing battle of Brownsville
Confederate forces abandoned the fort, blowing it up with 8000 pounds (3,628.7 kg) of explosives. In 1864, the town was reoccupied by the Confederates under John Salmon 'Rip' Ford
. On May 15, 1865, a month after the surrender had been signed at Appomattox Court House
, the Battle of Palmito Ranch
was fought and won by the Confederates. Ulysses S. Grant
sent Union General Frederick Steele
to Brownsville to patrol the Mexican-American border after Civil War to aid the Juaristas with military supplies.
On 13 and 14 August 1906, Brownsville was the site of the Brownsville Affair
. Racial tensions were high between white townsfolk and black infantrymen stationed at Fort Brown
. On the night of 13 August, one white bartender was killed and a white police officer was wounded by rifle shots in the street. Townsfolk, including the mayor, accused the infantrymen as the murderers. Without a chance to defend themselves in a hearing, President Theodore Roosevelt
dishonorably discharged the entire 167 member regiment due to their accused "conspiracy of silence
". Further investigations in the 1970s found that they were not at fault, and the Nixon Administration
reversed all dishonorable discharges.
On September 8, 1926, The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (later known as Texas Southmost College
) admitted its first class. In 1945 Fort Brown was decommissioned and in 1948 the City and College acquired the land. Between 1945 to 1970 Brownsville population continued to grow gradually, doubled from 25,000 to 52,000 people. In 1991 Brownsville received a University via the partnership between the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
.
Brownsville was declared an All-America City
in the year 2001.
On December 25, 2004, Brownsville had its first instance of measurable snow in 109 years, with 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), and the first recorded White Christmas
. This was part of the 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm
. The snow was subsequently sold on eBay
.
. The port, located 2 miles (3.2 km) from the city, provides an important link between the road networks of nearby Mexico, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
of Texas.
The port's Hinterland, from where it draws cargo, is Monterrey, Mexico, just 198 miles to the West, which is one of Latin America's largest industrial cities.
As of 2006, the members of the Commission are:
The next regular elections for the City will occur in the following years:
The City Commission appoints the City Manager. As of 2006, the City Manager is Charlie Cabler.
The City Commission also appoints a six member Public Utilities Board for a four-year term. Members are limited to two consecutive or non-consecutive terms. The Mayor is an ex-officio member of the Board.
operates post offices in Brownsville. The Brownsville Main Post Office is located at 1535 East Los Ebanos Boulevard. Downtown Brownsville is served by the Downtown Brownsville Post Office at 1001 East Elizabeth Street.
There is also a National Weather Service office and doppler radar site in Brownsville. They provide forecasts and radar coverage for Deep South Texas and the adjacent coastal waters.
The School of Public Health (UTSPH) opened in 2001 as part of the legislated Regional Academic Health Center program, or RAHC and is physically located on the campus of the University of Texas at Brownsville. UTSPH - Brownsville is a regional campus of the University of Texas School of Public Health
statewide network which offer students a graduate certificate in public health and the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) graduate degree. Starting in 2009, the Brownsville Regional Campus also began offering a PhD program in Epidemiology and a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) in Health Promotion, the only program's of their kind in South Texas. Major public health concerns of the faculty and researchers found here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Texas include diabetes, tuberculosis
, obesity
, cardiovascular disease
and hepatitis
. Other areas of public health significance include physical activity, behavioral journalism, healthy living, diet and lifestyles activities. The Brownsville Regional Campus is also developing a strong research focus in genetics and its relationship to infectious and chronic disease.
. The BISD counted its total enrollment in the 2010-11 at 49,155 students in 57 schools. It is the 17th largest school district in Texas. A portion of northern Brownsville is served by the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District
.
In addition, Brownsville residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District
, as well as BISD magnet schools. Each BISD high school has a magnet school within the school (example, Gladys Porter High School
, has the district's Technology and Engineering Professions magnet program).
Grades 1-8:
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
operates area Catholic schools.
(BUS) consists of 14 buses running 11 routes covering a large portion of Brownsville. http://bus.cityofbrownsville.us/
. The airport is used for general aviation and is served by Continental Airlines
(service to Houston-Intercontinental
) AeroMexico
(service to Monterrey, NL, Mexico) and American Eagle Airlines
(service to Dallas-Fort Worth
).
In 1920 the St. Louis Cardinals
held spring training
in Brownsville.
, the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, Camille Lightner Playhouse, a historical downtown with buildings over 150 years old, the Port of Brownsville
, and the Children's Museum of Brownsville. There is also easy access to South Padre Island
and the Mexican city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas
.
Sunrise Mall
is the largest shopping mall
in the city of Brownsville. Since being remodeled in 2000 the mall has become the primary mall in the Brownsville-Harlingen metroplex. Brownsville previously had another shopping mall, Amigoland Mall
by Simon
, though the building has since been purchased by the University of Texas at Brownsville after many of its tenants moved from Amigoland to Sunrise.
, Mexico
(2009) Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas
, Mexico
(2009)
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located on the northern bank of the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
, directly north and across the border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Brownsville is the 16th largest city in the state of Texas with a population of 175,023. In addition, the Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area
Matamoros–Brownsville Metropolitan Area
Matamoros–Brownsville, also known as Brownsville–Matamoros, or simply as the Borderplex, is one of the six bi-national metropolitan areas along the Mexico–U.S border...
counts with a population of 1,136,995, making it the 4th largest metropolitan area
Metropolitan areas of Mexico
Metropolitan areas in Mexico have been traditionally defined as the group of municipalities that heavily interact with each other, usually around a core city...
in the Mexico-US border.
The area in Brownsville is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The city's population dramatically increased after it experienced a boom in the steel industry during the 1900s, where it produced three times its annual capacity. Nowadays, the Port of Brownsville
Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is a deep water seaport in Brownsville, Texas , and is the southern terminus of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The port is located just eight miles from the border of Mexico at the Rio Grande. It's hinterland is most of Northern Mexico, including the large industrial...
is a major economic hub for South Texas
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande River, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 3.7 million. The southern portion of this region is...
, where shipments from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, other parts of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the world arrive. Brownsville's economy is mainly based on its international trade with Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
through the NAFTA agreement, and is home to one of the fastest manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
sectors in the nation. In addition, Brownsville's climate has often been recognized among the best pro-business climates in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and it has also been ranked among the least expensive places to live in the U.S.
Brownsville's historical significance is due to the fact that it served as a site for several battles and events in the Texas Revolution
Texas Revolution
The Texas Revolution or Texas War of Independence was an armed conflict between Mexico and settlers in the Texas portion of the Mexican state Coahuila y Tejas. The war lasted from October 2, 1835 to April 21, 1836...
, the Mexican American War, and the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. And right across the U.S-Mexico border lies Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, a city with a population of 700,000 people and a major site of the Mexican War of Independence
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
, the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
, and the French Intervention
French intervention in Mexico
The French intervention in Mexico , also known as The Maximilian Affair, War of the French Intervention, and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by an expeditionary force sent by the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain...
. On another note, Brownsville and Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
are home to the Charro Days
Charro Days
Charro Days, also known as Charro Days Fiesta or Charro Days Festival, is two-nation fiesta and an annual four-day pre-Lenten celebration held in Brownsville, Texas, United States in cooperation with Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The grito—a joyous Mexican shout—opens the festivities every year...
and Sombrero Festival
Sombrero Festival
Sombrero Festival, also known as Sombrero Fest, is a two-nation fiesta and an annual four-day pre-Lenten celebration held in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in cooperation with Brownsville, Texas, United States. The grito—a joyous Mexican shout—opens the festivities every year...
annual celebrations, which are a two–nation fiestas that commemorate the heritage of the U.S. and Mexico.
Geography and climate
Brownsville is located on the U.S.-Mexico border (marked here by the Rio GrandeRio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
or Río Bravo del Norte) from Matamoros
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
.
Broadleaf evergreen plants, including palms
Arecaceae
Arecaceae or Palmae , are a family of flowering plants, the only family in the monocot order Arecales. There are roughly 202 currently known genera with around 2600 species, most of which are restricted to tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate climates...
, dominate Brownsville neighborhoods to a greater degree than is seen elsewhere in Texas—even in nearby cities such as Harlingen
Harlingen, Texas
Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas, United States, about from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than , and is the second largest city in Cameron County and the sixth largest in the Rio Grande Valley...
and San Benito
San Benito, Texas
San Benito is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. The population was 24,250 at the 2010 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...
. Soils are mostly of clay to silty clay loam texture, moderately alkaline (pH 8.2
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
) to strongly alkaline (pH8.5
Soil pH
The soil pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity in soils. pH is defined as the negative logarithm of the activity of hydrogen ions in solution. It ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. A pH below 7 is acidic and above 7 is basic. Soil pH is considered a master variable in soils as it...
) and with a significant degree of salinity in many places.http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
According to the City of Brownsville, the city has a total area of 147.5 square miles (382 km²), making it by far the largest American city by land area in the lower Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
and third largest American city by land area along the U.S.-Mexico border, after San Diego, California and El Paso, Texas
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
. 144.9 square miles (375.3 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it (3.16%) is water.
In addition to being the southernmost city in Texas, Brownsville is among the southernmost of all U.S. cities. Only Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and a handful of municipalities in Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
and Monroe
Monroe County, Florida
Monroe County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737....
counties (plus tiny Everglades City
Everglades, Florida
Everglades is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. The population was 479 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 513...
in Collier County
Collier County, Florida
Collier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 251,377. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,839...
) in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
are at a more southerly latitude than Brownsville, which lies at roughly the same latitude as North Miami Beach
North Miami Beach, Florida
North Miami Beach is a Miami suburban city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. Originally named Fulford in 1926 after Captain William H. Fulford of the United States Coast Guard, the city was incorporated in 1927 as Fulford, but was renamed North Miami Beach in 1931. The population was...
in northern Miami-Dade County; thus, Brownsville is farther south than such well-known, subtropical Florida cities as West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, Ft. Myers
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
, and Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
.
Brownsville is now one of the first cities in the U.S. and Texas to ban the use of plastic shopping bags, reaching closer toward its goals of a greener, cleaner city. This has led other cities in the area to also consider such a ban. In addition, Forbes has identified Brownsville as one of 12 metro areas in the U.S. with the cleanest air; Laredo, Texas
Laredo
- Cities :*Laredo, Texas, United States*Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico - Towns :*Laredo, Cantabria, the original Spanish town with this name.*Laredo, La Libertad, Peru*Laredo, Missouri, United States...
was the only other Texas metro area to be among the 12.
Brownsville received the theoretical maximum worst score (72) for its level of human influence on the environment. This is the place where the maximum was observed. It ranked higher than the most populous metropolitan cities.
Brownsville has a warm, sub-tropical climate (Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa), with mild winters, and hot, humid summers. Yet the nearby ocean waters of the Gulf of Mexico help keep Brownsville cooler during the summer relative to cities further inland such as Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
and McAllen. Thus temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C) are uncommon. At the other extreme, there may be a few nights per year with freezing temperatures. Rainfall tends to be the heaviest in summer and early part of fall, although it is not unheard of for Brownsville to go for weeks or sometimes months without any rainfall even during the "wet" season. Extreme temperatures range from 12 °F (-11 °C) in February 1899 to 106 °F (41 °C) in March 1984. The greatest snowfall in a day and a season was 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), which fell on December 25, 2004.
Brownsville's location at the intersection of different climate regimes (subtropical, Chihuahuan desert, Gulf Coast plain, and Great Plains) causes it to be a birding location. Its unique network of resacas (distributaries of the Rio Grande and oxbow lakes) provide habitat for nesting / breeding birds of various types - most notably during the Spring and Fall migrations.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 175,023 people, 38,174 households, and 32,180 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,207.1 people per square mile (466.0/km2). There were 53,936 housing units at an average density of 372.0 per square mile (143.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city is 85.73% White, 0.19% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.04% from other races, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 93.19% of the population.
There were 38,174 households out of which 50.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.62 and the average family size was 3.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,468, and the median income for a family was $26,186. Males had a median income of $21,739 versus $17,116 for females.
Brownsville has been ranked the third "least brainy" city in the U.S.
History
Siege of Fort Texas
The Siege of Fort Texas marked the beginning of active campaigning by the armies of the United States and Mexico during the Mexican-American War. The battle is sometimes called The Siege of Fort Brown, but this is not entirely accurate — the name Fort Brown was taken from Major Jacob Brown,...
, during the first active campaign in the Mexican-American War, between 3–9 May 1846. The first battle of the war occurred on 8 May 1846, when General Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
received word of the siege of the fort. They rushed to help, but were intercepted, resulting in the Battle of Palo Alto
Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was the first major battle of the Mexican-American War and was fought on May 8, 1846, on disputed ground five miles from the modern-day city of Brownsville, Texas...
about 5 miles (8 km) north of present-day Brownsville. The next morning the Mexican forces had retreated, and Taylor's troops caught up with them, resulting in the Battle of Resaca de la Palma
Battle of Resaca de la Palma
At the Battle of Resaca de la Palma, one of the early engagements of the Mexican-American War,United States General Zachary Taylor engaged the retreating forces of the Mexican Ejército del Norte under General Mariano Arista on May 9, 1846.-Background:During the night of May 8, following...
, which was fought within the present city limits. When Taylor finally arrived at the besieged Fort Texas, it was found that two soldiers had died, one of which was the fort's commander, Major Jacob Brown. In his honor, General Taylor renamed the fort Fort Brown
Fort Brown
Fort Brown was a military post of the United States Army in Texas during the later half of 19th century and the early part of the 20th century.-Early years:...
. An old cannon at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, frequently abbreviated UTB/TSC is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas, on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System...
marks the spot where Major Brown was fatally wounded.
Contrary to popular belief, however, there is little, if any, evidence that the Fort was called "Fort Texas." In fact, most official correspondence from the time describes the fort as "camp near Matamoros."
The city of Brownsville was originally established late in 1848 by Charles Stillman
Charles Stillman
Charles Stillman was born in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, to Capt. Francis Stillman and Harriet Stillman. He arrived in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in 1828 and established himself as an entrepreneur...
, and was made the county seat of the new Cameron County
Cameron County, Texas
Cameron County is the southernmost county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 406,220. Its county seat is Brownsville. Cameron was founded in 1848...
on 13 January 1849. The city was originally incorporated by the state on 24 January 1850. This was repealed on 1 April 1852, due to a land ownership dispute between Stillman and the former owners. The state reincorporated the city on 7 February 1853, which remains in effect. The issue of ownership was not decided until 1879, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Stillman.
On July 13, 1859, the First Cortina War
Cortina Troubles
The Cortina Troubles is the generic name for the First Cortina War in 1859 and Second Cortina War in 1861, in which paramilitary Mexican forces, led by the local leader Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, confronted elements of the United States Army, the Confederate Army, the Texas Rangers, and the local...
started. Juan Nepomuceno Cortina
Juan Cortina
Juan Nepomuceno Cortina Goseacochea , also known by his nicknames Cheno Cortina and the Red Robber of the Rio Grande, was a Mexican rancher, politician, military leader, outlaw and folk hero...
would become one of the most important historical figures of the area, and continued to exert a decisive influence in the local events until his arrest in 1875. The First Cortina War ended on December 27, 1859. In May 1861, the brief Second Cortina War
Cortina Troubles
The Cortina Troubles is the generic name for the First Cortina War in 1859 and Second Cortina War in 1861, in which paramilitary Mexican forces, led by the local leader Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, confronted elements of the United States Army, the Confederate Army, the Texas Rangers, and the local...
took place.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Brownsville was used as a smuggling point for Confederate goods into Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, most importantly cotton smuggled to European ships waiting at the Mexican port of Bagdad
Bagdad, Tamaulipas
Bagdad, Tamaulipas, Mexico was a town established in 1848 on the south bank of the mouth of the Río Grande. Moreover, this town is also known as the Port of Bagdad or the Port of Matamoros, since it is inside the municipality of Matamoros, Tamaulipas...
. Fort Brown was controlled by the Confederates. In November 1863, Union troops landed at Port Isabel
Port Isabel, Texas
Port Isabel is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville and the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan areas...
and marched for Brownsville to stop the smuggling. In the ensuing battle of Brownsville
Battle of Brownsville
The Battle of Brownsville took place on November 2-6, 1863 during the American Civil War. It was a successful effort on behalf of the Union Army to disrupt Confederate blockade runners along the Gulf Coast in Texas...
Confederate forces abandoned the fort, blowing it up with 8000 pounds (3,628.7 kg) of explosives. In 1864, the town was reoccupied by the Confederates under John Salmon 'Rip' Ford
John Salmon Ford
John Salmon Ford , better known as "Rip" Ford, was a member of the Republic of Texas Congress and later of the State Senate, and mayor of Brownsville, Texas. He was also a Texas Ranger, a Confederate colonel, and a journalist...
. On May 15, 1865, a month after the surrender had been signed at Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House
The Appomattox Courthouse is the current courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892. It is located in the middle of the state about three miles northwest of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, once known as Clover Hill - home of the original Old Appomattox Court House...
, the Battle of Palmito Ranch
Battle of Palmito Ranch
The Battle of Palmito Ranch, also known as the Battle of Palmito Hill and the Battle of Palmetto Ranch, was fought on May 12–13, 1865, during the American Civil War. It was the last major clash of arms in the war...
was fought and won by the Confederates. Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
sent Union General Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele
Frederick Steele was a career military officer in the United States Army, serving as a major general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his successful campaign to retake much of secessionist Arkansas for the Union cause.-Early life:Steele was born in Delhi, New...
to Brownsville to patrol the Mexican-American border after Civil War to aid the Juaristas with military supplies.
On 13 and 14 August 1906, Brownsville was the site of the Brownsville Affair
Brownsville Affair
The Brownsville Affair was a racial incident that arose out of tensions between black soldiers and white citizens in Brownsville, Texas, in 1906. When a white bartender was killed and a police officer wounded by gunshot, townspeople accused the members of the 25th Regiment, an all-black unit...
. Racial tensions were high between white townsfolk and black infantrymen stationed at Fort Brown
Fort Brown
Fort Brown was a military post of the United States Army in Texas during the later half of 19th century and the early part of the 20th century.-Early years:...
. On the night of 13 August, one white bartender was killed and a white police officer was wounded by rifle shots in the street. Townsfolk, including the mayor, accused the infantrymen as the murderers. Without a chance to defend themselves in a hearing, President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
dishonorably discharged the entire 167 member regiment due to their accused "conspiracy of silence
Conspiracy of silence (expression)
The expression conspiracy of silence, or culture of silence, relates to a condition or matter which is known to exist, but by tacit communal unspoken consensus is not talked about or acknowledged. Commonly such matters are considered culturally shameful...
". Further investigations in the 1970s found that they were not at fault, and the Nixon Administration
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
reversed all dishonorable discharges.
On September 8, 1926, The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (later known as Texas Southmost College
Texas Southmost College
Texas Southmost College was established in 1926 under the name of The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley and admitted its first class on September 21 of that year. The school was originally a subsidiary of the local school district in Brownsville...
) admitted its first class. In 1945 Fort Brown was decommissioned and in 1948 the City and College acquired the land. Between 1945 to 1970 Brownsville population continued to grow gradually, doubled from 25,000 to 52,000 people. In 1991 Brownsville received a University via the partnership between the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, frequently abbreviated UTB/TSC is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas, on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System...
.
Brownsville was declared an All-America City
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
in the year 2001.
On December 25, 2004, Brownsville had its first instance of measurable snow in 109 years, with 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), and the first recorded White Christmas
White Christmas
A white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere...
. This was part of the 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm
2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm
The 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm was a rare weather event that took place in Louisiana and Texas in the United States on December 24, 2004 before the storm moved northeast to affect the coastal sections of the Mid-Atlantic states and New England in the succeeding few days...
. The snow was subsequently sold on eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
Economy
An important pillar of the economy is the Port of BrownsvillePort of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is a deep water seaport in Brownsville, Texas , and is the southern terminus of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The port is located just eight miles from the border of Mexico at the Rio Grande. It's hinterland is most of Northern Mexico, including the large industrial...
. The port, located 2 miles (3.2 km) from the city, provides an important link between the road networks of nearby Mexico, and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is the portion of the Intracoastal Waterway located along the Gulf Coast of the United States. It is a navigable inland waterway running approximately 1700 kilometers from Carrabelle, Florida, to Brownsville, Texas.The waterway provides a channel with a controlling...
of Texas.
The port's Hinterland, from where it draws cargo, is Monterrey, Mexico, just 198 miles to the West, which is one of Latin America's largest industrial cities.
Top employers
According to Brownsville's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brownsville Independent School District Brownsville Independent School District Brownsville Independent School District is a school district based in Brownsville, Texas, United States.BISD serves most of the city of Brownsville and a portion of the town of Rancho Viejo as well as unincorporated areas in Cameron County, including Cameron Park, Reid Hope King, San Pedro, South... |
7,434 |
| 2 | University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, frequently abbreviated UTB/TSC is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas, on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System... |
2,386 |
| 3 | Cameron County Cameron County, Texas Cameron County is the southernmost county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 406,220. Its county seat is Brownsville. Cameron was founded in 1848... |
2,076 |
| 4 | Keppel AmFELS | 1,695 |
| 5 | City of Brownsville | 1,178 |
| 6 | Walmart | 1,174 |
| 7 | Convergys Convergys Convergys Corporation is a corporation based in Cincinnati, Ohio that provides solutions in customer management and information management. Customer management solutions include agent assisted, self-service and proactive care solutions tailored to the communications, financial services,... |
1,000 |
| 8 | H-E-B H-E-B HEB Grocery Company, LP is a privately held San Antonio, Texas-based supermarket chain with more than 315 stores throughout Texas and northern Mexico. The company also operates Central Market, an upscale organic and fine foods retailer.H-E-B ranked No... |
975 |
| 9 | Valley Regional Medical Center Hospital Corporation of America Hospital Corporation of America is the largest private operator of health care facilities in the world, It is based in Nashville, Tennessee and is widely considered to be the single largest factor in making that city a hotspot for healthcare enterprise.-History:The founders of HCA include Jack C.... |
757 |
| 10 | Valley Baptist Medical Center Baptist General Convention of Texas The Baptist General Convention of Texas is the oldest surviving Baptist convention in the state of Texas. The churches cooperating with the Baptist General Convention of Texas partner nationally and internationally with both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,... |
717 |
City government
Brownsville has a Council-Manager style of Government. The Mayor and six City Commissioners, two At-Large and four District, serve staggered four year terms. Elections are held for one At-Large and two District seats every two years. Municipal elections are held on the first Saturday of May in odd numbered years.As of 2006, the members of the Commission are:
- Mayor: Antonio "Tony" Martinez (Since 2011)
- Commissioner At-Large "A": Estela Chavez-Vasquez(Since 2011)
- Commissioner At-Large "B": Dr. Rose M.Z. Gowen (Since 2009)
- Commissioner District 1: Ricardo Longoria Jr. (Since 2003)
- Commissioner District 2: Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa (Since 2011)
- Commissioner District 3: Melissa Zamora (Since 2009)
- Commissioner District 4: John Villarreal (Since 2011)
The next regular elections for the City will occur in the following years:
- Mayor: 2015
- At-Large "A": 2015
- At-Large "B": 2013
- District 1: 2015
- District 2: 2015
- District 3: 2013
- District 4: 2013
The City Commission appoints the City Manager. As of 2006, the City Manager is Charlie Cabler.
The City Commission also appoints a six member Public Utilities Board for a four-year term. Members are limited to two consecutive or non-consecutive terms. The Mayor is an ex-officio member of the Board.
Federal representation
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates post offices in Brownsville. The Brownsville Main Post Office is located at 1535 East Los Ebanos Boulevard. Downtown Brownsville is served by the Downtown Brownsville Post Office at 1001 East Elizabeth Street.
There is also a National Weather Service office and doppler radar site in Brownsville. They provide forecasts and radar coverage for Deep South Texas and the adjacent coastal waters.
Universities and colleges
- University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost CollegeUniversity of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost CollegeThe University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, frequently abbreviated UTB/TSC is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas, on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System...
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston was created by the UT System Board of Regents and supported by the Texas Legislature in 1972...
, School of Public Health (UTSPH), Brownsville Regional Campus
The School of Public Health (UTSPH) opened in 2001 as part of the legislated Regional Academic Health Center program, or RAHC and is physically located on the campus of the University of Texas at Brownsville. UTSPH - Brownsville is a regional campus of the University of Texas School of Public Health
University of Texas School of Public Health
The University of Texas School of Public Health is one of eight component institutions of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston ....
statewide network which offer students a graduate certificate in public health and the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) graduate degree. Starting in 2009, the Brownsville Regional Campus also began offering a PhD program in Epidemiology and a Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH) in Health Promotion, the only program's of their kind in South Texas. Major public health concerns of the faculty and researchers found here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Texas include diabetes, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
and hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
. Other areas of public health significance include physical activity, behavioral journalism, healthy living, diet and lifestyles activities. The Brownsville Regional Campus is also developing a strong research focus in genetics and its relationship to infectious and chronic disease.
Public schools
Most of Brownsville is served by Brownsville Independent School DistrictBrownsville Independent School District
Brownsville Independent School District is a school district based in Brownsville, Texas, United States.BISD serves most of the city of Brownsville and a portion of the town of Rancho Viejo as well as unincorporated areas in Cameron County, including Cameron Park, Reid Hope King, San Pedro, South...
. The BISD counted its total enrollment in the 2010-11 at 49,155 students in 57 schools. It is the 17th largest school district in Texas. A portion of northern Brownsville is served by the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District
Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District
Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Los Fresnos, Texas .In addition to Los Fresnos, the district serves the towns of Bayview and Indian Lake as well as the communities of Arroyo Gardens-La Tina Ranch, Chula Vista-Orason, Del Mar Heights, Green...
.
In addition, Brownsville residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District
South Texas Independent School District
South Texas Independent School District is a public school district headquartered in Mercedes, Texas . STISD operates magnet schools that draw students from three counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy...
, as well as BISD magnet schools. Each BISD high school has a magnet school within the school (example, Gladys Porter High School
Gladys Porter High School
Gladys Porter High School, Brownsville Independent School District's 2nd public high school, opened its doors in 1974. It was built to alleviate the over-crowded conditions which had existed at Brownsville High School, now Homer Hanna High School, for three years. Even before the construction...
, has the district's Technology and Engineering Professions magnet program).
State charter schools
- Raul Yzaguirre School For Success
- Sentry Technology Prep Charter High School
- IDEA Public Schools Frontier Academy and College Prep
- Harmony Science Academy-Brownsville (K–12)
- Math and Science Academy-UTB
Private and parochial schools
Grades 9-12:- Livingway Christian School (grades K3-12)
- Saint Joseph Academy (grades 7 through 12)
- Valley Christian High School
- First Baptist High School
Grades 1-8:
- Brownsville SDA School
- Episcopal Day School
- First Baptist School
- Faith Christian Academy
- Guadalupe Regional Middle School
- Incarnate Word Academy
- Kenmont Montessori School
- St. Luke's Catholic School
- St. Mary's Catholic School
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville is a Roman Catholic diocese in Texas. It was founded on July 10, 1965. The number of catholics is 943,611 among the total population of 1,110,130 in 2006...
operates area Catholic schools.
Public libraries
The Brownsville Public Library System operates the Main Library and the Southmost Branch.Transportation
Mass transit
Established in mid-Brownsville in 1978, with expanding bus service to rapidly developing North Brownsville. The Brownsville Urban SystemBrownsville Urban System
The Brownsville Urban System, or "BUS" for short, is a mass transit system based in and serving Brownsville, TX. It is currently the largest mass transit system in the Rio Grande Valley, TX, and is the only mass transit system in Cameron County, TX....
(BUS) consists of 14 buses running 11 routes covering a large portion of Brownsville. http://bus.cityofbrownsville.us/
Highways
Brownsville is served by the following U.S. Highways:- U.S. Route 77U.S. Route 77U.S. Route 77 is a north–south United States highway. It is unsigned in and around Dallas, Texas. Its historic segment through South Dakota and Minnesota was decommissioned with the advent of Interstate 29 but otherwise the route has been spared the decommissioning that has shortened other US...
to KingsvilleKingsville, TexasAs of the census of 2000, there were 25,575 people, 8,943 households, and 6,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,848.8 people per square mile . There were 10,427 housing units at an average density of 753.8 per square mile...
, Corpus ChristiCorpus Christi, TexasCorpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
(U.S. 77 is a proposed part of the North American Free Trade AgreementNorth American Free Trade AgreementThe North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
's future Interstate 69Interstate 69Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
) - U.S. Route 83U.S. Route 83U.S. Route 83 is one of the longest north–south U.S. Highways in the United States, at . Only four other north–south routes are longer: U.S. Routes 1, 41, 59 and 87. The highway's northern terminus is north of Westhope, North Dakota, at the Canadian border, where it continues as...
to McAllenMcAllen, TexasMcAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley and is part of the . Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.–Mexico border and the Mexican city of Reynosa, the Rio... - U.S. Route 281U.S. Route 281U.S. Route 281 is a north–south United States highway. At 1,872 miles long it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route....
to EdinburgEdinburg, TexasEdinburg is a city in and the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,100 at the 2010 census. The University of Texas–Pan American, the only fully accredited four-year university in the Rio Grande Valley, is located in Edinburg.Edinburg is part of the...
International bridges
Brownsville has three international bridges:- The Brownsville & Matamoros International BridgeBrownsville & Matamoros International BridgeThe Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge, also known as B&M International Bridge, Brownsville-Matamoros International Bridge and Express Bridge, is one of three international bridges that cross the U.S.-Mexico border between the cities of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas.It is...
(B&M), known locally as the "Old Bridge".- The B&M International Bridge also serves as an international railway for Union Pacific
- Gateway International BridgeGateway International BridgeGateway International Bridge is one of three international bridges that cross the U.S.-Mexico border between the cities of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. It is owned and operated by Cameron County. Over the past century, it has developed the nickname of "The New Bridge" when the...
, known locally as the "new bridge" despite the fact that it's no longer the city's newest international bridge. - The Veteran's International BridgeVeteran's International BridgeThe Veterans International Bridge at Los Tomates is one of three international bridges that span the Mexico – United States border between the cities of Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. It is also known as simply as the Veterans Bridge, the Los Tomates Bridge, or on the Mexico side as...
at Los Tomates, or locally simply known as the "Los Tomates" or "Veteran's" bridge.
Airport
Brownsville has its own city-owned airport, the Brownsville/South Padre Island International AirportBrownsville/South Padre Island International Airport
-Cargo:The airport is the largest air cargo handling airport in the Rio Grande Valley.Pan American Airways and World-Wide Consolidated Logistics, Inc. will open cargo service to Latin America in 2011. A TSA Certified Cargo Screening Facility is being established by World-Wide Consolidated...
. The airport is used for general aviation and is served by Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
(service to Houston-Intercontinental
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59...
) AeroMexico
Aeroméxico
Airways of Mexico, SA de CV , operating as Aeroméxico, is the flag carrier airline of Mexico based in Colonia Cuauhtémoc, Cuauhtémoc, Mexico City. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to North America, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia...
(service to Monterrey, NL, Mexico) and American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
(service to Dallas-Fort Worth
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, and is the busiest airport in the U.S. state of Texas...
).
Art and culture
The Brownsville area is full of well-established art galleries and museums that represent not only art of the region and Mexico but feature traveling exhibits from around the world.Sports
Each year, Brownsville hosts the Jackie Robinson World Series for nine-year-old baseball players.In 1920 the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
held spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in Brownsville.
Television
The Brownsville area is served by numerous local television affiliates.- XHRIO-TVXHRIO-TVXHRIO-TV, channel 2, also known as Fox Rio 2 or Fox XRIO, is the local Fox affiliate for the Lower Rio Grande Valley. It is licensed to Matamoros, Mexico, but serves American audiences across the Rio Grande Valley area from studios in McAllen, Texas...
2 FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
- Matamoros, TamaulipasMatamoros, TamaulipasMatamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second... - KGBT-TVKGBT-TVKGBT-TV, virtual channel 4 , is a CBS affiliate located in Harlingen, Texas. Its market includes the greater Rio Grande Valley metropolitan area. KGBT is currently owned by Barrington Broadcasting Company. Its transmitter is located in Cameron County, Texas...
4 CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
- Harlingen - KRGV-TVKRGV-TVKRGV-TV is the local ABC affiliate television station for the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas . It is licensed to Weslaco, Texas, with studios in Weslaco and transmitter in Santa Maria, Texas...
5 ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
- Weslaco - XHABXHAB-TVXHAB-TV is the television call sign for the Televisa television station in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The channel can also be seen in Texas' Rio Grande Valley market. In addition to local news and programming, XHAB also airs a selection of Televisa's programming...
7 Televisa RegionalTelevisa RegionalTelevisa Regional refers to Televisa owned television stations that broadcast select programming from Televisa's Canal de las Estrellas, FOROtv, Canal 5, and/or Galavisión, Televisa Networks and locally produced programming...
Matamoros, Tamaulipas - XERVXERV-TVXERV-TV is the television call sign for the Televisa television station channel 9 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The station is an affiliate of the Canal de las Estrellas network. It also broadcasts local programming and news. Local programming includes selected games of the Rio Grande Valley...
9 Canal de las EstrellasCanal de las EstrellasCanal de las Estrellas is one of the cornerstone networks of Televisa, with affiliate stations all over Mexico, flagshipped at XEW-TV in Mexico City. Many of the programs of Canal de las Estrellas are seen in the United States on Univision, Telefutura, and Galavisión...
Matamoros, Tamaulipas - XHORXHOR-TVXHOR is the television call sign for the TV Azteca television station in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The station is affiliated to Azteca 7 and Azteca 7 Noreste.-External links:**...
14 Azteca 7Azteca 7Azteca 7 or El 7 is a network owned by TV Azteca, with affiliate stations all over Mexico all of which are owned and operated by TV Azteca. Azteca 7 uses Mexico, Distrito Federal's XHIMT as its flagship station and its channel as part of its name. Azteca 7's programming is available in HD and is...
Reynosa, Tamaulipas - KVTF-CAKVTF-CAKVTF-CA is a low-power television station in Brownsville, Texas, broadcasting locally as an affiliate of the Telefutura network on channel 20....
20 TelefuturaTeleFuturaTeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
- Brownsville - KVEO-TV 23 NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
- Brownsville - KMBH 38 PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
- Harlingen - KTLMKTLMKTLM is a Spanish-language television station in Rio Grande City, Texas, broadcasting locally on channel 40 as an affiliate of Telemundo. The station serves the Rio Grande Valley and is marketed as "Telemundo 40 McAllen"...
40 TelemundoTelemundoTelemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
- McAllen - KLUJ-TVKLUJ-TVKLUJ-TV is a religious television station in Harlingen, Texas, broadcasting locally on digital channel 34 as an affiliate of TBN. Founded August 1, 1983, the station is owned by TBN, under the license name of Community Educational Television.- External links :*...
44 TBNTrinity Broadcasting NetworkThe Trinity Broadcasting Network is a major American Christian television network. TBN is based in Costa Mesa, California, with auxiliary studio facilities in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Gadsden, Alabama; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New...
- Harlingen - KNVO-TV 48 UnivisionUnivisionUnivision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
- McAllen - KNWS-LP 64 Azteca AmericaAzteca AméricaAzteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
- Brownsville
Radio
- KVNS 1700 AM Classic Hits Radio
- KURV 710 AM News Talk
- KFRQ 94.5 FM Rock
- KKPS Que Pasa 99.5 99.5 FM Tejano
- KNVO 101.1 FM
- KVLY 107.9 FM MIX FM
- KBFM Wild 104 104.1 FM Hip-Hop, R&B, Pop, Reggeton
- KBNR 88.3 FM Radio Manantial (Spanish Christian)
- KTEX 100.3 FM Country
- ExaFm 91.3 FM Pop Latino
- Digital 101.5 FM Pop Latino
- KHKZ Kiss 106.3
- KVMV 96.9 FM Contemporary Christian
- KMBHKMBH-FMKMBH-FM , is a National Public Radio member station in Harlingen, Texas, United States.-External links:*...
/KHID 88.9 Public Radio 88 FM NPRNPRNPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and Performance TodayPerformance TodayPerformance Today is a Peabody Award-winning classical music radio show, currently hosted by Fred Child. It is the most listened-to daily classical music radio program in the United States, with 1.2 million listeners on 237 stations... - KJAV 104.9 Jack FMJack FMJACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
Adult HitsAdult hitsAdult hits is a radio format, popular in the early 2000s, that does not adhere to a specific music genre, but instead draws from a wider playlist...
Newspapers
- The Brownsville HeraldThe Brownsville Herald-External links:* * * hosted by the ....
- Valley Morning StarValley Morning StarValley Morning Star, established in 1911, is a newspaper published out of Harlingen, Texas, United States. In 1938, The New York Times reported on a printer's strike at the newspaper that was organized by the Typographical Union. In 1951, the newspaper was bought by Raymond C. Hoiles.-External...
- The MonitorThe Monitor (Texas)The Monitor is a newspaper in McAllen, Texas that covers Starr and Hidalgo counties. It circulates nearly 41,000 copies daily, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations. It is owned by Freedom Communications....
- Island Breeze
- The CollegianThe CollegianThe Collegian may refer to:* The Collegian * The Collegian * The Collegian * The Collegian * The Collegian...
Points of interest
Local attractions include the Gladys Porter ZooGladys Porter Zoo
Gladys Porter Zoo is a zoological and botanical park located in Brownsville, Texas. The zoo officially opened on September 3, 1971, and currently averages 375,000 visitors annually. Situated on , the zoo houses about 400 animal species and over 250 tropical and neo-tropical species and subspecies...
, the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art, Camille Lightner Playhouse, a historical downtown with buildings over 150 years old, the Port of Brownsville
Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville is a deep water seaport in Brownsville, Texas , and is the southern terminus of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The port is located just eight miles from the border of Mexico at the Rio Grande. It's hinterland is most of Northern Mexico, including the large industrial...
, and the Children's Museum of Brownsville. There is also easy access to South Padre Island
South Padre Island
South Padre Island is a barrier island in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located in Cameron County and is a popular vacation destination because the resort city South Padre Island is located on the island. The island itself is considered to have been settled by Padre Jose Nicolas Balli, who had a...
and the Mexican city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
.
Sunrise Mall
Sunrise Mall (Brownsville, Texas)
Sunrise Mall is an enclosed shopping mall in Brownsville, Texas, United States. It was opened in 1979, only five years after the town's other mall, Amigoland Mall. Sunrise Mall features more than 100 stores, including four anchor stores , as well as a food court and a Cinemark movie theater...
is the largest shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
in the city of Brownsville. Since being remodeled in 2000 the mall has become the primary mall in the Brownsville-Harlingen metroplex. Brownsville previously had another shopping mall, Amigoland Mall
Amigoland Mall
Amigoland Mall was an enclosed shopping mall located in Brownsville, Texas. The former mall, which now houses a tech center, is now called the Brownsville ITEC Center....
by Simon
Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American commercial real estate company, ranked #1 in the United States as the largest real estate investment trust. Simon is a fully integrated real estate company which operates from five retail real estate platforms: regional malls, Premium Outlet Centers, The...
, though the building has since been purchased by the University of Texas at Brownsville after many of its tenants moved from Amigoland to Sunrise.
Notable people
- Reynaldo G. Garza (1915–2004) Judge of Brownsville was first appointed to the United States District Court in 1961 by President Kennedy, and to the United States Court of Appeals by President Carter in 1978.
- Antonio Oscar Garza The former US Ambassador to Mexico
- James Carlos BlakeJames Carlos BlakeJames Carlos Blake is an American writer of novels, novellas, short stories, and essays. His work has received extensive critical favor and several notable awards...
, award-winning novelist, received his elementary education at Saint Joseph's Academy.
- Federico PeñaFederico PeñaFederico Fabian Peña is a former United States Secretary of Transportation from 1993 to 1997 and United States Secretary of Energy from 1997 to 1998, during the presidency of Bill Clinton....
: former U.S. Transportation Secretary, former U.S. Energy Secretary and former mayor of DenverDenver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, was raised in Brownsville.
- Jaime ZapataJaime Zapata (U.S. agent)Jaime Jorge Zapata was a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent who was ambushed and shot dead by the Mexican criminal group Los Zetas in San Luis Potosí, Mexico. He was one of the two agents that was ambushed at a fake roadblock, known as a narco-blockade, in a part of the country that is...
(1979–2011): Notable U.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs EnforcementU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security , responsible for identifying, investigating, and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation, and infrastructure security...
agent that was ambushed, shot, and killed by Los ZetasLos ZetasLos Zetas is the second most powerful drug cartel in Mexico and considered by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as the most violent drug cartel and paramilitary enforcement group in Mexico...
in San Luis PotosíSan Luis PotosíSan Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He was returning from a meeting in Mexico CityMexico CityMexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
; Victor Avila, another agent that accompanied him, was wounded.
- Dr. Juliet V. García: the first Hispanic woman to serve as a college president and one of Time'sTime (magazine)Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
"10 Best College Presidents," was born in Brownsville, and is the current president of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost CollegeUniversity of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost CollegeThe University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, frequently abbreviated UTB/TSC is an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas, on the land once occupied by Fort Brown. It is a member of the University of Texas System...
.
- Americo ParedesAmerico ParedesAmerico Paredes was a Mexican-American author born in Brownsville, Texas who authored several texts focusing on the border life that existed between the United States and Mexico, particularly around the Rio Grande region of South Texas. His family on his father’s side, however, had been in the...
: Mexican-American writer and author of George Washington Gomez, was born in Brownsville on 3 September 1915.
- Kris KristoffersonKris KristoffersonKristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
(1936-present): Actor and singer.
- Elka Walker (1978-present): best known for MTV's reality series The Real WorldThe Real WorldThe Real World is a reality television program on MTV originally produced by Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray. First broadcast in 1992, the show, which was inspired by the 1973 PBS documentary series An American Family, is the longest-running program in MTV history and one of the...
- Julian SchnabelJulian SchnabelJulian Schnabel is an American artist and filmmaker. In the 1980s, Schnabel received international media attention for his "plate paintings"—large-scale paintings set on broken ceramic plates....
Artist and director; spent his formative years and decided to become an artist in Brownsville.
- Shelbie BruceShelbie BruceShelbie Carole Bruce is an American teen actress fluent in both English and Spanish who had a lead role in the film Spanglish....
(1992-present): Actress.
- Kristian MenchacaKristian MenchacaKristian Menchaca , Brownsville, Texas, was a United States Army Private First Class who was tortured, killed, and mutilated by Al-Qaeda in Iraq. He was married to Christina Menchaca of Big Spring in September 2005, before he was deployed to Iraq.-Military life:Menchaca was one of two U.S...
: soldier, Iraqi war casualty.
- Efren SaldivarEfren SaldivarEfren Saldivar is an American serial killer who murdered patients while working as a respiratory therapist.-Early life:...
: Serial killer.
Sister cities
Heroica Matamoros, TamaulipasMatamoros, Tamaulipas
Matamoros, officially known as Heroica Matamoros, is a city in the northeastern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas, in the United States. Matamoros is the second largest and second...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(2009) Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas
Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas
Valle Hermoso is a city in Valle Hermoso Municipality in the northeastern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city serves as the municipal seat of the municipality, which is bordered by the municipalities of Matamoros and Río Bravo...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(2009)
See also
- Nuevo SantanderNuevo SantanderNuevo Santander was a region of the Virreinato de Nueva España, corresponding generally to the modern Mexican state of Tamaulipas and southern Texas. Nuevo Santander was named after Santander, Spain, and settled by Spanish American colonists in a concerted settlement campaign peaking in 1748-1750...
- Virreinato de Nueva España
- José de Escandón y Helguera, 1st Count of Sierra GordaJosé de EscandónJosé de Escandón y Helguera, 1st Count of Sierra Gorda was a Spanish Indian-fighter in New Spain and the founder and first governor of the colony of Nuevo Santander, which extended from the Pánuco River in the modern-day Mexican state of Veracruz to the Guadalupe River in...
External links
- City of Brownsville
- Brownsville Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Brownsville Chamber of Commerce
- Brownsville Public Library System
- The Handbook of Texas Online Brownsville, Texas
- National Weather Service - Brownsville
- WikiTravel.org Brownsville, Texas
- http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/wildareas/documents/human_footprint_Sanderson_etal2002.pdf