McAllen, Texas
Encyclopedia
McAllen 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 Grande
and about 70 miles (112.7 km) west of South Padre Island
and the Gulf of Mexico
. The 2010 census put the city's population at 129,877 and the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area at 774,769. The Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area
counts with a population of nearly 1.7 million.
The area around McAllen was largely rural in character dependent on agriculture for much of its history since it was settled in 1904. The latter half of the 20th century was marked by steady growth that accelerated during the 1980s and led to an economic and population boom in the 1990s and 2000s. Today McAllen is one of the fastest growing urban areas in the United States
. The introduction of the maquiladora
economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to a boom in international trade, cross-border commerce with Mexico and health care. McAllen has been transformed into a major regional retail destination for South Texas and Northern Mexico. This sector has become the driving force in McAllen's economy, growing a staggering 138% since, to over $3 billion and employing 27% of the workforce. While McAllen's total population is 15th among Texas cities, yet it ranked 12th in overall Retail Sales, and third in the State in total retail sales per household and per capita.
to Antonio Gutiérrez and Juan Antonio Villareal in 1767. Gutiérrez and his heirs inhabited the land at least up to 1883, and Villareal's heirs lived on his land for at least fifty years prior to 1852. The Santa Anita Ranch was established around 1797 by José Manuel Gómez, who received the land grant from Spain in 1800. He raised cattle, sheep, goats, and horses on his ranch and helped to continue colonizing the area. His great-granddaughter Salomé Ballí, who inherited the land in the early 1800s, married John Young, a Brownsville
businessman in about 1848. They proceeded to acquire land in the surrounding area, and in 1852 Young applied for porciones 64 and 65 in southern Hidalgo County. Young died in 1859, leaving his holdings to his widow and son, John J. Young, with John McAllen, Young's assistant, as manager. McAllen married Salomé Ballí de Young in 1861, and in 1862 they had a son, James Ballí McAllen. They continued adding land to the ranch, which was renamed the McAllen Ranch. The site of present-day McAllen was within the ranch's boundaries.
By 1903 there were scattered ranches in the area, and in March of that year the Hidalgo Irrigation Company was organized. By the next year, the Hidalgo and San Miguel Extension (now the Sam Fordyce Branch) of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
reached the Santa Anita Ranch. John McAllen and his son James donated land to have the railroad cross their land. On December 5, 1904, the McAllen Townsite Company was formed by Uriah Lott, Leonidas C. Hill, Sr., John McAllen, James Ballí McAllen, and John J. Young. The new community, which was named for John McAllen, had the depot nearest to the county seat, Hidalgo
, eight miles to the south.
By 1911, 5,000 acres was under cultivation in East McAllen with produce consisting of cotton, alfalfa, broom corn, citrus fruits, grapes, and figs. East McAllen had an estimated population of 1,000 that year, and West McAllen had ceased to exist. In 1911 the town applied for and was issued a charter of incorporation under the name McAllen. In 1916, 20,000 New York state troops were stationed at McAllen to help with border disturbances. The resulting economic boom increased the population from 1,200 in 1916 to 6,000 in 1920.
McAllen adopted a home rule charter in 1927. Canning factories, a winery, tortilla plants, wood-working plants, and some oil exploration increased the population to 9,074 by 1930. In 1936 Hiram Garner opened the Valley Distillery, Incorporated, which produced wines from citrus juices. The town was a petroleum and farm chemurgic center with a population of 11,877 in 1940, by which time it had adopted the nickname the City of Palms. In 1941, a suspension bridge
replaced the old bridge to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Tamaulipas
; the new toll bridge was purchased by the city and was officially called the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge
. Its construction resulted in an increased tourist trade that made McAllen a winter resort and port of entry to Mexico. Oil discovered in the Reynosa area in 1947 resulted in a large migration of people from the Mexican interior that constituted a new tourist market and cheap labor supply for McAllen. The sister cities were linked as a result of the increased traffic between them. The population of McAllen was 20,005 in 1950 and 32,728 in 1960. The McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge was the number-two port of entry into Mexico in 1954.
McAllen was an agricultural, oil, and tourist center in 1970, when the population reached 37,636. By the start of the 1970s, McAllen had a 200-bed hospital and a new air-conditioned high school, the first school in the nation featuring on-site power generated by natural-gas-powered turbines. The tourism industry continued to expand as people traveled to the area from both Mexico and the northern United States. The population continued to grow steadily through the 1970s, and reached 66,281 by 1980. During the late 1980s the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone was an important general-purpose foreign trade zone. At the time McAllen’s main industries were retail, tourism and farming, and each was in trouble. The devaluation of the Mexican peso in the 1980s put a damper on cross-border shopping; local tourism was down because of the recession. In 1983 a freeze took out much of the Valley’s citrus crop.
In the mid-1980s, fueled by trade and the growth of the maquiladora
(in which components are shipped to Mexico, assembled and shipped back), things began to pick up in Hidalgo County. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing centre. After the peso devalued it became easier to woo companies to put their plants in Mexico with support operations in Texas. Workers came for jobs, winter Texans returned to enjoy the sun and and Mexicans came to spend money. Thanks to tourist dollars, McAllen has the highest retail spending per capita in the state, says its Chamber of Commerce. The result was unprecedented growth, and Hidalgo County’s population soared from about 280,000 people in 1980 to over 700,000 in 2007.
, the city has a total area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²). 46 square miles (119.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
Although McAllen is named the City of Palms, tropical
vegetation is only locally dominant. There are many deciduous
trees such as Rio Grande Ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana), Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia), Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata
) and Honey Mesquite
(Prosopis glandulosa). In winter, when these trees are bare, many neighborhoods take on a much more temperate appearance.
, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Area
of Florida
but with less precipitation and slightly higher summer maximum temperatures. The average high in January is 70 °F and the average low is 50 °F. The average high is 96 °F and the average low is 76 °F in August. The warm season is extremely long, as average high temperatures are above 90°F (32 °C) and average low temperatures are above 70 °F (21 °C), with relatively high dew point values resulting in higher relative humidity values and heat index values from May through September. Heat index values can consistently reach over 100 °F from May through September.
Average annual precipitation is only 22.96 inches (583.2 mm). Most precipitation occurs in the warm season, with the least precipitation distinctly occurring in the cooler winter. As September is the peak of the north Atlantic hurricane season
and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drop copious amounts of rainfall on the region, this month tends to be by far the wettest, averaging 4.08 inches (103.6 mm) of rain. The driest month is March, with only 0.72 inches (18.3 mm) of precipitation.
Temperatures are frequently above 100 °F (38 °C), occasionally as early as February and as late as the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen is 110 °F (43 °C), once in 1998 and once in 1999. The lowest temperature ever recorded in McAllen is 13 °F (-11 °C), on January 12, 1962.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 106,414 people, 33,151 households, and 26,089 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,314.7 people per square mile (893.8/km²). There were 37,922 housing units at an average density of 824.9 per square mile (318.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city 78.46% White, 0.61% African American, 0.40% Native American, 4.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 15.85% from other races
, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 77.28% of the population.
There were 33,151 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were married couples
living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,641, and the median income for a family was $36,050. Males had a median income of $30,089 versus $22,480 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,939. About 20.9% of families and 23.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 13 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
in 1994, the focal point of economic activity has shifted from agriculture to international trade, health care, retail and tourism. The McAllen area has also been successful in attracting a number of call centers as a result of a young and trainable workforce. A few of the call centers are Converges, T-Mobile, Merkafon, Hotel.com and Ticketmaster.
In Hidalgo County, cross-border cargo and vehicular traffic have increased 345% and 36.4% respectively since the beginning of 1990's, from 228,133 to 1,015,554 cargo trucks in 2008 and from 10.92 million to 14.9 million automobiles. US/Mexico trade crossing the international bridge in Hidalgo County increased from $5.0 billion in 1994, pre-NAFTA, to $12.56 billion in 2000 and $19.9 billion in 2006. From 1995-2006 the Rio Grande Valley share of NAFTA trade increased 168% from $11.1 billion to $31.6 billion.
The McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. Commissioned in 1973, it was the first inland foreign trade zone
in the United States and continuously ranks among the most active FTZs in the nation. There is also a Foreign-Trade Zone designation site at the McAllen-Miller International Airport
to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.S. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions, the FTZ designation offers specific cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers. Products can be brought into the FTZ duty-free. Services have recently extended to include full logistic support services including public warehouse services including pick and pack, order processing, inventory control, incoming/outgoing quality inspection and kitting.
Border agencies tally nearly 40 million legal visits a year by Mexicans coming to Texas for leisure activities. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
figures they spent $3 billion on merchandise in Texas border counties in 2004, the latest data available, up from around $1.6 billion a decade earlier. In the past 10 years, retail sales in McAllen have risen more than 75%, nearly double the nationwide pace of 40% Per-capita sales here are twice the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Forty of the nation's top 100 retailers have recently staked their claim here. When Guess Inc. launched its new clothing boutique, Marciano
, in 2004, the company chose Los Angeles
, Toronto
and McAllen as its three test cities. Foley's
, a chain of department stores in Texas owned by Macy's, in Cincinnati, says operations in McAllen and nearby Laredo
are its fastest-growing locations. J.C. Penney says about three quarters of customers at its McAllen store are from Mexico and last year the chain allowed Mexican shoppers to apply for its gift registry and credit card.
In 2006, McAllen had the second highest per capita Medicare
spending in the United States, eclipsed only by Miami (which has higher living and labor costs). That fact served as the basis of a 2009 article in The New Yorker
by surgeon and author Atul Gawande
which "made waves". In 1992, McAllen was in line with average Medicare spending (~$4,900 for each beneficiary a year). By 2006, the spending had increased to ~$15,000 for each beneficiary a year—almost double the national average. With a $12,000 per capita income, Medicare billing per beneficiary was three thousand dollars higher than the average income of residents. El Paso, a town with similar demographics, billed Medicare ~$7,500 per beneficiary in 2006. El Paso hospitals, despite spending significantly less, outperformed McAllen hospitals on 23 of 25 health indicators.
Using price adjusted 2007 Medicare data (based on the methods of Gottlieb et al.) McAllen had spending elevations of 86% versus El Paso and 75% versus the national average.
(TDCJ) operates an office in McAllen.
The United States Postal Service
operates two post offices in McAllen, including the McAllen Post Office and the Downtown McAllen post office.
McAllen is located in a county that usually votes for the Democratic Party
. McAllen is represented by two Representatives: Ruben Hinojosa
of the 15th Congressional District, and Henry Cuellar
of the 28th Congressional District.
Fare Structure
Downtown Bus Terminal
The City of McAllen also operates the bus terminal facility in downtown McAllen, known as McAllen Central Station. Central Station serves as a hub for MET and for 14 private domestic and international bus lines. Approximately 60 buses depart from Central Station on a daily basis. Central Station also hosts 2 million visitors per year.
travels through McAllen as its major east-west artery. It runs less than five miles south of downtown McAllen
.
serves most of the city. Portions of the city extend into Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District
and that district operates two elementary schools located in the City of McAllen. The Hidalgo Independent School District
, La Joya Independent School District
, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
, Sharyland Independent School District
, and Valley View Independent School District
also serve the City of McAllen.
In addition, residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District
.
IDEA Public Schools
also has Quest Academy & College Preparatory in North McAllen (mile 17 &1/2 and Rooth road).
The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates Our Lady of Sorrows School, an elementary and middle school.
And will be opening a New Main branch in the Fall of 2011.
- The McAllen is positioned on the migratory path between North and South America, presenting bird and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population.
McAllen has hosted the NAIA national football championship
and NCAA Division II national football championship
games in the 1980s. McAllen is home to Rio Grande Speedway, a 1/4 mile dirt track with races the 1st, and 3rd Saturday of each month from March through November, and a national multi-day event around December.
Hidalgo County, Texas
Hidalgo County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Hidalgo County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, and is the seventh most-populous county in Texas. Its population in 2010 was 774,769, a 35% increase from 2000...
, Texas
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in an area known as the 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 is part of the . Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.–Mexico border
United States–Mexico border
The United States–Mexico border is the international border between the United States and Mexico. It runs from Imperial Beach, California, and Tijuana, Baja California, in the west to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, and Brownsville, Texas, in the east, and traverses a variety of terrains, ranging from major...
and the Mexican city of Reynosa, 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...
and about 70 miles (112.7 km) west of 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 Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. The 2010 census put the city's population at 129,877 and the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area at 774,769. The Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area
Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area
Reynosa–McAllen, also known as McAllen–Reynosa, or simply as Borderplex, is one of the six bi-national metropolitan areas along the Mexico–U.S border. The city of Reynosa is situated on the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, while the city of McAllen is located in...
counts with a population of nearly 1.7 million.
The area around McAllen was largely rural in character dependent on agriculture for much of its history since it was settled in 1904. The latter half of the 20th century was marked by steady growth that accelerated during the 1980s and led to an economic and population boom in the 1990s and 2000s. Today McAllen 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 introduction of the maquiladora
Maquiladora
A maquiladora or maquila is a concept often referred to as an operation that involves manufacturing in a country that is not the client's and as such has an interesting duty or tariff treatment...
economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to a boom in international trade, cross-border commerce with Mexico and health care. McAllen has been transformed into a major regional retail destination for South Texas and Northern Mexico. This sector has become the driving force in McAllen's economy, growing a staggering 138% since, to over $3 billion and employing 27% of the workforce. While McAllen's total population is 15th among Texas cities, yet it ranked 12th in overall Retail Sales, and third in the State in total retail sales per household and per capita.
History
McAllen is situated on land that was part of porciones 63 and 64, granted respectively by SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to Antonio Gutiérrez and Juan Antonio Villareal in 1767. Gutiérrez and his heirs inhabited the land at least up to 1883, and Villareal's heirs lived on his land for at least fifty years prior to 1852. The Santa Anita Ranch was established around 1797 by José Manuel Gómez, who received the land grant from Spain in 1800. He raised cattle, sheep, goats, and horses on his ranch and helped to continue colonizing the area. His great-granddaughter Salomé Ballí, who inherited the land in the early 1800s, married John Young, a Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas
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...
businessman in about 1848. They proceeded to acquire land in the surrounding area, and in 1852 Young applied for porciones 64 and 65 in southern Hidalgo County. Young died in 1859, leaving his holdings to his widow and son, John J. Young, with John McAllen, Young's assistant, as manager. McAllen married Salomé Ballí de Young in 1861, and in 1862 they had a son, James Ballí McAllen. They continued adding land to the ranch, which was renamed the McAllen Ranch. The site of present-day McAllen was within the ranch's boundaries.
By 1903 there were scattered ranches in the area, and in March of that year the Hidalgo Irrigation Company was organized. By the next year, the Hidalgo and San Miguel Extension (now the Sam Fordyce Branch) of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway
The St. Louis, Brownsville & Mexico Railway was a 200-mile railroad that operated from Brownsville, Texas to Gulf Coast Junction in Houston. It passed through small southeast Texas communities such as Robstown, Corpus Christi, Bay City, and Harlingen as well as the Rio Grande Valley.-History:Uriah...
reached the Santa Anita Ranch. John McAllen and his son James donated land to have the railroad cross their land. On December 5, 1904, the McAllen Townsite Company was formed by Uriah Lott, Leonidas C. Hill, Sr., John McAllen, James Ballí McAllen, and John J. Young. The new community, which was named for John McAllen, had the depot nearest to the county seat, Hidalgo
Hidalgo, Texas
Hidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,198 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA...
, eight miles to the south.
By 1911, 5,000 acres was under cultivation in East McAllen with produce consisting of cotton, alfalfa, broom corn, citrus fruits, grapes, and figs. East McAllen had an estimated population of 1,000 that year, and West McAllen had ceased to exist. In 1911 the town applied for and was issued a charter of incorporation under the name McAllen. In 1916, 20,000 New York state troops were stationed at McAllen to help with border disturbances. The resulting economic boom increased the population from 1,200 in 1916 to 6,000 in 1920.
McAllen adopted a home rule charter in 1927. Canning factories, a winery, tortilla plants, wood-working plants, and some oil exploration increased the population to 9,074 by 1930. In 1936 Hiram Garner opened the Valley Distillery, Incorporated, which produced wines from citrus juices. The town was a petroleum and farm chemurgic center with a population of 11,877 in 1940, by which time it had adopted the nickname the City of Palms. In 1941, a suspension bridge
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
replaced the old bridge to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, 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...
; the new toll bridge was purchased by the city and was officially called the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge
McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge
The McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge since 1926, has served the interests of the U. S. and Mexico. It connects the cities of McAllen and Hidalgo, Texas to Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It is one of the largest projects ever undertaken by the City of McAllen, Texas. The bridge itself is in...
. Its construction resulted in an increased tourist trade that made McAllen a winter resort and port of entry to Mexico. Oil discovered in the Reynosa area in 1947 resulted in a large migration of people from the Mexican interior that constituted a new tourist market and cheap labor supply for McAllen. The sister cities were linked as a result of the increased traffic between them. The population of McAllen was 20,005 in 1950 and 32,728 in 1960. The McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge was the number-two port of entry into Mexico in 1954.
McAllen was an agricultural, oil, and tourist center in 1970, when the population reached 37,636. By the start of the 1970s, McAllen had a 200-bed hospital and a new air-conditioned high school, the first school in the nation featuring on-site power generated by natural-gas-powered turbines. The tourism industry continued to expand as people traveled to the area from both Mexico and the northern United States. The population continued to grow steadily through the 1970s, and reached 66,281 by 1980. During the late 1980s the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone was an important general-purpose foreign trade zone. At the time McAllen’s main industries were retail, tourism and farming, and each was in trouble. The devaluation of the Mexican peso in the 1980s put a damper on cross-border shopping; local tourism was down because of the recession. In 1983 a freeze took out much of the Valley’s citrus crop.
In the mid-1980s, fueled by trade and the growth of the maquiladora
Maquiladora
A maquiladora or maquila is a concept often referred to as an operation that involves manufacturing in a country that is not the client's and as such has an interesting duty or tariff treatment...
(in which components are shipped to Mexico, assembled and shipped back), things began to pick up in Hidalgo County. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing centre. After the peso devalued it became easier to woo companies to put their plants in Mexico with support operations in Texas. Workers came for jobs, winter Texans returned to enjoy the sun and and Mexicans came to spend money. Thanks to tourist dollars, McAllen has the highest retail spending per capita in the state, says its Chamber of Commerce. The result was unprecedented growth, and Hidalgo County’s population soared from about 280,000 people in 1980 to over 700,000 in 2007.
Geography
McAllen is located at 26°12′59"N 98°14′11"W (26.216263, -98.236385). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²). 46 square miles (119.1 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (0.63%) is water.
Although McAllen is named the City of Palms, tropical
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
vegetation is only locally dominant. There are many deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
trees such as Rio Grande Ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana), Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia), Sugarberry (Celtis laevigata
Celtis laevigata
Celtis laevigata is a medium-sized tree native to North America. Common names include Sugarberry, Southern Hackberry, or in the southern U.S. Sugar Hackberry or just Hackberry....
) and Honey Mesquite
Honey Mesquite
Prosopis glandulosa, commonly known as honey mesquite, is a species of small to medium-sized flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico, growing as far north as southern Kansas and as far east as the eastern fifth of Texas, where...
(Prosopis glandulosa). In winter, when these trees are bare, many neighborhoods take on a much more temperate appearance.
Climate
McAllen has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Area
Tampa Bay Area
The Tampa Bay Area is the region of west central Florida adjacent to Tampa Bay. Definitions of the region vary. It is often considered equivalent to the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area defined by the United States Census Bureau. The Census Bureau currently...
of 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...
but with less precipitation and slightly higher summer maximum temperatures. The average high in January is 70 °F and the average low is 50 °F. The average high is 96 °F and the average low is 76 °F in August. The warm season is extremely long, as average high temperatures are above 90°F (32 °C) and average low temperatures are above 70 °F (21 °C), with relatively high dew point values resulting in higher relative humidity values and heat index values from May through September. Heat index values can consistently reach over 100 °F from May through September.
Average annual precipitation is only 22.96 inches (583.2 mm). Most precipitation occurs in the warm season, with the least precipitation distinctly occurring in the cooler winter. As September is the peak of the north Atlantic hurricane season
Atlantic hurricane season
The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year when hurricanes usually form in the Atlantic Ocean. Tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are called hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. In addition, there have been several storms over the years that have not been fully...
and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drop copious amounts of rainfall on the region, this month tends to be by far the wettest, averaging 4.08 inches (103.6 mm) of rain. The driest month is March, with only 0.72 inches (18.3 mm) of precipitation.
Temperatures are frequently above 100 °F (38 °C), occasionally as early as February and as late as the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen is 110 °F (43 °C), once in 1998 and once in 1999. The lowest temperature ever recorded in McAllen is 13 °F (-11 °C), on January 12, 1962.
Population and demographics
McAllen's population was 129,877 according to the 2010 census. The 2000 census put the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area at a population of 569,463, and growth increased the metropolitan area's population to 774,769 according to the 2010 Census. It is the 187th largest city in the U.S. and the 70th largest metropolitan area.As of the census
Census
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 2000, there were 106,414 people, 33,151 households, and 26,089 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 2,314.7 people per square mile (893.8/km²). There were 37,922 housing units at an average density of 824.9 per square mile (318.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city 78.46% White, 0.61% African American, 0.40% Native American, 4.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 15.85% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 77.28% of the population.
There were 33,151 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% 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, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.64.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,641, and the median income for a family was $36,050. Males had a median income of $30,089 versus $22,480 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,939. About 20.9% of families and 23.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.5% of those under age 13 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The Rio Grande Valley really didn't begin its rapid develop until the introduction of irrigation in 1898 and the building of the railroad in 1904. These major additions turned a once relatively desolate area into a major agricultural center. Throughout much of the 1900s, McAllen was a rural, agriculture-based economy characterized by sporadic growth. Today, the area is being transformed into a major international trade area by developing first-rate commercial, retail, office, industrial, medical, retirement and educational facilities. As recently as 1990, McAllen's unemployment rate was at 22.6 percent. By the end of 2005, that figure dropped to 7.7 percent. However, In 2011, census.gov listed the McAllen metro area the poorest in the nation.Trade
Since the 1980s and especially since the ratification of the North American Free Trade AgreementNorth American Free Trade Agreement
The 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...
in 1994, the focal point of economic activity has shifted from agriculture to international trade, health care, retail and tourism. The McAllen area has also been successful in attracting a number of call centers as a result of a young and trainable workforce. A few of the call centers are Converges, T-Mobile, Merkafon, Hotel.com and Ticketmaster.
In Hidalgo County, cross-border cargo and vehicular traffic have increased 345% and 36.4% respectively since the beginning of 1990's, from 228,133 to 1,015,554 cargo trucks in 2008 and from 10.92 million to 14.9 million automobiles. US/Mexico trade crossing the international bridge in Hidalgo County increased from $5.0 billion in 1994, pre-NAFTA, to $12.56 billion in 2000 and $19.9 billion in 2006. From 1995-2006 the Rio Grande Valley share of NAFTA trade increased 168% from $11.1 billion to $31.6 billion.
The McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. Commissioned in 1973, it was the first inland foreign trade zone
Foreign trade zone
A foreign-trade zone in the United States is a geographical area, in United States Ports of Entry Ports of Entry, where commercial merchandise, both domestic and foreign receives the same Customs treatment it would if it were outside the commerce of the United States...
in the United States and continuously ranks among the most active FTZs in the nation. There is also a Foreign-Trade Zone designation site at the McAllen-Miller International Airport
McAllen-Miller International Airport
McAllen-Miller International Airport is an airport in McAllen, Texas, United States, located south of the central business district. The airport has 2 runways and one terminal with 5 gates. According to the updated 20-year Master Plan for MFE, runway 13/31 will be extended to 10,000 ft. In...
to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.S. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions, the FTZ designation offers specific cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers. Products can be brought into the FTZ duty-free. Services have recently extended to include full logistic support services including public warehouse services including pick and pack, order processing, inventory control, incoming/outgoing quality inspection and kitting.
Retail sales
McAllen is the retail center of South Texas and Northern Mexico, drawing from a consumer base of over 10 million people within a 200-mile radius. McAllen is represented by 40 of America's top 100 retailers and is ranked 3rd in Texas in per capita sales tax receipts. The retail sales sector has become the driving force in McAllen's economy, growing a staggering 138% over the last 10 years, to over $ 3.58 billion and employing 27% of the workforce. The Chamber of Commerce estimates that at least 35% of all retail sales in McAllen are purchased by visitors from Mexico.Border agencies tally nearly 40 million legal visits a year by Mexicans coming to Texas for leisure activities. The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas covers the Eleventh Federal Reserve District, which includes Texas, northern Louisiana and southern New Mexico....
figures they spent $3 billion on merchandise in Texas border counties in 2004, the latest data available, up from around $1.6 billion a decade earlier. In the past 10 years, retail sales in McAllen have risen more than 75%, nearly double the nationwide pace of 40% Per-capita sales here are twice the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Forty of the nation's top 100 retailers have recently staked their claim here. When Guess Inc. launched its new clothing boutique, Marciano
Marciano Stores
Marciano is an American upscale fashion brand, which is owned and operated by Guess Inc named after Guess's CEO Paul Marciano. It is the first extension line by Guess and includes clothing such as tops, skirts and dresses, jeans and accessories such as necklaces, earrings and bracelets sold...
, in 2004, the company chose Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and McAllen as its three test cities. Foley's
Foley's
Foley’s was a chain of department stores owned by May Department Stores and headquartered in Downtown Houston, Texas. As of August 30, 2005, the division was dissolved and operation of the stores was assumed by Federated's Macy's West and Macy's South divisions. Foley's operated stores in Texas,...
, a chain of department stores in Texas owned by Macy's, in Cincinnati, says operations in McAllen and nearby 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,...
are its fastest-growing locations. J.C. Penney says about three quarters of customers at its McAllen store are from Mexico and last year the chain allowed Mexican shoppers to apply for its gift registry and credit card.
Health care industry
In 1999, McAllen had one of the lowest concentrations of physicians per person in the U.S., with a value of 1 primary care physician per 2500 people, despite a 53% increase in the physican supply since 1979.In 2006, McAllen had the second highest per capita Medicare
Medicare (United States)
Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
spending in the United States, eclipsed only by Miami (which has higher living and labor costs). That fact served as the basis of a 2009 article in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
by surgeon and author Atul Gawande
Atul Gawande
Atul Gawande is an American physician and journalist. He serves as a general and endocrine surgeon at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts and associate director of their Center for Surgery and Public Health...
which "made waves". In 1992, McAllen was in line with average Medicare spending (~$4,900 for each beneficiary a year). By 2006, the spending had increased to ~$15,000 for each beneficiary a year—almost double the national average. With a $12,000 per capita income, Medicare billing per beneficiary was three thousand dollars higher than the average income of residents. El Paso, a town with similar demographics, billed Medicare ~$7,500 per beneficiary in 2006. El Paso hospitals, despite spending significantly less, outperformed McAllen hospitals on 23 of 25 health indicators.
Using price adjusted 2007 Medicare data (based on the methods of Gottlieb et al.) McAllen had spending elevations of 86% versus El Paso and 75% versus the national average.
Government
The Texas Department of Criminal JusticeTexas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
(TDCJ) operates an office in McAllen.
The United States Postal Service
United 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 two post offices in McAllen, including the McAllen Post Office and the Downtown McAllen post office.
McAllen is located in a county that usually votes for the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. McAllen is represented by two Representatives: Ruben Hinojosa
Rubén Hinojosa
Rubén E. Hinojosa is the U.S. House of Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district stretches from the Rio Grande Valley to historic Goliad County and the Coastal Bend region...
of the 15th Congressional District, and Henry Cuellar
Henry Cuellar
Henry Roberto Cuellar is the U.S Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district extends from the Rio Grande to the suburbs of San Antonio, including Guadalupe County and nearby Wilson County.Outside of politics, he has served as a professor at the...
of the 28th Congressional District.
Mass transit
McAllen Express Transit (MET) has provided public transportation for the City of McAllen since June 1997. In the beginning, McAllen’s public transportation system, McAllen Express (ME), was administered by the Lower Rio Grande Development Council. Since 2005, MET has been operated as a Department of the City of McAllen. MET now has seven fixed routes serving residents and visitors of McAllen. MET operates six days out of the week, 13 hours per day. In 2003, changes in the census affected McAllen’s urbanized area, and MET lost $1.5 million in operating funds. Nonetheless, the City of McAllen has worked diligently to ensure that service levels are maintained, and continues to plan for service improvements. Ridership in 1997 totaled 42,578 passenger trips. The first full year of operation was in 1998, and the ridership recorded for that year was 201,506 passenger trips. In 2008 McAllen Express Transit accomplished record high numbers in ridership, totalling 412,151 passenger trips, accounting for more than twice the ridership recorded in 1998.Fare Structure
| Adults | Students | Elderly |
|---|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.50 | $0.50 |
Downtown Bus Terminal
The City of McAllen also operates the bus terminal facility in downtown McAllen, known as McAllen Central Station. Central Station serves as a hub for MET and for 14 private domestic and international bus lines. Approximately 60 buses depart from Central Station on a daily basis. Central Station also hosts 2 million visitors per year.
Highways
U.S. 83U.S. Route 83
U.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...
travels through McAllen as its major east-west artery. It runs less than five miles south of downtown McAllen
Downtown McAllen
Downtown McAllen is the main business district in McAllen, Texas. U.S. Route 83 runs less than a mile south of the downtown area. The City's Central Business District and encompasses the area west of 12th street, east of Bicentennical, south of Hackberry and north of Jackson Road...
.
Airports
- McAllen-Miller International AirportMcAllen-Miller International AirportMcAllen-Miller International Airport is an airport in McAllen, Texas, United States, located south of the central business district. The airport has 2 runways and one terminal with 5 gates. According to the updated 20-year Master Plan for MFE, runway 13/31 will be extended to 10,000 ft. In...
was the Rio Grande ValleyRio Grande ValleyThe Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
's busiest airport in 2009 It is served by American Airlines with non-stop service to Dallas/Ft. Worth, Continental with non-stop service to Houston, Allegiant Airlines with non-stop flights to Las Vegas and Orlando-Sanford, and Delta Air Lines with non-stop service to Atlanta, Georgia.
Television stations
- XHRIOXHRIO-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 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...
Fox - KGBTKGBT-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 Harlingen, TexasHarlingen, TexasHarlingen 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...
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... - KRGVKRGV-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 Weslaco, TexasWeslaco, TexasWeslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,670 at the 2010 census. Weslaco derives its name from the W.E. Stewart Land Company...
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... - 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 Matamoros, Tamaulipas TelevisaTelevisaTelevisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract... - 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 Matamoros, Tamaulipas Canal de las Etrellas - XHREYXHREY-TVXHREY is the television call sign for the TV Azteca television station in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The station is an affiliate of Azteca 13 and is part of Azteca 13 Noreste.-External links:**...
12 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca 13Azteca 13Azteca 13 is a television broadcast network owned by TV Azteca, with affiliate stations all over Mexico all of which are owned and operated by TV Azteca. Azteca 13 uses Mexico, Distrito Federal's XHDF as its flagship station and its channel as part of its name... - 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 Reynosa, Tamaulipas 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... - KVEOKVEOKVEO-TV is the NBC affiliate television station for Brownsville, Texas, and serves the entire surrounding metropolitan area, known as the Rio Grande Valley....
' 23 Brownsville, TexasBrownsville, TexasBrownsville 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...
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... - 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 Rio Grande City, TexasRio Grande City, TexasRio Grande City is a city in and the county seat of Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,834 at the 2010 census. The city is 41 miles west of McAllen. It is the hometown of former Commander of U.S. Forces in Iraq, General Ricardo Sanchez. The city also holds the March record...
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.... - KNVO 48 McAllen, Texas 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...
- KTIZKSFE-LPKSFE-LP channel 67 is a low-powered CW affiliate in McAllen, Texas, owned by Entravision Communications. Its programming is also seen on KTIZ-LP channel 52 in Harlingen, as well as KNVO's digital subchannel, 48.4 / 49.4....
52 Harlingen, Texas The CW - XHVTVMultimedios TelevisionMultimedios Television is a network of Spanish language television stations found throughout Mexico. The system is part of Grupo Multimedios. The flagship station of Multimedios Television is XHAW-TV located in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon. Programming features locally produced news, sports, children's...
54 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Multimedios - KMBH 60 Harlingen, Texas 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....
- MCN 12 McAllen, Texas McAllen Cable Channel
Radio stations
- KCASKCASKCAS is a non-commercial educational radio station licensed to serve McCook, Texas. McCook is a "dispersed rural community" about 20 miles northwest of the county seat, Edinburg, in Hidalgo County, Texas...
The New KCAS 91.5 FM - - KURVKURVKURV is a radio station that serves the Rio Grande Valley border area. The station broadcasts from Edinburg, Texas....
710 AM News Talk Radio - XERDOXERDOXERDO is a Spanish-language AM radio station that serves the Brownsville, Texas / Matamoros, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
LA RADIO 1450 AM (Spanish Oldies/News) - XEMSXEMSXEMS is a Spanish-language AM radio station that serves the Brownsville, Texas / Matamoros, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
Radio Mexicana 1490 AM (Regional Mexican) - XHRYSXHRYSXHRYS is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the Reynosa, Tamaulipas Rio Grande Valley border area.-External links:* * *...
Uni 90.1 FM (Spanish Hit Radio) - XHRYNXHRYNXHRYN is a Spanish-language University FM radio station that serves the McAllen, Texas / Reynosa, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
Uni 90.5 FM (Spanish Hit Radio) - XHRYAXHRYAXHRYA is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the McAllen, Texas / Reynosa, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
MasMusic 90.9FM (Bilingual Hit Music) - XMLS EXA 91.3 FM (Spanish Hit Radio)
- XHAAAXHAAAXHAAA is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the McAllen, Texas / Reynosa, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
La Caliente 93.1 FM (Mexican Norteño) - KFRQKFRQKFRQ is a radio station broadcasting an active rock format. Licensed to Harlingen, Texas, USA, and broadcast out of McAllen, Texas, the station serves the lower Rio Grande Valley area. The station is currently owned by Entravision Holdings, LLC....
Q94.5 FM (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock) - XHRTXHRTXHRT is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the McAllen, Texas / Reynosa, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
Xtrema 95.3 FM (Spanish Hit Radio) - KBTQKBTQKBTQ is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish Adult Hits format. Licensed to Harlingen, Texas, USA, the station serves the McAllen area. The station is currently owned by Tichenor License Corporation.-History:...
Recuerdo 96.1 FM (Mexican Oldies) - KVMVKVMVKVMV is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary Christian format. Licensed to McAllen, Texas, USA, the station serves the McAllen area. The station is currently owned by World Radio Network, Inc....
Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 FM (Adult Contemporary Christian) - KGBT-FMKGBT-FMKGBT-FM is an American radio station in McAllen, Texas at 98.5 FM, owned by Univision Radio, which offers a Regional Mexican music format. The station has had a Regional Mexican format since 1997. It is a sister to KGBT and a former sister of KGBT-TV....
Solamente Exitos 98.5 FM (Mexican Norteño) - KKPSKKPSKKPS is a radio station broadcasting a Tejano format. Licensed to Brownsville, Texas, USA, the station serves the McAllen-Brownsville-Harlingen area. The station is currently owned by Entravision Holdings, LLC.-History:...
Que Pasa 99.5 FM (Local Tejano Music) - KTEXKTEX (FM)KTEX is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Mercedes, Texas, USA, the station serves the McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Brownsville, Texas, area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications .-External links:...
South Texas Country 100.3 FM (Country) - KNVO-FMKNVO-FMKNVO-FM is a radio station licensed to serve Port Isabel, Texas, USA. The station is owned by Entravision Holdings, LLC.KNVO-FM broadcasts a Tejano music format to the Rio Grande Valley area....
JOSE 101.1 FM (Spanish) - XHAVOXHAVOXHAVO is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the McAllen, Texas / Reynosa, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* *...
101.5 FM 92.7 Musica International - KBFMKBFMKBFM is a Rhythmic Top 40 music formatted radio station serving the Rio Grande Valley. The Clear Channel Communications station is licensed to Edinburg, Texas and broadcast their format at 104.1 MHz with an ERP of 100 kW....
Wild 104.1 FM (Hip-Hop/R&B/Reggaeton) - KJAVKJAVKJAV is a radio station licensed to serve Alamo, Texas, USA. The station is owned by Border Media Partners and the broadcast license is held by BMP RGV License Company, LP....
104.9 FM Jack FM ("Playing What We Want")(Adult Hits) - KQXX The X 105.5 FM (Classic-rock)
- KHKZKHKZKHKZ is a radio station broadcasting an Hot Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Mercedes, Texas, USA. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc..-History:...
Kiss 106.3 FM (Hot AC) - XHVTHXHVTHXHVTH is a Spanish-language FM radio station that serves the Brownsville, Texas / Matamoros, Tamaulipas border area.-External links:* * *...
La mas buena 107.1 FM (Mexican Norteño) - KVLYKVLY (FM)KVLY is a radio station broadcasting a CHR format. Licensed to Edinburg, Texas, USA, the station serves the Rio Grande Valley area. The station is currently owned by Entravision Holdings, LLC.-History:...
Mix 107.9 FM (Today's Modern Music Mix FMMix FMMix FM is a radio name and format. It is given to certain radio stations around the world with that name, while having the "mix" format. Although some stations don't have the name "Mix FM", they can still have the format of Mixed Hits - a variety of established songs, from old to new.Radio formats...
) - KHID 88.1 FM McAllen (National Public Radio)
Magazines
- City The Magazine (printed monthly and Spanish Language Content) owned by 2 Rios Media Group
- RGVmag (printed monthly) owned by Fantich Media
- MagX (printed monthly) owned by MagX
- Contempo MagazineContempo MagazineContempo Magazine is a monthly print and daily online American magazine published in McAllen, Texas. The magazine is owned by Contempo Magazine, Inc., and was established in January 2008...
(print monthly and online daily) owned by Contempo MagazineContempo MagazineContempo Magazine is a monthly print and daily online American magazine published in McAllen, Texas. The magazine is owned by Contempo Magazine, Inc., and was established in January 2008...
,Inc. McAllen] - Valley Christian Magazine (printed monthly) owned by Christian Torres
Area newspapers
- 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....
is headquartered in McAllen - 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...
- El Periódico USA - Spanish Language Newspaper - Headquartered in McAllen
- The Advance News Journal
- Town Crier
- The Business Times
- ¿qué pasa? - a virtual newspaper and event guide -
Area colleges and universities
- University of Texas–Pan AmericanUniversity of Texas–Pan AmericanThe University of Texas–Pan American , founded as Edinberg College, is a state university located in Edinburg, Texas. Founded in 1927, it is a component institution of The University of Texas System. The university serves the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas with baccalaureate,...
(approximately 18,744 students as of Fall 2010) in nearby Edinburg. - South Texas CollegeSouth Texas CollegeSouth Texas College is a public community college in the Rio South Texas Region, and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award Bachelor of Applied Technology, Associate of Applied Science, Associate of Arts and Associate of Science...
(over 27,000 students spread across their 5 campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties and the eSTC virtual campus. Main campus is located in McAllen.)
Primary and secondary schools
McAllen Independent School DistrictMcAllen Independent School District
The McAllen Independent School District is a school district headquartered in the city of McAllen, Texas, United States.In 2009, the school district was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.- Schools :...
serves most of the city. Portions of the city extend into Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District
Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District
The Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District is a school district headquartered in the city of Edinburg, Texas, United States.The district has approximately 3,900 employees including 2,082 certified professionals and over 900 paraprofessionals....
and that district operates two elementary schools located in the City of McAllen. The Hidalgo Independent School District
Hidalgo Independent School District
The Hidalgo Independent School District is a public school district based in Hidalgo, Texas, United States. The district serves most of Hidalgo and the city of Granjeno as well as small portions of McAllen, Pharr, and San Juan...
, La Joya Independent School District
La Joya Independent School District
La Joya Independent School District is a school district headquartered in La Joya, Texas, United States.The La Joya Independent School District, located in the western portion of Hidalgo County, Texas consist of more than stretching west of Mission to Sullivan City, including the smaller...
, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District is a public school district based in Pharr, Texas .The district serves most of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo as well as a small portion of McAllen. PSJA ISD's total student enrollment for 2010 was 31,329 according to the Texas Education Agency's website...
, Sharyland Independent School District
Sharyland Independent School District
Sharyland Independent School District is a public school district based in Mission, Texas .The district serves parts of Mission, Palmhurst, McAllen, and Alton as well as the unincorporated community of West Sharyland....
, and Valley View Independent School District
Valley View Independent School District (Hidalgo County, Texas)
Valley View Independent School District is a public school district based in unincorporated Hidalgo County, Texas , near Pharr.Valley View Independent School District is a public school district covering in the cities of Hidalgo, McAllen and Pharr, Texas...
also serve the City of McAllen.
In addition, 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...
.
IDEA Public Schools
IDEA Public Schools
IDEA Public Schools is an independently managed charter school system in the Rio Grande Valley in deep South Texas. The schools have a significant focus on academics and are committed to ensuring that all of its graduating students will attend college. Faculty members in this charter school system...
also has Quest Academy & College Preparatory in North McAllen (mile 17 &1/2 and Rooth road).
The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates Our Lady of Sorrows School, an elementary and middle school.
Public libraries
McAllen Public Library operates a main library and two branches, the Lark Branch and the Palm View Branch.And will be opening a New Main branch in the Fall of 2011.
Architecture and points of interest
- Tallest buildings
- Chase Texas Tower (tallest tower in McAllen)
- BBVA Compass Tower
- Bentsen Tower
- Embassy Suites Hotel
- Mcallen Medical Center
- Inter National Bank
- Rio Grande Regional Hospital
- Gardens
- McAllen Botanical GardensMcAllen Botanical GardensMcAllen Botanical Gardens , also known as McAllen Nature Center , are city-operated botanical gardens and a nature preserve located in West McAllen at 4101 West Business US 83, McAllen, Texas. They are open daily without charge....
- Quinta Mazatlan
- Others
- Mcallen Convention Center]
- La Plaza Mall
- Downtown McAllen
- Rio Grande Speedway
- South Texas College
- International Museum of Art and Science
- Cine El Rey
Nearest cities
- Cities within 75 miles (120.7 km)
- Alamo, TexasAlamo, TexasAlamo, Texas, in what is nicknamed the "Land of Two Summers," 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, is 240 miles south of the more famous Texas Alamo Mission, and is near the...
- Brownsville, TexasBrownsville, TexasBrownsville 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...
- Donna, TexasDonna, TexasDonna is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,798 at the 2010 census. The city's motto is "The Heart of the Valley." Donna is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas....
- Edinburg, TexasEdinburg, 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...
- Harlingen, TexasHarlingen, TexasHarlingen 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...
- Hidalgo, TexasHidalgo, TexasHidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 11,198 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League, and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA...
- Mercedes, TexasMercedes, TexasMercedes is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,570 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.-Geography:Mercedes is located at ....
- Mission, TexasMission, TexasMission is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 77,058 at the 2010 census Mission is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.-Geography:Mission is located at ....
- Pharr, TexasPharr, TexasPharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 70,400. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas...
- ReynosaReynosaReynosa is a border city in the northern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from McAllen, Texas in the United States. As of 2010, the city of Reynosa counts with a population of 607,532...
, TamaulipasTamaulipasTamaulipas 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...
(Mexico) - San Juan, TexasSan Juan, TexasSan Juan is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population in July 2008 was 33,970 since then the population of San Juan increased since 2000 by +29.5%. The name reflects that of a founding father...
- Weslaco, TexasWeslaco, TexasWeslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,670 at the 2010 census. Weslaco derives its name from the W.E. Stewart Land Company...
- Alamo, Texas
Nearest major cities
- Cities with a population over 250,000 within 200 miles (321.9 km)
- Corpus Christi, TexasCorpus 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...
- Laredo, TexasLaredo, TexasLaredo 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,...
- 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...
- MonterreyMonterreyMonterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, Nuevo LeónNuevo LeónNuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S... - Nuevo LaredoNuevo LaredoNuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
, TamaulipasTamaulipasTamaulipas 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... - ReynosaReynosaReynosa is a border city in the northern part of Tamaulipas, in the country of Mexico. It is located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande, directly across the border from McAllen, Texas in the United States. As of 2010, the city of Reynosa counts with a population of 607,532...
, TamaulipasTamaulipasTamaulipas 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...
- Corpus Christi, Texas
Recreation and sports
BirdwatchingBirdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
- The McAllen is positioned on the migratory path between North and South America, presenting bird and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population.
McAllen has hosted the NAIA national football championship
NAIA national football championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Football National Championship is decided by a post-season playoff system featuring the best NAIA college football teams in the United States. Under sponsorship of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the championship game has...
and NCAA Division II national football championship
NCAA Division II national football championship
The NCAA Division II National Football Championship began in 1973. Prior to 1973, four regional bowl games were played in order to provide postseason action for what was then called the NCAA College Division and a poll determined the final champion....
games in the 1980s. McAllen is home to Rio Grande Speedway, a 1/4 mile dirt track with races the 1st, and 3rd Saturday of each month from March through November, and a national multi-day event around December.
External links
- McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Let's Meet in McAllen
- Official Website
- exploreMcAllen.com - New portal website for the City of McAllen
- McAllen Public Library
- New Main Library
- McAllen Chamber of Commerce
- McAllen Economic Development Corporation
- McAllen Foreign Trade Zone
- The Handbook of Texas Online
- ¿qué pasa? - the Rio Grande Valley event guide
- McAllen Citizens League
- Association of Importers & Exporters of Texas