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McAllen, Texas
Cityscape of McAllen, Texas.jpg
Nickname(s): 
"The City of Palms"
Location within Hidalgo County
Location within Hidalgo County
McAllen, Texas is located in Texas
McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas
Location in Texas
McAllen, Texas is located in the United States
McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Texas
County Hidalgo
Government
 • Type Council-Manager
Area
 • City 62.73 sq mi (162.48 km2)
 • Land 62.31 sq mi (161.37 km2)
 • Water 0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2)
Elevation
121.4 ft (37.1 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 142,210
 • Density 2,283/sq mi (881.3/km2)
 • Metro
870,781
Time zone UTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Codes
78501–78504
Area code(s) 956
FIPS code 48-45384
GNIS feature ID 1374829

McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States, and the 22nd-most populous city in Texas. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, close to the country of Mexico. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, across from the Mexican city of Reynosa. McAllen is about 70 mi (110 km) west of the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2020 census, McAllen's population was 142,210. It is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area (McAllen–Edinburg–Mission) in the state of Texas, and the binational Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan area counts a population of more than 1.5 million.

From its settlement in 1904, the area around McAllen was largely rural and agricultural in character, but the latter half of the 20th century had steady growth, which has continued in the 21st century in the metropolitan area. The introduction of the maquiladora economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico.

History

In 1904 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 the railroad to guarantee it would cross the area. 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 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 quell 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 named the McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge. Its construction resulted in increased tourist trade, making McAllen a winter resort and port of entry to Mexico. The discovery of oil in the Reynosa area in 1947 resulted in a large migration of people from the Mexican interior, constituting 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), the economy began to improve in Hidalgo County. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing centre. After the peso devalued it became easier to coax companies to put their plants in Mexico with support operations in Texas.

Geography

McAllen is located at 26°12′59″N 98°14′11″W / 26.21639°N 98.23639°W / 26.21639; -98.23639 (26.216263, −98.236385). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 46.3 square miles (120 km2), of which 46.0 square miles (119 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.63%) is water.

Although McAllen is named the City of Palms, tropical vegetation is only locally dominant. There are many thorny shrubs and deciduous trees in the area such as Rio Grande Ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana), Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) and Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa).

Climate

McAllen, like much of western South Texas, has a subtropical climate. Under the Köppen climate classification, the city features a hot semi-arid climate. 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 from May through September 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. Heat index values can consistently reach over 100 °F during these months.

Average annual precipitation is only 21.60 inches (549 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 (104 mm) of rain. The driest month is March, with only 0.72 inches (18 mm) of precipitation. Since 1941, it has snowed once, when the city received 1.7 inches on December 25, 2004.

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.

Climate data for McAllen, Texas (McAllen Miller Int'l Airport), 1981–2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 95
(35)
101
(38)
105
(41)
107
(42)
110
(43)
110
(43)
109
(43)
108
(42)
108
(42)
104
(40)
102
(39)
96
(36)
110
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 71.0
(21.7)
75.1
(23.9)
81.8
(27.7)
87.1
(30.6)
91.7
(33.2)
96.2
(35.7)
97.1
(36.2)
98.1
(36.7)
93.1
(33.9)
87.6
(30.9)
79.9
(26.6)
72.0
(22.2)
85.9
(29.9)
Average low °F (°C) 50.0
(10.0)
54.2
(12.3)
59.8
(15.4)
66.0
(18.9)
72.1
(22.3)
75.7
(24.3)
76.4
(24.7)
76.7
(24.8)
73.4
(23.0)
66.8
(19.3)
58.8
(14.9)
51.1
(10.6)
65.2
(18.4)
Record low °F (°C) 13
(−11)
17
(−8)
27
(−3)
37
(3)
41
(5)
56
(13)
58
(14)
63
(17)
51
(11)
35
(2)
27
(−3)
14
(−10)
13
(−11)
Average precipitation inches (mm) .97
(25)
1.19
(30)
.90
(23)
1.4
(36)
2.1
(53)
2.38
(60)
1.58
(40)
1.55
(39)
3.57
(91)
1.95
(50)
0.95
(24)
0.95
(24)
19.49
(495)
Average precipitation days 7.2 5.3 4.0 4.0 4.6 5.2 5.4 5.3 7.8 5.9 4.8 6.0 65.5
Source: NOAA


Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 150
1920 5,331 3,454.0%
1930 9,074 70.2%
1940 11,877 30.9%
1950 20,067 69.0%
1960 32,728 63.1%
1970 37,636 15.0%
1980 66,281 76.1%
1990 89,000 34.3%
2000 106,414 19.6%
2010 129,877 22.0%
2020 142,210 9.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, 129,877 people, 41,573 households, and 31,823 families resided in the city. Of the 45,862 housing units, 4,289, or 9.4%, were vacant.

The racial makeup of the city was 83.9% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.4% some other race, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 84.6% of the population.

Of the 41,573 households, 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were not families. About 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.9% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10, and the average family size was 3.58.

In the city, the population was distributed as 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

For the period 2012–2016, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $45,568, and for a family was $50,184. The per capita income for the city was $21,726. About 22.5% of families and 25.7% of the entire population were below the poverty line, including 36.6% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Mass transit

Metro McAllen (formerly McAllen Express Transit – MET) has provided public transportation for the City of McAllen since June 1997. In the beginning, McAllen Express was administered by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council. Since 2005, Metro McAllen has been operated as a department of the city of McAllen. Metro McAllen now has nine fixed routes and paratransit, serving residents and visitors. It operates seven days a week, from 6am–9pm Monday through Saturday and from 8am-6pm on Sunday. LRGVDC continues to operate regional buses under the name Valley Metro.

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. Around 60 buses depart from Central Station on a daily basis. It is centrally located in downtown McAllen at 1501 W Hwy 83.

Highways

  • I-2.svg Interstate 2 travels through McAllen from Taylor Road to Sugar Road.
  • US 83.svg U.S. 83 travels through McAllen as its major east–west artery. It runs directly south of downtown McAllen.
  • Texas 107.svg State Highway 107 travels east through McAllen into downtown Edinburg, where it intersects the Business Route of US Route 281 and then I-69C/US 281.
  • Texas 336.svg State Highway 336 travels north to an intersection with FM 1016 in McAllen to an intersection with I-2/US 83.
  • Texas 495.svg State Highway 495 travels through McAllen from FM 2220 (Ware Road) to FM 2061 (McColl Street).

Airports

Recreation

Birdwatching – McAllen is positioned on the migratory path between North and South America, presenting bird and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population.

The Quinta Mazatlan is the historic Spanish colonial mansion and is McAllen's wing of the World Birding Center.

The McAllen Dog Park is another place for recreation for dogs of all sizes. The lighted park is located off of Tamarack and 2nd Street. The park is divided into two sections.

The Bicentennial Bike Path runs all the way from Highway 83 on McAllen's South side to Bicentennial and Nolana on McAllen's North side.

The Zinnia Spray Water Park is McAllen's first spray ground park. It's located at 29th and Zinnia Ave.

Palm View Golf Course is located on South Ware Rd. just South of Highway 83. The golf course has 18 holes plus a driving range. This course hosts numerous tournaments year round.

Architecture and points of interest

  • Tallest buildings
Mcallen2009
McAllen Skyline, on far right Chase Neuhaus Tower in Downtown.
Rank Building Height
1 Chase Neuhaus Tower 17 Floors
2 BBVA Compass Tower 11 Floors
3 Bentsen Tower 11 Floors
4 DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel 9 Floors
5 McAllen Medical Center 8 Floors
6 Inter National Bank 6 Floors
  • Districts
Mcallen 2016-08-29-20-44-18-1
McAllen Convention Center District
  1. Downtown McAllen
  2. De Palmas Historic District
  3. 17 Street Entertainment District
  4. McAllen Arts District
  5. Uptown McAllen
  6. McAllen Convention Center District
  • Point of Interests
McAllen Convention Center
McAllen Convention Center
  1. McAllen Botanical Gardens
  2. Quinta Mazatlan
  3. McAllen Convention Center
  4. La Plaza Mall
  5. International Museum of Art and Science
  6. Historic Cine El Rey Theatre

Economy

The Rio Grande Valley began its rapid development with the introduction of irrigation in 1898 and the construction 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 transforming into a major international trade area. As recently as 1990, McAllen's unemployment rate was at 22.6%. By the end of 2005, that figure had dropped to 7.7%. However, in 2011, census.gov listed the McAllen metro area the poorest in the nation. As of 2012, the average cost of a home in McAllen was the third-least expensive in the country, at $178,000, while average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $708. In 2012, the cost of living in McAllen was 16.2% lower than the national average.

Trade

Since the 1980s and especially since the ratification of the North American 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 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. Also, an FTZ designation site is 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 expanded to include full logistic support services, including public warehouse services such as pick and pack, order processing, inventory control, incoming/outgoing quality inspection, and kitting.

Sports

McAllen hosted the NAIA National Football Championship in the late 1970s and NCAA Division II national football championship games in the 1980s.

Until 2014, McAllen was home to the Texas Thunder of the independent United League Baseball, who played at Edinburg Stadium.

Education

Postsecondary

  • South Texas College has a total of more than 27,000 students attending its five campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties, and the eSTC virtual campus. The main campus is in McAllen.

Primary and secondary schools

McAllen Public Library
McAllen Public Library

The McAllen Independent School District serves most of the city followed by the Valley View Independent School District and the Sharyland Independent School District. Portions of the city extend into the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, which operates two elementary schools within the McAllen city limits. The Hidalgo Independent School District, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District also serve McAllen.

In addition, residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District.

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. The New Main Library opened in the fall of 2011 inside a former Walmart big box store. The library earned high praise and received the International Interior Design Association's 2012 Library Interior Design Award.

Arts and culture

McAllen Performing Arts Center
McAllen Performing Arts Center

International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS), founded in 1967, is a Smithsonian Affiliate and American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accredited museum located in McAllen at the corner of Bicentennial and Nolana Avenue.

Notable people

  • Cristela Alonzo, stand-up comedian and actress, born in nearby San Juan
  • Abraham Ancer, professional golfer, born in McAllen
  • Jorge Cantú, baseball player, born in McAllen in 1982
  • Shaine Casas, competitive swimmer, born in San Diego, California, raised in McAllen
  • Raúl Castillo, actor, born in McAllen in 1977
  • Michael Cole, professional wrestling commentator for WWE
  • Ana Brenda Contreras, Mexican American actress and singer, born in McAllen on December 24, 1986
  • Henry Cuesta, clarinetist on The Lawrence Welk Show, born in McAllen in 1931
  • Catherine Hardwicke, film director, born in Cameron, Texas, grew up in McAllen
  • James Nicholas Rowe, Colonel United States Army, born in McAllen in 1938
  • Brooks Smith, pianist, born in McAllen in 1912
  • Gloria Trevi Mexican pop star, born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México. Now living in McAllen Texas

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: McAllen para niños

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