Pharr, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pharr, Texas
City
Flag
Location of Pharr, Texas
Country	United States of America
State	Texas
County	Hidalgo
Incorporated	February 22, 1916
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	23.65 sq mi (61.26 km2)
• Land	23.63 sq mi (61.19 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	112 ft (34 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	70,400
• Estimate  (2019)	79,112
• Density	3,348.51/sq mi (1,292.85/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78577
Area code(s)	956
FIPS code	48-57200
GNIS feature ID	1343930

Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 70,400, and in 2019, the estimated population was 79,112. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Pharr is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.

Geography

Pharr is located at 26°12′23″N 98°11′7″W / 26.20639°N 98.18528°W / 26.20639; -98.18528 (26.206334, -98.185174).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.8 square miles (54 km²), of which 20.8 square miles (54 km²) is land and 0.05% is water.

Communities:

• Las Milpas (annexed in 1987)

History

The community was named after sugar planter Henry Newton Pharr. In 1900 Henry N. Pharr for a number of years was a director of the State National Bank of New Iberia, Louisiana, and was a former president of the Louisiana - Rio Grande Sugar Company and the Louisiana - Rio Grande Canal Company, which at one time owned eight thousand acres (32 km²) and which, in 1910, on this land built the town of Pharr.

Around the beginning of the 21st century, Pharr experienced strong growth and economic development. By 2009, its population had steadily increased to over 60,000 people .

In 1987 Pharr annexed Las Milpas.

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

Climate

Pharr has a humid subtropical climate, 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 68 °F (20 °C), and the average low is 47 °F (8 °C). The average high is 100 °F (40 °C); the average low is 80 °F (25 °C) in August. The warm season is long, as average high temperatures are above 100 °F (40 °C) and average low temperatures are above 80 °F (25 °C) from June through September.

Average annual precipitation is 21.0 inches (532.4 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 3.6 inches (90.3 mm) of precipitation. The driest month is March, with 0.7 inch (17.3 mm) of precipitation.

Despite frequent temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C), occasionally as early as February and as late as the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in Pharr is 110 °F (43 °C), once in 1998 and once in 1999. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Pharr is 13 °F (-11 °C), on January 12, 1962, which is far lower than would be expected at the same latitude in Florida or on the west coast of North America, due to its location in the middle of the continent.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, 46,660 people, 12,798 households, and 10,878 families were residing in the city. The population density was 2,240.2 people/sq mi (864.9/km²). The 16,537 housing units averaged 794.0/sq mi (306.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.46% White, 0.24% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 17.32% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. About 90.62% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 12,798 households, 47.1% had children under 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% were not families. About 13.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.64 and the average family size was 4.02.

In the city, the age distribution was 34.8% under 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,333, and for a family was $25,916. Males had a median income of $19,169 versus $16,737 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,462. 35.5% of the population and 30.8% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 46.6% of those under 18 and 23.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Transportation

Highways

• Pharr has I-2/U.S. 83 as its major east–west artery. U.S. 281 runs north–south through the city and intersects I-2/U.S. 83 at the center of the city and continues south to the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. From I-2/U.S. 83 at the center of the city north to Edinburg (and eventually to George West), U.S. 281 is co-signed with I-69C.

Sister cities

• San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Education

Primary and secondary schools

The majority of Pharr is served by the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District, which has five high schools in the city: PSJA North with around 2,700 students, PSJA Southwest Early College High School with about 1,750, Thomas Jefferson TSTEM Early College High School, PSJA Sonia M. Sotomayor Early College High School (new to 2016–17 school year), and Buell Central DAEP.

Zoned PSJAISD schools include PSJA North and PSJA Southwest.

A small fringe portion of the city is a part of the Hidalgo Independent School District. Another small portion is a part of the Valley View Independent School District, which has one campus with around 2,000 students.

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

Area colleges and universities

• University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg
• South Texas College in McAllen

Public libraries

Pharr Memorial Library serves the city.

Notable people

• Leo Araguz, former NFL punter and kicker
• Pedro Borbón, relief pitcher for Major League Baseball
• Cali Carranza, Tejano musician
• Baldemar Velasquez, labor-union activist

See also

In Spanish: Pharr (Texas) para niños