McAllen

 

city (1990 pop. 84,021), Hidalgo co., extreme S Tex., on the Rio Grande; inc. 1911. It is a port of entry and a packing and processing center for the citrus fruit, truck crops, and other produce of the lower Rio Grande valley. The growing city has oil refineries and light manufacturing industries. It is also a winter resort, and is known as the City of Palms, since 40 varieties of that tree flourish there. McAllen, connected by bridge with Reynosa, Mexico, and by a toll road with the more distant but prosperous Monterrey, saw a 50% increase in population from 1970 to 1990.

City of McAllen
Nickname: City of Palms
Location within the state of Texas
Coordinates: 26°12′59″N 98°14′11″W / 26.21639, -98.23639
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hidalgo
Government
- Mayor	Richard F. Cortez
Area
- City	sq mi (km²)
- Land	sq mi ( km²)
- Water	sq mi ( km²)
Elevation	ft ( m)
Population (2005)
- City	{{formatnum:123055 (city proper)}}
- Density	/sq mi (/km²)
- Metro
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	78501-78505
Area code(s)	956
FIPS code	48-453842
GNIS feature ID	13748293
Website: http://www.mcallen.net/

McAllen is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. It is located at the very southern tip of Texas in an area known as the Rio Grande Valley. As of 2005, the city had a population of 123,055. In 2006 the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area had a population of 670,287. Its southern boundary is located about five miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, the Rio Grande River. McAllen is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. It is also the largest city in Hidalgo County. It is also the location of the repair center of Xbox 360s; repair boxes are sent to and from McAllen, Texas.

Geography

McAllen is at 26°12′59″N, 98°14′11″W (26.216263, -98.236385)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 119.8 km² (46.3 mi²). 119.1 km² (46.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) [of] it (0.63%) is water.

Climate

McAllen 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 and the average low is 47 °F (8 °C). The average high is 96 °F (36 °C) and the average low is 74 °F (23 °C) in August. The warm season is long, as average high temperatures are above 90 °F (32 °C) and average low temperatures are above 70 °F (21 °C) from June through September.

Average annual precipitation is only 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 only 0.7 inches (17.3 mm) of precipitation.

Despite frequent temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C), occasionally as early as February [www.nws.noaa.gov/mcallen.tx/climate.twd] and as late the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen is only 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, 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.

History

Although travelers had passed through and explored South Texas, it wasn't until the 1740s that established settlements began to dot the landscape, mostly on the south side of the Rio Grande.

In the early 1850s, when John McAllen arrived in the Rio Grande Valley, development began to come together where McAllen is today. John McAllen and others established a town site in 1904 known as West McAllen, and the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railroad reached the town site a year later. In 1907, other developers started a town on their own land tract and named it East McAllen.

The two groups joined forces soon thereafter and by 1910 several businesses, churches, residences and a newspaper had been built.

McAllen had a population of 150 in 1910. The next year the City of McAllen was incorporated, and by 1920 the city had grown to over 5,300 residents.

McAllen grew steadily over the next several decades, adding a civic center and airport in the 1950s. The U.S. Census reported in 1960 that McAllen had 32,728 residents. In the 1960s, the city did not add many residents, but did build a new city hall double the size of its library and established a museum.

The city exploded with growth in the 1970s and by 1980 almost doubled in population to 66,281 and continued to grow steadily. La Plaza Mall, the largest shopping mall in McAllen, opened its doors in 1976. Its anchor stores are Bealls, Dillard's, J. C. Penney, Joe Brand, Macy's, Macy's Home & Children's Store and Sears.

Over the last three decades, McAllen has been transformed into the Valley's business, commerce, government, financial, retail, and entertaiment leader. The city has become home to scores of national businesses and the center of most state and federal government operations in the Valley.

Demographics

As of 2006, there were 123,055 people, 33,151 households, and 26,089 families residing in the city. The population density was 893.8/km² (2,314.7/mi²). There were 37,922 housing units at an average density of 318.5/km² (824.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.46% White, 2.61% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.93% 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 80.28% 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 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Mass Transit

• McAllen Express Transit - MET covers six different color coded routes throughout the city from 6:00 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Airports

• McAllen-Miller International Airport (website) is the second busiest airport in the Rio Grande Valley in terms of passengers, the busiest being Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas. 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, Delta Connection ASA with non-stop service to Atlanta, and Delta Connection ExpressJet Airlines with non-stop service to Los Angeles.
• Edinburg International Airport located on 400 E Hargill Road, Edinburg, TX.

Economy

McAllen's economic fortunes have been linked intimately with that of Mexico's after NAFTA went into effect on January 1, 1994. Prior to ratification of this agreement, economic activity in McAllen was centered around agriculture and petroleum. Since then, economic activity has diversified and growth has routinely numbered in the double digits along with tremendous population growth which has continued for over a decade. Numerous multinational corporations such as Nokia, Panasonic, Sony, Kia, Motorola, Black & Decker, and General Electric have

established themselves in the McAllen area. This industrial area includes an international airport, two international bridges: The McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge, the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge and Anzalduas International Bridge which is currently under construction and is expected to open in June 2009, and a Foreign trade zone located on the southwest side of the city on West Military Highway (FM 1016) between South 23rd street and South Ware road. Manufacturers can assemble products in maquiladoras located in Mexico, taking advantage of lower worker wages, and re-export the finished product to the United States. Development of the Interstate 69 corridor from Mexico City through the Valley to Canada, will further help integrate economies of United States and Mexico.

In addition to the industrial activity, there is a vibrant retail sector that is dependent on purchases made by wealthier middle and upper-class Mexican consumers from Monterrey (connected to Reynosa by toll road), Tampico and, to a lesser extent, Victoria (Ciudad Victoria). According to Cynthia Brown, director of UTPA's Center for Border Economic Studies, $1.4 billion dollars spent by Mexicans was added to the area's economy and paid for 41,000 jobs^[1]. In 2003, the Rio Grande Valley showed a 13.3 percent increase from 2002 sales, topping $10 billion according to a report compiled by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership/Chamber of Commerce. Of this total, Hidalgo County accounted for $6,556,541,402.

Media and Journalism

Television stations

• XHFOX (Channel 2, Matamoros, Tamaulipas (Mexico), licensee: Televisa, Fox affiliate)
• XHRIO (Channel 2, licensee: Univision, Fox affiliate)
• KGBT (Channel 4, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Barrington Broadcasting, CBS affiliate)
• KRGV (Channel 5, Weslaco, Texas, licensee: Mobile Video Tapes, Inc., ABC affiliate)
• XHAB (Channel 7 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)
• XERV (Channel 9 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)
• XHREY (Channel 12 TV AZTECA NORESTE/Reynosa Mexico, Rio Grande City-McAllen-Weslaco)
• XHOR (Channel 14 TV AZTECA NORESTE/Reynosa Mexico, Rio Grande City-McAllen-Weslaco)
• KVEO (Channel 23, Brownsville, Texas, licensee: Comcorp of Texas License Corp., NBC affiliate)
• KTLM (Channel 40, Rio Grande City, Texas, licensee: Sunbelt Media Co., Telemundo affiliate)
• KNVO (Channel 48, McAllen, Texas, licensee: Entravision Holdings, LLC.,Univision affiliate)
• XHVTV (Channel 54 Multimedios TV/Reynosa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen-Weslaco/ Harlingen-Brownsville)
• KTIZ (Channel 52, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Orbitz Broadcasting Corp., ION_Television affiliate)
• KMBH (Channel 60, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: RGV Educational Broadcasting, Inc. PBS)

Radio stations

• KKPS Que Pasa 99.5 (Local Tejano Music)
• KNVO-FM Super Star 101.1 (Bilingual Hit Music)
• KVLY Mix 107.9 (Adult Contemporary)
• KFRQ Q94.5 (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock)
• KGBT-FM Solamente Exitos 98.5 (Mexican Norteña)
• KBTQ Recuerdo 96.1 (Mexican Oldies)
• KTEX South Texas Country 100.3 (Country)
• KHKZ Hot Kiss 106.3 (Hit Music/Top 40)
• KBFM Wild 104 (Hip-Hop/R&B)
• KJAV The Jack 104.9
• KSOX Oldies 105.5 (Oldies)
• KVMV Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 (Adult Contemporary Christian)
• KRUC Radio Cadena Manantial 97.5 (Spanish Christian)

Area newspapers

• The Monitor

Education

Area colleges and universities

• University of Texas–Pan American (approximately 16,000 students as of 21 February 2005)
• South Texas College (approximately 17,000 students)

Area school districts

McAllen Independent School District serves most of the city. Portions of the city extend into Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, 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.

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

McAllen Schools

• Elementary Schools
  • Alvarez Elementary School
  • Bonham Elementary School
  • Castaneda Elementary School
  • Crockett Elementary School
  • Escandon Elementary School
  • Fields Elementary School
  • Garza Elementary School
  • Gonzalez Elementary School
  • Houston Elementary School
  • Jackson Elementary School
  • McAuliffe Elementary School
  • Milam Elementary School
  • Navarro Elementary School
  • Perez Elementary School
  • Rayburn Elementary School
  • Roosevelt Elementary School
  • Seguin Elementary School
  • Thigpen Elementary School
  • Wilson Elementary School
  • Zavala Elementary School
  • Cayetano Cavazos Elementary School (Edinburg CISD school in McAllen city limits)
• Middle Schools
  • Brown Middle School
  • Cathey Middle School
  • DeLeon Middle School
  • Fussom Middle School
  • Lincoln Middle School
  • Morris Middle School
  • Travis Middle School
• High Schools
  • International Baccalaureate at Lamar Academy
  • McAllen High School
  • Memorial High School
  • Options High School at Lamar Academy
  • Rowe High School

Architecture and points of interest

• Tallest Buildings

1. Chase Texas Tower (Neuhaus Tower)
2. Texas State Bank Building
3. Bentsen Tower
4. Embassy Suites Hotel
5. McAllen Medical Center
6. Rio Grande Regional Hospital

• Gardens

1. McAllen Botanical Gardens
2. Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

Surrounding Cities

Nearest cities

• Cities within 30 miles (50 km)
  • Alamo, Texas
  • Donna, Texas
  • Edinburg, Texas (County seat of Hidalgo County and home to the University of Texas Pan American, the major institute of higher education in the McAllen metro area.)
  • Hidalgo, Texas (home of the Dodge Arena, an indoor professional sports and music concerts venue serving the McAllen metro area)
  • Mercedes, Texas
  • Mission, Texas
  • Pharr, Texas
  • Reynosa, Tamaulipas (Mexico)
  • San Juan, Texas
  • Weslaco, Texas

Nearest major cities

• Cities with a population over 500,000 within 200 miles (300 km)
  • Monterrey, Nuevo León (Mexico): 3,663,791 (metropolitan area)
  • Reynosa, Tamaulipas (Mexico): 526,888

Recreation and Sports

• Birdwatching - The McAllen and surrounding area is one of the most popular spots in the entire United States for year-round nature and birding activities. It is positioned on the migratory path between North and South America, presenting unique and exciting birding and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population.

• McAllen has hosted the Palm Bowl in numerous years, including several NAIA national football championship and NCAA Division II national football championship games in the 1970's and 1980's.

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce provides assistance and information about local attractions and activities for visitors.

Sister cities

• Ville Saint Laurent, Canada
• Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
• San José, Costa Rica
• Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
• Cadereyta Jiménez, Nuevo León, Mexico
• García, Nuevo León, Mexico
• Guadalupe, Nuevo León, Mexico
• Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
• Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico
• Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
• Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico
• Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico
• Taxco, Guerrero, Mexico

References

External links

• Official Website
• McAllen Chamber of Commerce
• McAllen Economic Development Corporation
• McAllen Foreign Trade Zone
• The Handbook of Texas Online
• RGV Pride.com

Coordinates: 26.216263° N 98.236385° W

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