McAllen

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, on the MexicoUnited States border. McAllen is about 70 mi (110 km) west of the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2020 census, McAllen's population was 142,210. The McAllenHidalgoReynosa International Bridge was the number-two port of entry into Mexico in 1954. In the mid-1980s, by the late 1980s, the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone was an important general-purpose foreign trade zone. The introduction of the maquiladora economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico. The discovery of oil in the Reynosa area in 1947 attracted a large migration of people from the Mexican interior to jobs the region. They both constituted a new tourist market and a cheap labor supply for McAllen. The population of McAllen was 20,005 in 1950 and 32,728 in 1960. In 1970, when the population reached 37,636, it was 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 and the northern U.S. and northern Mexico. By the 1980s the population was 66,281, and by the 1990s it was 65,281.

History

McAllen was an agricultural, oil, and tourist center in 1970, when the population reached 37,636. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing center. The city became a focal point for concerns about the border during the U.S. government shutdown over the Mexico border barrier in January 2019. In March 2019 in order to deal with overcrowded facilities, the Border Patrol removed razor wire coils from the Port of Entry at McAllen. The resulting resulting resulting shortage of razor wire was considered unnecessary by the city's mayor. The mayor emphasized how safe and secure the city is when it is not under the control of the federal government. 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 from Hidalgo to Reynosa in Tamaulipas; the new toll bridge was purchased by McAllen and was named the McAllenHidalgoReynosa International Bridge. 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. In the mid-1980s, fueled by trade and the growth of the maquiladora (in which components are shipped to Mexico from the United States, assembled, and shipped back as finished products), the economy began to improve.

Geography

McAllen is located in southern Hidalgo County at 26°1259N 98°1411W (26.216263, 98.236385). It is 238 mi (383 km) south of San Antonio, 148 mi (238 km) southeast of Laredo, 60 mi (97 km) northwest of Brownsville, and 150 mi (240 km) northeast of Monterrey. Under the Köppen climate classification, the city features a hot semiarid climate (BSh) with long, very hot and humid summers, and brief, warm winters. The city has two distinct seasons; a wet season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. Most precipitation occurs in the warm season, with the least precipitation distinctly occurring in the cooler winter. Winter temperatures in McAllen and surrounding Rio Grande Valley are some of the warmest in the contiguous United States outside of South Florida. Since 1941, it has snowed twice, once when the city received 1.7 in (43 mm) on December 25, 2004. In December 2017, McAllen received almost 3 inches of snow, nearly three years since the last snowfall which took place during the 2004 Christmas Eve United States winter storm. In 2021, record low temperatures reached between 10 °F and 20 °F (7 °C and 20°C) for a week due to Winter Storm Uri and Winter Storm Dolly. Regardless of these freak weather events, Mc Allen is prone to tropical storms, hurricanes such as Hurricane Dolly (2008 and Hurricane Hanna (2020), and heatwaves.

Demographics

McAllen was the most obese metropolitan area in the country in 2012, with 38.5% of the adult population considered obese. The city has been consistently ranked among the safest cities in Texas. McAllen is featured in Supersize vs Superskinny, a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. The McAllen area had the highest taxpayer-sponsored spending per beneficiary in the United States, despite areas with similar demographics and health profiles having half the cost per recipient. The estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $45,568, and for a family was $50,184. Over 25% of city population was living below the poverty line during the period 2012-2016. More than 21% of McAllen population has been diagnosed with diabetes, more than any other metro area in U.S. The average household size was 3.10, and the average family size was3.58. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. The median age was 32.2 years, and there were 91.5 males for each 100 females. The per capita income was $21,726, and 25.7% of entire population were below the Poverty Line. 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.

Economy

The Rio Grande Valley began its rapid development with the introduction of irrigation in 1898 and the construction of the railroad in 1904. As recently as 1990, McAllen's unemployment rate was at 22.6%. By the end of 2005, that figure had dropped to 7.7%. In 2012, the cost of living in McAllen was 16.2% lower than the national average. The McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. It was the first inland foreign-trade zone in the U.S. and offers cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers.. 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. The FTZ designation site is at the McAllen Miller International Airport to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.K. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions, the FTZ offers specific cost- saving opportunities tomanufacturers. Products can be brought into theFTZ duty-free. In 2011, census.gov listed the Mc Allen metro area the poorest in the nation. The average cost of a home in Mc Allen was the third-least expensive in the country, at $178,000, while average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $708. The area is transforming into a major international trade area. Since the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, economic activity has shifted from agriculture to international trade, health care, retail, and tourism.

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. McAllen is the home of the Texas Longhorns of the U.S. College Football Association. The city also hosts the Texas Rangers and Texas Rangers high school football teams. The Texas Rangers play their home games at Texas Rangers Stadium in McAllen, Texas. The Rangers also play in the Texas League, which was formed in 2007. The town is the site of the University of Texas at El Paso's football and basketball programs. The McAllen High School football team won the national championship in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The University of McAllen's baseball team won two national championships in the 1990s, the first in men's baseball and the second in women's baseball. The school's baseball program won three league titles in the 2000s and 2004, the last in the women's program in the 2007-08 season. It also hosted the NCAA Division I National Championship game in the 2008-09 season. The football team also won the Division II National Championship Game in the 1988-1989 season, and the Division I Division II Division I-II Championship in 1989-90. The high school's football team was the defending national champion in the 1987-90 season. In 2010, the school's men's basketball team won its first national championship. The team's women's team won their first national title in the 1978-79 season.

Recreation

McAllen is positioned on a major flyway, the migratory path of birds between North and South America. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population. The Bicentennial Bike Path runs from Highway 83 to Trenton Road. The Zinnia Spray Water Park is McAllen's first sprayground park.Palm View Golf Course is located on South Ware Road just south of Highway 83. The golf course has 18 holes plus a driving range. This course hosts numerous tournaments year round. The International Museum of Art & Science, Smithsonian affiliate and AAM-accredited museum founded in 1967, is located near the path. The Quinta Mazatlan, a historic Spanish colonial mansion, is used as Mc Allen's wing of the World Birding Center. The McAllen Dog Park, which is divided into two sections, has room to run their pets at the Mc Allen Dog Park. It is located at 29th andZinnia Ave. and has a sprayground water park on the other side of the street. It also has a dog park for owners who want to take their pets for a walk. It's located at the corner of Nolana Avenue and Bicentennial Avenue. It has an 18-hole golf course and a spray water park. It hosts tournaments all year round and is a popular destination for golfers and other sports enthusiasts.

Government

The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in McAllen. The United States Border Patrol McAllen Station is located at 3000 West Military Highway. McAllen is represented in the United States House of Representatives by two Democrats: Vicente Gonzalez of the 15th Congressional District, and Henry Cuellar of the 28th Congressional district. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates an office in Mc Allen. The U.S. Army Reserve 961st Quartermaster Company, 461st Transportation Detachment, and 519th Transportationdetachment are based in the McAllen area. The McAllen Police Department has a station at the intersection of Pecan and West Military highways. The city is also home to the Texas Rangers, who are based at the Texas Ranger Station at the corner of West Military and West Highway 83. The City of McAllen has a population of about 6,000. The population of the city is about 4,000, according to the city's 2010 census. The town is located in the southern part of the Texas Panhandle, near the border with Mexico. It is located on the Texas-Mexico border and is located near the Texas Turnpike, which is the state's main north-south highway. The area is home to a number of federal government offices, including the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas McAllen Division and the Texas Army National Guard. It also has a United States Army Reserve Center located at 600 S Col Rowe Blvd. The US Army Reserve is home for the 961th Quartermaster company and 461th Transportation detachment.

Transportation

McAllen Miller International Airport is served by American Airlines with non-stop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Mexico City. Interstate 2 travels through McAllen from Taylor Road to Sugar Road. U.S. 83 runs directly south of downtown McAllen as its major eastwest artery. McAllen 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. The City of McAllen also operates the bus terminal facility in downtown Mc Allen at 1501 W Hwy 83. It is centrally located in McAllen at 1500 W H Highway 83. The city of Mc Allen operates the McAllen Metro bus system, which 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. It continues to operate regional buses under the name Valley Metro. It also operates a regional bus service under the names Valley Metro, Valley Metro Express, and Valley Metro Metro Express. It runs from McAllen to Edinburg, where it intersects the Business Route of US Route 281 and then I-69C/US 281. There are no direct flights between McAllen and Dallas or Houston, but there are direct flights to Las Vegas and Los Angeles and seasonal service to Orlando-Sanford. There is also a direct flight between Mc Allen and Austin, with nonstop service from Dallas to Houston.

Education

South Texas College has a total of more than 27,000 students attending its five campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties. The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates Our Lady of Sorrows School, an elementary and middle school. The International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) is a Smithsonian Affiliate and American Alliance of Museums (AAM) accredited museum located in McAllen at the corner of Bicentennial and Nolana Avenue. 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. 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 McAllen extend into the Edinburg Consolidated Independent school district, which operates two elementary schools within the McAllen city limits. The city is home to the National Museum of Natural History, which was founded in 1967 and is located on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. The museum is an AAM accredited museum and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The main campus of South Texas College's eSTC virtual campus is in Mc Allen. The university's main campus is on Bicentenary Avenue in the city's downtown area, and it has a virtual campus on the Texas Medical Center campus.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas = 78.6. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 59. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 99. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in McAllen = 6.1 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 142,210 individuals with a median age of 30.9 age the population grows by 24.39% in McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,283 residents per square mile of area (881.3/km²). There are average 3.12 people per household in the 42,016 households with an average household income of $41,760 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 7.40% of the available work force and has growths 0.91% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 34.42%. The number of physicians in McAllen per 100,000 population = 104.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in McAllen = 21.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 0 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 57. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 223. 96 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 48.2 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 18, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in McAllen, Hidalgo County, Texas which are owned by the occupant = 57.09%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 20 years with median home cost = $123,550 and home appreciation of -2.15%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $16.93 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,917 per student. There are 14.6 students for each teacher in the school, 405 students for each Librarian and 258 students for each Counselor. 4.43% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 15.60% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 9.22% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).