McAllen, Texas

City in Texas, United States

"McAllen" redirects here. For the surname, see McAllen (surname).

City in Texas, United States

McAllen

City

Images, from top down, left to right: Chase Bank Tower in downtown McAllen; Interior of the Quinta Mazatlan; McAllen Convention Center at night; McAllen Performing Arts Center; Entrance to McAllen Public Library

Nickname:

"The City of Palms"

Location within Hidalgo County

Coordinates: 26°12′59″N 98°14′11″W﻿ / ﻿26.21639°N 98.23639°W﻿ / 26.21639; -98.23639
Country| United States
State| Texas
County| Hidalgo
Founded| December 5, 1904
Incorporated| February 20, 1911
Government

• Type| Council-Manager
• City Council| Mayor Javier Villalobos
Tony Aguirre (District 1)
Joaquin J. Zamora (District 2)
Julian Omar Quintanilla (District 3)
Rodolfo "Rudy" Castillo (District 4)
Victor Sebastian Haddad (District 5)
Pepe Cabeza de Vaca (District 6)
• City Manager| Roel "Roy" Rodriguez
• Texas State Representative| Robert Guerra
• Texas State Senator| Juan Hinojosa
• U.S. Representative| Monica De La Cruz
Area

[1]

• 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

[2]

| 121 ft (37 m)
Population

(2020)[3]

• City

| 142,210

• Estimate

(2022)[4]

| 144,579
• Rank| US: 190th
TX: 23rd
• Density| 2,320/sq mi (895.9/km2)
• Urban

| 779,553 (US: 56th)
• Urban density| 2,389.7/sq mi (922.7/km2)
• Metro

| 888,367 (US: 65th)
Time zone| UTC–6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)| UTC–5 (CDT)
ZIP codes|

78501, 78502, 78503, 78504, 78505, 78539, 78557, 78572

Area code| 956
Sales Tax| 8.25%[5]
GNIS feature ID| 1374829[2]
Website| mcallen.net

McAllen is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Hidalgo County. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley, on the Mexico–United States border. 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,[3] making it the 23rd-most populous city in Texas. 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.[6]

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.[7]

## History

[edit]

See also: Timeline of McAllen, Texas

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 had donated land to the railroad to guarantee it would cross this area. On December 5, 1904, the McAllen Townsite Company was formed by Uriah Lott, Leonidas C. Hill Sr., John McAllen (1826-1913), James Ballí McAllen (1862-1916), and John J. Young. The new community, which was named for John McAllen, had the depot nearest the county seat, Hidalgo, 8 mi (13 km) to the south.

By 1911, 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) were under cultivation in East McAllen: commodity crops of cotton, alfalfa, broom corn, citrus fruits, grapes, and figs were raised. 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 related to the Mexican Civil War. The resulting economic boom increased the population from 1,200 in 1916 to 6,000 in 1920.[8]

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 from Hidalgo to Reynosa in Tamaulipas; the new toll bridge was purchased by McAllen 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 attracted a large migration of people from the Mexican interior to jobs in the region. They both constituted a new tourist market and a 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. In 1954 the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge was the number-two port of entry into Mexico.[9]

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.[10] 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 from the United States, assembled, and shipped back as finished products), the economy began to improve in Hidalgo County. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing center. After the peso devalued, Mexico was more successful in attracting companies to run their plants in Mexico, with support operations in Texas.

Border crossing is a daily event for many and is a key component in the local economy.[11] The city became a focal point for concerns about the border during the United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019 over the Mexico–United States barrier. President Donald Trump held a briefing with the border agents at the patrol station here in January 2019.[12] Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also visited the Border Patrol station in March 2019. In order to deal with overcrowded facilities in 2019 resulting from the arrival of Central American migrant caravans, immigration authorities were releasing a few hundred asylum seekers daily to private groups that assist them with basic needs and travel arrangements.[13]

The mayor emphasized how safe and secure the city is when U.S military troops were mobilized in the city to help the Border Patrol.[14] Portions of the razor wire coils considered unnecessary by the city were removed after troops had placed it at the border.[14] The troops assisted by using military helicopters to carry border patrol agents to and from locations along the Mexico–United States border and by maintaining vehicles.[11] During these border support activities, they are prohibited from law enforcement activities, such as detaining migrants or seizing drugs.[11] U.S. military troops are prohibited from carrying out law enforcement duties.[15] The Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Neller expressed concerns about the impact of continuing border support on combat readiness for the troops.[11]

## Geography

[edit]

McAllen, located in southern Hidalgo County,[16] is bordered to the southwest by Granjeno; to the west by Mission, Palmhurst, and Alton; to the north by Edinburg, the Hidalgo county seat; to the east by Pharr; and to the south by Hidalgo. The McAllen city limits extend to the southwest as far as the Rio Grande, directly north of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. The Anzalduas International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande at this point, 11 mi (18 km) southwest of downtown McAllen.

McAllen is 238 mi (383 km) south of San Antonio, 158 mi (254 km) southwest of Corpus Christi, 148 mi (238 km) southeast of Laredo, 60 mi (97 km) northwest of Brownsville, and 150 mi (240 km) northeast of Monterrey.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.6 square miles (126.0 km2), of which 48.3 square miles (125.2 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2), or 0.62%, is covered by water.[17]

Although McAllen is named the "City of Palms", tropical vegetation is only locally dominant. Many thorny shrubs and deciduous trees occur in the area, such as the Rio Grande ash (Fraxinus berlandieriana), cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia), and honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa).

### Climate

[edit]

McAllen, like much of South Texas, has a subtropical climate.[18] Under the Köppen climate classification, the city features a subtropical semiarid climate (BSh), featuring 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. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 62.8 °F (17.1 °C) in January to 89.3 °F (31.8 °C) in August.[19] 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 indices consistently reach over 110 °F (43 °C) during these months. Winter temperatures in McAllen and surrounding Rio Grande Valley are some of the warmest in the contiguous United States outside of South Florida, and comparable to the Coachella and Imperial valleys and Yuma Desert, but with warmer nighttime lows and higher dew points.

Average annual precipitation is 22.31 inches (567 millimeters). 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 by far to be the wettest, averaging 4.74 in (120 mm) of rain. The driest month is February, with only 0.66 in (17 mm) of precipitation. Since 1941, it has snowed twice, once when the city received 1.7 in (43 mm) on December 25, 2004.[19]

Temperatures consistently rise above 100 °F (38 °C) from June through August, with exceptionally high humidity. The highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was 111 °F (44 °C), set on June 22, 2017 and May 9, 2024. The lowest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was 13 °F (−11 °C), on January 12, 1962.[19]

While usually a hot, humid, but relatively dry climate, McAllen, Texas has received unusual weather phenomena. In 2013, McAllen, Texas received a large hail storm that destroyed many vehicles and buildings. The storm came suddenly and many people were unprepared. In December 2017, McAllen received almost 3 inches of snow, nearly 13 years after the previous snowfall which took place during the 2004 Christmas Eve United States winter storm. In February 2021, McAllen reached record low temperatures between 10 °F (−12 °C) and 20 °F (−7 °C) and lost power, heat, and water for a week due to Winter Storm Uri. In addition to these fluke weather events, McAllen is prone to tropical storms, hurricanes such as Hurricane Dolly (2008) and Hurricane Hanna (2020), and heatwaves.

Climate data for McAllen, Texas (McAllen Miller Int'l Airport), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1941–present

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Record high °F (°C)  | 96
(36)  | 101
(38)  | 105
(41)  | 109
(43)  | 111
(44)  | 111
(44)  | 109
(43)  | 108
(42)  | 108
(42)  | 104
(40)  | 102
(39)  | 96
(36)  | 111
(44)
Mean maximum °F (°C)  | 87.4
(30.8)  | 92.4
(33.6)  | 96.1
(35.6)  | 98.8
(37.1)  | 99.5
(37.5)  | 102.0
(38.9)  | 103.2
(39.6)  | 103.8
(39.9)  | 101.0
(38.3)  | 96.8
(36.0)  | 91.7
(33.2)  | 87.5
(30.8)  | 105.5
(40.8)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)  | 72.8
(22.7)  | 77.4
(25.2)  | 83.2
(28.4)  | 88.4
(31.3)  | 93.1
(33.9)  | 97.4
(36.3)  | 98.5
(36.9)  | 99.6
(37.6)  | 94.3
(34.6)  | 89.3
(31.8)  | 80.3
(26.8)  | 73.8
(23.2)  | 87.3
(30.7)
Daily mean °F (°C)  | 62.8
(17.1)  | 67.2
(19.6)  | 72.9
(22.7)  | 78.4
(25.8)  | 83.6
(28.7)  | 87.7
(30.9)  | 88.6
(31.4)  | 89.3
(31.8)  | 85.0
(29.4)  | 79.0
(26.1)  | 70.2
(21.2)  | 64.0
(17.8)  | 77.4
(25.2)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)  | 52.7
(11.5)  | 56.9
(13.8)  | 62.7
(17.1)  | 68.4
(20.2)  | 74.1
(23.4)  | 78.0
(25.6)  | 78.8
(26.0)  | 78.9
(26.1)  | 75.6
(24.2)  | 68.7
(20.4)  | 60.1
(15.6)  | 54.1
(12.3)  | 67.4
(19.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C)  | 36.2
(2.3)  | 38.5
(3.6)  | 43.9
(6.6)  | 51.1
(10.6)  | 61.4
(16.3)  | 70.6
(21.4)  | 73.0
(22.8)  | 73.3
(22.9)  | 64.9
(18.3)  | 50.4
(10.2)  | 41.7
(5.4)  | 36.2
(2.3)  | 33.2
(0.7)
Record low °F (°C)  | 13
(−11)  | 19
(−7)  | 31
(−1)  | 40
(4)  | 50
(10)  | 59
(15)  | 65
(18)  | 64
(18)  | 50
(10)  | 41
(5)  | 30
(−1)  | 18
(−8)  | 13
(−11)
Average precipitation inches (mm)  | 0.84
(21)  | 0.66
(17)  | 1.15
(29)  | 1.35
(34)  | 1.98
(50)  | 2.73
(69)  | 2.10
(53)  | 1.75
(44)  | 4.74
(120)  | 2.04
(52)  | 1.19
(30)  | 1.10
(28)  | 22.31
(567)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 6.1  | 4.5  | 4.4  | 3.8  | 4.3  | 4.8  | 4.7  | 4.7  | 8.0  | 5.8  | 5.2  | 6.1  | 62.4
Source: NOAA[19][20]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

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%
2022 (est.)| 144,579| [4]| 1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[21]
2020 Census[3]

### 2020 census

[edit]

McAllen, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[22] | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2000  | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 17,924  | 15,193  | 13,032  | 16.84%  | 11.70%  | 9.16%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 487  | 833  | 894  | 0.46%  | 0.64%  | 0.63%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 112  | 120  | 141  | 0.11%  | 0.09%  | 0.10%
Asian alone (NH)  | 2,010  | 3,288  | 3,576  | 1.89%  | 2.53%  | 2.51%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 15  | 17  | 21  | 0.01%  | 0.01%  | 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)  | 42  | 88  | 409  | 0.04%  | 0.07%  | 0.29%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)  | 397  | 428  | 887  | 0.37%  | 0.33%  | 0.62%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 85,427  | 109,910  | 123,250  | 80.28%  | 84.630%  | 86.67%
Total | 106,414 | 129,877 | 142,210 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00%

As of the census of 2020, there were 142,210 people, 45,429 households, and 34,119 families residing in the city.

### 2010 census

[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 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.[25]

### Crime

[edit]

McAllen

Crime rates* (2022)
Violent crimes
Homicide| 5
Rape| 58
Robbery| 42
Aggravated assault| 185
Total violent crime| 290
Property crimes
Burglary| 159
Larceny-theft| 2,629
Motor vehicle theft| 63
Arson| 13
Total property crime| 2,864

Notes

*Number of reported crimes per 100,000 population.

2022 population: 144,579

Source: 2022 FBI UCR Data

Based on the Texas Department of Public Safety's Annual Crime in Texas report and the FBI's Crime in the United States report, there were 5 murders reported during 2022.[26] The city has been consistently ranked among the safest cities in Texas.[27]

### Health

[edit]

McAllen was the focus of a 2009 article in The New Yorker by Atul Gawande entitled "The Cost Conundrum", an inquiry into the factors that contribute to the cost of health care. 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 article noted that while the area has a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes, its rates of infant mortality, HIV, and tobacco use were lower than the national average.[28]

McAllen was the most obese metropolitan area in the country in 2012, with 38.5% of the adult population considered obese. The high obesity rate has likely contributed to area residents' poor health. More than 21% of the population has been diagnosed with diabetes, more than any other metro area in the United States. Poverty may play a large role in the community's health problems, as well. Over 25% of the city population was living below the poverty line during the period 2012–2016.[25] More than 29% of the population also lacked health coverage during that time.[25]

McAllen is featured in Supersize vs Superskinny,[29] a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of the main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person and an underweight person. In the show, the overweight participant visits morbidly obese McAllen residents to find motivation for lifestyle and diet changes.

## Economy

[edit]

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.[30] 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.[31]

### Trade

[edit]

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.[32]

## Sports

[edit]

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.

## Recreation

[edit]

### Birdwatching

[edit]

McAllen is positioned on a major flyway, the migratory path of birds between North and South America, presenting opportunities for bird and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population. The Quinta Mazatlan, a historic Spanish colonial mansion, is used as McAllen's wing of the World Birding Center.[33] The McAllen Nature Center is a popular spot for bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts alike. This preserved green space offers visitors a chance to explore walking trails, climb a small hill, and has a cactus garden - all without any charge for admission.

The Bicentennial Bike Path runs from Highway 83 on the south side to Bicentennial and Trenton Road on the north side. The International Museum of Art & Science,[34] Smithsonian affiliate and AAM-accredited museum founded in 1967, is located near the path at the corner of Bicentennial and Nolana Avenue.

The Zinnia Spray Water Park is McAllen's first sprayground park. It is located at 29th and Zinnia Ave.[35]

Champion Lakes 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.[36]

Dog owners have room to run their pets at the McAllen Dog Park, which is divided into two sections.

## Government

[edit]

List of mayors of McAllen, Texas

* Frank W. Crow, 1911–1913[37][38]
* O. P. Archer, 1913–1923
* F.B. Freeland, 1923–1929
* Frank E. Osborn, 1929–1931
* John Ewing, 1931–1934
* A.L. Landry, 1935–1937
* Horace Etchison, 1937–1944
* Dr. Frank Osborn, 1944–1945
* Allen F. Vannoy, 1945–1947
* T. B. Waite, Jr., 1947–1948
* C. W. Davis, 1949–1952
* Angus McLeod, 1952–1953
* Phillip Boeye, 1953–1961
* Robert F. Barnes, 1961–1963
* Paul G. Veale, 1963–1969
* Jack Whetsel, 1969–1977
* Othal E. Brand, 1977–1997
* Leo Montalvo, 1997–2005
* Richard F. Cortez, 2005–2013
* James E. Darling, 2013–2021
* Javier Villalobos, 2021–Present

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates an office in McAllen.[39]

### Federal representation

[edit]

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas McAllen Division is located at Bentsen Tower 1701 W. Hwy. 83, Suite 1011, McAllen, Texas.

The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in McAllen: McAllen Post Office, located at 620 Pecan Blvd, and the McAllen Downtown Post Office at 406 12th Street.[40][41]

The United States Border Patrol McAllen Station is located at 3000 West Military Highway.

The United States Border Patrol Central Processing Center is located at 3700 W Ursula Avenue, McAllen, Texas.[42][43]

The 2LT Luis G. Garcia United States Army Reserve Center located at 600 S Col Rowe Blvd is home for the United States Army Reserve 961st Quartermaster Company, 461st Transportation Detachment, and 519th Transportation Detachment.

McAllen is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Monica De La Cruz (R-Edinburg), of the 15th Congressional District, and Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen), of the 34th Congressional District.

## Transportation

[edit]

### Mass transit

[edit]

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 12 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

* Interstate 2 travels through McAllen from Taylor Road to Sugar Road.
* U.S. 83 travels through McAllen as its major east–west artery. It runs directly south of downtown McAllen.
* 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.
* State Highway 336 travels north to an intersection with FM 1016 in McAllen to an intersection with I-2/US 83.
* State Highway 495 travels through McAllen from FM 2220 (Ware Road) to FM 2061 (McColl Street).
* Interstate 69C travels through McAllen from Falfurrias through McAllen, past Pharr.

### Airports

[edit]

* McAllen Miller International Airport[44] is served by American Airlines with non-stop service to Dallas/Fort Worth; by United with non-stop service to Houston; by Aeromexico with nonstop service to Mexico City/Santa Lucía; by Delta with nonstop service to Austin and by Allegiant Air with nonstop flights to Las Vegas and with seasonal service to Los Angeles and Orlando-Sanford.

## Education

[edit]

### Postsecondary

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.[45] The library earned high praise and received the International Interior Design Association's 2012 Library Interior Design Award.[46]

### Arts and culture

[edit]

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.

## Media

[edit]

See also: List of newspapers in Texas, List of radio stations in Texas, and List of television stations in Texas

### Television stations

[edit]

* KGBT-TV 4 Harlingen, Texas Independent
* KRGV-TV 5 Weslaco, Texas ABC
* XHAB-TV 8 Matamoros, Tamaulipas Vallevision
* XERV-TV 9 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Canal de las Estrellas
* XHREY-TV 12 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca Uno
* XHOR-TV 14 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca 7
* KVEO 23 Brownsville, Texas NBC/CBS
* KTFV-CD 32 McAllen, Texas UniMás
* KTLM 40 Rio Grande City, Texas Telemundo
* KNVO 48 McAllen, Texas Univision
* XHVTV-TV 54 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Multimedios (Canal 6 Mexico)
* KFXV 60 Harlingen, Texas FOX
* KMBH-LD 67 McAllen, Texas FOX
* [ MCN ] 17.12 McAllen, Texas Public Broadcasting Station

### Radio stations

[edit]

* KURV 710 AM News Talk Radio
* XERDO-AM La Raza 1060 AM (Regional Mexican) [Spanish]
* XEMS-AM Radio Mexicana 1490 AM (Regional Mexican) [Spanish]
* KHID 88.1 FM McAllen (National Public Radio)
* XHRYS-FM Ultra 90.1 FM [Spanish]
* XHRYN-FM Uni 90.5 FM [Spanish]
* XHRYA-FM Mas Music 90.9 FM (Hit Radio) [Spanish]
* XHMLS-FM Exitos 91.3 FM (All-Time Hits) [Spanish]
* KCAS The New KCAS 91.5 FM
* XHEOQ-FM Notigape 91.7 FM (News) [Spanish]
* XHAAA-FM La Caliente 93.1 FM (Regional Mexican) [Spanish]
* KFRQ Q94.5 FM (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock)
* XHRT-FM @FM (Arroba FM) 95.3 FM (All-Time Hits) [Spanish]
* KBTQ Recuerdo 96.1 FM (Oldies) [Spanish]
* KVMV Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 FM (Adult Contemporary Christian)
* KGBT-FM Solamente Exitos 98.5 FM (Regional Mexican) [Spanish]
* KKPS Fuego 99.5 FM (CHR) [Spanish]
* KTEX South Texas Country 100.3 FM (Country)
* KNVO-FM La Suavecita 101.1 FM [Spanish]
* XHAVO-FM Digital 101.5 FM (International Music) [Spanish]
* KBFM Wild 104.1 FM (Hip-Hop/R&B/Reggaeton)
* KJAV Life Radio 104.9 (Contemporary Christian)
* KQXX Kiss 105.5 FM
* KHKZ Kiss 106.3 FM (Hot AC)
* XHVTH-FM La Comadre 107.1 FM (Regional Mexican) (in Spanish)
* KVLY RGV FM 107.9 FM (Top 40)

### Area newspapers

[edit]

* The Monitor
* Valley Morning Star
* Texas Border Business
* Mega Doctor News

## Architecture and points of interest

[edit]

* Tallest buildings

McAllen skyline. On far right is the Chase Neuhaus Tower in Downtown. Rank | Building | Height

|
|

1 | Chase Neuhaus Tower | 17 Floors
2 | PNC Bank Building | 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 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

* Points of Interest

McAllen Convention Center

1. McAllen Botanical Gardens
2. Quinta Mazatlan[47]
3. McAllen Convention Center
4. La Plaza Mall
5. International Museum of Art & Science
6. Historic Cine El Rey Theatre
7. Veteran's War Memorial of TexasVeteran's War Memorial of Texas

## Notable people

[edit]

* Cristela Alonzo, stand-up comedian and actress, was given the Key to the City in 2019[48]
* Abraham Ancer, professional golfer, born in McAllen
* Viola Canales, Lecturer in Law, writer, Born in McAllen, Texas in 1957
* Jorge Cantú, baseball player, born in McAllen in 1982
* Shaine Casas, competitive swimmer, born in San Diego, California, raised in McAllen[49]
* 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
* Carl Möhner, actor, director, screenwriter and painter born in Vienna, Austria in 1921, died 2005 in McAllen
* James Nicholas Rowe, Colonel United States Army, born in McAllen in 1938
* Gladys Tamez, celebrity milliner
* Gloria Trevi, Mexican pop star, born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México. Now living in McAllen, Texas

## Sister cities

[edit]

McAllen, Texas sister cities

* Cadereyta Jiménez, Mexico
* Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Mexico
* Ciudad Victoria, Mexico
* García, Mexico
* Guadalupe, Mexico
* Irapuato, Mexico
* Monterrey, Mexico
* Reynosa, Mexico
* San Luis Potosí, Mexico
* Tampico, Mexico
* Taxco de Alarcón, Mexico
* Zihuatanejo de Azueta, Mexico

## Notes

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020.

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: McAllen, Texas
3. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
4. ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
5. ^ "Mcallen (TX) sales tax rate". Retrieved November 10, 2022.
6. ^ "McAllen Overview". McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
7. ^ Bogan, Jesse (April 2, 2009). "A Boom at the Border". Forbes. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
8. ^ Garza, Alicia A. "McAllen". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
9. ^ "McAllen-Hidalgo-Reynosa Bridge". Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
10. ^ "City History". City of McAllen. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
11. ^ a b c d O'Toole, Molly (March 21, 2019). "Marine Corps commandant says deploying troops to the border poses 'unacceptable risk'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
12. ^ Pappas, Alex (January 10, 2019). "Trump highlights human trafficking as he calls for 'strong barrier' during visit to US-Mexico border". Fox News. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
13. ^ Merchant, Nomaan (March 23, 2019). "Desperate migrant families overwhelm border agencies". Ventura County Star. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
14. ^ a b Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (March 24, 2019). "Trump says barbed wire 'can be a beautiful sight.' Many border communities disagree". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
15. ^ Watson, Julie (November 19, 2018). "Migrants won't see armed soldiers on border". Associated Press. Retrieved March 24, 2019 - via Fox News..
16. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
17. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): McAllen city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
18. ^ Rio Grande Valley. Wikivoyage.
19. ^ a b c d "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
20. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
21. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
22. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – McAllen, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
23. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – McAllen, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
24. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – McAllen, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
25. ^ a b c "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): McAllen city, Texas". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
26. ^ "City of McAllen Police Department 2022" (PDF). City of McAllen. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
27. ^ "McAllen In The Top Five Safest U.S. Cities". Positive Valley News (PVN). January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
28. ^ Gawande, Atul (May 25, 2009). "The Cost Conundrum". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
29. ^ "Supersize vs Superskinny Kids - Channel 4". www.channel4.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2011.
30. ^ Martha C. White (October 21, 2011) "Poorest place in US? McAllen, Texas, and here's why " MSNBC.com Accessed November 5, 2011.
31. ^ "10 cheapest places to live in the U.S." November 13, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
32. ^ "Rio Grande Valley". Texas Border Business. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
33. ^ "The Quinta Mazatlan". ExploreMcAllen.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
34. ^ "International Museum of Art and Science". theimasonline.org. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
35. ^ "Zinnia Spray Park". ExploreMcAllen.com. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
36. ^ "Palm View Golf Course". McAllen.net. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
37. ^ "History of Election of Mayors & City Officials" (PDF). City of McAllen. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
38. ^ "Outline History of McAllen, Texas and the Surrounding Area". McAllen Heritage Center. (Includes brief info about mayors)
39. ^ "Parole Division Region IV Archived September 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
40. ^ "Post Office Location MCALLEN Archived May 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
41. ^ "Post Office Location – DOWNTOWN MCALLEN Archived June 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine."United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
42. ^ Findell, Elizabeth (July 17, 2014). "Border Patrol Opens Central Processing Facility for Unaccompanied Kids". The Monitor. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
43. ^ Hennessy-Fiske, Molly (April 3, 2019). "Border Patrol's largest holding area — known to migrants as 'the kennel' — is overwhelmed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
44. ^ "McAllen International Airport – Welcome". Mcallenairport.com. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
45. ^ "McAllen Public Library – New Main Library – opening 2011". Mcallenlibrary.net. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
46. ^ Lametti, Daniel; Waldman, Katy (July 7, 2012). "How an Abandoned Wal-Mart Became an Award-Winning Public Library". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
47. ^ Quinta Mazatlan
48. ^ Cepeda, Paola (November 16, 2019). "Cristela Alonzo receives Key to the city of McAllen". KGBT. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
49. ^ "Casas Highlights 18 Qualified A&M Swimmers at U.S. Olympic Team Trials". KBTX-TV. June 4, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.

## Bibliography

[edit]

See also: Bibliography of the history of McAllen, Texas

## External links

[edit]

* Texas portal

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for McAllen.

* City of McAllen official website
* McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau
* The Handbook of Texas Online

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McAllen, Texas

Companies|

* Inter National Bank
* Lone Star National Bank
* Rio Bank
* McAllen Express Transit
* The Monitor

History|

* International Museum of Art & Science
* McAllen Botanical Gardens
* Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

Education|

* South Texas College
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Media|

| Television|

* XHFOX
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* XHAB
* XERV
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* KVEO-TV
* KTLM
* KNVO
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* KTIZ
* KFXV
* XHOR

|

Newspapers|

* The Monitor
* La Frontera (defunct)

Entertainment|

* Catrina Music Fest

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