Mercedes is a U.S. city in Hidalgo County,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. The population was 15,570 at the 2010 census. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and

Reynosa–McAllen Reynosa–McAllen, also known as McAllen–Reynosa, or simply as Borderplex, is one of the six international conurbations along the Mexico–U.S border. The city of Reynosa is situated in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, on the southern bank of t ...

metropolitan areas.

Geography

Mercedes is located in southeastern Hidalgo County at (26.149315, –97.918675). It is bordered to the west by

Weslaco Weslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 41,103, and in 2020 the estimated population was 41,103. It is located at the southern tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexi ...

and to the east, in Cameron County, by

La Feria LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

. The

Interstate 2 Interstate 2 (I-2) is a partially completed Interstate Highway running through the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. It begins at the intersection of U.S. Highway 83 (US 83) and Business U.S. Highway 83 (Bus. US 83) ...

U.S. Route 83 U.S. Route 83 (US 83) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that extends in the central United States. Only four other north–south routes are longer: US 1, US 41, US 59, and US 87, while US ...

freeway passes through the northern side of Mercedes, leading west to

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 Mexico–United States border. The city limits extend ...

and east to Harlingen. Mercedes is north of the

Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge The Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge ( es, Puente Internacional Nuevo Progreso–Progreso), officially the Weslaco–Progreso International Bridge and also known as the B&P Bridge, is an international bridge over the Rio Grande on ...

over the Rio Grande, connecting Texas with the Mexican state of

Tamaulipas Tamaulipas (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas), is a state in the northeast region of Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Federal Entiti ...

. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, Mercedes has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.55%, are water.

History

Mercedes is known as "The Queen City of the Valley" or "La Reina del Valle". Mercedes was founded September 15, 1907, by the American Rio Grande Land & Irrigation Company, and was incorporated March 8, 1909. It is one of the oldest towns in the

Rio Grande Valley The Lower Rio Grande Valley ( es, Valle del Río Grande), commonly known as the Rio Grande Valley or locally as the Valley or RGV, is a region spanning the border of Texas and Mexico located in a floodplain of the Rio Grande near its mouth. The ...

, and the city celebrated its centennial in 2007. The city was located in Capisallo Pasture, part of Capisallo Ranch owned by Jim Welles. This location was known as the Pear Orchard because of the vast numbers of prickly pear cactus growing there at that time. Some sources state that the original name given to the city was "Diaz" in honor of Porfirio Diaz, then president of Mexico. Later it was supposedly renamed "Mercedes Diaz" in honor of the president's wife, and from that, Mercedes became the Queen City. This story, however, is historically inaccurate, given that neither of Diaz's two wives were named Mercedes. General

Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was an American military leader who served as the 12th president of the United States from 1849 until his death in 1850. Taylor was a career officer in the United States Army, rising to th ...

's headquarters was to the southeast of Mercedes near the

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

. There the old Rabb Ranch was famous for its stagecoach stop and landing for the riverboats carrying supplies to the settlements and military installations. The old Toluca Ranch still stands east of the International Bridge at Progreso, the sister city to the south. This ranch was close to the river and a prized target for the ''bandidos'' during the days of Pancho Villa. It was built with many secret rooms and passages, and had heavy wooden shutters on the windows to protect its residents.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 16,258 people, 4,834 households, and 3,726 families residing in the city.

2000 census

At the 2000

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

, there were 13,649 people, 4,170 households and 3,348 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 1,591.2 per square mile (614.2/km). There were 5,455 housing units at an average density of 636.0 per square mile (245.5/km). The racial makeup of the city was 79.42%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 0.36%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.89% Native American, 0.07%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.01%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 16.95% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 90.01% of the population. There were 4,170 households, of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.27 and the average family size was 3.75. 32.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males. The

median household income The median income is the income amount that divides a population into two equal groups, half having an income above that amount, and half having an income below that amount. It may differ from the mean (or average) income. Both of these are ways of ...

was $23,064 and the median family income was $25,339. Males had a median income of $19,945 versus $18,387 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $8,658. About 30.4% of families and 36.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 30.3% of those age 65 or over.

Shopping

The Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, owned by Chelsea Property Group which is a brand of

Simon Property Group Simon Property Group, Inc. is an American real estate investment trust that invests in shopping malls, outlet centers, and community/lifestyle centers. It is the largest owner of shopping malls in the United States and is headquartered in Indian ...

, opened in November 2006. The city is roughly the geographical center of the Rio Grande Valley urban agglomeration and is located on

U.S. Highway 83 U.S. Route 83 (US 83) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that extends in the central United States. Only four other north–south routes are longer: US 1, US 41, US 59, and US 87, while US ...

, which connects the major urban centers of

, Brownsville and Harlingen. The city is located near a major

Mexico–United States border The Mexico–United States border ( es, frontera Estados Unidos–México) is an international border separating Mexico and the United States, extending from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the east. The border traver ...

crossing making it accessible to the growing middle class population of

Nuevo León Nuevo León () is a state in the northeast region of Mexico. The state was named after the New Kingdom of León, an administrative territory from the Viceroyalty of New Spain, itself was named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León. With a ...

and

Government and infrastructure

The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the U ...

operates the Mercedes Post Office. Current elected city officials (2019): *Henry Hinojosa, Mayor *Jacob Howell, Commissioner Place 1 *Leonel Benavidez, Commissioner Place 2 *Joe Martinez, Commissioner Place 3 *Jose M. Gomez, Commissioner Place 4 *Sergio Zavala, City Manager: Police department *Dagoberto Chavez, Asst. City Mngr/Chief of Police

Education

Mercedes is divided between two school districts:SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Hidalgo County, TX
"

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

. Retrieved on July 9, 2017. eastern Mercedes is in the

Mercedes Independent School District Mercedes Independent School District is a public school district based in Mercedes, Texas (USA). In addition to Mercedes, the district serves the unincorporated communities of Heidelberg, Indian Hills, and Relampago. In 2009, the school distri ...

, zoned to

Mercedes High School Mercedes High School is a public high school located in Mercedes, Texas, and is part of the Mercedes Independent School District. The school has a little over 1000 students and the current administration includes Principal, Mr. Ricardo Hinojosa, ...

, while western Mercedes is in the Weslaco Independent School District, zoned to Weslaco East High School In addition,

South Texas Independent School District South Texas Independent School District (STISD) is a magnet school district headquartered in Mercedes, Texas (USA). STISD operates magnet schools that draw students from three counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy. STISD covers an area of , o ...

, which is headquartered in Mercedes, serves magnet students in many

communities, including Mercedes.

The Science Academy of South Texas South Texas ISD Science Academy (formerly known as The Science Academy of South Texas), also known as "SciTech", is a high school in Mercedes, Texas, Mercedes, Texas, United States, as part of the South Texas Independent School District. This cam ...

and

South Texas High School for Health Professions South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) is one of four STISD magnet high schools in the Rio Grande Valley and is located in Mercedes, Texas. Students at Health Professions develop clinical skills in area hospitals, nursing homes an ...

, schools of STISD, are in Mercedes. In 2015, the city joined other cities in south Texas in support of the newly formed

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a public research university with multiple campuses throughout the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas and is the southernmost member of the University of Texas System. The University of Texas ...

by adopting a resolution declaring August 31 as UTRGV day. Also, they recognized the university by installing a boot with the university logos right across the municipal city hall.

Public libraries

Dr Hector P Garcia Library serves Mercedes.

Public arts

Mercedes is home to a unique public art project: there are 30 handcrafted cowboy boots dispersed throughout the city, each painted with the insignia of different colleges from around the state, country and even Mexico. People who are passionate about their alma mater come from all over to take a picture with their boot.

Radio stations

These FM radio stations broadcast from Mercedes:

Notable people

Natalia Anciso Natalia Anciso (born March 25, 1985) is an American Chicana- Tejana contemporary artist and educator. Her artwork focuses primarily on issues involving Identity, especially as it pertains to her experiences growing up along the U.S.-Mexico Bor ...

, artist and educator *

Rolando Hinojosa-Smith Romeo Rolando Hinojosa-Smith (January 21, 1929 – April 19, 2022) was an American novelist, essayist, poet and the Ellen Clayton Garwood professor in the English Department at the University of Texas at Austin. He was noted for authoring the '' ...

, author and professor of English *

Billy Gene Pemelton William Eugene "Billy Gene" Pemelton (born September 5, 1941, in Mercedes, Texas) is a retired American track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is ...

, Olympic pole vaulter (1964) *

Elida Reyna Elida Reyna also known as Elida (born August 17, 1972 in San Antonio, Texas) is an American Tejano music singer.Billboard – March 20, 1999 p. 19 "Elida Reyna and Bobby Pulido were celebrated as new major forces in Tejano music at the new Teja ...

Tejano Tejanos (, ; singular: ''Tejano/a''; Spanish for "Texan", originally borrowed from the Caddo ''tayshas'') are the residents of the state of Texas who are culturally descended from the Mexican population of Tejas and Coahuila that lived in the ...

musician *

Jeff Wentworth Earl Jeffrey Wentworth (born November 20, 1940), is a Republican former member of the Texas Senate from San Antonio. He represented District 25 in the upper legislative chamber from January 1997 to January 2013. In addition, from 1993 to 1997, h ...

, state senator

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

system, Mercedes has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.Climate Summary for Mercedes, Texas
/ref>

References

External links

City of Mercedes official website

Mercedes Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control Cities in Texas Cities in Hidalgo County, Texas Populated places established in 1907 1907 establishments in Texas