Harlingen ( ) is a city in
Cameron County in the central region of the
Rio Grande Valley of the southern part of the U.S. state of
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
, about from the coast of the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
. The city covers more than and is the second-largest city in Cameron County, as well as the fifth-largest in the Rio Grande Valley. As of the
2020 census, the city had a population of 71,892.
Harlingen is a principal city of the
Brownsville–Harlingen metropolitan area, which is part of the larger
Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville combined statistical area, included in the
Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan region.
History

Harlingen's strategic location at the intersection of
U.S. Route 77
U.S. Route 77 (US 77) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway which extends for in the central United States. As of 2005, Its southern terminus is in Brownsville, Texas, at Veteran's International Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico borde ...
and
U.S. Route 83, codesignated as
Interstate 69 East and
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 US Highway 83 (US 83) and Business US 83 (Bus. US 83) in ...
, respectively, in northwestern Cameron County, fostered its development as a distribution, shipping, and industrial center. In 1904, Lon C. Hill (a man of
Choctaw
The Choctaw ( ) people are one of the Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States, originally based in what is now Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The Choctaw language is a Western Muskogean language. Today, Choct ...
ancestry) envisioned the
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande ( or ) in the United States or the Río Bravo (del Norte) in Mexico (), also known as Tó Ba'áadi in Navajo language, Navajo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the Southwestern United States a ...
as a commercial waterway. He named the town he founded on the north bank after the
Frisia
Frisia () is a Cross-border region, cross-border Cultural area, cultural region in Northwestern Europe. Stretching along the Wadden Sea, it encompasses the north of the Netherlands and parts of northwestern Germany. Wider definitions of "Frisia" ...
n city of
Harlingen, in the
Netherlands
, Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
. The town's post office was established that year. The first school opened with 15 pupils in 1905 near the Hill home, the first residence built in Harlingen. Harlingen incorporated on April 15, 1910, when the population totaled 1,126. In 1920, the census listed 1,748. The local economy at first was almost entirely agricultural, with the chief crops vegetables and cotton.
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
military installations in Harlingen caused a jump in population from 23,000 in 1950 to 41,000 by 1960. Harlingen Army Air Field preceded
Harlingen Air Force Base, which closed in 1962. The city's population fell to 33,603 by 1972, then climbed to 40,824 by 1980. Local enterprise, focused on the purchase and use of the abandoned base and related housing, laid the groundwork for continuing progress through a diversified economy. The estimated population in July 1985 was 49,000, of which about 80% was Hispanic. In the late 1980s, income from tourism ranked second only to citrus fruit production, with grain and cotton next in order. The addition of wholesale and retail trade, light and medium manufacturing, and an array of service industries has broadened the economic base. Large-scale construction for multifaceted retirement communities is a new phase of industrial development.
The City of Harlingen operates a busy industrial airpark where bombers used to land. At Valley International Airport, the Confederate Air Force (now
Commemorative Air Force
The Commemorative Air Force (CAF), formerly known as the Confederate Air Force, is an American non-profit organization based in Dallas, Texas, that preserves and shows historical aircraft at Air show, airshows, primarily in the U.S. and Canada.
...
) occupied hangar and apron space until 1991. The first hospital in Harlingen opened in 1923, and consisted of little more than two barracks as wings. The Valley Baptist Hospital was built nearby a few years later, and eventually the older hospital closed. The Valley Baptist Hospital has grown into the Valley Baptist Medical Center. The city's outstanding network of health-care specialists and facilities parallels the growth of the still-expanding center. Also serving regional health needs are the South Texas State Chest Hospital, the State Hospital for Children, and the Rio Grande State Mental Health and Mental Retardation Center.
Besides public and church-affiliated schools, Harlingen students attend the University Preparatory School, the
Marine Military Academy, Texas State Technical College, or Rio Grande Vocational and Rehabilitation classes. Civic and cultural development in Harlingen has kept pace with the growth of the community. Fraternal orders and civic organizations operating in the community include Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Optimist, 20–30, VFW, American Legion, and the Lower Valley Cotillion Club; a woman's building is maintained as a center for the activities of the many woman's clubs active in the city. Development and appreciation of the fine arts are encouraged by organizations such as the Rio Grande Valley Art League, the Art Forum, and the Rio Grande Valley Civic Association, which stages its winter concert series at the 2,300-seat Harlingen Municipal Auditorium. Each March, Harlingen is the site of the Rio Grande Valley International Music Festival. The city has two newspapers—the ''Harlingen Press'', a weekly paper established in 1951, and the ''Valley Morning Star'', a daily established in 1911. In 1990, the population was 48,735. In 1992, the city was named an All-America City, cited especially for its volunteer spirit and self-help programs. In 2000, the community had 57,564 inhabitants and 2,549 businesses.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and , or 1.22%, is covered by water.
Soils in Harlingen range in texture from fine sandy loam to clay. They are neutral to moderately alkaline with
pH of 7.2 to 8.5 (most commonly around 8.2), and are moderately well drained or well drained in most cases, with small areas of poorly drained, saline clays.
Climate
Harlingen has a
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
Cfa). Summers are long, and very humid with hot days and warm nights. Winters are very dry with warm days and cool nights. Precipitation peaks during September, with an average of precipitation falling.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census, there were 71,829 people, 21,752 households, and 15,548 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census
of 2000, 57,564 people, 19,021 households, and 14,360 families resided in the city. The population density was . The 23,008 housing units averaged . The
racial makeup of the city was 78.68% White, 0.92% Black, 0.52% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 16.39% from other races, and 2.58% from two or more races. About 72.76% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race; most are of Mexican descent.
As in other cities in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, a significant part of Harlingen's transient population and a significant contributor to its economy consists of "Winter Texans", generally retirees from the northern Midwestern states and Canada, who come to escape the northern winter weather between roughly November and April.
Of the 19,021 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18, 55.6% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were not families; 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94, and the average family size was 3.44.
In the city, the population was distributed as 30.7% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,296, and for a family was $34,015. Males had a median income of $27,014 versus $21,795 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,886. About 19.3% of families and 24.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.
Government
City government
Harlingen is governed by a mayor elected at-large and a five-member city commission representing five individual single-member districts. All seats are eligible for election every three years. The current mayor is Norma Sepulveda, who was elected in 2022. The city commissioners are District 1 Ford H. Kinsley, District 2 Daniel N. Lopez, District 3 Mike Mezmar, District 4 Frank Morales, and District 5 Rene Perez.
City commission
The commission meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 5:30 pm at City Hall.
Police department

The Harlingen Police Department embraces the community policing philosophy. The police force consists of nearly 160 sworn police officers. The department receives more than 50,000 911 calls per year. The department's Mission Statement is, "It is the mission of the Harlingen Police Department to provide services with integrity and dedication, to preserve life, to enforce the law, and to work in partnership with the community to enhance the quality of life in the City of Harlingen."
State government
The
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is a department of the government of the U.S. state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails ...
operates the Harlingen Parole Office in Harlingen.
Federal representation
The
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or simply the Postal Service, is an independent agencies of the United States government, independent agency of the executive branch of the federal governmen ...
operates two post offices in Harlingen, including the Harlingen Post Office and the Downtown Harlingen post office.
U.S. Department of Justice
Harlingen is home to the U.S.
Immigration Court
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is a sub-agency of the United States Department of Justice whose chief function is to conduct removal proceedings in immigration courts and adjudicate appeals arising from the proceedings. These ...
, one of 52 such courts in the U.S. that adjudicate immigration cases in the United States. The chief function of the Immigration Court is to conduct
removal proceedings
In the United States, removal proceedings are administrative proceedings to determine an individual's removability under federal immigration law. Removal proceedings are typically conducted in Immigration Court (the Executive Office for Immigr ...
, which are
administrative proceeding
Administrative law is a division of law governing the activities of executive branch agencies of government. Administrative law includes executive branch rulemaking (executive branch rules are generally referred to as "regulations"), adjudica ...
s to determine the
removability of noncitizens present within the United States.
U.S. Homeland Security Agencies
The
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol (USBP) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is responsible for secu ...
Harlingen Station is located at 3902 S. Expressway 77 Harlingen, Texas.
Military installations
The Harlingen Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) is located at 1300 W Teege Ave, Harlingen, Texas. This facility hosts
Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces
The reserve components of the United States Armed Forces are military organizations whose members generally perform a minimum of 39 days of military duty per year and who augment the active duty (or full-time) military when necessary. The reserv ...
units from the
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a Military reserve force, reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed ...
319th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Team, 1st Judge Advocate General Detachment, 5th Team, 1st Judge Advocate General Detachment, and 812th Quartermaster Company (Supply). The
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2004, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called reservists, are categorized as being in either the S ...
Navy Operations Support Center Harlingen (NOSC Harlingen) and the
United States Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES or MFR), also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Reserve is an expedit ...
Charlie Company (Det)
1st Battalion 23rd Marines 4th Marine Division. This facility is mostly used for monthly drills. A Military Retiree Activities Office is located at the Harlingen AFRC.
Education
Primary and secondary education
The city is covered by the
Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District and
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 o ...
. Harlingen is home to four high schools – Harlingen Collegiate High (formerly Early College High School before its deal with UTRGV),
Harlingen High School,
Harlingen High School South, and Harlingen School of Health Professions, and a freshman Academy, Dr. Abraham P. Cano Freshman Academy. The Saint Anthony Catholic School is a parochial school for grades K–8 (with a
Montessori
The Montessori method of education is a type of educational method that involves children's natural interests and activities rather than formal teaching methods. A Montessori classroom places an emphasis on hands-on learning and developing ...
program for 3- and 4-year-olds). It is one of the few Catholic schools in the city of Harlingen and has an enrollment of approximately 220 students.
The
Marine Military Academy is a private, all-male,
college preparatory school located in Harlingen.
Universities and colleges
In 1967, a branch of
Texas State Technical College was established in Harlingen. The two-year technical state college currently offers more than 30 programs to over 5,000 students.
In 2002, the
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio opened the Regional Academic Health Center (RAHC) Medical Education Division in Harlingen. In 2012, the UT System Board of Regents approved the merger of the
University of Texas at Brownsville
The University of Texas at Brownsville (abbreviated as UTB and formerly known as the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College TB/TSC was an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas. The university was on the l ...
and the
University of Texas-Pan American to form the
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is a public research university with its main campus in Edinburg, Texas, and multiple other campuses throughout the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas. It is the southernmost member of the Uni ...
(UTRGV) and the
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine, the latter using resources from the RAHC.
The
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine welcomed its first students in the summer of 2016. UTRGV's psychiatry program and Institute for Neurosciences are based in Harlingen.
Southern Careers Institute has a campus located in Harlingen as well.
Sports and recreation
Most recently, Harlingen was the home of the
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings was a professional baseball team based in Harlingen, Texas, in the United States. The WhiteWings was a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major Leagu ...
, a
minor league baseball
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...
team that existed from 1994 to 2003 and from 2006 to 2015. In 2000, the WhiteWings won the Texas-Louisiana League championship. Previously, Harlingen was home to the
Harlingen Capitals, who were members of the Class D
Rio Grande Valley League (1950) and Class B
Gulf Coast League (1951–1953). Earlier, the
Harlingen Ladds were members of the Rio Grande Valley League (1931) and the
Harlingen Hubs were members of the Texas Valley League (1938). The Rio Grande Valley Giants, based in Harlingen, played in the Class AA
Texas League
The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...
(1960–1961) as an affiliate of the
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
.
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
inductee
Gaylord Perry played for the Rio Grande Valley Giants in 1960. In 1976, the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings played as members of the
Gulf States League and the Harlingen Suns (1977) played in the
Lone Star League. Beginning in 1950, all Harlingen teams played at
Harlingen Field
Harlingen Field (also known as Harlingen Municipal Stadium, Lon Hill Ballpark, or Giants Field) is a baseball park in Harlingen, Texas, that has been home to professional baseball, such as the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings and the Harlingen Giants, ...
.
Valley Race Park is a racetrack for Greyhound dogs. It was the first Greyhound track in Texas to accept parimutuel wagering. The facility is fully air-conditioned and the grandstands totals over . The grandstand has over 400 monitors to pick up the 50-plus Simulcast Live Racing signals from the top Greyhound and horse tracks from all around the United States. Valley Race Park shut down in the fall of 1995, but reopened five years later, in the spring of 2000.
The
World Birding Center (Harlingen Arroyo Colorado) has a location in Harlingen's Hugh Ramsey Nature Park. Work continues on designs for a new visitors' center at Hugh Ramsey Nature Park. The two-story center will include a gift shop, observation tower, meeting rooms, and enclosed viewing areas. Also, visitors at both Ramsey Park and the Thicket will find parking and extensive trails, as well as maps, information, and public restrooms.
The Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival occurs each November in Harlingen, attracting up to 3,000 participants per year. In 2018, the multi-day festival celebrated its 25th year, drawing 600 participants in guided birding tours, 80 to 90 paid guides, and 100 volunteers. 10,000-capacity
J. Lewis Boggus Stadium has an all-weather artificial playing surface and is located in downtown Harlingen. It is used for football, soccer, and other outdoor athletic events.
Healthcare
Harlingen Medical Center (HMC) is a nationally recognized general acute-care hospital. HMC medical services include: bariatric, cardiac surgery, cardiology, emergency, gastroenterology, imaging services, internal medicine, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, sleep apnea treatment, vascular and endovascular surgery, and wound-healing care. The facility opened in October 2002 and has 112 beds.
Valley Baptist Medical Center
(VBMC), with 586 beds, is the Rio Grande Valley's only Level II Trauma Center. With a 38-room emergency department and a heliport, Valley Baptist serves as the lead trauma center in the region, and is the only hospital in the area offering comprehensive stroke services, including advanced endovascular neurology procedures. Valley Baptist has the only newborn intensive-care unit in Harlingen, the only pediatric intensive-care unit in Cameron County, private labor/delivery/recovery suites, a family-centered maternity-care unit, women's surgery suites, day surgery, and outpatient services. In addition, Valley Baptist has a diabetes-education program, and a wound-care center and foot-care institute, and a surgical and medical weight-loss program.
Solara Specialty Hospital Harlingen is a long-term acute-care facility where patients can receive treatment for as long as a month, compared to general hospitals where patients are treated for shorter periods. The 41–bed hospital is owned by Solara Healthcare of Dallas, Valley Baptist Health System, and local physicians.
The Regional Academic Health Center is a teaching hospital that serves as an extension campus of the
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Su Clinica Familiar offers services tailored to the border region, concentrating in the areas of dentistry, internal medicine, women's health, and pediatrics. Services are mostly tailored for the poor. It has a teaching partnership with the nearby Regional Academic Health Center.
The Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic and VA Health Care Center are two Veteran Administration (VA) facilities in Harlingen. Both of these facilities fall under the VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System.
The
Harlingen Ambulatory Surgery and Specialty Outpatient Center opened in January 2011 and provides care to veterans. Orthopedics, urology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, infectious disease, dermatology, cardiology, oncology, neurology, rheumatology, amputee/prosthetics, and endoscopy services are offered.
The Rio Grande State Center offers outpatient medical healthcare and in-patient mental health services. The center's psychiatric hospital is a 55-bed, in-patient facility and the long-term program is a 75-bed, residential facility. The outpatient medical clinic provides out-patient services which including primary care, women's health, diagnostic services, psychiatric consults and prescription assistance.
A
Ronald McDonald House opened in 1998. It offers a place to stay for families of children being treated for serious illness or injury. It is funded by private donations, grants, and fundraising events.
Palms Behavioral Health, a 94-bed mental and behavioral health facility which opened in Harlingen in 2016.
Transportation
Airports
The city's airport,
Valley International Airport, has a service area that encompasses the lower Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico, serving more than two million people on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Valley International Airport lies in the northeastern portion of Harlingen and offers a border-crossing option via the
Free Trade Bridge at
Los Indios. The airport has aligned itself as the air cargo hub of the Rio Grande Valley and works closely with carriers such as DHL, FedEx and Southwest Airlines Cargo. In 1975,
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co., or simply Southwest, is a Major airlines of the United States, major airline in the United States that formerly operated on a low-cost carrier model. It is headquartered in the Love Field, Dallas, Love Field neighborhood ...
began to fly to the Rio Grande Valley via Valley International Airport with four roundtrips each business day. Southwest currently offers nonstop flights between Harlingen and Austin and Houston Hobby. Additional airlines that serve the airport include
United Express
United Express is a regional airline network that supports United Airlines operations, primarily by serving smaller cities and connecting traffic to United's main hubs. Representing six percent of United's total capacity for 2024, United Express ...
to Houston Intercontinental,
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is a major airlines of the United States, major airline in the United States headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, and is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the ...
with daily nonstop service to Dallas DFW,
Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines, Inc. is a major American ultra low-cost airline headquartered in Denver, Colorado. It operates flights to over 120 destinations in the United States, Caribbean, Mexico and Central America, and employs more than 5,000 staff. ...
with weekly nonstop service to Chicago and Denver, and
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a Major airlines of the United States, major airline in the United States headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, operating nine hubs, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being its ...
and
Sun Country Airlines with seasonal, nonstop service to Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Public transit
The city is working to build a public transit center as a hub for bus lines to Harlingen. The project is currently on hold due to funding issues.
Highways
The city of Harlingen is at the junction of
U.S. Route 77
U.S. Route 77 (US 77) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway which extends for in the central United States. As of 2005, Its southern terminus is in Brownsville, Texas, at Veteran's International Bridge on the U.S.-Mexico borde ...
and
U.S. Route 83, designated as
Interstate 69E and
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 US Highway 83 (US 83) and Business US 83 (Bus. US 83) in ...
, respectively. Interstate 69E runs through north–south through Harlingen, while the city serves as the eastern terminus of Interstate 2. U.S. Route 77 connects the Rio Grande Valley to
Interstate 37 at
Corpus Christi. U.S. Route 83 connects the Rio Grande Valley with
Interstate 35
Interstate 35 (I-35) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route. It stretches from Laredo, Texas, near the Mexican bo ...
at
Laredo.
International trade bridges
The Free Trade Bridge at Los Indios is a state-of-the-art international bridge located just south of Harlingen. With a full
U.S. Customs inspection facility that accommodates up to 75 trucks simultaneously, the Free Trade Bridge is acclaimed as the most time-efficient border crossing in the valley. The bridge accesses a four-lane highway in northern Mexico, offering a fast route to the border cities of Matamoros and Reynosa, as well as the industrial city of
Monterrey
Monterrey (, , abbreviated as MtY) is the capital and largest city of the northeastern Mexican state of Nuevo León. It is the ninth-largest city and the second largest metropolitan area, after Greater Mexico City. Located at the foothills of th ...
. With the completion of Mexico's State of
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas, is a state in Mexico; one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 federal entities of Mexico. It is divided into 43 municipalities.
It is located in nor ...
new '
autopista', the Free Trade Bridge will provide a seamless highway connection for more efficient distribution of industrial products to and from interior Mexico.
Ports
The
Port of Harlingen is located east of Harlingen on Highway 106. It is west of mile marker 646 on the
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which stretches from the Mexican border at Brownsville, along the entire coast of the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico () is an oceanic basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, mostly surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States; on the southw ...
to
St. Marks, Florida. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway provides over of protected waterway, deep and wide. The
Harlingen Channel is maintained to a width of and a depth of and is supplied by the
Arroyo Colorado, a freshwater river.
Railroads
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad is a Railroad classes, Class I freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pacific is the second largest railroad in the United Stat ...
has a local terminal and switching yard in Harlingen. The Harlingen Industrial Parks and Port of Harlingen have direct rail access. Harlingen has a rich history as a railroad town. The Southern Pacific depot has been razed, but it was one of four SP depots in the Rio Grande Valley (the others are Brownsville, now a museum; McAllen, now a law office; and Edinburg, now the home of the Chamber of Commerce).
Harlingen was served by the
Missouri Pacific Railroad
The Missouri Pacific Railroad , commonly abbreviated as MoPac, was one of the first railroads in the United States west of the Mississippi River. MoPac was a Class I railroad growing from dozens of predecessors and mergers. In 1967, the railroad o ...
night train on a
Houston
Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...
, Texas-
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Cameron County, Texas, Cameron County, located on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border, border with Matamoros, Tamaulipas ...
route, the ''Pioneer'' (#315/316) until 1964 and day train on that route, the ''
Valley Eagle'' (#321/322) until 1962.
Culture and points of interest
The Harlingen Public Library serves local residents.
* Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum
* Harlingen Performing Arts Theater
* Iwo Jima Memorial & Museum
*Hugh Ramsey Nature Park
Media and journalism
Newspapers
* ''
Valley Morning Star
The ''Valley Morning Star'', established in 1909 as the ''Harlingen Star'', is an American newspaper published in Harlingen in the U.S. state of Texas.
In 1938, ''The New York Times'' reported on a printer's strike at the newspaper that was orga ...
''
* ''
The Brownsville Herald
''The Brownsville Herald'' is a newspaper based in Brownsville, Texas, United States, circulating in the Cameron County area.
History
Jesse O. Wheeler, a newspaperman from Victoria, purchased Brownsville's ''Cosmopolitan'' newspaper in 1892 an ...
''
* ''
The Monitor''
Television
*
XHTAM-TV (Channel 2 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)
*
KGBT-TV
KGBT-TV (channel 4) is a television station licensed to Harlingen, Texas, United States, serving the Lower Rio Grande Valley as a primary Antenna TV owned-and-operated station and a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliate. It is owned by Nexstar Medi ...
(Channel 4, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Mission Broadcasting, Inc.,
Antenna TV
Antenna TV is an American digital television network owned by Nexstar Media Group. The network's programming consists of classic television series, primarily sitcoms, from the 1950s to the 1990s. Antenna TV's programming and advertising operatio ...
Affiliate)
*
KRGV-TV
KRGV-TV (channel 5) is a television station licensed to Weslaco, Texas, United States, serving as the ABC affiliate for the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The station is owned by the Manship family of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, through Mobile Video Ta ...
(Channel 5,
Weslaco, Texas, licensee: Mobile Video Tapes, Inc.,
ABC affiliate)
*
XHAB-TV (Channel 8 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)
*
XERV-TV (Channel 9 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)
*
XHREY-TV (Channel 1 TV AZTECA NORESTE/Reynosa Mexico, Rio Grande City-McAllen-Weslaco)
*
XHOR-TV (Channel 7 TV AZTECA NORESTE/Reynosa Mexico, Rio Grande City-McAllen-Weslaco)
*
KHGN-TV (Cable Channel 17, Harlingen, Texas, operator: Harlingen Consolidated independent school District, Public Relations Office.)
*
KVEO (Channel 23,
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Cameron County, Texas, Cameron County, located on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border, border with Matamoros, Tamaulipas ...
, licensee: Nexstar Media Group,
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
/
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
affiliate)
*
KTLM (Channel 40,
Rio Grande City, Texas
Rio Grande City is a city in and the county seat of Starr County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,317 at the time of the 2020 census. The city is west of McAllen. It is connected to Camargo, Tamaulipas, via the Rio Grande City� ...
, licensee:
NBCUniversal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...
Telemundo Station Group
Telemundo Station Group is the division of NBCUniversal Owned TV Stations (NBCUniversal), a subsidiary of Comcast that oversees their Telemundo owned-and-operated television stations and the TeleXitos network. The NBC owned-and-operated station ...
,
Telemundo
Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. It provides content ...
owned and operated station)
*
KNVO (Channel 48, McAllen, Texas, licensee: Entravision Holdings, LLC.,
Univision
Univision () is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television, free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the L ...
affiliate)
*
XHVTV-TV (Channel 6 Multimedios TV/Reynosa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen-Weslaco/ Harlingen-Brownsville)
*
KFXV (Channel 60, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: RGV Educational Broadcasting, Inc.
FOX
Foxes are small-to-medium-sized omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull; upright, triangular ears; a pointed, slightly upturned snout; and a long, bushy tail ("brush").
Twelve species ...
)
Radio
;FM
*
KHID 88.1 FM PBS/NPR
* KBNR 88.3 FM Radio Manantial (Spanish Christian)
* KOIR Radio Esperanza 88.5 (Spanish Christian)
*
KJJF 88.9 FM PBS/NPR
* XHMLS 91.3 FM (Top-40)
* KTER 90.7 FM (Religious)
* KCAS The New 91.5 / "Know Christ As Savior" (English Traditional Christian ad Southern Gospel)
* KESO 92.7 FM (Spanish)
*
KFRQ Q94.5 (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock)
*
KBTQ Recuerdo 96.1 FM (Mexican Oldies)
*
KVMV Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 FM (Adult Contemporary Christian)
*
KGBT-FM Solamente Exitos 98.5 FM (Mexican Norteña)
*
KKPS
KKPS (99.5 FM broadcasting, FM) "Fuego 99.5" is a radio station broadcasting a Contemporary hit radio, Bilingual Rhythmic CHR format. Licensed to Brownsville, Texas, United States, the station serves the McAllen-Brownsville-Harlingen area. The s ...
Fuego 99.5 FM (Puro Trancazos)
*
KTEX
KTEX (100.3 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Mercedes, Texas, United States, the station serves the McAllen, Weslaco, Harlingen, Brownsville, Texas, area. The station is owned by iHeartMedia. It shares ...
South Texas Country 100.3 FM (Country)
*
KNVO-FM Jose 101.1 FM (Spanish Hits)
* KBUC 102.1 FM Super Tejano (Tejano)
*
KBFM Wild 104.1 FM (Hip-Hop/R&B)
*
KJAV Ultra 104.9 (Spanish Adult Hits)
* KQXX 105.5 FM "The X" (Classic Rock)
* XHNA 105.9 FM (Spanish)
*
KBIC 105.7 FM (Spanish)
*
KHKZ
KHKZ (106.3 FM) is a radio station broadcasting a hot adult contemporary format. Licensed to San Benito, Texas, United States, the station serves the Rio Grande Valley. The station is currently owned by iHeartMedia. It shares a studio with it ...
Kiss 106.3 FM (Hot AC)
*
KVLY 107.9 RGV FM (AC)
;AM
* KURV 710 AM Talk
* KVJY 840 AM Spanish Pop
* KRIO 910 AM Spanish
* KUBR 1210 AM Spanish
* KSOX 1240 AM Spanish
* KRGE 1290 AM Spanish
* XERDO 1060 AM Spanish Talk
* XEMS 1490 AM Spanish
* KGBT 1530 AM Spanish
* KIRT 1580 AM Spanish
* KVNS 1700 AM Fox Sports
Notable people
*
Gloria E. Anzaldúa (1942–2004), writer
*
Leo Araguz (born 1970), American football player
*
Thomas Haden Church (born 1960), actor
*
Parker Coppins, YouTuber
*
Danielle Doty (born 1993),
Miss Texas Teen USA 2011,
Miss Teen USA 2011
*
Carlos Elizondo, event planner and political aide
*
Cayetano Garza (born 1972), cartoonist
*
Bill Haley
William John Clifton Haley (; July 6, 1925 – February 9, 1981) was an American rock and roll musician. He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-sel ...
(1925–1981), rock and roll musician
*
Gina Haley (born 1975), singer-songwriter
*
Harry Holt, professional football player
*
Rose Wilder Lane (1886–1968), journalist, travel writer, novelist,
political theorist
A political theorist is someone who engages in constructing or evaluating political theory, including political philosophy. Theorists may be academics or independent scholars.
Ancient
* Aristotle
* Chanakya
* Cicero
* Confucius
* Mencius
* ...
, and daughter of American writer
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, teacher, and journalist. She is best known as the author of the children's book series ''Little House on the Prairie'', published between 1932 and 1 ...
*
Bobby Morrow
Bobby Joe Morrow (October 15, 1935May 30, 2020) was an American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics. He has been called "the dominant sprinter of the 1950s" and "the most relaxed sprinter of all time, even more so than his ...
(1935–2020), American sprinter who won three gold medals at the 1956 Olympics
*
Harry Nyquist
Harry Nyquist (, ; February 7, 1889 – April 4, 1976) was a Swedish-American physicist and electronic engineer who made important contributions to communication theory.
Personal life
Nyquist was born in the village Nilsby of the parish Stora ...
(1889–1976), electronics engineer
*
Emmy Ruiz, political advisor
*
Nick Stahl
Nicolas Kent Stahl (born ) is an American actor. Starting out as a child actor, he gained recognition for his performance in the 1993 film ''The Man Without a Face'', in which he was directed by and starred alongside Mel Gibson.
Stahl later tr ...
(born 1979), actor
*
Jeffrey Thompson (born 1963), Idaho state representative
*
Blanca Vela (1936–2014), first female mayor of Brownsville, Texas (1999–2003), born and raised in Harlingen
*
Filemon Vela Jr., U.S. Representative
*
Larry Warner (1943–2022), lawyer and politician
*
Randy Williams (born 1975), former Major League Baseball and
Nippon Professional Baseball
is a professional baseball league and the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning simply ''Professional Baseball''; outside of Japan, NPB is often referred to as "Japanese baseball".
The roots of the league ...
player
*
Kim Young
Young Kim (; born 2 February 1980) is a South Korean professional golfer.
Kim was born in Chunchon, South Korea. She played on the LPGA of Korea Tour winning five times between 1999 and 2003. She won once on the Futures Tour in 2001. She pla ...
(born 1955), professional golfer
References
External links
*
Harlingen Economic Development CorporationConvention & Visitors BureauHarlingen and Rio Grande Valley Guide''Harlingen, Tx'' in Handbook of Texas Online*
*
Harlingenat ''TopHour''
{{authority control
Cities in Texas
Cities in Cameron County, Texas
Populated places established in 1904
1904 establishments in Texas
Texas
Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...
Texas populated places on the Rio Grande