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McAllen is a city in 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 ...
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 Mexican border. The city limits extend south to 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 ...
, across from the Mexican city of Reynosa. McAllen is about west 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 ...
. As of the 2020 census, McAllen's population was 142,210, making it the 21st-most populous city in
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 ...
. 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. 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 A (), or (), is a factory that is largely duty (economics), duty free and tariff free. These factories take raw materials and assemble, manufacture, or process them and export the finished product. These factories and systems are present thro ...
'' economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico.


History

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, to the south. By 1911, 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. McAllen adopted a
home rule Home rule is the government of a colony, dependent country, or region by its own citizens. It is thus the power of a part (administrative division) of a state or an external dependent country to exercise such of the state's powers of governan ...
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 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 ...
; 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. 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 Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
-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. At the time, McAllen's main industries were retail, tourism and farming, and each was in trouble. The devaluation of the
Mexican peso The Mexican peso (Currency symbol, symbol: $; ISO 4217, currency code: MXN; also abbreviated Mex$ to distinguish it from peso, other peso-denominated currencies; referred to as the peso, Mexican peso, or colloquially varo) is the official curre ...
in the 1980s put a damper on cross-border shopping; local tourism was down because of the
recession In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction that occurs when there is a period of broad decline in economic activity. Recessions generally occur when there is a widespread drop in spending (an adverse demand shock). This may be tr ...
. 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 A (), or (), is a factory that is largely duty (economics), duty free and tariff free. These factories take raw materials and assemble, manufacture, or process them and export the finished product. These factories and systems are present thro ...
'' (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. The city became a focal point for concerns about the border during the
United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019 United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * United (2003 film), ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * United (2011 film) ...
over the Mexico–United States barrier. President Donald Trump held a briefing with the border agents at the patrol station here in January 2019. Homeland Security Secretary
Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele Nielsen (; born May 14, 1972) is an American attorney who served as United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019. She is a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, principal White House deputy chief of staff ...
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 An asylum seeker is a person who leaves their country of residence, enters another country, and makes in that other country a formal application for the right of asylum according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 14. A pers ...
daily to private groups that assist them with basic needs and travel arrangements. 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. Portions of the razor wire coils considered unnecessary by the city were removed after troops had placed it at the border. The troops assisted by using military helicopters to carry border patrol agents to and from locations along the
Mexico–United States border The international border separating Mexico and the United States extends from the Pacific Ocean in the west to the Gulf of Mexico in the east. The border traverses a variety of terrains, ranging from urban areas to deserts. It is the List of ...
and by maintaining vehicles. During these border support activities, they are prohibited from law enforcement activities, such as detaining migrants or seizing drugs. U.S. military troops are prohibited from carrying out law enforcement duties.. The Marine Corps Commandant General
Robert Neller Robert Blake Neller (born February 9, 1953) is a retired United States Marine Corps General (United States), four-star general who served as the 37th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2015 to 2019. ...
expressed concerns about the impact of continuing border support on combat readiness for the troops.


Geography

McAllen, located in southern Hidalgo County, is bordered to the southwest by Granjeno; to the west by Mission, Palmhurst, and Alton; to the north by Edinburg, the Hidalgo
county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
; 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, southwest of downtown McAllen. McAllen is south of
San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...
, southwest of Corpus Christi, southeast of Laredo, northwest of Brownsville, and northeast 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 ...
. 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 , or 0.62%, is covered by water. Although McAllen is named the "City of Palms",
tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...
vegetation is only locally dominant. Many thorny
shrub A shrub or bush is a small to medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees by their multiple ...
s and
deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
trees occur in the area, such as the Rio Grande ash ('' Fraxinus berlandieriana''), cedar elm ('' Ulmus crassifolia''), and honey mesquite ('' Prosopis glandulosa'').


Climate

McAllen, like much of South Texas, has a subtropical climate. Under the
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, the city features a subtropical
semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of se ...
(''BSh''), featuring long, very hot and humid summers, and brief, warm winters. The city has two distinct seasons, a
wet season The wet season (sometimes called the rainy season or monsoon season) is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs. Generally, the season lasts at least one month. The term ''green season'' is also sometimes used a ...
from May to October and a
dry season The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The t ...
from November to April. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in January to in August. The warm season is extremely long, as average high temperatures from May through September are above and average low temperatures are above , with relatively high
dew point The dew point is the temperature the air needs to be cooled to (at constant pressure) in order to produce a relative humidity of 100%. This temperature depends on the pressure and water content of the air. When the air at a temperature above the ...
values, resulting in higher
relative humidity Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation (meteorology), precipitation, dew, or fog t ...
and
heat index The heat index (HI) is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity, in shade (shadow), shaded areas, to posit a human-perceived equivalent temperature, as how hot it would feel if the humidity were some other value in the Shade (s ...
values. Heat indices consistently reach over during these months. Winter temperatures in McAllen and surrounding Rio Grande Valley are some of the warmest in the
contiguous United States The contiguous United States, also known as the U.S. mainland, officially referred to as the conterminous United States, consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the District of Columbia of the United States in central North America. The te ...
outside of
South Florida South Florida, sometimes colloquially shortened to SoFlo, is the Regions of the United States#Florida, southernmost region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of Florida's three most commonly referred to directional regions; the two others are ...
, and comparable to the Coachella and Imperial Valleys and Yuma Desert, but with warmer nighttime lows and higher dew points. Average annual precipitation is . 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 The Atlantic hurricane season is the period in a year, from June 1 through November 30, when Tropical cyclone, tropical or subtropical cyclones are most likely to form in the North Atlantic Ocean. These dates, adopted by convention ...
and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drop copious amounts of rainfall on the region, this month tends by far to be the wettest, averaging of rain. The driest month is February, with only of precipitation. Since 1941, it has snowed twice, once when the city received on December 25, 2004. Temperatures consistently rise above from June through August, with exceptionally high humidity. The highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was , set on June 22, 2017 and May 9, 2024. The lowest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was , on January 12, 1962. While usually a hot, humid, but relatively dry climate, McAllen has received unusual weather phenomena. In 2013, McAllen received a large hailstorm that destroyed many vehicles and buildings. The storm came suddenly, and many people were unprepared. In December 2017, McAllen received almost 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 and 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.


Demographics


2020 census

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


2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 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 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 or older. The average household size was 3.10, and the average family size was 3.58. In the city, the age distribution was 30.1% under 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% 65 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 Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $21,726. About 22.5% of families and 25.7% of the entire 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 ...
, including 36.6% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.


Crime

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


Health

McAllen was the focus of a 2009 article in ''
The New Yorker ''The New Yorker'' is an American magazine featuring journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. It was founded on February 21, 1925, by Harold Ross and his wife Jane Grant, a reporter for ''The New York T ...
'' 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 Infant mortality is the death of an infant before the infant's first birthday. The occurrence of infant mortality in a population can be described by the infant mortality rate (IMR), which is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age ...
, HIV, and tobacco use were lower than the national average. 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 Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...
, 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. More than 29% of the population also lacked health coverage during that time. McAllen is featured in ''Supersize vs Superskinny'', 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

The Rio Grande Valley began its rapid development with the introduction of
irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering of plants) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has bee ...
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. 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.


Trade

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.


Sports

McAllen hosted the NAIA National Football Championship in the late 1970s and NCAA Division II national football championship games in the 1980s. Until 2014, McAllen was home to the Texas Thunder of the independent
United League Baseball United League Baseball was an Independent league baseball, independent baseball league that operated in Texas. The league operated from 2006 to 2009. The league then temporarily merged with the Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010), Northern L ...
, who played at Edinburg Stadium.


Recreation


Birdwatching

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. 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, 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. 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.


Government

* Frank W. Crow, 1911–1913 * 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.


Federal representation

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 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 McAllen: McAllen Post Office, located at 620 Pecan Blvd, and the McAllen Downtown Post Office at 406 12th Street. The United States Border Patrol McAllen Station is located at 3000 West Military Highway. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Rio Grande Valley Centralized Processing Center (CPC) is located at 3700 W Ursula Avenue, McAllen, Texas. 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 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 ...
961st Quartermaster Company, 461st Transportation Detachment, and 519th Transportation Detachment. McAllen is represented in the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
by Monica De La Cruz ( R- Edinburg), of the 15th Congressional District, and Vicente Gonzalez ( D-McAllen), of the 34th Congressional District.


Transportation


Mass transit

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

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

* I-2 travels through McAllen from Taylor Road to Sugar Road. * US 83 travels through McAllen as its major east–west artery. It runs directly south of
downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...
. * SH 107 travels east through McAllen into Downtown Edinburg, where it intersects with the Business Route US 281 and then I-69C/US 281. * SH 336 travels north to an intersection of FM 1016 in McAllen to an interchange with I-2/US 83. * SH 495 travels through McAllen from FM 2220 (Ware Road) to FM 2061 (McColl Street). * I-69C travels through McAllen from Falfurrias through McAllen, past Pharr.


Airports

* McAllen Miller International Airport is served by
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 nonstop service to Dallas/Fort Worth, by United with nonstop service to
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 ...
, by Aeromexico with nonstop service to Mexico City/Santa Lucía, by
Delta Delta commonly refers to: * Delta (letter) (Δ or δ), the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet * D (NATO phonetic alphabet: "Delta"), the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet * River delta, at a river mouth * Delta Air Lines, a major US carrier ...
with nonstop service to Austin, and by Allegiant Air with nonstop flights to
Las Vegas Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
and seasonal service to
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
and Orlando-Sanford.


Education


Postsecondary

* 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

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 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 ...
. The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates Our Lady of Sorrows School, an elementary and middle school.


Public libraries

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 Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...
big-box store. The library earned high praise and received the International Interior Design Association's 2012 Library Interior Design Award.


Arts and culture

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


Television stations

* XHTAM-TV 2 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Las Estrellas * KGBT-TV 4 Harlingen, Texas Independent * KRGV-TV 5 Weslaco, Texas ABC * XHAB-TV 8 Matamoros, Tamaulipas Vallevision * XERV-TV 9 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Las Estrellas * XHREY-TV 1 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca Uno * XHOR-TV 7 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca 7 * KVEO 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 ...
NBC/ CBS * KTFV-CD 32 McAllen, Texas
UniMás UniMás (, stylized as ''UNIMÁS'', and originally known as TeleFutura from its launch on January 14, 2002, to January 6, 2013) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television, free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. ...
* KTLM 40 Rio Grande City, Texas Telemundo * KNVO 48 McAllen, Texas
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 ...
* XHVTV-TV 6 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

* KURV 710 AM News Talk Radio * XERDO-AM La Raza 1060 AM (Regional Mexican) panish* XEMS-AM Radio Mexicana 1490 AM (Regional Mexican) panish* KHID 88.1 FM McAllen (National Public Radio) * XHRYS-FM Ultra 90.1 FM panish* XHRYN-FM Uni 90.5 FM panish* XHRYA-FM Mas Music 90.9 FM (Hit Radio) panish* XHMLS-FM Exitos 91.3 FM (All-Time Hits) panish* KCAS The New KCAS 91.5 FM * XHEOQ-FM Notigape 91.7 FM (News) panish* XHAAA-FM La Caliente 93.1 FM (Regional Mexican) panish* KFRQ Q94.5 FM (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock) * XHRT-FM @FM (Arroba FM) 95.3 FM (All-Time Hits) panish* KBTQ Recuerdo 96.1 FM (Oldies) panish* KVMV Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 FM (Adult Contemporary Christian) * KGBT-FM Solamente Exitos 98.5 FM (Regional Mexican) panish* KKPS Fuego 99.5 FM (CHR) panish* KTEX South Texas Country 100.3 FM (Country) * KNVO-FM La Suavecita 101.1 FM panish* XHAVO-FM Digital 101.5 FM (International Music) panish* KBUC Super Tejano 102.1 FM (Tejano) panish* XHRR-FM La Ley 102.5 FM (Regional Mexican) panish* 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) * KVLY RGV FM 107.9 FM (Top 40)


Area newspapers

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


Architecture and points of interest

* Tallest buildings * Districts # Downtown McAllen # De Palmas Historic District # 17 Street Entertainment District # McAllen Arts District # Uptown McAllen # McAllen Convention Center District * Points of Interest # McAllen Botanical Gardens # Quinta Mazatlan # McAllen Convention Center # La Plaza Mall # International Museum of Art & Science # Historic Cine El Rey Theatre # Veteran's War Memorial of Texas


Notable people

* Cristela Alonzo, a stand-up comedian and actress, was given the Key to the City in 2019. * Abraham Ancer, a professional golfer, was born in McAllen. * Viola Canales, a lecturer in law and writer, was born in McAllen in 1957. * Jorge Cantú, a baseball player, was born in McAllen in 1982. * Shaine Casas, a competitive swimmer, was raised in McAllen."Casas Highlights 18 Qualified A&M Swimmers at U.S. Olympic Team Trials"
'' KBTX-TV''. June 4, 2021. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
* Raúl Castillo, an actor, was born in McAllen in 1977. * Michael Cole is a professional wrestling commentator for WWE. * Ana Brenda Contreras, a Mexican-American actress and singer, was born in McAllen on December 24, 1986. * Henry Cuesta, a
clarinet The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell. Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...
ist on '' The Lawrence Welk Show'', was born in McAllen in 1931. * Matt Gonzalez, former San Francisco supervisor and
running mate A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position (such as the vice presidential candidate running with a pre ...
of Ralph Nader in the 2008 presidential election, born in McAllen in 1965 * Catherine Hardwicke, a film director, though born in Cameron, Texas, grew up in McAllen. * Carl Möhner, an actor, director, screenwriter, and painter was born in
Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...
in 1921, and died 2005 in McAllen. * James Nicholas Rowe, a colonel United States Army, was born in McAllen in 1938. * Gladys Tamez, a celebrity milliner, was born in McAllen. *
Gloria Trevi Gloria de los Ángeles Treviño Ruiz (born February 15, 1968), known professionally as Gloria Trevi, is a Mexican singer, songwriter and actress. She is known for her emotional lyrics, performances, and lasting influence on Latin music, being ...
, a Mexican pop star, was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, but now lives in McAllen. * Elizabeth Moon, fantasy and science fiction writer who won the
Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), a nonprofit association of pr ...
in 2003, was raised in McAllen.


Sister cities

McAllen, Texas sister cities * Cadereyta Jiménez, Mexico * Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Mexico *
Ciudad Victoria Ciudad Victoria () (English: ''Victoria City'') is the seat of the Victoria Municipality, Tamaulipas, Municipality of Victoria, and the capital of the Mexican List of states of Mexico, state of Tamaulipas. It is located in the Northern Mexico, n ...
, Mexico * García, Mexico * Guadalupe, Mexico *
Irapuato Irapuato is a Mexican city and municipalities of Mexico, municipality located at the foot of the Arandas Hill (in Spanish Language, Spanish: ''Cerro de Arandas''), in the central region of the Mexican state, state of Guanajuato. It lies between the ...
, Mexico *
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 ...
, Mexico * Reynosa, Mexico *
San Luis Potosí San Luis Potosí, officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí, is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 59 municipalities and is named after its capital city, San Luis Potosí. It ...
, Mexico *
Tampico Tampico is a city and port in the southeastern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. It is located on the north bank of the Pánuco River, about inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and directly north of the state of Veracruz. Tampico is the fif ...
, Mexico * Taxco de Alarcón, Mexico * Zihuatanejo de Azueta, Mexico


References


Footnotes


Citations


Bibliography


External links


City of McAllen official website

McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Handbook of Texas Online
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mcallen, Texas 1904 establishments in Texas Cities in Hidalgo County, Texas Cities in Texas Populated places established in 1904 Texas populated places on the Rio Grande