McAllen, Texas

McAllen is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 106,414. The city is across the Rio Grande (Rio Bravo) from the city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. McAllen is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and the cost of living is among the lowest in the United States.

Geography and Climate

McAllen is at 26°12'59" North, 98°14'11" West (26.216263, -98.236385)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 119.8 km² (46.3 mi²). 119.1 km² (46.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.63% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 106,414 people, 33,151 households, and 26,089 families residing in the city. The population density is 893.8/km² (2,314.7/mi²). There are 37,922 housing units at an average density of 318.5/km² (824.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 78.46% White, 0.61% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.93% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 15.85% from other races, and 2.71% from two or more races. 80.28% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 33,151 households out of which 43.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% are married couples living together, 16.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 21.3% are non-families. 17.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.18 and the average family size is 3.64.

In the city the population is spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $33,641, and the median income for a family is $36,050. Males have a median income of $30,089 versus $22,480 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,939. 23.8% of the population and 20.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.5% of those under the age of 18 and 20.3% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Transportation

Mass Transit

• McAllen Express covers six different colour coded routes throughout the city from 6:00 am to 5:55 pm Monday through Friday.

Airports

• McAllen-Miller International Airport is the premier business airport of the Rio Grande Valley served by American Airlines with non-stop service to Dallas and Continental with non-stop service to Houston and Mexico City, MX.
• Edinburg International Airport located on 400 E Hargill Road, Edinburg, TX.

Economy

Media and Journalism

Television stations

• KGBT (Channel 4, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Libco, Inc., CBS affiliate)
• KRGV (Channel 5, Weslaco, Texas, licensee: Mobile Video Tapes, Inc., ABC affiliate)
• XHFOX (Channel 17, Reynosa, Mexico, licensee:)
• KVEO (Channel 23, Brownsville, Texas, licensee: Comcorp of Texas License Corp., NBC affiliate)
• KTLM (Channel 40, Rio Grande City, Texas, licensee: Sunbelt Media Co., Telemundo affiliate)
• KNVO (Channel 48, McAllen, Texas, licensee: Entravision Holdings, LLC.,Univision affiliate)
• KTIZ (Channel 52, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Orbitz Broadcasting Corp., i affiliate)
• KMBH (Channel 60, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: RGV Educational Broadcasting, Inc. PBS)

Radio stations

• FM
• AM

Area newspapers

• The Monitor (City Newspaper)
• The Upper Valley Town Crier (Regional Newspaper)

Area magazines

RGV Magazine

Education

Area colleges and universities

• University of Texas-Pan American (approximately 16,000 students as of 02/21/2005)
• South Texas College (approximately 17,000 students)

Area school districts

• McAllen Independent School District
• South Texas Independent School District

Architecture

• Tall Buildings (7 or more floors)
  • Neuhaus Tower
  • Texas Commerce Bank
  • Texas State Bank

Surrounding Cities

Nearest cities

• Cities within 30 miles (50 km)
  • Edinburg, Texas
  • Pharr, Texas
  • San Juan, Texas
  • Hidalgo, Texas
  • Mission, Texas

Nearest major cities

• Cities within population over 500,000 within 200 miles (300 km)
  • Monterrey, Mexico

Notable Former and Current Residents

• Rubén E. Hinojosa Congressman

Sister Cities

• Reynosa, Mexico