Hidalgo, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hidalgo, Texas
City
Hidalgo City Hall
Location of Hidalgo, within Hidalgo County, Texas
Hidalgo, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Hidalgo, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hidalgo
Area
• Total	8.45 sq mi (21.90 km2)
• Land	8.35 sq mi (21.62 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2)
Elevation	102 ft (31 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,964
• Density	1,699.17/sq mi (656.02/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	78557
Area code(s)	956
FIPS code	48-33560
GNIS feature ID	1374059

Hidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. It is located in the southern part of the state. In 2020, the city had a population of 13,964 people.

History of Hidalgo

The area where Hidalgo is now was first settled around 1749. Spanish colonists, led by José de Escandón, created the first community here. It was known by different names, such as La Habitación and San Luisito.

In 1852, a man named John Young moved to the area. He renamed the town "Edinburgh" after his hometown in Edinburgh, Scotland. Later, the nearby city of Edinburg became the main city, or county seat, of Hidalgo County.

The town of Hidalgo officially became a city in 1876. Its name was changed to "Hidalgo" in 1885.

Geography of Hidalgo

Hidalgo is located in the southern part of Hidalgo County. It sits right across the Rio Grande river from the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. The Rio Grande forms the border between the United States and Mexico here.

One of the main roads, U.S. Route 281, starts at the border crossing in Hidalgo. This highway goes north to cities like Pharr. Another important road, Texas State Highway 115, goes north from Hidalgo to McAllen. McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County.

The city of Hidalgo covers a total area of about 8.45 square miles (21.90 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Population and People

Hidalgo has grown quite a bit over the years. The city's population was 11,198 in 2010 and grew to 13,964 by 2020.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,964 people living in Hidalgo. These people lived in 3,774 households, with 3,220 of those being families. The city is known for its large Hispanic or Latino population, making up most of its residents.

Education in Hidalgo

Students in Hidalgo are served by two different school districts. These are the Hidalgo Independent School District and the Valley View Independent School District.

Within the Hidalgo ISD, students attend either Hidalgo Elementary School or Salinas Elementary School. All students in this district then go to Ida Diaz Jr. High School. After that, they attend Hidalgo Early College High School.

The community also has access to special magnet schools run by the South Texas Independent School District. These schools offer unique learning programs.

Hidalgo also has its own public library. The Hidalgo Public Library was designed by a local architect, Eduardo Vela. It first opened its doors on April 8, 1998.

Sports and Entertainment

Hidalgo has been home to several sports teams over the years. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a basketball team from the NBA G League, used to play here. They played their games at the local Payne Arena. Another team, the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros, a soccer team from the USL Championship, plays at H-E-B Park.

Other past teams include:

• The Rio Grande Valley Magic (indoor football)
• The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees (hockey)
• La Fiera FC (arena soccer)
• The Rio Grande Valley Sol (indoor football)

The Payne Arena is not just for sports. It also hosts many concerts and other events. It serves the larger McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen areas.

See also

In Spanish: Hidalgo (Texas) para niños