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Hidalgo County, Texas facts for kids

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Hidalgo County
The Hidalgo County Courthouse at Edinburg in 2024
The Hidalgo County Courthouse at Edinburg in 2024
Flag of Hidalgo County
Flag
Official seal of Hidalgo County
Seal
Map of Texas highlighting Hidalgo County
Location within the U.S. state of Texas
Map of the United States highlighting Texas
Texas's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Texas
Founded January 24, 1852
Named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
Seat Edinburg
Largest city McAllen
Area
 • Total 1,583 sq mi (4,100 km2)
 • Land 1,571 sq mi (4,070 km2)
 • Water 12 sq mi (30 km2)  0.81%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 870,781
 • Estimate 
(2022)
888,367 Increase
 • Density 550.08/sq mi (212.39/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 15th, 34th

Hidalgo County (/hɪˈdælɡ/; Spanish pronunciation: [iˈðalɣo]) is located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat is Edinburg and the largest city is McAllen. The county is named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who raised the call for Mexico's independence from Spain. It is located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas and is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 870,781, making it the ninth-most populous county in Texas, and the most populous county outside of the counties in the Texas Triangle. Hidalgo County is designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan statistical area, which itself is part of the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission-Rio Grande City, Texas combined statistical area with neighboring Starr County.

With a population that is 91.9% Hispanic as of 2020, it is Texas' second-most populous majority-Hispanic county and the fifth-largest nationwide. It is also the largest county which is over 90% Hispanic. It is also the southernmost landlocked county in the United States, and in 2021, it was the largest county in the nation with a total fertility rate above the replacement level (at 2.13).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,583 sq mi (4,100 km2), of which 12 sq mi (31 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water. The northern part of the county has sandy and light loamy soils over deep reddish or mottled, clayey subsoils. In some areas, limestone lies within 40 in (1 m) of the surface. The southern part of the county has moderately deep to deep loamy surfaces over clayey subsoils. Along the Rio Grande, brown to red clays are found. Hidalgo County is in the South Texas Plains vegetation area, which features grasses, mesquite, live oaks, and chaparral. Native plants, reduced in recent years by extensive farming, include chapote, guayacán, ebony, huisache, brasil, and yucca.

Natural resources included caliche, sand, gravel, oil, and gas. Oil and gas production in 1982 totaled 98,487,211,000 cubic feet (2.7888472×109 m3) of gas-well gas, 139,995 barrels of crude oil, 1,101,666 barrels of condensate, and 15,784,000 cubic feet (447,000 m3) of casinghead gas. The climate is subtropical and humid. Temperatures range from an average low of 47 °F (8 °C) in January to an average high to 96 °F (36 °C) in July; the average annual temperature is 73 °F (23 °C). Rainfall averages 23 inches (580 mm) a year, and the growing season lasts for 320 days of the year.

Major highways

  • I-2 (TX).svg Interstate 2
  • I-69C (TX).svg Interstate 69C (Under Construction)
  • US 83.svg U.S. Highway 83
  • US 281.svg U.S. Highway 281
  • Texas 107.svg Texas State Highway 107
  • Texas 186.svg Texas State Highway 186
  • Texas 336.svg Texas State Highway 336
  • Texas 495.svg Texas State Highway 495
  • Texas FM 364.svg Farm to Market Road 364
  • Texas FM 490.svg Farm to Market Road 490
  • Texas FM 492.svg Farm to Market Road 492
  • Texas FM 493.svg Farm to Market Road 493
  • Texas FM 494.svg Farm to Market Road 494
  • Texas FM 676.svg Farm to Market Road 676
  • Texas FM 681.svg Farm to Market Road 681
  • Texas FM 907.svg Farm to Market Road 907
  • Texas FM 1016.svg Farm to Market Road 1016
  • Texas FM 1017.svg Farm to Market Road 1017
  • Texas FM 1423.svg Farm to Market Road 1423
  • Texas FM 1426.svg Farm to Market Road 1426
  • Texas FM 1924.svg Farm to Market Road 1924
  • Texas FM 1925.svg Farm to Market Road 1925
  • Texas FM 2061.svg Farm to Market Road 2061
  • Texas FM 2557.svg Farm to Market Road 2557
  • Texas FM 3072.svg Farm to Market Road 3072

Adjacent counties and municipalities

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1860 1,182
1870 2,387 101.9%
1880 4,347 82.1%
1890 6,534 50.3%
1900 6,837 4.6%
1910 13,728 100.8%
1920 38,110 177.6%
1930 77,004 102.1%
1940 106,059 37.7%
1950 160,446 51.3%
1960 180,904 12.8%
1970 181,535 0.3%
1980 283,229 56.0%
1990 383,545 35.4%
2000 569,463 48.5%
2010 774,769 36.1%
2020 870,781 12.4%
2022 (est.) 888,367 14.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850–2010 2010-2020
Hidalgo County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. Except for the 1930 census, where Latinos are included under "Some Other Race", this table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1930 Pop 1980 Pop 1990 Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 1930 % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 34,933 51,719 54,259 59,423 60,553 53,338 45.37% 18.26% 14.15% 10.43% 7.82% 6.13%
Black or African American alone (NH) 491 422 518 1,934 2,777 3,364 0.64% 0.15% 0.14% 0.34% 0.36% 0.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 229 428 524 635 0.06% 0.08% 0.07% 0.07%
Asian alone (NH) 847 3,207 7,122 8,604 0.22% 0.56% 0.92% 0.99%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 37 49 78 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 41,580 876 720 171 348 1,915 54.00% 0.31% 0.19% 0.03% 0.04% 0.22%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 1,163 1,190 2,846 0.20% 0.15% 0.33%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 230,212 326,972 503,100 702,206 800,001 81.28% 85.25% 88.35% 90.63% 91.87%
Total 77,004 283,229 383,545 569,463 774,769 870,781 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 774,769 people living in the county. 88.0% were White, 1.0% Asian, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 8.8% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 90.6% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

There were 216,471 households, and 179,668 families living in the county. The population density was 363 people per square mile (140 people/km2). There were 248,287 housing units at an average density of 123 units per square mile (47/km2). There were 216,471 households, out of which 54.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.00% were married couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.55 and the average family size was 3.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 34.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.3 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,134, and the median income for a family was $31,760. Males had a median income of $22,635 versus $17,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,130. About 32.60% of families and 35.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 47.4% of those under age 18 and 29.8% of those age 65 or over. The county's per-capita income makes it one of the poorest counties in the United States. In 2009, it was tied with Bronx County, New York for "the greatest share of people receiving food stamps: 29 percent."

Las Milpas, previously unincorporated, was annexed by Pharr in 1987.

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Hidalgo County as the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau ranked the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 65th most populous metropolitan statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2022.

The Office of Management and Budget has further designated the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area as a component of the more extensive McAllen-Edinburg, TX Combined Statistical Area, the 63rd most populous combined statistical area and the 66th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2022.

Education

The following school districts serve Hidalgo County:

  • Donna Independent School District
  • Edcouch-Elsa Independent School District
  • Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District
  • Hidalgo Independent School District
  • La Joya Independent School District
  • La Villa Independent School District
  • Lyford Consolidated Independent School District (partial)
  • McAllen Independent School District
  • Mercedes Independent School District
  • Mission Consolidated Independent School District
  • Monte Alto Independent School District
  • Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
  • Progreso Independent School District
  • Sharyland Independent School District
  • Valley View Independent School District
  • Weslaco Independent School District

In addition, the county is served by the multi-county South Texas Independent School District. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates three PK-8th Grade schools, two lower-level elementary schools and two high schools.

The Edinburg campus of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (formerly University of Texas-Pan American) is located in Hidalgo County.

All of the county is in the service area of South Texas College. The Pecan, Mid-Valley, Technology, and Nursing & Allied Health campuses of South Texas College are located in Hidalgo County.

Economy

In 2020, the total value of products produced in Hidalgo was $11.5 billion.

In 1982, 91% of the land was in farms and ranches, with 52% of the farmland under cultivation and 85% irrigated; 51 to 60% of the county was considered prime farmland. The primary crops were sorghum, cotton, corn, and vegetables; Hidalgo County led Texas counties in the production of cabbage, onions, cantaloupes, carrots, and watermelons. The primary fruits and nuts grown in the county were grapefruit, oranges, and pecans. Cattle, milk cows, and hogs were the primary livestock products. Hidalgo is the highest-producing county in the state for oilseeds and dry beans.

The Southern Cattle Tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) is invasive here. Populations here have also become highly permethrin resistant. In 2014 the problem had become so severe in Cameron that spread here (and to other neighboring counties) was feared. A Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area was established in Cameron to preserve efficacy in these counties. This was unsuccessful however, due at least in part to the ticks' infestation of wildlife including whitetail (Odocoileus virginianus).

Media

Newspapers

  • The Community Press
  • The Valley Town Crier
  • The Monitor
  • The Mercedes Enterprise
  • RGV Business Journal
  • The Progress Times
  • Texas Border Business
  • Mega Doctor News

Radio stations

  • KGBT 98.5 FM
  • KGBT 1530 AM
  • KBTQ 96.1 FM
  • KFRQ 94.5 FM
  • KKPS 99.5 FM
  • KNVO 101.1 FM
  • KVLY 107.9 FM
  • KURV 710 AM
  • KVMV 96.9 FM
  • KTEX 100.3 FM
  • KQXX 105.5 FM

Magazine

  • Contempo Magazine

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Former census-designated places

Unincorporated community

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Hidalgo (Texas) para niños

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