Mercedes, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mercedes, Texas
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Downtown Mercedes in August 2010
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| Nickname(s):
The Queen City
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| Motto(s):
"It Starts Here!"
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Location of Mercedes, Texas
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Texas |
| County | Hidalgo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.86 sq mi (30.72 km2) |
| • Land | 11.80 sq mi (30.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.17 km2) |
| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 16,258 |
| • Density | 1,407.24/sq mi (543.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
78570
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| Area code(s) | 956 |
| FIPS code | 48-47700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1341366 |
Mercedes is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, in the United States. In 2020, about 16,258 people lived there. It is part of the larger McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen areas.
Contents
Where is Mercedes, Texas?
Mercedes is located in the southeastern part of Hidalgo County. It is next to Weslaco on its west side. To the east, in Cameron County, is the town of La Feria.
Travel and Nearby Cities
The main highway, Interstate 2/U.S. Route 83, goes through the northern part of Mercedes. This highway leads west about 21 miles (34 km) to McAllen. It goes east about 14 miles (23 km) to Harlingen. Mercedes is also close to the border with Mexico. It is about 9 miles (14 km) north of the Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge. This bridge connects Texas with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
Land and Water
The city of Mercedes covers a total area of about 11.86 square miles (30.72 km²). Most of this area is land, about 11.80 square miles (30.56 km²). A small part, about 0.06 square miles (0.17 km²), is water.
History of Mercedes
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Mercedes is often called "The Queen City of the Valley." The city was started on September 15, 1907, by a company called the American Rio Grande Land & Irrigation Company. It officially became a city on March 8, 1909. Mercedes is one of the oldest towns in the Rio Grande Valley. The city celebrated its 100th birthday in 2007.
Early Days of the City
The area where Mercedes was built was once part of the Capisallo Ranch. This spot was known as the Pear Orchard. This was because many prickly pear cactus plants grew there.
How Mercedes Got Its Name
The exact reason for the name "Mercedes" is not fully clear. A popular story says the city was first named "Diaz" after Mexico's president, Porfirio Diaz. Then, it was supposedly renamed "Mercedes Diaz" after his wife. However, this story is not true, as neither of President Diaz's wives were named Mercedes.
Military Camps in Mercedes
During World War I, Mercedes played a role in training soldiers.
- Camp Llano Grande: In 1916, Camp Llano Grande was set up southwest of Mercedes. Soldiers from states like Indiana and Minnesota trained here. This camp helped protect the border from attacks.
- Camp Mercedes: When the United States joined World War I, a permanent training camp was built in Mercedes. It was finished in early 1917. Soldiers trained here, especially in managing horses for use in France. At its busiest, Camp Mercedes had 16 officers, 700 enlisted men, and 600 horses. The camp closed in 1922 after the war ended.
The Old Toluca Ranch
East of the International Bridge at Progreso, there is an old ranch called Toluca Ranch. This ranch was built with secret rooms and strong wooden shutters. These features helped protect the people living there during times of unrest.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,209 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,414 | 182.4% | |
| 1930 | 6,608 | 93.6% | |
| 1940 | 7,624 | 15.4% | |
| 1950 | 10,081 | 32.2% | |
| 1960 | 10,943 | 8.6% | |
| 1970 | 9,355 | −14.5% | |
| 1980 | 11,851 | 26.7% | |
| 1990 | 12,694 | 7.1% | |
| 2000 | 13,649 | 7.5% | |
| 2010 | 15,570 | 14.1% | |
| 2020 | 16,258 | 4.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census Details
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,151 | 7.08% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 38 | 0.23% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 10 | 0.06% |
| Asian (NH) | 25 | 0.15% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 9 | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 31 | 0.19% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 46 | 0.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 14,948 | 91.94% |
| Total | 16,258 |
In 2020, the city of Mercedes had 16,258 people living there. There were 4,834 households and 3,726 families. Most of the people living in Mercedes, about 91.94%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Shopping in Mercedes
Mercedes is home to the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets. This large shopping center opened in November 2006. It is a popular place for shopping because Mercedes is located in the middle of the Rio Grande Valley. The city is also close to a major border crossing into Mexico. This makes it easy for people from Mexico to visit and shop.
Education in Mercedes
Mercedes has schools that are part of two different school districts.
- The eastern part of Mercedes is in the Mercedes Independent School District. Students there go to Mercedes High School.
- The western part of Mercedes is in the Weslaco Independent School District. Students there attend Weslaco East High School.
Specialized Schools
The South Texas Independent School District (STISD) has its main office in Mercedes. This district serves students who want to focus on specific subjects. Two of their special schools are in Mercedes:
- The Science Academy of South Texas
- South Texas High School for Health Professions
Higher Education Support
In 2015, Mercedes supported the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The city declared August 31 as "UTRGV Day." They also placed a large boot with the university's logos near the city hall.
Colegio Jacinto Treviño
Colegio Jacinto Treviño was an important college located in Mercedes. It was founded in 1970. This college helped Mexican-American students get a higher education. It focused on teaching in two languages and about two cultures. The college was a key part of the Mexican-American civil rights movement. It showed how communities could create their own educational spaces.
Public Library
The Dr. Hector P. Garcia Library serves the community of Mercedes.
Public Arts in Mercedes
Mercedes has a fun public art project. There are 30 large cowboy boots, each about 5 and a half feet (1.68 meters) tall. These boots are spread around the city. Each boot is painted with the symbols of different colleges and universities. These schools are from Texas, other parts of the U.S., and even Mexico.
Radio Stations
These FM radio stations broadcast from Mercedes:
- KFRQ 94.5
- KKPS 99.5
- KTEX 100.3
- KNVO 101.1
- KJAV 104.9
- KHKZ 106.3
- KVLY 107.9
Notable People from Mercedes
- Natalia Anciso, artist and educator
- Rolando Hinojosa-Smith, author and English professor
- Billy Gene Pemelton, Olympic pole vaulter (1964)
- Elida Reyna, Tejano musician
- Jeff Wentworth, state senator
- Nancy Nash, movie actress
- Amanda McBroom, singer and songwriter, won a Golden Globe Award in 2007 for "The Rose"
Climate in Mercedes
The weather in Mercedes has hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mercedes has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures and plenty of rain throughout the year.
See also
In Spanish: Mercedes (Texas) para niños
