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South Texas
Region
San Antonio skyline
San Antonio skyline
South Texas counties in red
South Texas counties in red
Country  United States
State  Texas
Largest city San Antonio
Population
 • Total 4,992,597

South Texas is a large area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas. It includes the city of San Antonio and stretches south from there. To the west and south, its border is the Rio Grande river, which separates Texas from Mexico. To the east, it meets the Gulf of Mexico.

About 4.96 million people live in this region, based on 2017 numbers. The very southern part of South Texas is often called the Rio Grande Valley. The eastern part, along the Gulf of Mexico, is known as the Coastal Bend.

Exploring the Geography of South Texas

CorpusChristiTX Night
Corpus Christi is the second largest city in South Texas.

South Texas doesn't have a perfectly straight northern border. It generally starts around San Antonio and goes west to the Rio Grande near Maverick County. From San Antonio, it also extends east towards the Gulf of Mexico, turning southeast near Lavaca County. This helps separate it from East Texas and Southeast Texas.

The Rio Grande forms the western and southern edges, acting as the border with Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico borders the eastern side of South Texas. This huge region is made up of 41 counties. The land is mostly flat, as it sits on a coastal plain.

Sub-regions of South Texas

Because South Texas is so big, it has different areas within it:

  • The Rio Grande Valley is at the very southern tip. It has rich soil and is famous for growing citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruits.
  • The Coastal Bend is the eastern part. Here, you'll find many coastal salt marshes, estuaries (where rivers meet the sea), and wetlands.
  • The western and central parts are called the South Texas Plains or the Brush Country. This area is covered with Mesquite trees and fields for crops.

Counties in South Texas

Regions of Texas
South Texas is shown in red on this map.

South Texas is made up of many counties. Here are some of them:

From 2010 to 2020:

Major Cities in South Texas

San Agustin Cathedral
Laredo is the third largest city in South Texas. The San Agustin Cathedral was built during the Spanish Texas period.

South Texas is home to many important cities. Here are the largest ones:

Region Rank City 2020 Census 2010 Census  % change County
1 San Antonio 1,434,625 1,327,407 +8.08% Bexar County
2 Corpus Christi 317,863 305,215 +4.14% Nueces County
3 Laredo 263,640 236,091 +11.67% Webb County
4 Brownsville 186,738 175,023 +6.69% Cameron County
5 McAllen 142,210 129,877 +9.50% Hidalgo County
6 Edinburg 100,243 77,100 +30.02% Hidalgo County
7 Mission 85,778 77,058 +11.32% Hidalgo County
8 Pharr 79,715 70,400 +13.23% Hidalgo County
9 Harlingen 71,829 64,849 +0.95% Cameron County
10 Victoria 65,534 62,592 +4.70% Victoria County
11 Schertz 42,002 31,465 +33.49% Guadalupe County
12 Weslaco 40,160 35,670 +12.59% Hidalgo County
13 San Juan 35,294 33,856 +4.25% Hidalgo County
14 Seguin 29,433 25,175 +16.91% Guadalupe County
15 Eagle Pass 28,130 26,248 +7.17% Maverick County
16 Converse 27,466 18,198 +50.93% Bexar County
17 Kingsville 25,402 26,213 -3.09% Kleberg County
18 San Benito 24,861 24,250 +2.52% Cameron County
19 Universal City 19,720 18,530 +6.42% Bexar County
20 Alamo 19,493 18,353 +6.21% Hidalgo County
McNair House, Brownsville, TX
Brownsville is the fourth largest city in South Texas.
McAllen, TX, USA - panoramio
McAllen is the fifth largest city in South Texas.

Rivers in South Texas

Many rivers flow through South Texas, shaping its landscape and history.

Name Note
Rio Grande This river forms the border between Texas and Mexico.
Nueces River At one time, Mexico considered this river the border with Texas.
San Antonio River A famous part of this river is the San Antonio River Walk.
Aransas River A short river that flows into Copano Bay.
Frio River Its name means "cold" in Spanish, and it's known for its cool water.
Atascosa River A short river that joins the Frio River.
Mission River This river flows into Mission Bay.
Leona River A smaller river that flows into the Frio River.
Guadalupe River This river flows into the San Antonio Bay estuary.

Lakes and Reservoirs

South Texas has several important lakes and reservoirs, which are often man-made lakes that store water.

Bays and Coastal Waters

The eastern side of South Texas is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, featuring many bays and unique waterways.

Padre Island National Seashore - sand dunes3
Padre Island is a popular beach destination.

Islands of South Texas

Several islands are located off the coast of South Texas.

Climate and Weather in South Texas

The weather in South Texas changes a lot depending on where you are.

  • Near the Mexican border, the climate is generally semi-arid, meaning it's quite dry.
  • From the coast inland to just west of San Antonio, the climate is humid subtropical, which means it's warm and humid.

The weather is influenced by the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains to the west, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, and the Chihuahuan Desert to the west/northwest.

Seasonal Weather Patterns

  • Summers: Along the coast, summers are very hot and humid. Inland areas like San Antonio can also be hot, but sometimes drier.
  • Winters: Temperatures rarely drop below freezing, and snow is very rare, usually less than three inches. Coastal areas stay warm most of the year. Inland winters are cooler and drier.
  • Rainfall: The region usually has a short wet season from March to May and another from late August to October. The rest of the year is drier. Coastal areas get more rain than inland areas.

Extreme Weather Events

  • Hurricanes: These are the most dangerous weather systems for South Texas. Hurricane season runs from June to November, but the Texas coast is usually affected in August and September.
  • Droughts: Sometimes, there isn't enough rain for a long time, leading to water shortages. In 2011, a severe drought caused record high temperatures and dangerous wildfires across the state.
  • Tornadoes: Tornadoes can happen in South Texas, but not as often as in other parts of the state. They usually come as strong thunderstorms, mostly in summer or with cold fronts in the fall.
  • Snow: Snow rarely falls south of San Antonio or on the coast. A memorable event was the 2004 Christmas Eve snowstorm, when 6 inches (150 mm) of snow fell as far south as McAllen.

Wildlife of South Texas

South Texas is home to a wide variety of animals, from reptiles to large mammals and marine life.

Reptiles

Mammals

Sealife

Arthropods

Birds

People and Culture of South Texas

Multicultural Influences

South Texas is known for its strong Hispanic culture, especially Mexican American and Tejano influences. This is because it's so close to Mexico. Tejanos and Mexicans in South Texas are descendants of Spanish and Sephardic Jewish settlers from Mexico. They also come from Mexican native groups who worked with the Spanish, like the Tlaxcaltec and Otomi peoples. Local native groups of South Texas, like the Coahuiltecans, also became part of this mix. These groups have been moving into South Texas since the early 1700s.

After the Mexican–American War in the 1840s, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo did not fully protect the land owned by Mexican settlers. The area between the Nueces River (south of San Antonio and Corpus Christi) and the Rio Grande was disputed. For a short time in 1840, a new country called the Republic of the Rio Grande was formed in this area, with Laredo as its capital. It lasted less than a year.

The Rio Grande Valley was important in several wars, including the Mexican War of Independence, the Texas Revolution, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War. Many historical battle sites are found here. Famous figures like General Robert E. Lee and President Zachary Taylor spent time in this region.

The Texas Rangers became well-known for their work in South Texas. They helped bring law and order to the area in the late 1800s and early 1900s, especially during raids by Mexican bandits. San Antonio has the largest African American population in South Texas.

Economy of South Texas

Rice Farming

Hauling rice in South Texas
Hauling rice in South Texas (postcard, circa 1909)

An important part of South Texas's history and economy is the rice industry. In 1904, a special type of rice seed was brought from Japan. The Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Pacific Railroad invited Japanese farmers to Texas to help grow rice. The Japanese emperor gave the farmers the special rice seed. Growing Japanese rice started in Webster, Harris County. The Saibara family is given credit for helping the Gulf Coast rice industry grow.

Getting Around South Texas

Airports

South Texas has several airports for travel.

  • San Antonio International Airport
  • Corpus Christi International Airport
  • Laredo International Airport
  • Valley International Airport
  • Victoria Regional Airport
  • McAllen Miller International Airport
  • Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport
  • Alice International Airport
  • South Texas International Airport at Edinburg
  • Aransas County Airport
  • Kleberg County Airport
  • Duval-Freer Airport
  • Mustang Beach Airport
  • San José Island Airport

Passenger Trains

  • The San Antonio Amtrak station serves two train lines: the Sunset Limited and the Texas Eagle. There's also a bus service (Amtrak Thruway) that connects to Harlingen, Brownsville, and McAllen, Texas.

Major Roads and Highways

South Texas has a network of interstates, U.S. routes, and state highways.

Interstate Highways

U.S. Routes

  • US 59.svg US 59
  • US 77.svg US 77
  • US 83.svg US 83
  • US 87.svg US 87
  • US 90.svg US 90
  • US 181.svg US 181
  • US 281.svg US 281

Texas State Highways

  • Texas 4.svg TX 4
  • Texas 16.svg TX 16
  • Texas 44.svg TX 44
  • Texas 107.svg TX 107
  • Texas 141.svg TX 141
  • Texas 151.svg TX 151
  • Texas 255.svg TX 255
  • Texas 285.svg TX 285
  • Texas 286.svg TX 286
  • Texas 336.svg TX 336
  • Texas 358.svg TX 358
  • Texas 359.svg TX 359
  • Texas 361.svg TX 361
  • Texas 495.svg TX 495

Bridges to Mexico

Many international bridges connect South Texas cities to Mexico.

  • Laredo
    • Gateway to the Americas International Bridge
    • Juárez–Lincoln International Bridge
    • Texas Mexican Railway International Bridge
    • World Trade International Bridge
    • Laredo–Colombia Solidarity International Bridge
  • Eagle Pass
    • Eagle Pass–Piedras Negras International Bridge
    • Camino Real International Bridge
    • Union Pacific International Railroad Bridge
  • Brownsville
  • Los Indios
    • Free Trade International Bridge
  • Falcon Heights
    • Lake Falcon Dam International Crossing
  • Hidalgo
    McAllen
    • McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge
    • Anzalduas International Bridge
  • Pharr
    • Pharr–Reynosa International Bridge
  • Progreso
    • Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge
  • Rio Grande City
    • Rio Grande City–Camargo International Bridge
  • Roma
    • Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán International Bridge

Fun Places to Visit in South Texas

South Texas offers many exciting places for visitors.

San Antonio Attractions

Corpus Christi Attractions

Laredo Attractions

Rio Grande Valley Attractions

Other Popular Spots

Education in South Texas

Colleges and Universities

South Texas has many colleges and universities where students can continue their education.

Community Colleges

  • Alamo Community College District
    • San Antonio College
    • Palo Alto College
    • St. Philip's College
    • Northeast Lakeview College
    • Northwest Vista College
  • Coastal Bend College
    • Alice Campus
    • Main Campus (Beeville)
    • Kingsville Campus
    • Pleasanton Campus
  • Del Mar College
  • Laredo Community College
    • Laredo Community College South Campus
  • South Texas College
    • Main Campus, McAllen
    • Tech Campus, McAllen
    • Nursing and Allied Health Campus, McAllen
    • Mid-Valley Campus, Weslaco
    • Starr County Campus, Rio Grande City
  • Texas State Technical College
  • Texas Southmost College

Public Universities

Private Universities

Sports in South Texas

The most well-known professional sports team in South Texas is the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, which plays in the NBA.

Team Sport League Venue
San Antonio Spurs Basketball NBA AT&T Center
Rio Grande Valley Vipers NBA G League Bert Ogden Arena
San Antonio Talons Arena Football AFL Alamodome
Corpus Christi Hammerheads Lone Star Football League American Bank Center
Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Texas League Whataburger Field
San Antonio Missions Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium
Laredo Lemurs AAIPB Uni-Trade Stadium
Brownsville Charros United League Baseball Harlingen Field
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Harlingen Field
San Antonio Rampage Ice hockey American Hockey League AT&T Center
Corpus Christi IceRays North American Hockey League American Bank Center
San Antonio FC Soccer USL Championship Toyota Field
Laredo Heat PDL TAMIU Soccer Complex
La Fiera FC Indoor soccer PASL State Farm Arena

Area Codes

Area codes help connect phone calls to different parts of South Texas.

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Texas sur para niños

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