Hidalgo County, Texas

Hidalgo County (/hɪˈdælɡoʊ/; Spanish pronunciation: [iˈðalɣo]) is located in the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat is Edinburg[2] 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.[3] 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, the population of Hidalgo County was 870,781,[4] making it the eighth-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.

Hidalgo County
County
The Hidalgo County Courthouse at Edinburg in 2002
The Hidalgo County Courthouse at Edinburg in 2002
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.
Coordinates: 26°23′48″N 98°10′52″W
Country United States
State Texas
FoundedJanuary 24, 1852
Named forMiguel Hidalgo y Costilla
SeatEdinburg
Largest cityMcAllen
Area
 • Total1,583 sq mi (4,100 km2)
 • Land1,571 sq mi (4,070 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  0.81%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total870,781
 • Density550/sq mi (210/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts15th, 28th, 34th
Websitewww.hidalgocounty.us
[1]

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.[5] 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).[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. 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.[7] 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 occur. 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 subhumid. 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.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties and municipalities

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,182—
18702,387101.9%
18804,34782.1%
18906,53450.3%
19006,8374.6%
191013,728100.8%
192038,110177.6%
193077,004102.1%
1940106,05937.7%
1950160,44651.3%
1960180,90412.8%
1970181,5350.3%
1980283,22956.0%
1990383,54535.4%
2000569,46348.5%
2010774,76936.1%
2020870,78112.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1850–2010[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]
Hidalgo County, Texas - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 60,553 53,338 7.82% 6.13%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,777 3,364 0.36% 0.39%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 524 635 0.07% 0.07%
Asian alone (NH) 7,122 8,604 0.92% 0.99%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 49 78 0.01% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 348 1,915 0.04% 0.22%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,190 2,846 0.15% 0.33%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 702,206 800,001 90.63% 91.87%
Total 774,769 870,781 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

As of the 2015 Texas Population Estimate Program, the population of the county was 841,667, non-Hispanic whites 62,232 (7.4%). Black Americans 2,973 (0.3%). Other non-Hispanic 11,106 (1.3%). Hispanics and Latinos (of any race) 765,356 (90.9%).[13]

As of the 2010 United States census, 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."[14]

Las Milpas, previously unincorporated, was annexed by Pharr in 1987.[15]

Metropolitan Statistical Area

The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Hidalgo County as the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area.[16] The United States Census Bureau ranked the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 70th most populous metropolitan statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.[17]

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,[16] the 60th most populous combined statistical area and the 67th most populous primary statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012.[17][18]

Government and politics

Hidalgo County tends to vote for the Democratic Party, although there is representation of the Republican Party in some of the offices that affect the county. Hidalgo County is represented by Monica De La Cruz of Texas's 15th congressional district and Vicente González of Texas's 34th congressional district. In the 2012 presidential election, 70.4% of the voters voted for Barack Obama while 28.6% voted for Mitt Romney. The last time Hidalgo County voted Republican was in the 1972 presidential election when Richard Nixon won over 55% of the votes. In the 2020 Presidential election, Hidalgo County saw a significant shift to the Republican Party with Donald Trump increasing the Republican vote from 27.9% in 2016 to 41%.[19] However, as an urban county, the shift was not as large as nearby less densely populated counties.

For the Texas House of Representatives is covered by districts 39, 40 and 41.

United States presidential election results for Hidalgo County, Texas[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 90,527 40.98% 128,199 58.04% 2,158 0.98%
2016 48,642 27.89% 118,809 68.12% 6,957 3.99%
2012 39,865 28.61% 97,969 70.32% 1,488 1.07%
2008 39,668 30.29% 90,261 68.92% 1,043 0.80%
2004 50,931 44.80% 62,369 54.86% 383 0.34%
2000 38,301 37.90% 61,390 60.75% 1,359 1.34%
1996 24,437 28.84% 56,335 66.49% 3,955 4.67%
1992 26,976 30.60% 51,205 58.08% 9,979 11.32%
1988 29,246 34.87% 54,330 64.78% 294 0.35%
1984 35,059 44.14% 44,147 55.58% 226 0.28%
1980 25,808 41.82% 34,542 55.97% 1,367 2.21%
1976 19,199 35.17% 35,021 64.15% 373 0.68%
1972 22,920 55.23% 18,366 44.26% 213 0.51%
1968 14,455 38.95% 20,087 54.13% 2,569 6.92%
1964 11,563 34.25% 22,110 65.50% 83 0.25%
1960 13,628 42.05% 18,663 57.59% 115 0.35%
1956 13,270 56.89% 9,804 42.03% 253 1.08%
1952 15,303 62.20% 9,251 37.60% 48 0.20%
1948 6,220 38.83% 9,526 59.47% 272 1.70%
1944 4,080 33.35% 7,250 59.26% 904 7.39%
1940 4,787 38.97% 7,471 60.81% 27 0.22%
1936 2,962 29.46% 6,782 67.46% 309 3.07%
1932 2,969 23.22% 9,695 75.84% 120 0.94%
1928 4,285 51.41% 4,034 48.40% 16 0.19%
1924 996 20.44% 3,662 75.16% 214 4.39%
1920 1,108 31.13% 2,409 67.69% 42 1.18%
1916 260 15.69% 1,364 82.32% 33 1.99%
1912 39 2.81% 1,203 86.61% 147 10.58%

County services

The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office operates jail facilities and is the primary provider of law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas of the county.

County government
Position Name Party
  County Judge Richard Cortez Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 1 David Fuentes Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 2 Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 3 Everardo Villareal Democratic
  Commissioner, Precinct 4 Ellie Torres Democratic
  Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Democratic
  District Clerk Laura Hinojosa Democratic
  County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr. Democratic
  Sheriff J.E. "Eddie" Guerra Democratic
  Tax Assessor-Collector Pablo "Paul" Villarreal Democratic
  Treasurer Lita Leo Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 1 Celestino Avila, Jr. Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 2 Martin Cantu Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 3 Lazaro Gallardo, Jr. Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 4 Atanacio "J.R." Gaitan Democratic
  Constable, Precinct 5 Danny Marichalar Democratic

Education

The following school districts serve Hidalgo County:[21]

In addition, the county is served by the multi-county South Texas Independent School District.[22] 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.[23] The Pecan, Mid-Valley, Technology, and Nursing & Allied Health campuses of South Texas College are located in Hidalgo County.[24]

Economy

In 2020, the total value of products produced in Hidalgo was $11.5 billion.[25]

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.[8] Hidalgo is the highest-producing county in the state for oilseeds and dry beans.[26]

The Southern Cattle Tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) is invasive here.[27] Populations here have also become highly permethrin resistant.[27] In 2014 the problem had become so severe in Cameron that spread here (and to other neighboring counties) was feared.[27] A Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area was established in Cameron to preserve efficacy in these counties.[27] This was unsuccessful however, due at least in part to the ticks' infestation of wildlife including whitetail (Odocoileus virginianus).[27]

Media

Newspapers

Radio stations

Magazine

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Former census-designated places

Unincorporated community

See also

References
  1. "An Act to Create the County of Hidalgo". Texas State Archives. Fourth Texas Legislature. January 24, 1852. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 156.
  4. "Hidalgo County, Texas". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  5. "P2: HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE". 2020 Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  6. "CDC WONDER". CDC WONDER. CDC. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  8. "Hidalgo County". Texas Almanac. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  9. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  10. "Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010" (PDF). Texas Almanac. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hidalgo County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Hidalgo County, Texas". United States Census Bureau.
  13. Estimates of the Population by Age, Sex, and Race/Ethnicity for July 1, 2015 for State of Texas (PDF), July 15, 2015, archived from the original (PDF) on May 4, 2017, retrieved June 8, 2017
  14. Bloch, Matthew; Jason DeParle; Matthew Ericson; Robert Gebeloff (November 28, 2009). "Food Stamp Usage Across the Country". New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2009.
  15. "LAS MILPAS, TX." Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on September 27, 2013.
  16. "OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2013 – via National Archives.
  17. "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". 2012 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2013. Archived from the original (CSV) on April 1, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  18. "Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". 2012 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division. March 2013. Archived from the original (CSV) on May 17, 2013. Retrieved March 20, 2013.
  19. "2020 Election Results". New York Times. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  21. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hidalgo County, TX" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022. - list
  22. "About". South Texas Independent School District. Retrieved June 29, 2022. The district stretches over three counties, Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy,[...]
  23. Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.199. SOUTH TEXAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA..
  24. "About South Texas College". southtexascollege.edu. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  25. Hidalgo economy
  26. "2017 Census - Volume 1, Chapter 1: State Level Data". United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS). 2017. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  28. Ortiz, Analise (July 2, 2015). "After annexation, drainage remains concern for new Edinburg neighborhood". KVEO-TV.
  29. Garza, Alicia A. "McCook, Texas". The Handbook of Texas. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
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