Pharr, Texas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pharr, Texas
Location of Pharr, Texas
Location of Pharr, Texas
Coordinates: 26°12′23″N 98°11′7″W / 26.20639, -98.18528
Country United States
State Texas
County Hidalgo
Area
 - Total 20.8 sq mi (54.0 km²)
 - Land 20.8 sq mi (53.9 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 112 ft (34 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 46,660
 - Density 2,240.2/sq mi (865.0/km²)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 78577
Area code(s) 956
FIPS code 48-57200[1]
GNIS feature ID 1343930[2]

Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 46,660. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It is part of the McAllenEdinburgMission Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Pharr is located at 26°12′23″N, 98°11′7″W (26.206334, -98.185174).[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.8 square miles (53.9 km²), of which, 20.8 square miles (53.9 km²) of it is land and 0.05% is water.

[edit] About Pharr

Pharr is located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, only minutes from the Mexico border.

Over the last 10 years, Pharr has experienced strong growth and economic development. Its population has steadily increased to over 60,000 people.

[edit] Climate

Pharr has a humid subtropical climate, similar to that of the Tampa Bay Area of Florida but with less precipitation and slightly higher summer maximum temperatures. The average high in January is 68 °F and the average low is 47 °F (8 °C). The average high is 96 °F (36 °C) and the average low is 74 °F (23 °C) in August. The warm season is long, as average high temperatures are above 90 °F (32 °C) and average low temperatures are above 70 °F (21 °C) from June through September.

Average annual precipitation is only 21.0 inches (532.4 mm). Most precipitation occurs in the warm season, with the least precipitation distinctly occurring in the cooler winter. As September is the peak of the North Atlantic Hurricane Season and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drop copious amounts of rainfall on the region, this month tends to be by far the wettest, averaging 3.6 inches (90.3 mm) of precipitation. The driest month is March, with only 0.7 inches (17.3 mm) of precipitation.

Despite frequent temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C), occasionally as early as February and as late the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in Pharr is only 110 °F (43 °C), once in 1998 and once in 1999. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Pharr is 13 °F (-11 °C), on January 12, 1962, which is far lower than would be expected at the same latitude in Florida or on the west coast of North America, due to its location in the middle of the continent.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there are 46,660 people, 12,798 households, and 10,878 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,240.2 people per square mile (864.9/km²). There are 16,537 housing units at an average density of 794.0/sq mi (306.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 79.46% White, 0.24% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 17.29% from other races, and 2.04% from two or more races. 90.62% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 12,798 households out of which 47.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% are married couples living together, 16.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 15.0% are non-families. 13.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.64 and the average family size is 4.02.

In the city the population is spread out with 34.8% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 27 years. For every 100 females there are 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $24,333, and the median income for a family is $25,916. Males have a median income of $19,169 versus $16,737 for females. The per capita income for the city is $9,462. 35.5% of the population and 30.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 46.6% of those under the age of 18 and 23.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

[edit] Education

Almost all of Pharr is a part of the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District. A small fringe portion is a part of the Hidalgo Independent School District. Another small portion is a part of the Valley View Independent School District.

In addition, residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District.

Area colleges and universities

University of Texas–Pan American (approximately 17,000 students as of August 2007) in Edinburg

South Texas College (approximately 20,000 students)

[edit] Radio Stations

KOIR Radio Esperanza 88.5 (Spanish Christian)

KCAS The New 91.5 / "Know Christ As Savior" (English Traditional Christian & Southern Gospel)

KFRQ Q94.5 (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock)

KBTQ Recuerdo 96.1 (Mexican Oldies)

KVMV Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 (Adult Contemporary Christian)

KRUC Radio Cadena Manantial 97.5 (Spanish Christian)

KGBT-FM Solamente Exitos 98.5 (Mexican Norteña)

KKPS Que Pasa 99.5 (Local Tejano Music)

KTEX South Texas Country 100.3 (Country)

KNVO-FM Super Star 101.1 (Bilingual Hit Music)

KBFM Wild 104 (Hip-Hop/R&B)

KJAV The Jack 104.9 ("Jack" Format)

KSOX Oldies 105.5 (Oldies)

KHKZ Hot Kiss 106.3 (Hit Music/Top 40)

KVLY Mix 107.9 (Adult Contemporary)

AM STATIONS (IN FREQUENCY ORDER)

KURV Talk Radio 710 AM

[edit] TV Stations

XHFOX (Channel 2, Matamoros, Tamaulipas (Mexico), licensee: Televisa, Fox affiliate)

XHRIO (Channel 2, licensee: Univision, Fox affiliate)

KGBT (Channel 4, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Barrington Broadcasting, CBS affiliate)

KRGV (Channel 5, Weslaco, Texas, licensee: Mobile Video Tapes, Inc., ABC affiliate)

XHAB (Channel 7 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)

XERV (Channel 9 Televisa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen, Harlingen-Brownsville)

XHREY (Channel 12 TV AZTECA NORESTE/Reynosa Mexico, Rio Grande City-McAllen-Weslaco)

XHOR (Channel 14 TV AZTECA NORESTE/Reynosa Mexico, Rio Grande City-McAllen-Weslaco)

KVEO (Channel 23, Brownsville, Texas, licensee: Comcorp of Texas License Corp., NBC affiliate)

KTLM (Channel 40, Rio Grande City, Texas, licensee: Sunbelt Media Co., Telemundo affiliate)

KNVO (Channel 48, McAllen, Texas, licensee: Entravision Holdings, LLC.,Univision affiliate)

XHVTV (Channel 54 Multimedios TV/Reynosa/Matamoros Mexico, McAllen-Weslaco/ Harlingen-Brownsville)

KTIZ (Channel 52, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: Orbitz Broadcasting Corp., ION Television affiliate)

KMBH (Channel 60, Harlingen, Texas, licensee: RGV Educational Broadcasting, Inc. PBS)

[edit] Local Newspapers

Advance News Journal

The Monitor

Town Crier

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links