Edinburg, Texas

Edinburg, Texas
City
City of Edinburg
The Hidalgo County Courthouse as seen from University Drive in October 2002.
Nickname(s): "Gateway City to the Rio Grande Valley"
Location of Edinburg, Texas
Coordinates: 26°18′15″N 98°9′50″W / 26.30417°N 98.16389°W / 26.30417; -98.16389Coordinates: 26°18′15″N 98°9′50″W / 26.30417°N 98.16389°W / 26.30417; -98.16389
Country	United States of America
State	Texas
County	Hidalgo
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• City Council	Mayor Richard Garcia Richard Molina J.R. Betancourt Homero Jasso Elias Longoria[1]
• City Manager	Ramiro Garza, Jr.
Area
• Total	37.4 sq mi (96.9 km2)
• Land	37.4 sq mi (96.8 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	95 ft (29 m)
Population (2012 Census Estimate)
• Total	81,029
• Density	1,296.9/sq mi (500.7/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	78539-78541
Area code(s)	956
FIPS code	48-22660[2]
GNIS feature ID	1335095[3]
Website	CityOfEdinburg.com

Edinburg is a city in and the county seat of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States.^[4] The population was 81,029 according to the 2012 census estimate.^[5]

Edinburg is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.

History

In 1908, John Closner, William Briggs, Argyle McAllen, Plutarco de la Viña and Dennis B. Chapin developed a new community (the town square of which is now located at the crossroads of U.S. Highway 281 and State Highway 107). The town was named Chapin in honor of one of the developers. It is a local myth that Edinburg became the county seat of Hidalgo County in a dramatic, nighttime covert operation in which the county records were removed from the previous county seat. However, historical records show more practical reasons. The original Hidalgo County Courthouse in the City of Hidalgo was under frequent danger of flooding because of the town's proximity to the Rio Grande, which sometimes encroached on the building. Additionally, Texas law required that the courthouse be close to the geographic center of the county.^[6] When Dennis Chapin was involved in the shooting death of Oscar J. Rountree at the Dan Breen Saloon in San Antonio, Texas,^[7] the community changed its name to Edinburg to honor John Young, a prominent businessman who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. The town was officially named in 1911 and incorporated in 1919.

Geography

Edinburg is located at 26°18′15″N 98°9′50″W / 26.30417°N 98.16389°W / 26.30417; -98.16389 (26.304225, -98.163751).^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.4 square miles (97 km²), of which 37.3 square miles (97 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.13%) is water.

Demographics

Population as of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 48,465 people, 14,183 households, and 11,417 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,296.9 people per square mile (500.7/km²). There were 16,031 housing units at an average density of 429.0 per square mile (165.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.32% White, 0.58% African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 22.67% from other races, and 2.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 88.68% of the population. About 95% of those who selected the "other race" were Hispanic or Latino.^[11]

There were 14,183 households out of which 46.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.5% were non-families. 15.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.71.

In the city the population was spread out with 33.0% under the age of 18, 13.1% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,938, and the median income for a family was $30,634. Males had a median income of $27,505 versus $21,010 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,854. About 25.2% of families and 29.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.2% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

In December 2012, officials announced the merger of the existing University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg and the University of Texas at Brownsville into a regional institution.^[12] A year later, in December 2013, University of Texas System officials decided to name the new institution the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.^[13][14] UTRGV's creation garnered much media attention because of its expected economic, social and health care impact on the region. UTRGV is unique in that it is the first time the UT System has merged existing campuses in such a way. UTRGV will also bring the first medical school to the Rio Grande Valley region. The first class of UTRGV students are slated to begin courses in fall 2015.^[15]

Colleges

Edinburg is also the home of the Rio Grande Bible Institute and located in the South Texas College District.

Primary and secondary education

Almost all of the city is served by the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, comprising four high schools, one alternative secondary school, six middle schools, and 20 elementary schools. A small portion is served by the McAllen Independent School District, including Memorial High School, Cathey Middle School, and McAllen's Gonzalez Elementary.

In addition, the South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve Edinburg. South Texas Business Education & Technology Academy (BETA) is in Edinburg. Students from Edinburg also have the chance to attend other South Texas ISD schools in Mercedes -South Texas High School for the Medical Professions and The Science Academy of South Texas.

The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates St. Joseph Catholic School, an elementary and middle school.

Public libraries

The City of Edinburg operates the Dustin Michael Sekula Memorial Library.^[16]

Museums

Edinburg is home to the Museum of South Texas History, formerly the Hidalgo County Historical Museum.

Government

As Edinburg is the county seat of Hidalgo County, most major county offices are located there including the Criminal District Attorney's Office, the District Courts and County Courts at Law of Hidalgo County, the Community Supervision and Corrections Department, the Hidalgo County Juvenile Probation Department, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department and the offices of the County Judge, the Tax Assessor/Collector, the County Treasurer, County Auditor and Veterans Services. Hidalgo County Commissioner's Precinct Four represents Edinburg on the Hidalgo County County Commissioner's Court.

State agencies

Several state agencies have offices in Edinburg. This includes the Thirteenth Court of Appeals, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Unit, the Texas departments of Health Services, Human Services, Protective and Regulatory Services and Public Safety. The Texas Youth Commission has a facility near Edinburg. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates two facilities, the Lopez Unit and the Segovia Unit, in Edinburg.^[17][18]

Federal representation

The United States Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Headquarters is at 4400 South Expressway 281, Edinburg, Texas.

The United States Postal Service operates a postal office at 410 S Jackson Road, Edinburg, Texas.

U. S. Congressman Rubén Hinojosa U.S. House of Representative for Texas's 15th congressional district has a regional office in Edinburg.

Entertainment and sports

This city is the home of the Edinburg Roadrunners, an independent league baseball team in the North American League. In 2013, the City of Edinburg and The Edinburg Economic Development Corporation announced plans for the construction of an events arena in which the NBA Development League Champions, the RGV Vipers, will be the anchor tenants.^[19] The team will also have its practice facility at the Edinburg Sports & Wellness Center under construction.^[20] The City also opened a six city block stretch of green pedestrian walkway space known as the McIntyre Street Project in April 2014 expected to be the beginning of a proposed arts and restaurant district extending through the heart of Edinburg.^[21]

Sights

The Edinburg Scenic Wetlands is one of nine sites of the World Birding Center, a native habitat site and wildlife refuge.^[22]

Transportation

McIntyre Street Project plans also include a bus transportation hub for Valley Metro,^[23] the regional transit service.^[24]

Highways

• State Highway 107
• State Highway 336
• U.S. Route 281
• Interstate 69C

Airports

There are two major commercial airports near Edinburg: McAllen-Miller International Airport (MFE) at McAllen, 20 minutes from Edinburg and Valley International Airport, (HRL) in Harlingen, 40 minutes from Edinburg. The South Texas International Airport at Edinburg (KEBG) is a public use airport owned and operated by the City of Edinburg.

Nearby cities and communities

Nearest cities

Media and journalism

Television stations

The Edinburg area is served by numerous local television affiliates.

Radio stations

Area newspapers

• The Monitor
• Valley Morning Star
• The Edinburg Daily Review

Notable people

• Alfredo Cantu Gonzalez, was a United States Marine Corps sergeant who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for service in the Battle of Huế during the Vietnam War.
• Joe M. Kilgore, former lawyer in Edinburg and former member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas
• Bobby Pulido, Tejano singer
• Leslie H. Southwick, is a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and a former judge of the Mississippi Court of Appeals.
• Pedro Villarreal, is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.

References

External links

• City of Edinburg
• Chamber of Commerce
• Edinburg Economic Development Corporation.

Municipalities and communities of Hidalgo County, Texas, United States County seat: Edinburg Cities Alamo Alton Donna Edcouch Edinburg Elsa Granjeno Hidalgo La Joya La Villa McAllen Mercedes Mission Palmhurst Palmview Penitas Pharr Progreso Progreso Lakes San Juan Sullivan City Weslaco CDPs Abram Cesar Chavez Citrus City Cuevitas Doffing Doolittle Faysville Hargill Havana Heidelberg Indian Hills La Blanca La Homa Laguna Seca Linn Llano Grande Lopezville Los Ebanos Midway North Midway South Mila Doce Monte Alto Muniz North Alamo Nurillo Olivarez Palmview South Perezville Relampago San Carlos Scissors South Alamo Villa Verde West Sharyland

State of Texas Austin (capital) Topics Architecture Climate Cuisine Geography Government Healthcare History Languages Law Literature Sports Texans Transportation Symbols Visitor attractions Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Gambling Politics Regions Ark‑La‑Tex Big Bend Blackland Prairies Brazos Valley Central Texas Coastal Bend Concho Valley Cross Timbers Deep East Texas East Texas Edwards Plateau Golden Triangle Hill Country Llano Estacado Northeast Texas North Texas Osage Plains Panhandle Permian Basin Piney Woods Rio Grande Valley Southeast Texas South Plains South Texas Texoma Trans-Pecos West Texas Metropolitan areas Abilene Amarillo Austin–Round Rock Beaumont–Port Arthur Brownsville–Harlingen College Station–Bryan Corpus Christi Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington El Paso Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land Killeen–Temple Laredo Longview Lubbock McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Midland Odessa San Angelo San Antonio–New Braunfels Sherman–Denison Texarkana Tyler Victoria Waco Wichita Falls Counties See: List of counties in Texas