Pharr, Texas
| Pharr, Texas | |
|---|---|
| City | |
| City of Pharr | |
 Location of Pharr, Texas | |
| Coordinates: 26°12′23″N 98°11′7″W / 26.20639°N 98.18528°WCoordinates: 26°12′23″N 98°11′7″W / 26.20639°N 98.18528°W | |
| Country |
 United States of America |
| State |
 Texas |
| County |
 Hidalgo |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • City Council |
Mayor Leopoldo "Polo" Palacios Jr. Arturo J. Cortez Roberto "Bobby" Carrillo Oscar Elizondo, Jr. Eduardo "Eddie" Cantu Aquiles "Jimmy" Garza Adan Farias |
| • City Manager | Fred Sandoval |
| 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 (2010) | |
| • Total | 70,400 |
| • 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] |
| Website | Pharr-TX.gov |
Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 70,400. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.
Geography
Pharr is located at 26°12′23″N 98°11′7″W / 26.20639°N 98.18528°W (26.206334, -98.185174).[3]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.8 square miles (54 km2), of which 20.8 square miles (54 km2) is land and 0.05% is water.
Communities:
- Las Milpas (annexed in 1987)
History
The community was named after sugar planter Henry Newton Pharr.[4] In 1900 Henry N. Pharr for a number of years was a director of the State National Bank of New Iberia, Louisiana, and was a former president of the Louisiana - Rio Grande Sugar Company and the Louisiana - Rio Grande Canal Company, which at one time owned eight thousand acres (32 km²) and which, in 1910, on this land built the town of Pharr.
Around the beginning of the 21st century, Pharr experienced strong growth and economic development. By 2009, its population had steadily increased to over 60,000 people .
In 1987 Pharr annexed Las Milpas.[5]
In 2006, Pharr received "The All America City" award.
Pharr, along with the neighboring cities of San Juan and Alamo, (or "P-SJ-A") as the three have become known, is a community rich in bi-cultural diversity, beauty, and history. Pharr is located in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, minutes from the Mexican border.
Pharr is an unusual mixture. Its proximity to the border and beach has influenced the culture in the area. In turn, the area hangs on to its traditions despite the rapid growth and development the area has experienced. Hidalgo County is one of the fastest-growing communities in the United States, and Pharr has ridden this wave of development.
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 (20 °C), and the average low is 47 °F (8 °C). The average high is 100 °F (40 °C); the average low is 80 °F (25 °C) in August. The warm season is long, as average high temperatures are above 100 °F (40 °C) and average low temperatures are above 80 °F (25 °C) from June through September.
Average annual precipitation is 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 0.7 inch (17.3 mm) of precipitation.
Despite frequent temperatures above 100 °F (38 °C), occasionally as early as February and as late as the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in Pharr is 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.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,565 | — | |
| 1930 | 3,225 | 106.1% | |
| 1940 | 4,784 | 48.3% | |
| 1950 | 8,690 | 81.6% | |
| 1960 | 14,106 | 62.3% | |
| 1970 | 15,829 | 12.2% | |
| 1980 | 21,381 | 35.1% | |
| 1990 | 32,921 | 54.0% | |
| 2000 | 46,660 | 41.7% | |
| 2010 | 70,400 | 50.9% | |
| Est. 2014 | 75,382 | [6] | 7.1% |
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 per square mile (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.
Government and infrastructure
Pharr City Hall is located at 118 S Cage Blvd - Pharr, Texas 78577. The Innovation & Technology department operates its official website (http://pharr-tx.gov), as well as its local government television on Time Warner Cable channel 17.12. All current social media platforms are used to allow for interactive governmental operations.
The Pharr International Bridge operates by the City of Pharr.[8]
The Texas Department of Transportation operates the Pharr District Office in Pharr.[9]
The United States Postal Service operates the Pharr Post Office in Pharr.[10]
Transportation
Highways
- Pharr has I-2/U.S. 83 as its major east-west artery. U.S. 281 runs north-south through the city and intersects I-2/U.S. 83 at the center of the city and continues south to the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge. From I-2/U.S. 83 at the center of the city north to Edinburg (and eventually to George West), U.S. 281 is co-signed with I-69C.
Education
Primary and secondary schools
The majority of Pharr is served by the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District which has two high schools in the city: PSJA North with around 2,700 students and PSJA Southwest Early College High School with approximately 1,750. A small fringe portion of the city is a part of the Hidalgo Independent School District. Another small portion is a part of the Valley View Independent School District which has one campus with around 2,000 students.
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 and South Texas College (approximately 20,000 students) in McAllen.
Public libraries
The Pharr Public Library serves Pharr.[11]
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 La Nueva 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
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)
Sister cities
References
- 1 2 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ Norman Rozeff, Historic river flooding in the valley, 2009 May.
- ↑ "LAS MILPAS, TX." Handbook of Texas. Retrieved on September 27, 2013.
- ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Pharr International Bridge." Pharr International Bridge.
- ↑ "Pharr District Office." Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved on January 11, 2010.
- ↑ "Post Office Location - PHARR." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Pharr Library." City of Pharr. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Ryan Gabrielson, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News". 2003-7-23. Retrieved on April 17, 2010.
