Edinburg, Texas

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. When Dennis Chapin was involved in the shooting death of Oscar J. Rountree at the Dan Breen Saloon in San Antonio, Texas, 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 (26.304225, -98.163751).

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 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.

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.

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. A year later, in December 2013, University of Texas System officials decided to name the new institution the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Entertainment and sports

This city was the home of the Edinburg Roadrunners, an independent league baseball team in the North American League. However, after numerous ownership changes, the team disbanded. Currently, UTRGV is the only major baseball team in Edinburg.

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. The team will also have its practice facility at the Edinburg Sports & Wellness Center under construction. 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.

Since 2016, the city has been home to the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros soccer club in the United Soccer League.

Sights

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

Transportation

McIntyre Street Project plans also include a bus transportation hub for Valley Metro, the regional transit service.

Highways

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.

Television stations

The Edinburg area is served by numerous local television affiliates.

Area newspapers

Notable people