McAllen, Texas - wikipedia McAllen, Texas City in Texas, United States McAllen, Texas City Nickname ( s ) : `` City of Palms '' Location in the U.S. state of Texas Coordinates : 26 ° 12 ′ 59 '' N 98 ° 14 ′ 11 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 26.21639 ° N 98.23639 ° W ﻿ / 26.21639 ; - 98.23639 Coordinates : 26 ° 12 ′ 59 '' N 98 ° 14 ′ 11 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 26.21639 ° N 98.23639 ° W ﻿ / 26.21639 ; - 98.23639 Country United States State Texas County Hidalgo Government Type Council - Manager City Council Mayor Jim Darling Javier Villalobos ( District 1 ) Joaquin J. Zamora ( District 2 ) Julian Omar Quintanilla ( District 3 ) Aida Ramirez ( District 4 ) John Ingram ( District 5 ) Veronica Whitacre ( District 6 ) City Manager Roel `` Roy '' Rodriguez Texas State Representative Robert Guerra Texas State Senator Juan Hinojosa U.S. Representative Vicente González Area City 48.6 sq mi ( 126.0 km ) Land 48.3 sq mi ( 125.2 km ) Water 0.3 sq mi ( 0.8 km ) Elevation 121 ft ( 37 m ) Population ( 2010 ) City 129,877 ( US : 184th ) Estimate ( 2016 ) 142,212 Density 2,942 / sq mi ( 1,135.8 / km ) Metro 774,769 Time zone CST ( UTC − 6 ) Summer ( DST ) CDT ( UTC − 5 ) ZIP codes 78501 - 78504 Area code ( s ) 956 FIPS code 48 - 45384 GNIS feature ID 1374829 Website www.mcallen.net McAllen is the largest city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States, and the twenty - second most populous city in Texas. It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley. The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande, across from the Mexican city of Reynosa, and McAllen is approximately 70 miles ( 110 km ) west of the Gulf of Mexico. As of 2017, McAllen 's population was estimated to be 142,696. It is the fifth most populous metropolitan area in the state of Texas, and the bi-national Reynosa -- McAllen Metropolitan Area counts a population of nearly 1.5 million. From its settlement in 1904, the area around McAllen was largely rural and agricultural in character. But the latter half of the 20th century saw steady growth, which the metropolitan area still experiences today. The introduction of the maquiladora economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico. Contents 1 History 2 Geography 3 Climate 4 Demographics 5 Economy 5.1 Trade 5.2 Health 6 Government 6.1 Federal representation 7 Transportation 7.1 Mass transit 7.2 Highways 7.3 Airports 8 Education 8.1 Post-secondary 8.2 Primary and secondary schools 8.3 Public libraries 9 Recreation 10 Sports 11 Media and journalism 11.1 Television stations 11.2 Radio stations 11.3 Area newspapers 12 Architecture and points of interest 13 Notable people 14 See also 15 References 16 Bibliography 17 External links History See also : Timeline of McAllen, Texas In 1904 the Hidalgo and San Miguel Extension ( now the Sam Fordyce Branch ) of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway reached the Santa Anita Ranch. John McAllen and his son James donated land to the railroad to guarantee it would cross the area. On December 5, 1904, the McAllen Townsite Company was formed by Uriah Lott, Leonidas C. Hill Sr., John McAllen, James Ballí McAllen, and John J. Young. The new community, which was named for John McAllen, had the depot nearest the county seat, Hidalgo, 8 miles ( 13 km ) to the south. By 1911, 5,000 acres ( 2,000 ha ) were under cultivation in East McAllen, with produce consisting of cotton, alfalfa, broom corn, citrus fruits, grapes, and figs. East McAllen had an estimated population of 1,000 that year, and West McAllen had ceased to exist. In 1911 the town applied for and was issued a charter of incorporation under the name McAllen. In 1916, 20,000 New York state troops were stationed at McAllen to help quell border disturbances. The resulting economic boom increased the population from 1,200 in 1916 to 6,000 in 1920. McAllen adopted a home rule charter in 1927. Canning factories, a winery, tortilla plants, wood - working plants, and some oil exploration increased the population to 9,074 by 1930. In 1936 Hiram Garner opened the Valley Distillery, Incorporated, which produced wines from citrus juices. The town was a petroleum and farm chemurgic center with a population of 11,877 in 1940, by which time it had adopted the nickname `` The City of Palms ''. In 1941, a suspension bridge replaced the old bridge from Hidalgo to Reynosa in Tamaulipas ; the new toll bridge was purchased by McAllen and was named the McAllen -- Hidalgo -- Reynosa International Bridge. Its construction resulted in increased tourist trade, making McAllen a winter resort and port of entry to Mexico. The discovery of oil in the Reynosa area in 1947 resulted in a large migration of people from the Mexican interior, constituting a new tourist market and cheap labor supply for McAllen. The sister cities were linked as a result of the increased traffic between them. The population of McAllen was 20,005 in 1950 and 32,728 in 1960. The McAllen -- Hidalgo -- Reynosa International Bridge was the number - two port of entry into Mexico in 1954. McAllen was an agricultural, oil, and tourist center in 1970, when the population reached 37,636. By the start of the 1970s, McAllen had a 200 - bed hospital and a new air - conditioned high school, the first school in the nation featuring on - site power generated by natural - gas - powered turbines. The tourism industry continued to expand as people traveled to the area from both Mexico and the northern United States. The population continued to grow steadily through the 1970s, and reached 66,281 by 1980. During the late 1980s the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone was an important general - purpose foreign trade zone. At the time, McAllen 's main industries were retail, tourism and farming, and each was in trouble. The devaluation of the Mexican peso in the 1980s put a damper on cross-border shopping ; local tourism was down because of the recession. In 1983 a freeze took out much of the valley 's citrus crop. In the mid-1980s, fueled by trade and the growth of the maquiladora ( in which components are shipped to Mexico, assembled and shipped back ), the economy began to improve in Hidalgo County. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing center. After the peso devalued it became easier to coax companies to put their plants in Mexico with support operations in Texas. Geography McAllen is located in southern Hidalgo County at 26 ° 12 ′ 59 '' N 98 ° 14 ′ 11 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 26.21639 ° N 98.23639 ° W ﻿ / 26.21639 ; - 98.23639 ( 26.216263, − 98.236385 ). It is bordered to the southwest by Granjeno ; to the west by Mission, Palmhurst, and Alton ; to the north by Edinburg, the Hidalgo county seat ; to the east by Pharr ; and to the south by Hidalgo. The McAllen city limits extend to the southwest as far as the Rio Grande, directly north of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. The Anzalduas International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande at this point, 11 miles ( 18 km ) southwest of downtown McAllen. McAllen is 238 miles ( 383 km ) south of San Antonio, 148 miles ( 238 km ) southeast of Laredo, 60 miles ( 97 km ) northwest of Brownsville, and 150 miles ( 240 km ) northeast of Monterrey. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 48.6 square miles ( 126.0 km ), of which 48.3 square miles ( 125.2 km ) are land and 0.3 square miles ( 0.8 km ), or 0.62 %, are water. Although McAllen is named the `` City of Palms '', tropical vegetation is only locally dominant. There are many thorny shrubs and deciduous trees in the area, such as the Rio Grande ash ( Fraxinus berlandieriana ), cedar elm ( Ulmus crassifolia ) and honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa ). Climate McAllen, like much of South Texas, has a subtropical climate. Under the Köppen climate classification, the city features a hot semi-arid climate, featuring long, very hot and humid summers, and brief, warm winters. The average high in January is 70 ° F ( 21 ° C ), and the average low is 50 ° F ( 10 ° C ). In August the average high is 96 ° F ( 36 ° C ), and the average low is 76 ° F ( 24 ° C ). The warm season is extremely long, as average high temperatures from May through September are above 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) and average low temperatures are above 70 ° F ( 21 ° C ), with relatively high dew point values, resulting in higher relative humidity values and heat index values. Heat index values can consistently reach over 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) during these months. Average annual precipitation is only 21.60 inches ( 549 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 4.08 inches ( 104 mm ) of rain. The driest month is March, with only 0.72 inches ( 18 mm ) of precipitation. Since 1941, it has snowed once, when the city received 1.7 inches ( 43 mm ) on December 25, 2004. Temperatures frequently rise above 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) from June through August. The highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was 110 ° F ( 43 ° C ), once in 1998 and once in 1999. The lowest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was 13 ° F ( − 11 ° C ), on January 12, 1962. hide Climate data for McAllen, Texas ( McAllen Miller Int'l Airport ), 1981 -- 2010 normals Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 95 ( 35 ) 101 ( 38 ) 105 ( 41 ) 107 ( 42 ) 110 ( 43 ) 110 ( 43 ) 109 ( 43 ) 108 ( 42 ) 108 ( 42 ) 104 ( 40 ) 102 ( 39 ) 96 ( 36 ) 110 ( 43 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 71.0 ( 21.7 ) 75.1 ( 23.9 ) 81.8 ( 27.7 ) 87.1 ( 30.6 ) 91.7 ( 33.2 ) 96.2 ( 35.7 ) 97.1 ( 36.2 ) 98.1 ( 36.7 ) 93.1 ( 33.9 ) 87.6 ( 30.9 ) 79.9 ( 26.6 ) 72.0 ( 22.2 ) 85.9 ( 29.9 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 50.0 ( 10 ) 54.2 ( 12.3 ) 59.8 ( 15.4 ) 66.0 ( 18.9 ) 72.1 ( 22.3 ) 75.7 ( 24.3 ) 76.4 ( 24.7 ) 76.7 ( 24.8 ) 73.4 ( 23 ) 66.8 ( 19.3 ) 58.8 ( 14.9 ) 51.1 ( 10.6 ) 65.2 ( 18.4 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) 13 ( − 11 ) 17 ( − 8 ) 27 ( − 3 ) 37 ( 3 ) 41 ( 5 ) 56 ( 13 ) 58 ( 14 ) 63 ( 17 ) 51 ( 11 ) 35 ( 2 ) 27 ( − 3 ) 14 ( − 10 ) 13 ( − 11 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ). 97 ( 24.6 ) 1.19 ( 30.2 ). 90 ( 22.9 ) 1.4 ( 36 ) ( 53 ) 2.38 ( 60.5 ) 1.58 ( 40.1 ) 1.55 ( 39.4 ) 3.57 ( 90.7 ) 1.95 ( 49.5 ) 0.95 ( 24.1 ) 0.95 ( 24.1 ) 19.49 ( 495.1 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 7.2 5.3 4.0 4.0 4.6 5.2 5.4 5.3 7.8 5.9 4.8 6.0 65.5 Source : NOAA Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1910 150 -- 1920 5,331 3,454.0 % 1930 9,074 70.2 % 1940 11,877 30.9 % 1950 20,067 69.0 % 1960 32,728 63.1 % 1970 37,636 15.0 % 1980 66,281 76.1 % 89,000 34.3 % 2000 106,414 19.6 % 129,877 22.0 % Est. 2017 142,696 9.9 % U.S. Decennial Census As of the census of 2010, there were 129,877 people, 41,573 households, and 31,823 families residing in the city. There were 45,862 housing units, of which 4,289, or 9.4 %, were vacant. The racial makeup of the city was 83.9 % White, 0.9 % African American, 0.4 % Native American, 2.6 % Asian, 0.02 % Pacific Islander, 10.4 % some other race, and 1.8 % from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.6 % of the population. There were 41,573 households, out of which 46.0 % had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2 % were married couples living together, 19.0 % had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5 % were non-families. 19.1 % of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.9 % were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10, and the average family size was 3.58. In the city, 30.1 % of the population were under the age of 18, 9.6 % were from 18 to 24, 28.1 % from 25 to 44, 21.3 % from 45 to 64, and 10.9 % were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. For the period 2012 - 2016, the estimated median annual income for a household in the city was $45,568, and the median income for a family was $50,184. The per capita income for the city was $21,726. About 22.5 % of families and 25.7 % of the entire population were below the poverty line, including 36.6 % of those under age 18 and 21.4 % of those age 65 or over. Economy The Rio Grande Valley began its rapid development with the introduction of irrigation in 1898 and the construction of the railroad in 1904. These major additions turned a once relatively desolate area into a major agricultural center. Throughout much of the 1900s, McAllen was a rural, agriculture - based economy characterized by sporadic growth. Today, the area is transforming into a major international trade area. As recently as 1990, McAllen 's unemployment rate was at 22.6 percent. By the end of 2005, that figure had dropped to 7.7 percent. However, in 2011, census.gov listed the McAllen metro area the poorest in the nation. As of 2012, the average cost of a home in McAllen was the third least expensive in the country, at $178,000, while average monthly rent for a two - bedroom apartment was $708. In 2012 the cost of living in McAllen was 16.2 percent lower than the national average. Trade Since the 1980s and especially since the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, the focal point of economic activity has shifted from agriculture to international trade, health care, retail and tourism. The McAllen Foreign - Trade Zone ( FTZ ) is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. Commissioned in 1973, it was the first inland foreign - trade zone in the United States. There is also a Foreign - Trade Zone designation site at the McAllen Miller International Airport to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.S. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions, the FTZ designation offers specific cost - saving opportunities to manufacturers. Products can be brought into the FTZ duty - free. Services have recently expanded to include full logistic support services, including public warehouse services such as pick and pack, order processing, inventory control, incoming / outgoing quality inspection and kitting. Health McAllen was the most obese metropolitan area in the country in 2012, with 38.5 % of the adult population considered obese. The high obesity rate has likely contributed to area residents ' poor health. More than 21 % of the population has been diagnosed with diabetes, more than any other metro area in the United States. Poverty may play a large role in the community 's health problems as well. Over 25 % of the city population were living below the poverty line during the period 2012 - 2016. More than 29 % of the population also lacked health coverage during that time period. The vast majority of the McAllen metro area is located in a food desert, indicating a severe lack of access to healthy foods for residents. McAllen is featured in Supersize vs Superskinny, a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of the main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person and an underweight person. In the show, the overweight participant visits morbidly obese McAllen residents in order to find motivation for lifestyle and diet changes. McAllen was the focus of a 2009 article in The New Yorker by Atul Gawande entitled `` The Cost Conundrum '', an inquiry into the factors that contribute to the cost of health care. The McAllen area had the highest taxpayer - sponsored spending per beneficiary in the United States, despite areas with similar demographics and health profiles having half the cost per recipient. The article noted that while the area has a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes, its rates of infant mortality, HIV, and tobacco use were lower than the national average. Government List of mayors of McAllen, Texas Frank W. Crow, 1911 - 1913 O.P. Archer, 1913 - 1923 F.B. Freeland, 1923 - 1929 Frank E. Osborn, 1929 - 1931 John Ewing, 1931 - 1934 A.L. Landry, 1935 - 1937 Horace Etchison, 1937 - 1944 Dr. Frank Osborn, 1944 - 1945 Allen F. Vannoy, 1945 - 1947 T.B. Waite, Jr., 1947 - 1948 C.W. Davis, 1949 - 1952 Angus McLeod, 1952 - 1953 Phillip Boeye, 1953 - 1961 Robert F. Barnes, 1961 - 1963 Paul G. Veale, 1963 - 1969 Jack Whetsel, 1969 - 1977 Othal E. Brand, 1977 - 1981 Othal E. Brand Sr., 1981 - 1997 Leo Montalvo, 1997 - 2005 Richard F. Cortez, 2005 - 2013 James E. Darling, 2013 - 2017 The Texas Department of Criminal Justice ( TDCJ ) operates an office in McAllen. Federal representation The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas McAllen Division is located at Bentsen Tower 1701 W. Hwy. 83, Suite 1011 McAllen, Texas. The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in McAllen, the McAllen Post Office located at 620 Pecan Blvd and the McAllen Downtown Post Office at 406 12th Street. The United States Border Patrol McAllen Station is located at 3000 West Military Highway McAllen, Texas. The United States Border Patrol Central Processing Center is located at 3700 W Ursula Avenue, McAllen, Texas. The 2LT Luis G. Garcia United States Army Reserve Center ( ARC ) is located at 600 S Col Rowe Blvd, McAllen, Texas is home for the U.S. Army Reserve 961st Quartermaster Company, 461st Transportation Detachment and the 519th Transportation Detachment. McAllen is represented in the United States House of Representatives by two Democrats : Vicente González of the 15th Congressional District, and Henry Cuellar of the 28th Congressional District. Transportation Mass Transit Metro McAllen ( formerly McAllen Express Transit ( MET ) ) has provided public transportation for the city of McAllen since June 1997. In the beginning, McAllen 's public transportation system, McAllen Express ( ME ), was administered by the Lower Rio Grande Development Council. Since 2005, Metro McAllen has been operated as a department of the city of McAllen. Metro McAllen now has seven fixed routes serving residents and visitors of McAllen. It operates six days out of the week, 13 hours per day. Fare structure Adults Students Elderly $1.00 $0.50 $0.50 Downtown bus terminal The city of McAllen also operates the bus terminal facility in downtown McAllen, known as McAllen Central Station. Central Station serves as a hub for MET and for 14 private domestic and international bus lines. Approximately 60 buses depart from Central Station on a daily basis. Highways Interstate 2 travels through McAllen from Taylor Road to Sugar Road. U.S. 83 travels through McAllen as its major east - west artery. It runs directly south of downtown McAllen. State Highway 107 travels east through McAllen into downtown Edinburg, where it intersects the Business Route of US Route 281 and then I - 69C / US 281. State Highway 336 travels north to an intersection with FM 1016 in McAllen to an intersection with I - 2 / US 83. State Highway 495 travels through McAllen from FM 2220 ( Ware Road ) to FM 2061 ( McColl Street ). Airports McAllen Miller International Airport is served by American Airlines with non-stop service to Dallas / Fort Worth, United with non-stop service to Houston, Aeromar with non-stop service to Mexico City, and Allegiant Air with non-stop flights to Las Vegas and seasonal service to Los Angeles and Orlando - Sanford. Education Post-secondary South Texas College has over 27,000 students spread across their five campuses in Hidalgo and Starr counties and the eSTC virtual campus. The main campus is in McAllen. Primary and secondary schools McAllen Public Library The McAllen Independent School District serves most of the city. Portions of the city extend into the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District, which operates two elementary schools within the McAllen city limits. The Hidalgo Independent School District, Pharr - San Juan - Alamo Independent School District, Sharyland Independent School District, and Valley View Independent School District also serve McAllen. In addition, residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District. The Catholic Diocese of Brownsville operates Our Lady of Sorrows School, an elementary and middle school. Public libraries McAllen Public Library operates a main library and two branches, the Lark Branch and the Palm View Branch. The New Main Library opened in the fall of 2011 inside a former Walmart. The library earned high praise and became the recipient of the International Interior Design Association 's 2012 Library Interior Design Awards. Recreation Birdwatching -- McAllen is positioned on the migratory path between North and South America, presenting bird and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts a diverse wildlife population. The Quinta Mazatlan is a historic Spanish colonial mansion and is McAllen 's wing of the World Birding Center. The McAllen Dog Park is a place of recreation for dogs of all sizes. The lighted park is located off Tamarack and 2nd Street. The park is divided into two sections. The Bicentennial Bike Path runs all the way from Highway 83 on McAllen 's south side to Bicentennial and Nolana on McAllen 's north side. The Zinnia Spray Water Park is McAllen 's first sprayground park. It is located at 29th and Zinnia Ave. Palm View Golf Course is located on South Ware Road just south of Highway 83. The golf course has 18 holes plus a driving range. This course hosts numerous tournaments year round. Sports Until 2014, McAllen was home to the Texas Thunder of the independent United League Baseball, who played at Edinburg Stadium. Dynamo South Texas Academy is a soccer development academy created in 2007 by the Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer. The Dynamo announced the creation of the Dynamo South Texas Academy as the franchise 's first satellite academy. The Dynamo and the McAllen Youth Soccer Association partner up to develop young talent in the Rio Grande Valley region of South Texas with the DSTA 's U-18 and U-15 teams, which train and compete in several South Texas cities, including McAllen, Harlingen and Brownsville. McAllen hosted the NAIA National Football Championship in the late 1970s and NCAA Division II national football championship games in the 1980s. Media and journalism See also : List of newspapers in Texas, List of radio stations in Texas, and List of television stations in Texas Television stations XHRIO 2 Matamoros, Tamaulipas Mundo Fox KGBT 4 Harlingen, Texas CBS KRGV 5 Weslaco, Texas ABC XHAB 7 Matamoros, Tamaulipas Vallevision XERV 9 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Canal de las Estrellas XHREY 12 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca 13 XHOR 14 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Azteca 7 KVEO 23 Brownsville, Texas NBC KTLM 40 Rio Grande City, Texas Telemundo KNVO 48 McAllen, Texas Univision XHVTV 54 Reynosa, Tamaulipas Multimedios KMBH 60 Harlingen, Texas PBS KFXV 67 McAllen, Texas FOX ( MCN ) 17.12 McAllen, Texas Public Broadcasting Station Radio stations KURV - AM 710 AM News Talk Radio XERDO - AM La Radio 1450 AM ( News / Sports ) ( Spanish ) XEMS - AM Radio Mexicana 1490 AM ( Regional Mexican ) ( Spanish ) KHID - FM 88.1 FM McAllen ( National Public Radio ) XHRYS - FM Hits FM 90.1 FM ( Top 40 Hits ) ( Spanish ) XHRYN - FM Uni 90.5 FM ( Spanish ) XHRYA - FM Mas Musica 90.9 FM ( Hit Radio ) ( Spanish ) XHMLS - FM Exitos 91.3 FM ( All - Time Hits ) ( Spanish ) KCAS - FM The New KCAS 91.5 FM XHAAA - FM La Caliente 93.1 FM ( Regional Mexican ) ( Spanish ) KFRQ - FM Q94. 5 FM ( Classic / Modern / Hard Rock ) XHRT - FM Xtrema 95.3 FM ( All - Time Hits ) ( Spanish ) KBTQ - FM Recuerdo 96.1 FM ( Oldies ) ( Spanish ) KVMV - FM Family Friendly & Commercial Free 96.9 FM ( Adult Contemporary Christian ) KGBT - FM Solamente Exitos 98.5 FM ( Regional Mexican ) ( Spanish ) KKPS - FM La Nueva 99.5 FM ( Local Tejano Music ) ( Spanish ) KTEX - FM South Texas Country 100.3 FM ( Country ) KNVO - FM Jose 101.1 FM ( Spanish ) XHAVO - FM Digital 101.5 FM ( International Music ) ( Spanish ) KBFM - FM Wild 104.1 FM ( Hip - Hop / R&B / Reggaeton ) KJAV - FM 104.9 FM Jack FM ( `` Playing What We Want '' ) ( Adult Hits ) XQXX - FM The X 105.5 FM ( Classic - rock ) KHKZ - FM Kiss 106.3 FM ( Hot AC ) XHVTH - FM La Mas Buena 107.1 FM ( Regional Mexican ) ( Spanish ) KVLY - FM Mix 107.9 FM ( Top 40 ) Area newspapers The Monitor Valley Morning Star Texas Border Business Mega Doctor News Architecture and points of interest Tallest buildings McAllen skyline. On far right is the Chase Neuhaus Tower in Downtown. Rank Building Height Chase Neuhaus Tower 17 Floors BBVA Compass Tower 11 Floors Bentsen Tower 11 Floors DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel 9 Floors 5 McAllen Medical Center 8 Floors 6 Inter National Bank 6 Floors Districts McAllen Convention Center District Downtown McAllen De Palmas Historic District 17 Street Entertainment District McAllen Arts District Uptown McAllen McAllen Convention Center District Points of Interest McAllen Convention Center McAllen Botanical Gardens Quinta Mazatlan McAllen Convention Center La Plaza Mall International Museum of Art and Science Historic Cine El Rey Theatre Notable people Henry Cuesta, clarinetist on The Lawrence Welk Show, born in McAllen in 1931 See also Texas portal Veterans War Memorial of Texas References ^ Jump up to : `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` US Board on Geographic Names ''. United States Geological Survey. 2007 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` McAllen Overview ''. McAllen Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 26 August 2011. Jump up ^ Bogan, Jesse ( April 2, 2009 ). `` A Boom at the Border ''. Forbes. Retrieved Nov 22, 2011. Jump up ^ Garza, Alicia A. `` McAllen ''. Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved Nov 22, 2011. Jump up ^ `` McAllen - Hidalgo - Reynosa Bridge ''. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved Nov 22, 2011. Jump up ^ `` City History ''. City of McAllen. Retrieved Nov 22, 2011. Jump up ^ `` US Gazetteer files : 2010, 2000, and 1990 ''. United States Census Bureau. 2011 - 02 - 12. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Geographic Identifiers : 2010 Census Summary File 1 ( G001 ) : McAllen city, Texas ''. American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Jump up ^ Rio Grande Valley. Wikivoyage. Jump up ^ `` NOWData -- NOAA Online Weather Data : Brownsville, TX ''. National Weather Service Forecast Office. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2012 - 02 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Census of Population and Housing ''. Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics : 2010 Census Summary File 1 ( DP - 1 ) : McAllen city, Texas ''. American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2018. ^ Jump up to : `` Selected Economic Characteristics : 2012 - 2016 American Community Survey 5 - Year Estimates ( DP03 ) : McAllen city, Texas ''. American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Jump up ^ Martha C. White ( October 21, 2011 ) `` Poorest place in US ? McAllen, Texas, and here 's why Archived 2011 - 11 - 01 at the Wayback Machine. '' MSNBC.com Accessed November 5, 2011. Jump up ^ `` 10 cheapest places to live in the U.S. '' 2012 - 11 - 13. Retrieved 2017 - 02 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Rio Grande Valley ''. Texas Border Business. Retrieved Nov 21, 2011. Jump up ^ `` America 's Fattest Cities ''. 24 / 7 Wall Street. Retrieved July 3, 2013. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ `` The Cost Conundrum ''. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 16 December 2017 -- via The New Yorker. Jump up ^ `` History of Election of Mayors & City Officials '' ( PDF ). City of McAllen. Retrieved April 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Outline History of McAllen, Texas and the Surrounding Area ''. McAllen Heritage Center. ( Includes brief info about mayors ) Jump up ^ `` Parole Division Region IV Archived September 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine... '' Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Post Office Location MCALLEN Archived 2010 - 05 - 04 at the Wayback Machine... '' United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Post Office Location -- DOWNTOWN MCALLEN Archived 2010 - 06 - 18 at the Wayback Machine... '' United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 9, 2010. Jump up ^ Findell, Elizabeth ( July 17, 2014 ). `` Border Patrol Opens Central Processing Facility for Unaccompanied Kids ''. The Monitor. Retrieved June 18, 2018. Jump up ^ `` McAllen International Airport -- Welcome ''. Mcallenairport.com. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 04. Jump up ^ `` McAllen Public Library -- New Main Library -- opening 2011 ''. Mcallenlibrary.net. Retrieved 2011 - 09 - 04. Jump up ^ Lametti, Daniel ; Waldman, Katy ( 2012 - 07 - 07 ). `` How an Abandoned Wal - Mart Became an Award - Winning Public Library ''. Slate. ISSN 1091 - 2339. Retrieved 2016 - 09 - 03. Jump up ^ `` The Quinta Mazatlan ''. ExploreMcAllen.com. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Zinnia Spray Park ''. ExploreMcAllen.com. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Palm View Golf Course ''. McAllen.net. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 20. Jump up ^ `` Dynamo South Texas Academy ''. mysasoccer.com. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 20. Bibliography See also : Bibliography of the history of McAllen, Texas External links Wikivoyage has a travel guide for McAllen. City of McAllen official website McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau exploreMcAllen.com, visitors ' website McAllen Public Library New Main Library McAllen Chamber of Commerce McAllen Economic Development Corporation McAllen Foreign Trade Zone The Handbook of Texas Online McAllen Citizens League 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 Murillo North Alamo Olivarez Palmview South Perezville Relampago San Carlos Scissors South Alamo Villa Verde West Sharyland Unincorporated community McCook State of Texas Austin ( capital ) Topics Architecture Climate Cuisine Geography Government Healthcare History Languages Law Literature Media Newspapers Radio TV National Historic Landmarks Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks National Register of Historic Places Sites Sports Symbols Texans Tourist attractions Transportation Seal of Texas 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 McAllen, Texas Companies Inter National Bank Lone Star National Bank Rio Bank McAllen Express Transit The Monitor ( Texas ) History International Museum of Art & Science McAllen Botanical Gardens Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge Education South Texas College McAllen ISD Sam Houston ES McAllen High McAllen Memorial James `` Nikki '' Rowe Achieve Early College Lamar Academy South Texas ISD Media Television XHFOX XHRIO KGBT XHAB XERV XHREY KVEO - TV KTLM KNVO XHVTV KTIZ KMBH XHOR Newspapers The Monitor La Frontera ( defunct ) Transportation McAllen - Miller International Airport McAllen -- Hidalgo -- Reynosa International Bridge Anzalduas International Bridge Attractions & Sports Rio Grande Valley Dorados ( defunct ) Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees ( defunct ) Mayors of cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in Texas Sylvester Turner ( D ) ( Houston ) Ron Nirenberg ( I ) ( San Antonio ) Mike Rawlings ( D ) ( Dallas ) Steve Adler ( D ) ( Austin ) Betsy Price ( R ) ( Fort Worth ) Dee Margo ( R ) ( El Paso ) Jeff Williams ( R ) ( Arlington ) Joe McComb ( R ) ( Corpus Christi ) Harry LaRosiliere ( I ) ( Plano ) Pete Saenz ( D ) ( Laredo ) Dan Pope ( R ) ( Lubbock ) Douglas Athas ( Garland ) Beth Van Duyne ( R ) ( Irving ) Ginger Nelson ( Amarillo ) Ron Jensen ( Grand Prairie ) Tony Martinez ( Brownsville ) Johnny Isbell ( Pasadena ) Brian Loughmiller ( R ) ( McKinney ) Stan Pickett ( Mesquite ) Jim Darling ( McAllen ) Jeff Cheney ( Frisco ) Jose Segarra ( Killeen ) Kyle Deaver ( Waco ) Kevin Falconer ( R ) ( Carrollton ) Jerry Morales ( Midland ) Chris Watts ( Denton ) Norm Archibald ( Abilene ) Becky Ames ( R ) ( Beaumont ) David Turner ( Odessa ) Alan McGraw ( Round Rock ) Glenn Barham ( Wichita Falls ) Paul Voelker ( Richardson ) Dean Ueckert ( Lewisville ) Martin Heines ( Tyler ) Tom Reid ( Pearland ) Nancy Berry ( College Station ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=McAllen,_Texas&oldid=853133715 '' Categories : Cities in Texas Cities in Hidalgo County, Texas Populated places established in 1904 McAllen, Texas Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles with short description Coordinates on Wikidata Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Languages تۆرکجه Bân - lâm - gú Català Cebuano Deutsch Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Gaeilge 한국어 Hrvatski Italiano עברית Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Malagasy मराठी Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenčina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog Türkçe Українська اردو Tiếng Việt Volapük Winaray 中文 32 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 17 : 08 ( UTC ). 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Question: how far is brownsville tx from mcallen tx
Answer: 60 miles (97 km)