# Cameron County, Texas

Cameron County, officially the County of Cameron, is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, its population was 421,017. Its county seat is Brownsville.
The county was founded in 1848 and is named for Captain Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution and in the ill-fated Mier Expedition. During the later 19th century and through World War II, Fort Brown was a US Army outpost here, stimulating the development of the city of Brownsville.
Cameron County comprises the Brownsville–Harlingen, TX metropolitan statistical area, as well as the Brownsville–Harlingen–Raymondville combined statistical area, which itself is part of the larger Rio Grande Valley region.
The second-largest city in the county is Harlingen.
The county is home to the SpaceX Starbase spaceport, situated in Boca Chica; it is also the residence of Elon Musk.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,276 square miles (3,300 km$^2$), of which 891 square miles (2,310 km$^2$) are land and 386 square miles (1,000 km$^2$) (30%) are covered by water. To the east, the county borders the Gulf of Mexico.

### Major highways

* Interstate 2
* Interstate 69E/U.S. Highway 77
* Interstate 169/State Highway 550
* U.S. Highway 83
* U.S. Highway 281
* State Highway 4
* State Highway 48
* State Highway 100
* State Highway 107
* State Highway 345

### Adjacent counties and municipalities

* Willacy County (north)
* Gulf of Mexico (east)
* Matamoros Municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
* Hidalgo County (west)

### National protected areas

* Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

## Demographics

Cameron County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. :
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 48,679 | 43,427 | 37,107 | 14.52% | 10.69% | 8.81% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 909 | 1,192 | 1,405 | 0.27% | 0.29% | 0.33% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 334 | 385 | 365 | 0.10% | 0.09% | 0.09% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 1,522 | 2,486 | 2,596 | 0.45% | 0.61% | 0.62% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 41 | 76 | 80 | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 118 | 191 | 846 | 0.04% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
| Mixed Race or Multiracial (NH) | 888 | 716 | 1,938 | 0.26% | 0.18% | 0.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 282,736 | 357,747 | 376,680 | 84.34% | 88.07% | 89.47% |
| Total | 335,227 | 406,220 | 421,017 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census of 2010, 406,220 people, 119,631 households, and 96,579 families were residing in the county. The population density was 370 people per square mile (140 people/km$^2$). The 141,924 housing units averaged 132 per square mile (51/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 87.0% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 9.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. About 88.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 119,631 households, 50.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were not families. About 16.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36, and the average family size was 3.80.
In the county, the age distribution was 33.0% under the age of18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,264, and for a family was $33,770. Males had a median income of $21,410 versus $15,597 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,695. About 30.0% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.8% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.
A 2000 Texas A&M study stated that of the residents of Cameron County, 43% do not have basic literacy skills.
Within the 2010s decade, a noticeable trend in the county population showed that growth among the county's northern cities (defined as major towns whose city limits lie entirely north or east of U.S. Highway 83 in the county) on average has been greater than those cities on U.S. Highway 83 in the county, suggesting a possible desire among both locals and new residents from outside the Rio Grande Valley to move away from the population centers of the county. This trend has also been shared by nearby Hidalgo County. Los Fresnos, for example, grew by 42.2% from 2010 to 2018. Other major cities, such as Indian Lake, Primera, and Rio Hondo, all grew by more than 15% in the same period. In contrast, the cities of Harlingen, La Feria, and San Benito, all cities along U.S. Highway 83, have seen growths less than 1% in the same period. The city that grew the most among the Highway 83 cities in the county was Brownsville, which grew by 4.4% from 2010 to 2019.

## Government and infrastructure

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, located in an unincorporated area adjacent to the Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport, which is itself owned and operated by the county. The airport has four runways and offers fuel and other general aviation services.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen stated in 2013 that the corruption in the county judiciary and legal system was so pervasive that most people would not believe it "unless they heard it themselves."

## Politics

Cameron County has historically leaned toward the Democratic Party in presidential elections, supporting the party in all but three between 1960 and 2020. Republican candidate George W. Bush carried the county in the 2004 election, but no Republican would do so again until Donald Trump won in 2024. Many voters supported Trump while voting for down-ballot Democratic politicians. Trump outperformed Ted Cruz in the area in the 2024 election. Trump's 2016 showing of 32.0% was the lowest received by a Republican candidate in the county since Alf Landon in 1936. Four years later, however, Trump's performance of 43% in 2020 was the best for a Republican in the county since 2004, while in 2024, Trump won the county with a majority of 52.51% as part of the continued Republican trend in the Rio Grande Valley. The New York Times stated that Elon Musk placed significant economic development in the county, opposed illegal immigration, and did considerable campaigning for Trump in Cameron County, so "Mr. Trump didn't have to campaign very hard in Cameron."
In the Texas House of Representatives, Cameron County is covered by districts 35, 37, and 38.
United States presidential election results for Cameron County, Texas :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 60,991 | 52.44% | 54,258 | 46.65% | 1,060 | 0.91% |
| 2020 | 49,032 | 42.89% | 64,063 | 56.04% | 1,231 | 1.08% |
| 2016 | 29,472 | 31.80% | 59,402 | 64.10% | 3,791 | 4.09% |
| 2012 | 26,099 | 33.94% | 49,975 | 64.99% | 821 | 1.07% |
| 2008 | 26,671 | 35.06% | 48,480 | 63.72% | 926 | 1.22% |
| 2004 | 34,801 | 50.32% | 33,998 | 49.16% | 357 | 0.52% |
| 2000 | 27,800 | 44.80% | 33,214 | 53.52% | 1,043 | 1.68% |
| 1996 | 18,434 | 32.63% | 34,891 | 61.76% | 3,168 | 5.61% |
| 1992 | 20,123 | 34.07% | 29,435 | 49.84% | 9,499 | 16.08% |
| 1988 | 24,263 | 43.68% | 30,972 | 55.75% | 317 | 0.57% |
| 1984 | 29,545 | 52.64% | 26,394 | 47.03% | 187 | 0.33% |
| 1980 | 22,041 | 47.62% | 23,200 | 50.12% | 1,044 | 2.26% |
| 1976 | 16,448 | 39.06% | 25,310 | 60.10% | 353 | 0.84% |
| 1972 | 20,816 | 60.69% | 13,340 | 38.89% | 144 | 0.42% |
| 1968 | 11,759 | 39.82% | 15,726 | 53.26% | 2,042 | 6.92% |
| 1964 | 9,531 | 37.14% | 16,056 | 62.57% | 72 | 0.28% |
| 1960 | 10,190 | 45.01% | 12,416 | 54.84% | 34 | 0.15% |
| 1956 | 11,952 | 56.85% | 8,829 | 42.00% | 241 | 1.15% |
| 1952 | 14,018 | 64.89% | 7,559 | 34.99% | 25 | 0.12% |
| 1948 | 4,689 | 39.54% | 6,778 | 57.15% | 392 | 3.31% |
| 1944 | 5,309 | 44.82% | 5,998 | 50.63% | 539 | 4.55% |
| 1940 | 3,370 | 35.73% | 6,035 | 63.98% | 28 | 0.30% |
| 1936 | 2,160 | 26.32% | 5,887 | 71.74% | 159 | 1.94% |
| 1932 | 1,785 | 19.87% | 7,146 | 79.53% | 54 | 0.60% |
| 1928 | 3,544 | 52.45% | 3,202 | 47.39% | 11 | 0.16% |
| 1924 | 1,266 | 34.52% | 2,225 | 60.68% | 176 | 4.80% |
| 1920 | 909 | 49.24% | 920 | 49.84% | 17 | 0.92% |
| 1916 | 420 | 24.48% | 1,260 | 73.43% | 36 | 2.10% |
| 1912 | 149 | 6.13% | 2,146 | 88.35% | 134 | 5.52% |

## Education

Cameron County is served by several school districts. They include:
* Brownsville Independent School District
* Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District
* La Feria Independent School District
* Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District
* Lyford Consolidated Independent School District (partially)
* Point Isabel Independent School District
* Rio Hondo Independent School District
* San Benito Consolidated Independent School District
* Santa Maria Independent School District
* Santa Rosa Independent School District
In addition, residents are eligible to apply to South Texas Independent School District's magnet schools.
All of the county is in the service area of Texas Southmost College.

## Economy

Cameron County has been considered one of the poorest urban counties in the US.
The FAA approved a SpaceX private spaceport east of Brownsville on the Gulf Coast.
The SpaceX South Texas Launch Site is projected to employ 75–100 full-time workers in the early years with up to 150 full-time employees/contractors by 2019. In 2014, SpaceX acquired additional land near Boca Chica, which they consolidated into a subdivision called "Mars Crossing", possibly named after the novel by science-fiction writer Geoffrey A. Landis.
* View of SpaceX's launch pad at Boca Chica Village near Brownsville
* SN15 and SN16
* Starship and SuperHeavy production site
The southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) is invasive here. Populations here have also become highly permethrin resistant. In 2014 the problem had become so severe that spread to neighboring counties was feared, and a Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area was established to preserve efficacy in those counties. All quarantine efforts have been somewhat unsuccessful, due at least in part to the ticks' infestation of wildlife including whitetail (Odocoileus virginianus).

## Media
### Radio stations

* KFRQ 94.5FM
* KKPS 99.5FM
* KNVO 101.1FM
* KVLY 107.9FM
* KVMV 96.9FM

### Newspapers

* The Brownsville Herald (A Freedom Communications, Inc. newspaper based in Brownsville, TX)
* Valley Morning Star (A Freedom Communications, Inc. newspaper based in Harlingen, TX)
* El Nuevo Heraldo (AIM Media Texas newspaper based in Brownsville, TX)

## Communities
### Cities

* Brownsville (county seat)
* Harlingen
* La Feria
* Los Fresnos
* Palm Valley
* Port Isabel
* Rio Hondo
* San Benito

### Towns

* Bayview
* Combes
* Indian Lake
* Laguna Vista
* Los Indios
* Primera
* Rancho Viejo
* Santa Rosa
* South Padre Island

### Village

* Rangerville

### Census-designated places

* Arroyo Colorado Estates
* Arroyo Gardens
* Bixby
* Bluetown
* Cameron Park
* Chula Vista
* Del Mar Heights
* El Camino Angosto
* Encantada-Ranchito-El Calaboz
* Green Valley Farms
* Iglesia Antigua
* Juarez
* La Feria North
* La Paloma
* La Tina Ranch
* Lago
* Laguna Heights
* Las Palmas II
* Lasana
* Laureles
* Lozano
* Olmito
* Orason
* Palmer
* Ratamosa
* Reid Hope King
* Rice Tracts
* San Pedro
* Santa Maria
* Solis
* South Point
* Tierra Bonita
* Villa del Sol
* Villa Pancho
* Yznaga

### Former census-designated places

* Arroyo Gardens-La Tina Ranch (split into the Arroyo Gardens and La Tina Ranch CDPs)
* Bluetown-Iglesia Antigua
* Chula Vista-Orason
* Grand Acres
* Las Palmas-Juarez

### Other unincorporated communities

* Adams Gardens
* Arroyo Alto
* Arroyo City
* Boca Chica (to be incorporated as "Starbase")
* Buena Vista
* Carricitos
* Cavazos
* Holly Beach
* La Penusca
* Landrum
* Lantana
* Las Yescas
* Los Cuates
* Monte Grande
* Russelltown
* Villa Nueva

### Ghost towns

* Del Mar
* La Leona
* Las Rusias
* Santa Rita
* Stuart Place