Hidalgo is a city in Hidalgo County,

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

, United States. The population was 11,198 at the 2010 census, and in 2019 the estimated population was 14,183.

History

The area that is now Hidalgo was first settled by Spanish colonists led by José de Escandón ''circa'' 1749. The colony was known by multiple names: La Habitación, Rancho San Luis, and San Luisito. In 1852, John Young settled in the area and renamed the town "Edinburgh" after his place of birth,

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to ...

; Edinburgh became the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

of Hidalgo County. The town was incorporated in 1876, and its name was changed to "Hidalgo" in 1885.

Geography

Hidalgo is located in southern Hidalgo County at (26.104473, –98.246443). It is located across the

Rio Grande The Rio Grande ( and ), known in Mexico as the Río Bravo del Norte or simply the Río Bravo, is one of the principal rivers (along with the Colorado River) in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The length of the Rio G ...

(Rio Bravo del Norte) from the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. One of the southern termini of

U.S. Route 281 U.S. Route 281 (US 281) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway. At it is the longest continuous three-digit U.S. Route. The highway's northern terminus is at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, North Dakota, at t ...

is at the border crossing in Hidalgo. The highway leads east then north to

Pharr Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 70,400, and in 2019, the estimated population was 79,112. Pharr is connected by bridge to the Mexican city of Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Pharr is ...

, or southeast to Brownsville. Texas State Highway 115 runs north from Hidalgo to McAllen, the largest city in Hidalgo County. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, the city of Hidalgo has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.84%, are water.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to off ...

, there were 13,964 people, 3,774 households, and 3,220 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2000, there were 7,322 people, 1,747 households, and 1,593 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was 1,682.2 people per square mile (649.9/km). There were 1,880 housing units at an average density of 431.9 per square mile (166.9/km). The racial makeup of the city was 82.12%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 0.12%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.29% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 15.45% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 97.75% of the population. There were 1,747 households, out of which 61.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 8.8% were non-families. 8.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.19 and the average family size was 4.43. In the city, the population was spread out, with 39.0% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 14.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 25 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $19,469, and the median income for a family was $20,357. Males had a median income of $16,238 versus $13,577 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $5,849. About 41.4% of families and 44.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 51.2% of those under age 18 and 45.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The

United States Postal Service The United States Postal Service (USPS), also known as the Post Office, U.S. Mail, or Postal Service, is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for providing postal service in the ...

operates the Hidalgo Post Office.

Education

Hidalgo Independent School District and Valley View Independent School District serve sections of the city.SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Hidalgo County, TX
"

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

. Retrieved on January 2, 2017. The portion in Hidalgo ISD is divided between the zones of Hidalgo Elementary School and Salinas Elementary School. All residents of the Hidalgo ISD area are zoned to Ida Diaz Jr. High School, and

Hidalgo Early College High School Hidalgo Early College High School (HECHS), formerly Hidalgo High School, is a public high school in Hidalgo, Texas. It is the only high school in the Hidalgo Independent School District. As of 2007, the school had 810 students. The school was the ...

.Hidalgo ISD School Map
Hidalgo Independent School District. Retrieved on March 12, 2017. In addition, South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve the community. The Hidalgo Public Library serves Hidalgo. The library, designed by Hidalgo native Eduardo Vela, opened on April 8, 1998.About HPL
." Hidalgo Public Library. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.

Sports

Hidalgo used to be the home to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the

NBA G League The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the National Basketball Association's (NBA) official minor league basketball organization. The league was known as the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) from 2001 to 2005, and the NBA D ...

, who played in the local

Payne Arena The Payne Arena is a multi-purpose complex, in Hidalgo, Texas. It was formerly known as Dodge Arena from 2003 until February 2010, State Farm Arena from 2010 to September 2018, and then State Farm Hidalgo Arena for one year. Capacity The arena ...

, and the Rio Grande Valley FC Toros of the USL Championship, who play in the H-E-B Park. Former teams include the Rio Grande Valley Magic of the Southern Indoor Football League, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees of the Central Hockey League and North American Hockey League,

La Fiera FC Hidalgo La Fiera (also known as "La Fiera FC") was an American professional indoor soccer team based in Hidalgo, Texas. They played in the Southern Division of the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL). The team was founded in 2012 as the Rio Grande Va ...

of the

Professional Arena Soccer League A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and ski ...

and the

Rio Grande Valley Sol The Rio Valley Grande Sol were a professional indoor football team based in Hidalgo, Texas. They were members of the X-League Indoor Football (XLIF) in their final season. The Sol played their home games at the State Farm Arena. They were founde ...

of the Lone Star Football League and

X-League Indoor Football X-League Indoor Football (X-League) was a professional indoor football minor league that began play in 2014. The league was co-chaired by Michael Mink and Kacee Smith. On September 19, 2015, the league announced a merger with the future "North ...

. The Payne Arena is also a concert venue serving the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.

References

External links

City of Hidalgo official website

''Hidalgo, Tx (Hidalgo County)'' in Handbook of Texas Online
{{authority control Cities in Hidalgo County, Texas Mexico–United States border crossings Lower Rio Grande Valley Former county seats in Texas Cities in Texas