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Practice Nurse Association for the Rio Grande... vapna.org |
 The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) aka, The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas. It lies along the northern bank of the Rio Grande, which separates Mexico from the United States. The Rio Grande Valley is not a valley, but a delta or floodplain. Early settlers from Mexico felt that the term "Valley" sounded more inviting to tourists and northern investors than did "Delta." The Rio Grande Valley is also called "El Valle", the Spanish translation of "the valley", by those who live there.[1] Another affectionate term that the residents of the Rio Grande Valley use to refer to the area is "El Magico Valle del Rio Grande" ("The Magical Valley of the Rio Grande") and also simply by its initials of "RGV." Many Texans refer to it as The Valley. The region is made up of four counties: Starr County, Hidalgo County, Willacy County, and Cameron County. As of January 1, 2008, the Texas State Data Center estimated the population of the Rio Grande Valley at 1,138,872.[2] Over 80% of the residents of the Valley are either "Chicano", "Spanish", "Tejano", "Hispanic" or "Latino". The largest city is Brownsville (Cameron County), followed by McAllen (Hidalgo County). Other major cities include Harlingen, Mission, Edinburg, and Pharr.[3]
[edit] TourismThe Valley encompasses several landmarks that attract tourists, and is primarily known for South Padre Island. Other popular destinations include Port Isabel Lighthouse, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, and Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. The Valley is a popular waypoint for tourists seeking to visit Mexico. Popular destinations across the border include: Matamoros, Nuevo Progreso, Rio Bravo, and Reynosa, all located in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The Valley also attracts large numbers of wealthy tourists from the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Distrito Federal, and Tamaulipas. The Valley is a popular Winter tourist destination for residents from the Midwest United States and Canada (called Winter Texans). Along with Mexican nationals and thousands of college students who visit South Padre Island throughout March and April, Winter Texans are the bulk of the Valley's tourism. Winter Texans typically arrive in October–November and stay until February–March, causing a seasonal swell for local businesses. It is also the only region within the United States where birders can observe certain varieties of tropical birds more typical of Mexico. It is also along the path taken by the migratory Monarch Butterfly as it transits to and from the Mexican state of Michoacan. The history of the Rio Grande Valley is chronicled at the Museum of South Texas History. [edit] People of historical interest
A list of notable people who were born, lived, or died in the Rio Grande Valley includes:
[edit] Places of Historical Interest
The Brownsville Raid and the construction of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle both took place in The Rio Grande Valley. [edit] EconomyThe Valley is reliant on agribusiness and tourism. Cotton, various sorghums, maize, and sugarcane are its leading crops, and the region is the center of citrus production and the most important area of vegetable production in the State of Texas. Over the last several decades, the emergence of maquiladoras (factories or fabrication plants) has caused a surge of industrial development along the border, while international bridges have allowed Mexican nationals to shop, sell and do business in the border cities along the Rio Grande River. The geographic inclusion of South Padre Island also drives tourism, particularly during the Spring Break season, during which South Padre Island becomes reminiscent of New Orleans during Mardi Gras. There is a substantial health-care industry with major hospitals and many clinics and private practices in Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen. According to the 1990 census, just over 82 percent of Cameron County, over 85 percent of Hidalgo County, over 97 percent of Starr County, and over 84 percent of Willacy County were Hispanic. Texas is the third largest producer of citrus fruit in United States, the majority of which is grown in the Rio Grande Valley. Grapefruit make up over 70% of the Valley citrus crop, which also includes orange, tangerine and tangelo production each Winter.[4] [edit] EducationColleges and Universities in the Rio Grande Valley include:
[edit] Media[edit] Newspapers
[edit] Television
[edit] Radio
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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