Harlingen Demographics Reflect Life Along U.S.-Mexico Border

As of the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 57,564 people, 19,021 households and 14,360 families residing in Harlingen, Texas, with a population density of 1,689.6 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 79% White, 1% Black or African American, 1% Native American, 1% Asian, 16% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. 73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race; most are of Mexican descent, but there are also few numbers of Central and South Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans etc.

As in other Rio Grande Valley cities, a large part of Harlingen's transient population and a significant contributor to its economy consists of "Winter Texans." Winter Texans are generally retirees from the northern Midwestern states and Canada who come to escape the northern winter weather between November and March. Because of the mild winters, the Harlingen area plays host to thousands of Winter Texans who have made Harlingen their “home away from home” or own second home here.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,296, and the median income for a family was $34,015. Males had a median income of $27,014 versus $21,795 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,886. About 19% of families and 25% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35% of those under age 18 and 16% of those age 65 or over.

  • Population by Race and Ethnicity Harlingen, Texas
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2008 Estimate
    2013 Projection
    1990 to 2000
    2008 to 2013
    White
    40,397
    79.8%
    45,290
    78.7%
    57,419
    88.3%
    64,783
    91.5%
    12.1%
    12.8%
    Black
    371
    0.7%
    528
    0.9%
    146
    0.2%
    109
    0.2%
    42.3%
    -25.3%
    American Indian or Alaska Native
    108
    0.2%
    301
    0.5%
    101
    0.2%
    54
    0.1%
    178.7%
    -46.5%
    Asian or Pacific Islander
    209
    0.6%
    506
    0.9%
    1,078
    1.7%
    1,380
    1.9%
    142.1%
    28.0%
    Some Other Race
    9,509
    18.8%
    9,451
    16.4%
    5,464
    8.4%
    3,882
    5.5%
    -0.6%
    -29.0%
    Two or More Races
    1,488
    2.6%
    836
    1.3%
    583
    0.8%
    -30.3%
    TOTAL
    50,594
    100.2%
    57,564
    100%
    65,044
    100%
    70,791
    100%
    13.8%
    8.8%
     
    Hispanic Ethnicity 36,064 71.3% 43,080 74.8% 50,809 78.1% 56811 80.3% 19.5% 11.8%
    Not Hispanic or Latino 14,535 28.7% 14,484 25.2% 14,235 21.9% 13980 19.7% -0.4% -1.8%
     
    Source: DemographicsNow-2008 Estimate, U.S. Census Bureau 1980-2000 Census
  • Population by Age Harlingen, Texas
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2009 Estimate

    2014 Projection
    1990 to 2000
    2009 to 2014
    0 to 4
    4,489
    8.9%
    5,347
    9.3%
    7,860
    9.0%
    5,964
    6.9%
    19.1%
    -24.1%
    5 to 14
    9,067
    17.9%
    9,926
    17.2%
    14,282
    16.4%
    14,241
    16.5%
    9.5%
    -0.3%
    15 to 19
    4,599
    9.1%
    4,636
    8.0%
    6,559
    7.5%
    6,311
    7.3%
    0.8%
    -3.8%
    20 to 24
    3,535
    7.0%
    3,873
    6.7%
    6,009
    6.9%
    6,167
    7.2%
    9.6%
    2.6%
    25 to 34
    7,576
    14.9%
    8,120
    14.1%
    10,724
    12.3%
    11,287
    13.1%
    7.2%
    5.2%
    35 to 44
    6,793
    13.4%
    7,467
    12.9%
    10,619
    12.2%
    10,145
    11.8%
    9.9%
    -4.5%
    45 to 54
    4,019
    7.9%
    6,445
    11.2%
    9,574
    11.0%
    9,367
    10.9%
    60.4%
    -2.2%
    55 to 64
    3,926
    7.7%
    3,978
    6.9%
    7,469
    8.6%
    7,978
    9.3%
    1.3%
    6.8%
    65 to 74
    3,673
    7.2%
    3,931
    6.8%
    6,364
    7.3%
    7,039
    8.2%
    7.0%
    10.6%
    75 to 84
    2,350
    4.6%
    2,846
    4.9%
    5,987
    6.9%
    5,330
    6.2%
    21.1%
    -11.0%
    85+
    653
    1.3%
    1,118
    1.9%
    1,882
    2.2%
    2,363
    2.7%
    71.2%
    25.6%
     
    Median Age:
    Total Population
    30
    31.1
    33.3
    34.2
    3.7%
    2.7%
     
    Source: DemographicsNow-2009 Estimate; U.S. Census-1980-2000 Census 06.18.10
  • Population Demographics Harlingen, Texas
       
    		 
    		 
    		 
    Percent Change
    		  
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2009 Estimate
    2014 Projection
    1990 to 2000
    2000 to 2009
    2009 to 2014
    Total Population
    50,599
    57,564
    74,950
    70,791
    13.8%
    30.2%
    -5.5%
    Population Density (Pop/Sq Mi)
    1,474
    1,677
    1,925
    2,095
    13.8%
    14.8%
    8.8%
    Total Households
    16,159
    19,021
    22,593
    25,049
    17.7%
    18.8%
    10.9%
     
    Population by Gender:
    Male
    23,974
    47%
    27,367
    48%
    31,006
    44%
    33,798
    48%
    14.2%
    9.0%
    Female
    26,626
    53%
    30,196
    53%
    34,037
    45%
    36,994
    52%
    13.4%
    8.7%
     
    Source: DemographicsNow-2009 Estimate; U.S. Census-1980-2000 Census
  • Households By Income Harlingen, Texas
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2008 Estimate
    2013 Projection
    1990 to 2000
    2008 to 2013
    Total House- holds 16,206   19,083   22,593   25,049   17.75% 10.87%
     
                      Percent Change
      1990 Census   2000 Census   2008 Estimate   2013 Projection   1990 to 2000 2008 to 2013
    $0 - $9,999
    4,293
    26.5%
    3,255
    17.1%
    3,178
    14.1%
    3,259
    13%
    -24.18%
    2.55%
    $10,000 - $14,999
    1,973
    12.2%
    1,613
    8.5%
    1,354
    6%
    1,378
    5.5%
    -18.5%
    1.77%
    $15,000 - $19,999
    1,626
    10%
    1,681
    8.8%
    1,546
    6.8%
    1,533
    6.1%
    3.38%
    -0.84%
    $20,000 - $24,999
    1,565
    9.7%
    1,693
    8.9%
    1,684
    7.5%
    1,473
    5.9%
    8.18%
    -12.53%
    $25,000 - $29,999
    1,205
    7.4%
    1,318
    6.9%
    1,598
    7.1%
    1,682
    6.7%
    9.38%
    5.26%
    $30,000 - $34,999
    1,160
    7.2%
    1,197
    6.3%
    1,423
    6.3%
    1,626
    6.5%
    3.19%
    14.27%
    $35,000 - $39,999
    877
    5.4%
    1,219
    6.4%
    1,157
    5.1%
    1,332
    5.3%
    39%
    15.3%
    $40,000 - $49,999
    1,290
    8%
    1,725
    9%
    2,295
    10.2%
    2,291
    9.1%
    33.72%
    -0.17%
    $50,000 - $59,999
    815
    5%
    1,627
    8.5%
    1,690
    7.5%
    2,234
    8.9%
    99.63%
    32.19%
    $60,000 - $74,999
    718
    4.4%
    1,435
    7.5%
    2,267
    10%
    2,269
    9.1%
    99.86%
    0.09%
    $75,000 - $99,999
    429
    2.6%
    1,122
    5.9%
    1,893
    8.4%
    2,479
    9.9%
    161.54%
    30.96%
    $100,000 - $124,999
    85
    0.5%
    525
    2.8%
    1,020
    4.5%
    1,320
    5.3%
    517.65%
    29.41%
    $125,000 - $149,999
    49
    0.3%
    262
    1.4%
    545
    2.4%
    795
    3.2%
    434.69%
    45.87%
    $150,000 +
    121
    0.7%
    411
    2.2%
    943
    4.2%
    1,378
    5.5%
    239.67%
    46.13%
     
    16,026
    19,083
    22,593
    25,049
     
    Average Hhld Income
    $28,141
    $40,942
    $49,020
    $53,607
    45.5%
    9.4%
    Median Hhld Income
    $20,601
    $29,930
    $37,146
    $40,995
    45.3%
    10.4%
    Per Capita Income
    $8,974
    $13,543
    $17,373
    $19,338
    50.9%
    11.3%
     
    Source: DemographicsNow-2008 Estimate; extracted 7/21/09, U.S. Census-1980-2000 Census
  • Vehicles per Household Harlingen, Texas 1990 - 2013 Projections
                         
                     
    Percent Change
     
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2008 Estimate
    2013 Projection
    1990 to 2000
    2008 to 2013
    Average Vehicles Per Hhld
    1.5
    1.3
    1.6
    1.8
    -13%
    -13%
    0 Vehicles Available
    1,831
    10.42%
    2,186
    11.5%
    1,945
    8.6%
    1,885
    7.5%
    19%
    3%
    1 Vehicle Available
    6,976
    39.8%
    7,919
    41.7%
    10,140
    44.9%
    11,562
    46.2%
    14%
    -14%
    2+ Vehicles Available
    8474
    49.8%
    8,916
    46.9%
    10,507
    46.5%
    11,602
    46.3%
    5%
    -10%
     
    Source: DemographicsNow-2008 Estimate-extracted; Estimate; U.S. Census - 1980-2000 Census
  • Cameron County Demographics By Marital Status
     
    1990
    Census
    2000
    Census
    2009
    Estimate
    2013
    Projection
    1990 to
    2009
    2009 to
    2013
    Age 15+ Population
    37,125
    42,415
    48,418
    53,957
    14%
    11%
    Married, Spouse Present
    20,779
    56%
    22,375
    53%
    25,646
    53%
    28,632
    53%
    8%
    12%
    Married, Spouse Absent
    1,074
    3%
    2,843
    7%
    3,217
    7%
    3,583
    7%
    165%
    11%
    Divorced
    2,533
    7%
    3,333
    8%
    3,793
    8%
    4,217
    8%
    32%
    11%
    Widowed
    2,925
    8%
    3,396
    8%
    3,873
    8%
    4,277
    8%
    16%
    10%
    Never Married
    9,815
    26%
    10,468
    25%
    11,889
    25%
    13,249
    25%
    7%
    11%
    Source: DemographicsNow-2008 Estimate, extracted 06.30.10, U.S. Census-1980-2000 Census