Harlingen, Rio Grande Valley Seeing Rapid Population Growth

Harlingen and the Rio Grande Valley have been experiencing a boom in population, as more businesses and companies move their operations into the area to take advantage of the low cost of living.

In 2006, Cameron County ranked the 12th largest county in Texas with a population of 387,717. The City of Harlingen's official estimated population is 68,550 (January 2008). The median age is 31.1 with approximately 66% of the population being 18 years and over.

  • Population by City Historical Data 1960 - 2008
    City
    County
    1960 Census
    1970 Census
    1980 Census
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    Estimated 2008
    Alamo
    Hidalgo
    4,121
    4,291
    5,831
    9,415
    14,760
    19,765
    Brownsville
    Cameron
    48,040
    52,522
    84,997
    115,143
    139,722
    178,376
    Donna
    Hidalgo
    7,522
    7,365
    9,952
    13,215
    14,768
    16,433
    Edinburg
    Hidalgo
    18,706
    17,163
    24,075
    34,593
    48,465
    77,521
    Harlingen
    Cameron
    41,207
    33,503
    43,543
    47,818
    57,564
    65,043
    La Feria
    Cameron
    3,047
    2,642
    3,495
    4,673
    6,115
    6,672
    Laguna Vista
    Cameron
    141
    287
    632
    1,127
    1,658
    2,107
    Los Fresnos
    Cameron
    -
    -
    -
    2,790
    4,512
    4,810
    McAllen
    Hidalgo
    32,728
    37,636
    66,191
    85,623
    106,414
    133,109
    Mercedes
    Hidalgo
    10,943
    9,355
    11,851
    13,409
    13,649
    14,631
    Mission
    Hidalgo
    14,081
    13,043
    22,589
    30,847
    45,408
    64,980
    Pharr
    Hidalgo
    14,106
    15,829
    21,381
    34,954
    46,660
    64,098
    Port Isabel
    Cameron
    3,575
    3,067
    3,769
    4,740
    4,865
    3,608
    Primera
    Cameron
    1,066
    902
    1,380
    1,973
    2,723
    3,225
    San Benito
    Cameron
    16,422
    15,176
    17,988
    20,900
    23,444
    25,085
    San Juan
    Hidalgo
    4,371
    5,070
    7,608
    14,839
    26,229
    30,999
    Santa Rosa
    Cameron
    1,572
    1,466
    1,889
    1,974
    2,833
    3,088
    South Padre Island
    Cameron
    -
    -
    791
    1,663
    2,422
    2,504
    Weslaco
    Hidalgo
    15,649
    15,313
    19,331
    25,427
    26,935
    38,446
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, extracted 7 April 2009
  • County Population Historical Trends 1960 - 2008
    Percent Change
    County Name
    1960 Census
    1970 Census
    1980 Census
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2008 Estimate
    1990 to 2000
    2000 to 2008
    Cameron
    151,098
    140,368
    209,727
    260,120
    335,227
    407,461
    29%
    22%
    Hidalgo
    180,904
    181,535
    283,229
    383,545
    569,463
    743,841
    48%
    31%
    Starr
    17,137
    17,707
    27,266
    40,518
    53,597
    64,376
    32%
    20%
    Willacy
    20,084
    15,570
    17,495
    17,705
    20,082
    20,823
    13%
    4%
    Total
    369,223
    355,180
    537,717
    701,888
    978,369
    1,236,501
    39%
    26%
    Source: DemographicsNow-2008 Estimate-extracted 4/9/09; U.S. Census-1980-2000 Census
  • County Population 2013 Projections
    County
    1990 Census
    2000 Census
    2008 Estimate
    2013 Projection
    Cameron
    260,120
    335,227
    407,461
    451,547
    Hidalgo
    383,545
    569,463
    743,841
    849,822
    Starr
    40,517
    53,597
    64,376
    70,945
    Willacy
    17,704
    20,082
    20,823
    21,290
    TOTAL
    701,886
    978,369
    1,236,501
    1,393,604
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau