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28-823: The museum opened in its first building in Mercedes, Texas , in 1965 as a location to house and display World War II artifacts as they began to be donated to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF), then known as the Confederate Air Force. In 1968, both the CAF and AAHM moved to Harlingen, Texas . In 1990, the AAHM became a separate non-profit organization, along with another legal entity, the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum , created to hold title to

56-543: A census designated place in the 1980 U.S. Census ; and after incorporation, as a city in the 2000 U.S. Census . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 4,807 people, 1,323 households, and 1,243 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,851 people, 1,023 households, and 951 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,626.0 inhabitants per square mile (627.8/km ). There were 1,127 housing units at an average density of 377.8 per square mile (145.9/km ). The racial makeup of

84-536: A critical role in the Mexican-American civil rights movement, focusing on bilingual and bicultural education for underserved communities. Established in response to the limited access Mexican-Americans had to higher education and to challenge mainstream educational systems, the college became an emblem of Chicano self-determination and empowerment. The college was founded during the height of the Chicano Movement,

112-445: A female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.27 and the average family size was 3.75. 32.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age

140-590: A household in the city was $ 18,184, and the median income for a family was $ 18,313. Males had a median income of $ 14,961 versus $ 13,542 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 4,789. About 51.4% of families and 50.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 56.4% of those under age 18 and 37.2% of those age 65 or over. Progreso is served by the Progreso Independent School District . In addition, South Texas Independent School District operates magnet schools that serve

168-517: A period in which Mexican-Americans were organizing for civil rights, labor rights, and educational equity. Named after Jacinto Treviño, a Mexican-American revolutionary and educator, the institution was conceived as a space where Chicano students could receive an education relevant to their cultural identity, history, and the socioeconomic challenges faced by their communities. It was created by activists and educators who sought to decolonize education, asserting that traditional institutions failed to reflect

196-686: Is 9 miles (14 km) north of the Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge over the Rio Grande, connecting Texas with the Mexican state of Tamaulipas . According to the United States Census Bureau , Mercedes has a total area of 11.5 square miles (29.8 km ), of which 11.4 square miles (29.6 km ) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km ), or 0.55%, are water. Mercedes is known as "The Queen City of

224-611: Is a brand of Simon Property Group , opened in November 2006. The city is roughly the geographical center of the Rio Grande Valley urban agglomeration and is located on Interstate 2 / U.S. Highway 83 , which connects the major urban centers of McAllen , Brownsville and Harlingen . The city is located near a major Mexico–United States border crossing making it accessible to the growing middle class population of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas . The United States Postal Service operates

252-672: Is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Mercedes has a humid subtropical climate , abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Progreso, Texas Progreso is a city in Hidalgo County , Texas , United States. The population was 5,507 at the time of the 2010 United States Census . It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas. Progreso

280-715: Is in the Mercedes Independent School District , zoned to Mercedes High School , while western Mercedes is in the Weslaco Independent School District , zoned to Weslaco East High School In addition, South Texas Independent School District , which is headquartered in Mercedes, serves magnet students in many Rio Grande Valley communities, including Mercedes. The Science Academy of South Texas and South Texas High School for Health Professions , schools of STISD, are in Mercedes. In 2015,

308-430: Is located at 26°05′37″N 97°57′27″W  /  26.093724°N 97.957530°W  / 26.093724; -97.957530 (26.093724, –97.957530), south of Weslaco on FM 1015 and HWY 281. It borders the Mexican town of Nuevo Progreso , formerly known as Las Flores. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km ), all land. Progreso first appeared as

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336-526: Is located in southeastern Hidalgo County at 26°8′58″N 97°55′7″W  /  26.14944°N 97.91861°W  / 26.14944; -97.91861 (26.149315, –97.918675). It is bordered to the west by Weslaco and to the east, in Cameron County , by La Feria . The Interstate 2 / U.S. Route 83 freeway passes through the northern side of Mercedes, leading west 21 miles (34 km) to McAllen and east 14 miles (23 km) to Harlingen . Mercedes

364-484: Is named in honor of Henry Tippie , a World War II veteran and longtime CAF member. The museum's collection, which numbers nearly 400,000 artifacts, focuses on the history of World War II military aviation culture and other material culture of this era. It has one of the most complete collections of World War II aviation culture in the United States with items that represent all of the axis and allies that participated in

392-472: The Mercedes Post Office. Mercedes incorporated in 1909 and formed a City Council style government. The first city election installed six council members: John Puckett, Gouverneur K Watson, Mayor William Lingenbrink, Dr. Edward Schoonmaker, Fred Cutting, and Lyle Harrison. Current elected city officials (2023): Police department Mercedes is divided between two school districts: eastern Mercedes

420-714: The Valley" or "La Reina del Valle". Mercedes was founded September 15, 1907, by the American Rio Grande Land & Irrigation Company, and was incorporated March 8, 1909. It is one of the oldest towns in the Rio Grande Valley , and the city celebrated its centennial in 2007. The city was located in Capisallo Pasture, part of Capisallo Ranch owned by Jim Welles. This location was known as the Pear Orchard because of

448-473: The air wars of World War II. The AAHM collects items, artifacts, and historical information of inherent value to World War II aviation and related culture, focusing on the period of 1939–1945. Featured collections in the museum include: Mercedes, Texas Mercedes is a U.S. city in Hidalgo County , Texas . The population was 15,570 at the 2010 census . It is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas. Mercedes

476-438: The city joined other cities in south Texas in support of the newly formed University of Texas Rio Grande Valley by adopting a resolution declaring August 31 as UTRGV day. Also, they recognized the university by installing a boot with the university logos right across the municipal city hall. Colegio Jacinto Treviño located in Mercedes, Texas, was a pioneering Chicano institution of higher education founded in 1970. It played

504-400: The city was 79.42% White , 0.36% African American , 0.89% Native American , 0.07% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 16.95% from other races , and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 90.01% of the population. There were 4,170 households, of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 21.4% had

532-516: The city was 89.01% White , 0.10% Native American , 0.04% Asian , 10.33% from other races , and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 99.01% of the population. There were 1,023 households, out of which 63.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 71.8% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 7.0% were non-families. 6.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.2% had someone living alone who

560-533: The management of horses for service in France. At its peak, Camp Mercedes hosted 16 officers, 700 enlisted men and 600 horses. After the armistice, the camp was demobilized and closed in 1922. The old Toluca Ranch still stands east of the International Bridge at Progreso , the sister city to the south. This ranch was close to the river and a prized target for the bandidos during the days of Pancho Villa . It

588-517: The onset or World War I, the camp merged with Camp Mercedes to train soldiers for service in France. General John J. Pershing chose Mercedes as the site for a permanent training camp when the United States entered WW1 in 1916. Construction of Camp Mercedes on a 80-acre tract southeast of town was completed in early 1917. Until the WWI recruits arrived, a 16th Cavalry training cadre occupied the camp. The soldiers who later arrived for WWI training specialized in

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616-707: The organization's aircraft. In 1991, both the AAHM and CAF moved to Midland, Texas , where the museum operated as the CAF Air Power Museum . In 2015, the museum's collection was moved to Dallas in anticipation of the creation of the CAF National Airbase. At that location, the CAF and AAHM now operate the Henry B. Tippie National Aviation Education Center (NAEC), a 47,000-square-foot (4,400 m) facility to provide "hands-on learning opportunities, an immersive history experience and activities for all ages." The facility

644-450: The realities and needs of Mexican-American students. Dr Hector P Garcia Library serves Mercedes. Mercedes is home to a unique public art project: there are 30 handcrafted 5 + 1 ⁄ 2 -foot-tall (1.7 m) cowboy boots dispersed throughout the city, each painted with the insignia of different colleges from around the state, country and even Mexico. These FM radio stations broadcast from Mercedes: The climate in this area

672-611: The vast numbers of prickly pear cactus growing there at that time. The origin of the city name - Mercedes - is not clear. A common claim is that the first name given to the city was "Diaz" in honor of Porfirio Diaz , then president of Mexico. Later it was supposedly renamed "Mercedes Diaz" in honor of the president's wife, and from that, Mercedes became the Queen City. This story, however, is historically inaccurate, given that neither of Diaz's two wives were named Mercedes. During President Woodrow Wilson's administration, Camp Llano Grande

700-556: Was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males. The median household income was $ 23,064 and the median family income was $ 25,339. Males had a median income of $ 19,945 versus $ 18,387 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 8,658. About 30.4% of families and 36.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 30.3% of those age 65 or over. The Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, owned by Chelsea Property Group which

728-450: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.73 and the average family size was 4.94. In the city, the population was spread out, with 42.5% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 13.3% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males. The median income for

756-540: Was built with many secret rooms and passages, and had heavy wooden shutters on the windows to protect its residents. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 16,258 people, 4,834 households, and 3,726 families residing in the city. At the 2000 census , there were 13,649 people, 4,170 households and 3,348 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,591.2 inhabitants per square mile (614.4/km ). There were 5,455 housing units at an average density of 636.0 per square mile (245.6/km ). The racial makeup of

784-472: Was founded in 1916 southwest of Mercedes. Today, its location is in Weslaco, Texas, a town that didn't exist in 1916 and Mercedes was the nearest town. The National Defense Act called for the establishment of several National Guard camps, including Camp Llano Grande, to counter cross-border attacks led by Pancho Villa. Soldiers from Indiana, Minnesota and North Dakota were stationed at the camp from 1916 - 1917. Upon

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