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78-482: In 2015, UTRGV entered into operation following the merger of UTPA and UT–Brownsville , founded as an extension of then-Pan American University at Texas Southmost College. UTRGV also created a new medical school. On August 31, 2015, UTPA formally ceased operations to yield to the newly formed university, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley . Edinburg College was founded in 1927 as a junior college administered by

156-601: A subtropical climate . Under the Köppen climate classification , the city features a subtropical semiarid climate (BSh), featuring long, very hot and humid summers, and brief, warm winters. The city has two distinct seasons; a wet season from May to October and a dry season from November to April. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 62.8 °F (17.1 °C) in January to 89.3 °F (31.8 °C) in August. The warm season

234-517: A 2002 multimillion-dollar bond, the TSC tax district voters successfully passed a $ 68 million bond issue to construct additional classrooms ($ 28 million), additional library space ($ 14 million), Workforce Training Classrooms ($ 17 million), Center for Early Childhood Studies ($ 4 million), and Center for Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Cancer, and Heart Disease ($ 5 million). Juliet V. García served as UTB-TSC President from 1991 to 2011; Garcia

312-457: A caricature and racial stereotype of Mexican, Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic culture. On January 29, 2015 Texas Representative Terry Canales proposed Texas House Bill 901 which called for postponement of the naming of the new mascot. On August 31, 2015, UTB and UTPA were officially dissolved and changed to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The name of the institution evolved over

390-538: A covered walkway over the perimeter of the original campus. In 2007, UTPA added a new wellness center, and dormitory (Unity Dormitory 2007). On the northeast corner of campus is the Edinburg Baseball Stadium , which is considered one of the premier college baseball settings. The stadium was completed in 2001. The Starr Country Upper-Level Center is located in Rio Grande City . The center opened in 2003 and

468-516: A diverse wildlife population. The Quinta Mazatlan, a historic Spanish colonial mansion, is used as McAllen's wing of the World Birding Center. The McAllen Nature Center is a popular spot for bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts alike. This preserved green space offers visitors a chance to explore walking trails, climb a small hill, and has a cactus garden - all without any charge for admission. The Bicentennial Bike Path runs from Highway 83 on

546-776: A driving range. This course hosts numerous tournaments year round. Dog owners have room to run their pets at the McAllen Dog Park, which is divided into two sections. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates an office in McAllen. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas McAllen Division is located at Bentsen Tower 1701 W. Hwy. 83, Suite 1011, McAllen, Texas. The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in McAllen: McAllen Post Office, located at 620 Pecan Blvd, and

624-468: A former Holiday Inn hotel complex, former condominiums, the Amigoland Mall , and many historic buildings of downtown Brownsville. The university continues to expand, recently purchasing substantial acreage east of Fort Brown. UTB was home to several academic centers and programs: The Student Government Association at UTB hosts the officers of the student body. The SGA runs a three-branch system, with

702-518: A four-year university in Brownsville. The resulting independent institution was referred to as Pan American University at Brownsville. In 1989, Pan American University joined the University of Texas System , creating the University of Texas Pan-American at Brownsville (UTPA-B). Brownsville sought a university directly under the UT System and in 1991 the University of Texas Pan-American at Brownsville became

780-706: A household in the city was $ 45,568, and for a family was $ 50,184. The per capita income for the city was $ 21,726. About 22.5% of families and 25.7% of the entire population were below the poverty line , including 36.6% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over. Based on the Texas Department of Public Safety's Annual Crime in Texas report and the FBI's Crime in the United States report, there were 5 murders reported during 2022. The city has been consistently ranked among

858-441: A job upon graduation, UTPA ranked 32nd among public universities and 218th among all universities. Among public schools in Texas, UTPA ranked only behind the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M. In 2009 UTPA ranked behind only Florida International University for bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanic students. According to the U.S. government, among schools with an enrollment of at least 5,000 students, UTPA ranked as

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936-670: A member of the top 10% of his/her graduating class is guaranteed admission. In 1997, UTPA started the University Scholars Program in an attempt to retain top local high-school students. The program is an objective academic scholarship based on three tiers. The first tier is high-school graduation standing. The second tier is advanced placement testing. The third tier is standardized testing scores. UTPA guaranteed full tuition funding for any student who meets one of many objective minimum requirements in all three tiers. UTPA's first- to second-year retention rate for full-time students

1014-401: A once relatively desolate area into a major agricultural center. Throughout much of the 1900s, McAllen was a rural, agriculture-based economy characterized by sporadic growth. Today, the area is transforming into a major international trade area. As recently as 1990, McAllen's unemployment rate was at 22.6%. By the end of 2005, that figure had dropped to 7.7%. However, in 2011, census.gov listed

1092-456: A proposal to merge UTB, the University of Texas–Pan American , and a planned medical school into one regional institution. On December 12, 2013, the UT Board of Regents voted to name the new university The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley . On November 5, 2014, UTRGV's new nickname of Vaqueros was announced. Immediately, Students on both Campuses began protests objecting to the new name as

1170-428: A recognized high school and a combined math/verbal SAT score of 860 or an ACT score of 18. Additionally, the minimum criteria were met with a SAT score of 810 or ACT score of 17 if the applicant is in the top third of his/her graduating class or an SAT score of 760 or ACT score of 16 sufficed if the applicant was in the top quarter of his/her graduating class. Any student who graduates from a recognized Texas high school as

1248-496: A resolution in opposition, and three days later, hundreds of students rallied on the Edinburg campus to protest the new name. On August 31, 2015, UTB was officially dissolved and UTPA's name was changed to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley . UTPA's main campus, now one of the primary campuses of UTRGV, is located in the western part of Edinburg , and comprises 289 acres. Most of the academic buildings are enclosed by or span

1326-500: A result of the increased traffic between them. The population of McAllen was 20,005 in 1950 and 32,728 in 1960. In 1954 the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge was the number-two port of entry into Mexico. McAllen was an agricultural, oil, and tourist center in 1970, when the population reached 37,636. By the start of the 1970s, McAllen had a 200-bed hospital and a new air-conditioned high school,

1404-583: A series of similar mergers among state universities during that time), granted in September 1989. It adopted its final name subsequent to entry into the UT System, preserving the nearly 40-year legacy of the Pan American name. On December 6, 2012, University of Texas regents approved a proposal to merge UTPA, the UT-Brownsville , and a planned medical school into one regional institution. On December 12, 2013,

1482-460: A standalone University of Texas institution, and Texas Southmost College returned to being an independent community college. UTB itself offered baccalaureate and graduate degrees in liberal arts, sciences, education, business, and professional programs. In 2015, the UT Brownsville merged with UT–Pan American , to form The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley . Texas Southmost College (TSC)

1560-489: A wide variety of degrees spanning across seven colleges. At the time of the UTRGV merger, there were 56 bachelor's degrees, 56 master's degrees, three doctoral degrees, and two cooperative doctoral programs. The university included these academic divisions: U.S. News & World Report rated UTPA as a tier 2 University. In Forbes ' 2009 best college rankings that heavily weighted proportion of graduates who obtain

1638-622: Is divided into male and female wings. Heritage Hall, Unity Hall and the Bronc Village apartments combined can hold around 800 students Before the UTRGV merger, the University of Texas–Pan American sponsored eight men's and nine women's teams in NCAA -sanctioned sports. About a year before the merger, the UT System announced that UTRGV would inherit the UTPA athletic program, and the UTPA Broncs officially became

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1716-445: Is extremely long, as average high temperatures from May through September are above 90 °F (32 °C) and average low temperatures are above 70 °F (21 °C), with relatively high dew point values, resulting in higher relative humidity values and heat index values. Heat indices consistently reach over 110 °F (43 °C) during these months. Winter temperatures in McAllen and surrounding Rio Grande Valley are some of

1794-464: Is located in the city of South Padre Island , which is located about 70 miles east of main campus. The CSL offers graduate-level biology courses and houses several ecological programs that are independent of UTPA. The McAllen Teaching Site was opened in 2009 in McAllen, Texas , and offers education and business courses. The site primarily serves professionals in the city of McAllen. The university offered

1872-510: Is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Monica De La Cruz ( R - Edinburg ), of the 15th Congressional District, and Vicente Gonzalez ( D -McAllen), of the 34th Congressional District . Metro McAllen (formerly McAllen Express Transit – MET) has provided public transportation for the City of McAllen since June 1997. In the beginning, McAllen Express was administered by

1950-605: Is the peak of the north Atlantic hurricane season and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drop copious amounts of rainfall on the region, this month tends by far to be the wettest, averaging 4.74 in (120 mm) of rain. The driest month is February, with only 0.66 in (17 mm) of precipitation. Since 1941, it has snowed twice, once when the city received 1.7 in (43 mm) on December 25, 2004 . Temperatures consistently rise above 100 °F (38 °C) from June through August, with exceptionally high humidity. The highest temperature ever recorded in McAllen

2028-537: The Edinburg School District . It was formally designated as a junior college in 1933 as Edinburg Junior College, and admitted to the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools of Southern States . Hidalgo County held a referendum for a four-year university in 1951; the school became Pan American Regional College on December 20, 1951. Its name changed to Pan American College in January 1952, followed by

2106-510: The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council . Since 2005, Metro McAllen has been operated as a department of the city of McAllen. Metro McAllen now has 12 fixed routes and paratransit, serving residents and visitors. It operates seven days a week, from 6am–9pm Monday through Saturday and from 8am-6pm on Sunday. LRGVDC continues to operate regional buses under the name Valley Metro. The City of McAllen also operates

2184-673: The Mexico–United States border . The city limits extend south to the Rio Grande , across from the Mexican city of Reynosa . McAllen is about 70 mi (110 km) west of the Gulf of Mexico . As of the 2020 census , McAllen's population was 142,210, making it the 23rd-most populous city in Texas . It is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area ( McAllen–Edinburg–Mission ) in the state of Texas, and

2262-871: The Sting Radio . The Texas–Brownsville (UTB) athletic teams were called the Ocelots (formerly known as the Scorpions until after 2011–12 the school year). The university was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) from 2006–07 to 2014–15. UTB competed in seven intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports included baseball, cross country, golf and soccer; while women's sports include cross country, golf, soccer and volleyball. The UTB Ocelots women's volleyball team

2340-507: The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College [UTB/TSC]) was an educational institution located in Brownsville, Texas . The university was on the land once occupied by Fort Brown . It was a member of the University of Texas System . The institution was formed from a 1991 partnership between the two-year Texas Southmost College and University of Texas-Pan American at Brownsville. The partnership ended in 2011 as UTB became

2418-520: The census of 2020 , there were 142,210 people, 45,429 households, and 34,119 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2010 , there were 129,877 people, 41,573 households, and 31,823 families resided in the city. Of the 45,862 housing units, 4,289, or 9.4%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the city was 83.9% White, 0.9% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 10.4% some other race, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 84.6% of

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2496-399: The 20-year period from 1965 to 1984, enrollment grew from 2,000 to nearly 10,000. A second campus at Brownsville was established in 1973 (which became the University of Texas at Brownsville, and later merged with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley). In December 1988, board members reached merger agreement with the University of Texas System pending state legislative approval (one of

2574-535: The FTZ designation offers specific cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers. Products can be brought into the FTZ duty-free. Services have recently expanded to include full logistic support services, including public warehouse services such as pick and pack, order processing, inventory control, incoming/outgoing quality inspection, and kitting. McAllen hosted the NAIA National Football Championship in

2652-733: The Hidalgo and San Miguel Extension (now the Sam Fordyce Branch) of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway reached the Santa Anita Ranch. John McAllen and his son James had donated land to the railroad to guarantee it would cross this area. On December 5, 1904, the McAllen Townsite Company was formed by Uriah Lott, Leonidas C. Hill Sr., John McAllen (1826-1913), James Ballí McAllen (1862-1916), and John J. Young. The new community, which

2730-645: The McAllen Downtown Post Office at 406 12th Street. The United States Border Patrol McAllen Station is located at 3000 West Military Highway. The United States Border Patrol Central Processing Center is located at 3700 W Ursula Avenue, McAllen, Texas. The 2LT Luis G. Garcia United States Army Reserve Center located at 600 S Col Rowe Blvd is home for the United States Army Reserve 961st Quartermaster Company, 461st Transportation Detachment, and 519th Transportation Detachment. McAllen

2808-494: The McAllen metro area the poorest in the nation. As of 2012, the average cost of a home in McAllen was the third-least expensive in the country, at $ 178,000, while average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $ 708. In 2012, the cost of living in McAllen was 16.2% lower than the national average. Since the 1980s and especially since the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994,

2886-533: The Rio Grande at this point, 11 mi (18 km) southwest of downtown McAllen. McAllen is 238 mi (383 km) south of San Antonio , 158 mi (254 km) southwest of Corpus Christi , 148 mi (238 km) southeast of Laredo , 60 mi (97 km) northwest of Brownsville , and 150 mi (240 km) northeast of Monterrey . According to the United States Census Bureau ,

2964-418: The UT Board of Regents voted to name the new organization the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. On November 5, 2014, UTRGV's new nickname of Vaqueros was announced. Almost immediately, students on both campuses began objecting to the new name as a caricature and racial stereotype of Mexican, Latino, Chicano, and Hispanic culture. Two days after the new mascot was approved, the UTPA student government passed

3042-743: The UTRGV Vaqueros on July 1, 2015. The University of Texas–Pan American competed in the NCAA Division I , in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC); UTRGV has maintained UTPA's WAC membership. It is one of five schools in the University of Texas System that compete in Division I. The other UT institutions that do so are Austin , El Paso , San Antonio , and Arlington . University of Texas at Brownsville The University of Texas at Brownsville (abbreviated as UTB and formerly known as

3120-509: The United States, assembled, and shipped back as finished products), the economy began to improve in Hidalgo County. McAllen sits across the border from Reynosa, a large manufacturing center. After the peso devalued, Mexico was more successful in attracting companies to run their plants in Mexico, with support operations in Texas. Border crossing is a daily event for many and is a key component in

3198-495: The United States. Poverty may play a large role in the community's health problems, as well. Over 25% of the city population was living below the poverty line during the period 2012–2016. More than 29% of the population also lacked health coverage during that time. McAllen is featured in Supersize vs Superskinny , a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of

University of Texas–Pan American - Misplaced Pages Continue

3276-470: The University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB). After UTB was created, a partnership was established between UTB and TSC, allowing TSC students to seamlessly transition to the four year University without reapplying. The university has academic colleges including business, education, liberal arts and nursing. UTB-TSC's funding came from both the college tax district as well as the State of Texas. After failure to pass

3354-561: The appointment of a board of regents . The first graduate to receive a four-year degree was Harold W. Billings, BA, in 1953. It became the 22nd member institution of the Texas System of Colleges and Universities in 1965, as a state senior college. Approved to offer graduate programs in 1970, the school began with Master of Arts , Master of Education , and Master of Science degrees. In 1971, Pan American College achieved full university status and changed its name to Pan American University. In

3432-459: The area has a higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes, its rates of infant mortality , HIV , and tobacco use were lower than the national average. McAllen was the most obese metropolitan area in the country in 2012, with 38.5% of the adult population considered obese. The high obesity rate has likely contributed to area residents' poor health. More than 21% of the population has been diagnosed with diabetes , more than any other metro area in

3510-459: The arrival of Central American migrant caravans , immigration authorities were releasing a few hundred asylum seekers daily to private groups that assist them with basic needs and travel arrangements. The mayor emphasized how safe and secure the city is when U.S military troops were mobilized in the city to help the Border Patrol. Portions of the razor wire coils considered unnecessary by

3588-413: The average family size was 3.58. In the city, the population was distributed as 30.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. For the period 2012–2016, the estimated median annual income for

3666-569: The binational Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan area counts a population of more than 1.5 million. From its settlement in 1904, the area around McAllen was largely rural and agricultural in character, but the latter half of the 20th century had steady growth, which has continued in the 21st century in the metropolitan area. The introduction of the maquiladora economy and the North American Free Trade Association led to an increase in cross-border trading with Mexico. In 1904,

3744-512: The bus terminal facility in downtown McAllen, known as McAllen Central Station. Central Station serves as a hub for MET and for 14 private domestic and international bus lines. Around 60 buses depart from Central Station on a daily basis. It is centrally located in downtown McAllen at 1501 W Hwy 83. The McAllen Independent School District serves most of the city followed by the Valley View Independent School District and

3822-527: The city has a total area of 48.6 square miles (126.0 km ), of which 48.3 square miles (125.2 km ) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km ), or 0.62%, is covered by water. Although McAllen is named the "City of Palms", tropical vegetation is only locally dominant. Many thorny shrubs and deciduous trees occur in the area, such as the Rio Grande ash ( Fraxinus berlandieriana ), cedar elm ( Ulmus crassifolia ), and honey mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa ). McAllen, like much of South Texas , has

3900-537: The city were removed after troops had placed it at the border. The troops assisted by using military helicopters to carry border patrol agents to and from locations along the Mexico–United States border and by maintaining vehicles. During these border support activities, they are prohibited from law enforcement activities, such as detaining migrants or seizing drugs. U.S. military troops are prohibited from carrying out law enforcement duties . The Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Neller expressed concerns about

3978-924: The executive board consisting of the Student Body Officers, the Legislative Board consisting of the Student Senate, and the Judicial Board consisting of the Chief and Associate Justices. The university recognized more than 50 but less than 100 student organizations. In addition, it supported the Student Organization Council, an official student governance organization that represent student interests to faculty, and administrators. Sorority Students expressed their opinions in and outside of class through periodicals including The Collegian and

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4056-491: The first school in the nation featuring on-site power generated by natural gas -powered turbines. The tourism industry continued to expand as people traveled to the area from both Mexico and the northern United States. The population continued to grow steadily through the 1970s, and reached 66,281 by 1980. During the late 1980s, the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone was an important general-purpose foreign trade zone . At

4134-546: The focal point of economic activity has shifted from agriculture to international trade, health care, retail, and tourism. The McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. Commissioned in 1973, it was the first inland foreign-trade zone in the United States. Also, an FTZ designation site is at the McAllen Miller International Airport to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.S. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions,

4212-501: The impact of continuing border support on combat readiness for the troops. McAllen, located in southern Hidalgo County, is bordered to the southwest by Granjeno ; to the west by Mission , Palmhurst , and Alton ; to the north by Edinburg , the Hidalgo county seat ; to the east by Pharr ; and to the south by Hidalgo . The McAllen city limits extend to the southwest as far as the Rio Grande, directly north of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. The Anzalduas International Bridge crosses

4290-463: The late 1970s and NCAA Division II national football championship games in the 1980s. Until 2014, McAllen was home to the Texas Thunder of the independent United League Baseball , who played at Edinburg Stadium . McAllen is positioned on a major flyway, the migratory path of birds between North and South America, presenting opportunities for bird and butterfly expeditions. The landscape hosts

4368-571: The local economy. The city became a focal point for concerns about the border during the United States federal government shutdown of 2018–2019 over the Mexico–United States barrier . President Donald Trump held a briefing with the border agents at the patrol station here in January 2019. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen also visited the Border Patrol station in March 2019. In order to deal with overcrowded facilities in 2019 resulting from

4446-407: The main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person and an underweight person. In the show, the overweight participant visits morbidly obese McAllen residents to find motivation for lifestyle and diet changes. The Rio Grande Valley began its rapid development with the introduction of irrigation in 1898 and the construction of the railroad in 1904. These major additions turned

4524-588: The nation. In 2010, they placed second in the Final Four of College Chess , which they hosted. 25°53′57″N 97°29′30″W  /  25.899143°N 97.491544°W  / 25.899143; -97.491544 McAllen, Texas McAllen is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Hidalgo County . It is located at the southern tip of the state in the Rio Grande Valley , on

4602-509: The oldest residence halls on campus, and until 2000, were the only residence options for students. Heritage Hall is an all-female residence hall. At the end of 2009, Troxel Hall closed due to low capacity. In 2000 the Bronc Village Apartments were completed on north campus and offered students 1, 2 and 4 bedroom options. In fall 2006, Unity Hall was opened as the first new residence hall in more than 30 years; it has 204 double rooms and

4680-520: The population to 9,074 by 1930. In 1936, Hiram Garner opened the Valley Distillery, Incorporated, which produced wines from citrus juices. The town was a petroleum and farm chemurgic center with a population of 11,877 in 1940, by which time it had adopted the nickname "The City of Palms". In 1941, a suspension bridge replaced the old bridge from Hidalgo to Reynosa in Tamaulipas ; the new toll bridge

4758-399: The population. Of the 41,573 households, 46.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.2% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were not families. About 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.9% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10, and

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4836-464: The previous snowfall which took place during the 2004 Christmas Eve United States winter storm . In February 2021, McAllen reached record low temperatures between 10 °F (−12 °C) and 20 °F (−7 °C) and lost power, heat, and water for a week due to Winter Storm Uri . In addition to these fluke weather events, McAllen is prone to tropical storms, hurricanes such as Hurricane Dolly (2008) and Hurricane Hanna (2020) , and heatwaves. As of

4914-492: The safest cities in Texas. McAllen was the focus of a 2009 article in The New Yorker by Atul Gawande entitled "The Cost Conundrum", an inquiry into the factors that contribute to the cost of health care. The McAllen area had the highest taxpayer-sponsored spending per beneficiary in the United States, despite areas with similar demographics and health profiles having half the cost per recipient. The article noted that while

4992-399: The second-most affordable school in the nation. Historically, UTPA had open enrollment such that any student able to graduate from an approved public or private high school was granted admission. This policy was implemented by former president Miguel Nevarez. After Nevarez retired, UTPA moved towards minimum admission standards. The minimum standards for fall 2011 admission were a diploma from

5070-480: The south side to Bicentennial and Trenton Road on the north side. The International Museum of Art & Science, Smithsonian affiliate and AAM-accredited museum founded in 1967, is located near the path at the corner of Bicentennial and Nolana Avenue. The Zinnia Spray Water Park is McAllen's first sprayground park. It is located at 29th and Zinnia Ave. Champion Lakes Golf Course is located on South Ware Road just south of Highway 83. The golf course has 18 holes plus

5148-466: The southern part of Brownsville, Texas , the part closest to the border with Mexico . A resaca, or oxbow lake, flows through the heart of the growing landscape. The university's unique architecture plays off the campus's rich history in Fort Brown . Many of the oldest buildings on campus remain from the old U.S. Army outpost. The university has also acquired many buildings in the surrounding area, including

5226-418: The time, McAllen's main industries were retail, tourism and farming, and each was in trouble. The devaluation of the Mexican peso in the 1980s put a damper on cross-border shopping; local tourism was down because of the recession . In 1983, a freeze took out much of the valley's citrus crop. In the mid-1980s, fueled by trade and the growth of the maquiladora (in which components are shipped to Mexico from

5304-453: The warmest in the contiguous United States outside of South Florida , and comparable to the Coachella and Imperial valleys and Yuma Desert , but with warmer nighttime lows and higher dew points . Average annual precipitation is 22.31 inches (567 millimeters). Most precipitation occurs in the warm season, with the least precipitation distinctly occurring in the cooler winter. As September

5382-519: The years: Until the fall of 2011, UT Brownsville had open admissions, meaning prospective students had no admissions criteria. In August 2011 the University of Texas System Board of Regents approved new admission standards for UT Brownsville, and awaited the approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools . The restricted UT Brownsville admissions began in the fall of 2013. UTB's campus sat on 524 acres (2.3 km ) of land in

5460-515: Was 111 °F (44 °C), set on June 22, 2017 and May 9, 2024. The lowest temperature ever recorded in McAllen was 13 °F (−11 °C), on January 12, 1962. While usually a hot, humid, but relatively dry climate, McAllen, Texas has received unusual weather phenomena. In 2013, McAllen, Texas received a large hail storm that destroyed many vehicles and buildings. The storm came suddenly and many people were unprepared. In December 2017, McAllen received almost 3 inches of snow, nearly 13 years after

5538-487: Was 71%. UTPA's four-year graduation rate is 13% and the 6-year graduation rate is 36%. The proportion of students who receive some sort of financial aid is 86%. All students under the age of 21 who have earned fewer than 30 credit hours are required to reside on campus unless they are married, a parent, or have a permanent residence within 60 miles of campus. UTPA offers three residence halls and one building of community of on-campus apartments. Troxel Hall and Heritage Hall are

5616-563: Was established in 1926 under the name "The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley." It admitted its first class on September 21 of that same year. In 1931, its name was changed to "Brownsville Junior College." In 1950, the institution was given the name, Texas Southmost College. In 1973, Texas Southmost College formed a partnership with Pan-American University, later known as the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA). The partnership allowed Pan-American University to establish

5694-497: Was issued a charter of incorporation under the name McAllen. In 1916, 20,000 New York state troops were stationed at McAllen to help quell border disturbances related to the Mexican Civil War. The resulting economic boom increased the population from 1,200 in 1916 to 6,000 in 1920. McAllen adopted a home rule charter in 1927. Canning factories, a winery, tortilla plants, wood-working plants, and some oil exploration increased

5772-476: Was named for John McAllen, had the depot nearest the county seat, Hidalgo , 8 mi (13 km) to the south. By 1911, 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) were under cultivation in East McAllen: commodity crops of cotton, alfalfa, broom corn , citrus fruits, grapes, and figs were raised. East McAllen had an estimated population of 1,000 that year, and West McAllen had ceased to exist. In 1911, the town applied for and

5850-642: Was purchased by McAllen and was named the McAllen–Hidalgo–Reynosa International Bridge . Its construction resulted in increased tourist trade, making McAllen a winter resort and port of entry to Mexico. The discovery of oil in the Reynosa area in 1947 attracted a large migration of people from the Mexican interior to jobs in the region. They both constituted a new tourist market and a cheap labor supply for McAllen. The sister cities were linked as

5928-520: Was ranked #18 in the NAIA, but lost the standing after a bad 2008 season. In 2009, under new head coach Todd Lowery, formerly of National American University , the Scorpions began to shine again, achieving a #12 ranking in the NAIA. In December 2011, the UTB volleyball team won its first national championship. The University of Texas at Brownsville was widely regarded for having one of the strongest chess programs in

6006-563: Was rededicated and moved to a new location in 2009. Most courses offered are in bilingual education. There are also limited courses in criminal justice, history, English, and anthropology. As of 2009 over 200 students have graduated from the Starr County Upper-Level Center. Established in 1973, the Coastal Studies Laboratory (CSL) began as UTPA's marine biology laboratory and now serves the same role for UTRGV. It

6084-547: Was the first Hispanic woman to be the president of a college or university in the United States. On November 10, 2010, the University of Texas System Board of Regents voted to end the University of Texas at Brownsville's educational partnership with Texas Southmost College. On February 17, 2011, the TSC Board of Trustees voted 4–3 to separate from UTB. On December 6, 2012, the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System approved

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