Rio Grande Valley

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The Rio Grande Valley is an area located in the southernmost tip of Texas. It lies along the northern bank of the Rio Grande, which separates Mexico from the United States.

In reality, the Rio Grande Valley is not a valley, but a delta or floodplain. However, early promoters of this region felt that the term "Valley" sounded more inviting to tourists and northern investors than did "Delta." The Rio Grande Valley is also called "the Valley" by those who live there.

The region is made up of four counties: Starr County, Hidalgo County, Willacy County, and Cameron County.

Major cities include Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen, Edinburg, Weslaco, and Mission.

Contents

1 People of historical interest
2 Places of Historical Interest
3 Economy
4 Media

4.1 Newspapers
4.2 Television
4.3 Radio

People of historical interest

The Valley has had a silent presence in American History from cotton smuggling during the Civil War, to being the birthplace of some of its best citizens.

A few people that have been born, lived, or died in the Rio Grande Valley are:

Gloria E. Anzaldúa (Writer/Poet)
William Jennings Bryan
Lloyd Bentsen (U.S. Senator)
Harlon Block (Helped raise flag on Iwo Jima)
John J. Conway (Founder of Mission, Texas and the Mission Canal Irrigation Co.)
Freddy Fender
Alfredo C. Gonzalez (Medal of Honor recipient)
Bill Haley
Kris Kristofferson (Musician and actor)
Tom Landry (Dallas Cowboys head coach)
Ila Loetcher (The Turtle Lady)
Rachel McLish (Ms. Olympia)
Christopher Rich (Actor)
James N. Rowe (Colonel for U.S. Army Special Forces)
Ricardo Sanchez (Ground forces commander in Iraq)
John H. Shary (Father of the Texas Citrus Industry)
Merced Solis (aka Tito Santana, Wrestler)
Michael E. Fossum (Astronaut)

Places of Historical Interest

The First Lift Station in Mission Texas once provided water for irrigating the crops of the early Rio Grande Valley. The lift station was dedicated as a Texas Historic Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission in 1985.

First Lift Station

Los Ebanos Ferry Last hand operated ferry on the Rio Grande River

Economy

The Rio Grande Valley is a booming region, although it remains one of the poorest parts of the United States; however, the Valley is rapidly becoming an important commercial center of the South. Hispanics comprise a large percentage of the Valley's population, ranging from 80% in some centers to 92% in the southernmost city of Brownsville. Its many international bridges bring in many Mexican nationals to shop, sell and do business in the border cities along the Rio Grande River.

The Valley is also a popular tourist destination during the winters for residents from the midwestern United States and Canada. Winter Texans (as these part-time residents from the North are called), Mexican nationals, and thousands of college students who visit South Padre Island throughout March and April for Spring Break create the bulk of the Valley's tourism. Winter Texans typically arrive in mid- to late fall and stay until early to mid-spring and reside in the many recreational vehicle or travel trailer parks found near US Highway 83.

South Padre Island is another popular tourist destination. It is rated as one of the top five spring break destinations for college students by many traveling companies. The exclusive birds that pass through this tropical island attract birders from around the world the Valley.

Media

Newspapers

The Monitor - owned by Freedom Communications.
Valley Morning Star - owned by Freedom Communications.
The Brownsville Herald - owned by Freedom Communications.
The Island Breeze - owned by Freedom Communications & the Valley Morning Star.
The Mid-Valley Town Crier - owned by Freedom Communications.
El Defensor
El Rocinante
South Padre Parade
''The Town Crier
[The Brownsville Herald]
[The RGV Review]
[Weird Magazine]
[El Americano News]

Television

KGBT Action 4 News, CBS Affiliate
KRGV Newschannel 5, ABC Affiliate
KVEO 23, NBC Affiliate
KLUJ 44, TBN Affiliate
KMBH 60, PBS Affiliate
i-see TV

Radio

KBFM Wild 104, formerly B-104 (Hip Hop/Top 40)
KBTQ 96.1 formerly THE BEAT (Spanish Oldies)
KGBT 1530 La Primera (Univision)
KIWW (Spanish)
KMBH/KHID 88.9/88.1 NPR (Classical/Public Radio)
KTEX 100.3 (Country)
KQXX 105.5 (Oldies)
KVLY Mix 107.9 (Adult Contemporary)
KFRQ The Q 94.5 (Classic/Modern/Hard Rock)
KHKZ Hot Kiss 106.3 (Popular Adult Contemporary)
KKPS Que Pasa 99.5 (Tejano)
KESO Digital 92.7 (Internacional, Spanish Top 40)
KIRT 1580 AM Radio Imagen (Variety, Spanish contemporary)

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