Cameron

Cameron County

Updated on: November 16, 2021
Coordinates
26 9' 0" N, 97 27' 0" W (26.15, -97.45)
State
Texas
Region
South
County Seat:
Brownsville
Year Organized:
1848
Total Square Miles:
1276.457
891 square miles (2,310 km2) land
386 square miles (1,000 km2) water
Population:
423725 (2017)
Population: 423,725 Est. (2017) 406,220 (2010)
Persons/Square Mile:
332
Cameron County Website
http://www.co.cameron.tx.us/

Contiguous Counties

Willacy (N)
Hidalgo (W)
Matamoros Municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico (S)

Cameron County Offices

County structure

Government Type:
County
Authority:
Dillon's Rule
Legislative Body:
Commisioners Court
Size of Legislative Body:
5

Demographics

2018 Population:
423725
25 to 64 Years of Age:
45.52%
65 Years of Age and Older:
13.54%

Economy, 2018

Gross Domestic Product (GDP):
$10.0 B
Labor Force:
166,001
Unemployment Rate:
6.20%

County Contact

PO BOX 2178
County Courthouse
Brownsville, TX, 78522-2178

http://www.co.cameron.tx.us/

Cameron County, TX, is in extreme southern Texas. The county has a flat landscape with rich Rio Grande Valley soil. Also, the county has a conducive semi-tropical climate ideal for agriculture. Plus, lake Loma Alta is in this county.  

The county’s economic source is mainly seafood processing, tourism, agribusiness, shipping, government services, and manufacturing. What’s more? The county has natural minerals like oil and natural gas.  

The county was founded and organized in 1848. It was part of Nueces county. The Spanish land grants contributed to the separation from Nueces county. Initially, the coahuiltecan tribe inhabited the county.  

Currently, the ethnic groups inhabiting the county include Anglo, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other races. The highest percentage is Hispanic at ninety percent, followed by Anglo at 8.6 percent.  

Please note these vital statistics of Cameron county: According to the Texas Almanac, Cameron county has about 7200 births, 2650 deaths, 2300 marriages, and 650 divorces. Here is all about Cameron county TX.  

Cameron County Recreation 

South Padre Island, famous for its white sands and emerald water, is in Cameron county. Therefore, you may visit the island to enjoy the cool tropical temperatures of the island. Here, you may enjoy activities like fishing, water sports, hunting, and all-year-round resorts.  

Moreover, Cameron county has historical sites like the Baxter Building, Lighthouse State Historic Site, and the Brazos Santiago Deport. Also, you may enjoy the Palo Alto National Historical Park, Mexico Gateway, Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife refuge, recreational vehicle center, Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area, and Resaca de la Palma State parks.  

Cameron County Agriculture 

The lands in Cameron county are productive. Residents’ farm crops like grain sorghum, citrus, corn, cotton, vegetables, sugar cane, and other crops. You may also find some planting wholesale plants nurseries while others engage in cow-calf operations plus small feedlot.  

Modern technology has enabled farmers to irrigate over 111,000 acres, especially those who farm grain sorghum and cotton.  

Cameron County Cities 

Brownsville: (County seat): It’s an international trade center. The city harbors various activities being the county’s seat, including industrialization, shipping, hospitals, children centers, tourism, colleges, campus and college extensions, etc. Its population is 183 677 and its area is 84.867 sq mi.   

Harlingen: Is in the central part of Cameron County in the Rio Grande Valley. Also, It has an area of about forty square miles which makes it the second largest town in Cameron County, TX. According to Texas population 2021, Harlingen’s population is 425 211.  

San Benito: San Benito celebrated over 110 years as a retail center, agricultural center, and many other activities carried out in the city. The city harbors various departments. The departments include hospitals, museums, art centers, recreation facilities, and historic buildings. The city’s population is 65,490, and its area is 41.78 km². 

South Padre Island: This island, also a town, also has beautiful beaches. Thus, it’s a significant tourism and convention center. It’s also a birding center. The city’s population is 2,748 and its area is 9.687 km².  

Cameron County Offices 

Cameron county offices include the county clerk, constables, sheriff, county courts, district court, magistrate court, and justice of the peace.  

You also have the district attorney, district clerk, iDocket, attorney, the juvenile/children justice department. These categories of offices deal with justice and any other services you may need. 

Moreover, you have more offices that deal with administration. These administrative offices include the office of the county: administrator, auditor, budget information, treasurer, and civil service. 

Other administrative offices include the offices of the county: community affairs & Economic Development, Emergency Management, Human resources, Fire Marshal services, I.T. department, Recreation and parks department, Purchasing department, and the Tax Collector.  

You may access these and other county offices through their contact details. Your inquiries may include agendas, press releases, any assistance, accessing public meetings, etc.  

The Commissioners Court  

The commissioner’s court oversees the county’s general business. Also, it adopts and approves the county budgets and verifies the purchases included in the budget. Plus, this court approves the tax rate of Cameron county TX. The commissioner’s court comprises the judge plus four approved precincts commissioners.  

Currently, Cameron county TX Commissioners court is made of the Judge Eddie Trevino Phone: 956 544-0830, Fax: 956 544-0801, Pct one is Sofia C Benavidez phone: (956) 574-8167, Fax: (956) 544-0820, Pct two is Joey Lopez Email: [email protected] Phone: (956) 574-8175.   

Plus, Pct three is David A. Garza Email: [email protected], phone: (956) 361-8209 and finally, Pct four is Gus Ruiz Phone: (956) 427-8069, and Fax (956) 427-8071. 

The office time is Monday through Friday from eight am to five pm.  

Please note: Elected officials from every office may occupy the precinct’s position in case their position is vacant. 

Cameron County Public Service 

Cameron county offers various public services, including the animal adoption program where you may get a pet. You may also have other services like getting birth certificates, claiming stray livestock, programs for housing recovery, registration of motor vehicles, tax, solid waste services for residents, and veteran services.   

Other public services issued by Cameron county TX include bail bond, county census, county maps, CCRMA, Drainage, emergency services, fuel man, extension office, homeland security, directory, and TXDOT. You may visit the county’s website on the public service page for more information.  

Cameron County TX F.A.Q.s 

Is Brownsville, TX Safe? 

Brownsville, TX is not among the safest spaces in Cameron because chances of one becoming a crime victim, whether it’s a property or a violent one, are one in thirty-three. Plus, Brownsville had higher crime rates of above 88 percent of all Texas towns and cities.  

Is Cameron County Poor? 

Thirty-four-point-five percent of the residents in Cameron county may be poor. Though it’s home to Harlingen and Brownsville, Cameron County has the highest child poverty in Texas. Plus, according to The Texas Tribune, 47% of children live in poverty here.   

Is Cameron County Blue or Red? 

According to Wikipedia, Caron is mostly Democratic during presidential elections. Moreover, the last Republican president was George Bush.