Hidalgo County

Hidalgo County Offices

Hidalgo County Town List

Hidalgo County is located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Texas, bordered by Cameron County to the west and Starr County to the north. The county seat is Edinburgh and borders Mexico at the Rio Grande to its south. As of 2010, Hidalgo County had a population of 774,769 according to the U.S. Census, making it the seventh-most populous county in Texas and the second most populated county bordering Mexico after El Paso County Texas. The county’s population has continued to grow in recent years. 

Hidalgo County Ecosystem 

A land of extremes and contrasts, Hidalgo County is home to four unique ecosystems: The Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and Historic Site, and the South Texas Plains. In the north-central part of the county, Edinburg is in an area known as “The Valley,” considered to be between the Rio Grande and Nueces rivers. It is surrounded by lush, fertile agricultural land and boasts a large medical community. 

Hidalgo County: The History 

The county was formed in 1852 and named after Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest who began Mexico’s War of Independence. 

When Texas became part of the U.S., Anglo-American settlers began to move into the area and obtain land grants from Mexico through the Homestead Law – large tracts of land were acquired by individuals or companies that later parceled out smaller tracts to families by the process of “squatting.” 

When the Texas Legislature created Hidalgo County in 1852, it did not designate a county seat. Until December 1852, San Pedro was part of Webb County and served as the temporary county seat until Hidalgo became its county. 

Early inhabitants of the area were Native American tribes, including Coahuiltecan and Tonkawa. Later inhabitants included the Olmec and Maya civilizations, who built ceremonial sites in caves along the Rio Grande. Eventually, after Spaniards arrived from Europe, the local tribes began to be displaced. 

The Economy of Hidalgo County 

Unemployment levels in Hidalgo County stood at 11.2 percent, according to U.S. Census data released this week. While that’s still above the state’s unemployment rate, it reflects a continued decline from the county’s unemployment rate. Over the past year, the job market has fluctuated to 2%, and the future is predicted to be 32.2%. 

Health Services 

Hidalgo County is home to the second-largest medical center in Texas, McAllen Medical Center. The county features a highly developed health care system, including Brooke Army Medical Hospital and Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare System, which hosts over one thousand doctors combined.  

The county also has some of the most advanced hospitals out of all of its neighboring counties. These include Specialty Hospital, Los Palmas Del Sol Behavioral Health Center, Las Palmas Rehabilitation hospital, and Maternity – Women’s Hospital. 

Hidalgo County’s Population 

The 2010 United States Census recorded a total of 774,769 people living in Hidalgo County. The county’s racial makeup was White alone 97.0%, African American 0.9%, Alaska and American Indian at 0.5%,  Asians at 1%, and others from two or more races. About 92.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.  

However, it is home to many people who have ancestries that are not exclusively Spanish, including descendants of Germans involved in the beer industry in Houston. English settlers who live along the border between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande are descendants of Irish settlers in the county. 

The United States Census Bureau’s 2019 estimate for the median income for a household in Hidalgo County was $40,014. The per capita income for the county was $17,175. About 251k out of 845k people of families were below the poverty line, higher than the national average. 

Hidalgo County Offices 

The county is divided into seven commissioner precincts, each represented by a commissioner elected from that precinct. 

It’s a part of the state’s 28th congressional district, represented by Congressman Henry Cuellar, the 50th state legislative district, represented in the Texas House of Representatives by Eddie Lucio III and in the Texas Senate by Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa. 

The county is part of Texas’s 16th congressional district, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+2. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice operates the Pharr District Parole Office in an unincorporated area in Hidalgo County near San Juan. 

Clerk’s office

It is located in Hidalgo county master court. The address is 100 N Closner Blvd 1st floor, Edinburg, TX 78539, United States. The offices are open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Contact them at +1 956-318-2100. 

Hidalgo County tax office

The tax assessor and collector is Pablo Paul Villareal. The office is open from 8 am to 5pmfrom Monday to Friday. Address: 722 Breyfogle Rd, Mission, TX 78572, United States. For any inquiries, contact +1 956-205-7050 or reach them through the email address [email protected]. 

Hidalgo County Administration Building 

It’s located in Edinburg, Texas. Their address is 2810 US-281 BUS, Edinburg, TX 78539, United States of America. The office is open from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. 

Hidalgo County Judge’s Office

It’s located at Hidalgo county Annex III with an address 100 E Cano St 2nd floor, Edinburg, TX 78539, United States. For more information contact +1 956-318-2600. 

Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff J.E. Guerra. J.E. “Eddie” Guerra can be reached from 8 am to 5 pm from Monday to Friday. The physical address is Physical Address 711 El Cibolo Road Edinburg, TX 78541. Phone: (956) 383-8114. Fax: (956) 393-6179, United States of America. You can find more offices in Hidalgo county here. 

Tourist Attractions in Hidalgo County 

Padre Island National seashore – It is located south of the county. It is a beach that stretches several miles from north of South Padre Island to Boca Chica Key in Texas, United States. 

Lake Amistad National Recreation Area – located just west of Del Rio. The lake is formed by the Amistad Dam constructed on the border between Mexico and the United States. 

Palmetto state park – It is located at the southern tip of Texas, United States. It sits on Mustang Island and is home to a large population of nesting sea turtles and several species of endangered seagrasses. 

Hidalgo County’s Economic Activities 

The county’s economic activities are based on agriculture and tourism to a lesser extent. 

Agriculture – Residents keep livestock, and grow cotton, sugar cane, sorghum, wheat, and hay crops. 

Tourism – Most tourists visit the county to explore its waterways like Laguna Madre, Rio Grande River, the largest river in the United States. The county has several boat launch ramps and several resorts. 

Conclusion 

Hidalgo county is one of the 254 counties in Texas. It covers 4,100 square miles, making it the third-largest county in the state after Brewster and Pecos counties. The neighboring counties are Cameron, Willacy, and Starr.  

The county seat is the city of Edinburg which has an estimated population of 868,707 according to the 2019 census. There are several other towns in the county, including Los Ebanos, San Carlos, La Blanca, and Hargill, to mention but a few. Hidalgo County is in a tropical region, which means that the county has a hot and humid climate.