Hidalgo County Is One of the Most Populous Counties in Texas

Hidalgo County covers 1,596 square miles along the Texas-Mexico border. In 1880, fewer than 4,400 people lived here. By 2014, the population had grown to over 831,000.

That growth was driven by the railroad, irrigation canals, trade along the U.S.-Mexico border, and steady natural population growth over many decades.

McAllen is the largest city. Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, and Weslaco follow. The county has a subtropical climate. Average July highs are near 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The county gets about 23 inches of rain per year, most of it in summer and fall.