| The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is located adjacent | | | | - Raymondville (10,000) |
| to the Mexican-border river, the Rio Grande, at | | | | 3) Hidalgo County (90% Hispanic) |
| the southern-most tip of Texas. This subtropical | | | | - Alamo (17,000) |
| 4,300-square-mile valley is about 140-miles wide | | | | - Donna (16,000) |
| and 30-miles deep. It comprises four main | | | | - Edinburg (57,000) |
| counties with the following approximate | | | | - Hidalgo (10,000) |
| non-winter populations: | | | | - McAllen (118,000) |
| | | | - Mercedes (15,000) |
| 1. Cameron on the east end including South Padre | | | | - Mission (57,000) |
| Island (370,000) | | | | - Pharr (56,000) |
| 2. Willacy just north of Cameron (22,000) | | | | - San Juan (30,000) |
| 3. Hidalgo to the west of the previous two, | | | | - Weslaco (30,000) |
| centrally located (650,000) | | | | 4) Starr County (97% Hispanic) |
| 4. Starr to the west of Hidalgo (58,000). | | | | - Rio Grande City (13,000) |
| Cameron and Hidalgo are call metro counties | | | | - Roma (11,000) |
| because they hold more than 80% both of the | | | | The total Rio Grande Valley population is about 1.2 |
| valley's total population and of the | | | | million (89% Hispanic). The total population above |
| recreational-vehicle (RV) parks there. Also, a small | | | | age 55 is about 220,000 (78% Hispanic). |
| lower tip of a fifth county, Zapata, on the far | | | | Winter Texans. |
| west end of the valley could be absorbed into this | | | | The Winter Texans consist mostly of seniors and |
| valley information. This tip contains the big | | | | retired people (about 98% Caucasian), who |
| International Falcon Reservoir on the Rio Grande | | | | migrate annually to several locales in southern |
| River. | | | | Texas to spend their winter months there, usually |
| Populations of the main cities and towns by | | | | for varied lengths of time between October and |
| county (via public documents). | | | | May. Many are from the colder northern climates |
| The hub cities and towns in the valley having | | | | in the Midwest and Canada. About 150,000 of |
| populations of 10,000 or greater are listed below. | | | | these trekkers make the Rio Grande Valley their |
| Most of them have good roads and modern | | | | temporary winter home. |
| shopping, medical, and recreational facilities. | | | | These seasonal Texans will actively hibernate in |
| Brownsville, Harlingen, and McAllen also have | | | | one of the 400-500 RV parks in the valley, where |
| commercially served airports. | | | | they can enjoy its warmer climate, nature parks, |
| 1) Cameron County (86% Hispanic) | | | | outdoor sports, beaches, attractions, and dining in |
| - Brownsville (161,000) | | | | addition to taking part in the facilities and social |
| - Harlingen (63,000) | | | | activities in the RV parks themselves. |
| - San Benito (25,000) | | | | For more demographic information on the Rio |
| 2) Willacy County (86% Hispanic) | | | | Grande Valley, see the following site. |