South Texas Map

About South Texas Map

Explore the map of South Texas showing counties, county boundaries, international boundary, state boundary, interstate highways, US highways, railroads, major cities, and major towns.

Facts about South Texas

Category	Fact / Detail	Value / Description
Common Name	South Texas	Also called the Rio Grande Valley / Lower Rio Grande Valley / RGV
Geographic Boundaries	Approximate	South: Gulf of Mexico & Mexico border North: roughly San Antonio line (Atascosa / McMullen counties) East: Gulf of Mexico West: roughly Zapata / Starr counties
Number of Core Counties	Standard definition	4 counties (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Willacy)
Number of Counties (broad definition)	Expanded RGV + South Texas	8–14 counties (adds Brooks, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Zapata, Duval, Jim Wells, Nueces, Kleberg)
Core RGV Population (4 counties, 2025–2026 est.)	Four-county metro	≈ 1.42–1.45 million
Broader South Texas Population (8–14 counties)	Expanded region	≈ 1.8–2.0 million
Largest City	Population	McAllen – ≈ 150,000 (city) / ≈ 880,000 (MSA)
Other Major Cities	2026 est.	Brownsville ≈ 190,000 Edinburg ≈ 110,000 Mission ≈ 90,000 Pharr ≈ 80,000 Harlingen ≈ 72,000 Weslaco ≈ 42,000 San Benito ≈ 25,000
Population Growth Rate	Recent annual	≈ 1.2–1.6% (higher than Texas average)
Land Area (core 4-county RGV)	Approx.	≈ 4,200 square miles
Climate Type	Classification	Hot semi-arid / subtropical steppe (Köppen BSh / Cfa)
Average Annual Temperature	Mean	≈ 74–76 °F (23–24 °C) – one of the warmest regions in Texas
Average High Summer (Jul–Aug)	Peak	≈ 95–98 °F (35–37 °C)
Average Winter Low (Jan)	Coldest	≈ 50–55 °F (10–13 °C) – very mild winters
Annual Rainfall	Average	≈ 20–28 inches (drier than East Texas, wetter than West Texas)
Hurricane Risk	Season	High (June–November); major impacts: Hurricane Dolly (2008), Hanna (2020)
Primary Economic Driver	Main sector	Agriculture (citrus, sugarcane, vegetables), international trade, healthcare, education, tourism, logistics
Major Universities	Institutions	University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), Texas Southmost College, South Texas College
Border Trade Volume	Annual (2025 est.)	≈ $300–350 billion in goods through RGV ports of entry
Unemployment Rate (2025–2026 est.)	Regional average	≈ 6.5–8% (higher than Texas statewide average)
Median Household Income (2025 est.)	Four-county RGV	≈ $48,000–$52,000 (below Texas and U.S. averages)
Cultural Identity	Signature trait	Strong Mexican-American / Tejano heritage; bilingual region
Most Famous Attraction	Tourism icon	South Padre Island – beaches, Spring Break destination
Other Top Attractions	Popular sites	SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica), Gladys Porter Zoo (Brownsville), National Butterfly Center (Mission), Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Palo Alto Battlefield
Annual Visitors (2025 est.)	Tourism volume	≈ 4–5 million visitors (mostly to South Padre Island & Valley cities)
Nickname	Common	“The Valley” or “Rio Grande Valley” (RGV)
Highest Temperature Recorded	Extreme	117 °F (47 °C) – McAllen, June 1998
Border Crossings	Major ports	≈ 20 ports of entry; busiest: Progreso, Hidalgo, Donna, Pharr, Anzalduas
Space Industry	Recent development	SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica) – major orbital launch site, thousands of jobs

List of Counties of South Texas

County	County Seat	Status in South Texas	2025 Population Estimate	2026 Projected Population	Major Cities / Towns	Key Characteristics & Economy
Cameron County	Brownsville	Core RGV	427,000	432,000–437,000	Brownsville, Harlingen, San Benito, South Padre Island, Los Fresnos	SpaceX Starbase (Boca Chica), Port of Brownsville, South Padre Island tourism, agriculture, education (UTB/UTRGV)
Hidalgo County	Edinburg	Core RGV	895,000	910,000–925,000	McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Weslaco, Alamo, Donna	Largest county in RGV, McAllen retail & medical hub, UTRGV main campus, agriculture (citrus, sugarcane)
Starr County	Rio Grande City	Core RGV	65,500	66,000–67,000	Rio Grande City, Roma, Falcon Village	Rural, highest Hispanic % in U.S., international bridges (Roma–Ciudad Miguel Alemán), agriculture, oil/gas
Willacy County	Raymondville	Core RGV	20,200	20,400–20,700	Raymondville, Lyford, Sebastian	Rural, agriculture (cotton, sugarcane), Port Mansfield (fishing & boating)
Brooks County	Falfurrias	Expanded South Texas	7,000	7,100–7,300	Falfurrias	Rural, agriculture, Falfurrias checkpoint (border patrol)
Duval County	San Diego	Expanded South Texas	10,500	10,600–10,800	San Diego, Freer	Oil & gas, ranching, rural
Jim Hogg County	Hebbronville	Expanded South Texas	4,800	4,900–5,000	Hebbronville	Ranching, oil/gas, very rural
Jim Wells County	Alice	Expanded South Texas	38,500	38,800–39,500	Alice, Orange Grove	Oil & gas hub, agriculture, education (Coastal Bend College)
Kenedy County	Sarita (no incorporated seat)	Expanded South Texas	350–400	≈400	Sarita, Armstrong Ranch	One of the least populated counties in U.S., large ranches, Kenedy County Airport
Kleberg County	Kingsville	Expanded South Texas	30,500	30,800–31,200	Kingsville	Texas A&M University–Kingsville, King Ranch headquarters, naval air station
Nueces County	Corpus Christi	Expanded South Texas / Coastal Bend	355,000	360,000–365,000	Corpus Christi, Robstown, Port Aransas (island)	Port of Corpus Christi, oil/gas, tourism, Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
Zapata County	Zapata	Expanded South Texas	13,800	14,000–14,200	Zapata, Falcon Lake area	Falcon International Reservoir, international border, ranching, tourism

South Texas

South Texas thrives where borders meet culture, situated near Texas’s southern edge, running along the U.S.-Mexico line from the Gulf west toward Laredo and Zapata. Often called the Rio Grande Valley - specifically Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties - its identity tightens around those four corners. Yet some stretch it further, adding up to ten more counties linked by landscape, commerce, and daily life patterns. Heat lingers through winter here, soil stays rich in the river's network, and nearly every resident speaks both languages without pause. Life unfolds in rhythms shaped by Mexico’s influence, cross-border commerce, farming, travel, and now, new aerospace ventures taking root.

Geography and Natural Environment

Out here, things stay low - the ground slopes barely at all through the Rio Grande delta and coastal grasslands. Look east and you see the Gulf of Mexico hugging the area tight. Down near the southern edge, the Rio Grande runs along the line separating two nations, marking where Mexico begins. Within view, the wide stretch of Laguna Madre stretches more than any similar saltwater system worldwide. Close by, land set aside for wildlife holds key living spots for creatures like ocelots and jaguarundis. Birds come by the thousands through this protected stretch near the river's end. Beachgoers flock each year to South Padre Island, situated near Texas’s eastern boundary. A bridge links the coastal spot to landmass behind it - called the Queen Isabella Causeway.

Population and Communities

Around the start of 2026, about 1.45 million individuals live across the four Rio Grande Valley counties. That number stretches near 2 million when considering wider parts of South Texas. A vast majority - between 90 and 95 percent - identify as Hispanic or Latino. McAllen stands closest to that mark at around 150,000 people. Brownsville just edges above it with roughly 190,000. Edinburg reports just under 110,000. Mission holds around 90,000. Harlingen sits slightly below halfway at approximately 72,000. A slow but steady climb marks the area's economy, fueled by movement of goods between states, schools, medical services, plus tighter budgets from lower prices than many high-priced parts of Texas.

Economy and Key Industries

Life in South Texas thrives on varied strengths - international shipping sets the pace, followed by farming, medical centers, schools, travel industry, plus new wings in space-related work. Every year, port zones like Pharr, Hidalgo, Progreso, and Anzalduas move massive sums through borders worth many billions. Farming still matters a lot here; plenty gets grown - oranges, sugarcane, veggies, cotton - all shaping how things grow. Folks find steady work in healthcare more than anywhere else, particularly across McAllen and Brownsville. Money flows in too, as visitors head to South Padre Island each year, adding large sums through travel. Lately, activity sparked by SpaceX building its Starbase site near Boca Chica has drawn worldwide interest along with fresh employment opportunities.

Climate and Lifestyle

Warmth sticks around South Texas through much of the year. Mild cold seasons give way to long, heat-heavy summers. July and August bring daytime highs usually above the 90s, sometimes near 100. Nights stay fairly mild even during the coldest months. Rain shows up regularly, delivering between 20 and 28 inches across different parts. The bulk of it arrives during late spring's tail end into early fall's start. Life moves at a calm pace here, shaped by close family ties. Speaking of which, talking both English and Spanish matters a lot. Food ties people together - think cabrito, fajitas, breakfast tacos made with real ingredients. Festivals show up throughout the year: Cinco de Mayo brings noise, Diez y Seis honors heritage, while the Texas Citrus Festival highlights fresh produce under big trees.

Challenges and Future Outlook

Even with its advantages, South Texas struggles with above-normal levels of poverty, few job opportunities that pay well beyond schools and hospitals, occasional droughts affecting water supply, plus damage from storms every now and then. Yet key assets remain - its position on the edge with Mexico, a rising number of residents under forty, bigger roles in medicine, learning, and even space-related industries taking shape, hints something new could emerge here down the road.