WESLACO, TEXAS
COMMUNITY PROFILE
Located on the eastern edge of Hidalgo County, centered between McAllen to the west and Harlingen to the east. Seven miles north of the Mexican border city of Nuevo Progreso.
(Compiled by the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce)
Population
| Year | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | % change 90 – 00 |
| City | 19,331 | 21,877 | 26,935 | 18.78 |
| County | 283,323 | 383,545 | 569,463 | 32.4 |
| State | 14,229,191 | 16,986,335 | 20,851,820 | 18.20 |
2008 population figures:
Weslaco: 33,354
Hidalgo County: 726,604
Texas: 24,326,974
Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Geographic Data
City area: 14.12 sq. miles
Average elevation: 70.5 ft.
County area: 1,567 sq. miles
Miles of Street:
Graded 1.65
Paved 97.54
Climate
Average Annual
Rain: 23.34”
Snow: 0”
Temperature: 74°
Seasonal Temperature:
January: 51°
July: 90°
Direction of Prevailing Wind: Southeast
Municipal Services
Date of Incorporation: 1919
Date of Adoption of City Charter: December 14, 1927
Council of Governments Member: yes
Form of Local Government: Single-Member District
Annual Budget (08-09): $37,857,572
Building Permits in 2008
Estimated Cost $30,168,960
Police (Full-time): 75
Number Employees 105
Number of Sub-stations 2
Number of Stations 1
Firemen (Full-time): 72
Number Employees 76
Numbers of Sub-stations 0
Number of Stations 3
Number of pumper trucks: 6 and 1 ladder
Dive Rescue team and Hazard Material team
Emergency Medical Response Team
Fire Insurance Rate: Class 4
Fire Service outside the City: yes
Ambulance Service: yes
Rescue Service: yes
Number of Ambulances: 6
City Zoning Regulated: yes
City Planning Commission: yes
UTILITIES
WATER
Supplier: Hidalgo County Water District #9
Water Source: Rio Grande River
Plant Capacity: 8.12 mgd Avg. Daily Use: 4.744
Peak Use: 6.688 mgd
Basic Rate: $10.06
Cost/1,000 gallons over Basic Rate: $1.79
Elevated Storage: 1.3 mgal
Ground Storage: 1.085 mgal
SEWER
North Sewer Treatment Plant
Treatment Type: Extended, Aeration racetrack
Plant Capacity: 3.0 mgd
Present Load: 2.3 mgd
Sanitary Sewer: yes
Complete Sanitary Sewer Coverage: 112 miles
Storm Sewer: yes
Storm Sewer Coverage: 50.94 miles
Flat Rate: $10.80
Cost/1,000 gallons over Basic Rate: 1.23
Solid Waste Disposal Type: City
Residential: yes
Commercial: yes
Industrial: yes
South Waste Water Treatment Plant
Treatment Type: Extended, Aeration racetrack
Plant Capacity: 2.5 mgd
Present Load: 1.6
Sanitary Sewer: yes
Complete Sanitary Sewer Coverage: 101.27 miles
SERVICE SUPPLIERS
Electric Company:
Ambit Energy
Amigo Energy
Brilliant Energy, LLC
Champion Energy Services
Cirro Energy Texas Power
Commerce Energy
CPL Retail Energy
Dynowatt
First Choice Power
Gateway Power Services
Gexa Energy
Green Mountain Energy Company
Hudson Energy Services
LPT LLC A Liberty Power Company
Mega Energy, L.P.
MXenergy
Nueces Electric Cooperative Retail Division
Reliant Energy
Simple Power
Spark Energy, L.P.
StarTex Power
Stream Energy
Texas Power
Texpo Energy
TriEagle
TXU Energy
U.S. Energy Savings Corp.
YEP Energy
For questions on how to choose a Retail Electric Provider call 1-866-PWR-4-TEX. For questions about a particular REP’s offer or pricing, contact REP directly.
(Source: www.powertochoose.org)
Natural Gas Company:
Texas Gas Service Company
1-800-700-2089
Harlingen, TX 78553
www.texasgasservice.com
Telephone Company:
Verizon
Residential Service 1-800-483-4400
Business Service 1-800-483-5000
www.verizon.com
Cable Providers:
Time Warner
(956) 425-7880
Harlingen, TX 78550
www.timewarnercable.com/riograndevalley
TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAY/INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
Nearest Interstate Hwy: I.H. 35 Distance: 100 miles
Nearest Major Highway: U.S. Hwy 83 Distance: 0
Nearest Bridge: Progreso/Nuevo Progreso International Bridge
Distance to Nuevo Progreso: 7 miles
U.S. Highways: U.S. 83, U.S. 77, U.S. 281
MOTOR FREIGHT COMPANIES
Major Freight Carriers: Nafta Motor Freight, Overnite Transportation, Central Freight, Motor Express, Roadway Express, ABF Freight, Yellow Freight, FedEx, UPS Store
AIR TRANSPORTATION
Name of General Aviation Airport:
Weslaco Mid-Valley Airport
Length of Runway: 5,000 ft. Surface Type: asphalt
Landing Lights: yes
Instrument Landing System: yes
Aircraft Storage: yes
Aircraft Maintenance: yes
Name of nearest Airport with Commercial Services:
Harlingen – 17 miles
McAllen – 17 miles
Commercial Air Freight Services: yes
Air Carriers: American, Southwest, Continental, Sun Country, Alligent, Delta
BUS AND RAILROAD
Providers: Valley Transit, Trailways, Rio Metro Transit
Rail Express: Rio Valley Switching, Union Pacific
SHIPPING
Nearest Deepwater Port: Port of Brownsville
Distance to Port: 40 miles
Channel Depth: first 15 m. are 42 ft.; last 2 m. to turning basin are 36 ft.
Barge Service: yes
Nearest Water Access: Port of Harlingen
Distance to Water: 21 miles
Water Depth: 12 ft.-14 ft.
TAX STRUCTURE (2007)
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Property Tax
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(Rate/$100 of assessed value)
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Rate | Assess. % | |
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City of Weslaco:
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o.6967
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100%
|
|
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Hidalgo County:
|
0.5900
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100%
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|
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Weslaco ISD:
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1.1397
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100%
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South Texas ISD:
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0.0492
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100%
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Drainage Dist. #1:
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0.0725
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100%
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|
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STC:
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0.1491
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100%
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Total Effective Tax Rate:
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2.6972
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Sales Tax
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City: 2 %
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County: 1.5% | State: 6.25% | |
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State Taxes
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Corporate Income: 1%
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Individual Income: none
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Gasoline: $0.20 | ||
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State Corporate Franchise Tax: 1% (0.5% for retail or wholesale)
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EDUCATION
Number of School Districts: 3
Major Independent School District:
Weslaco Independent School District
Number of Schools: 19
Total enrollments: 16,188
Enrollment in 12th Grade: 746
Avg SAT Score: 900
Avg ACT Score: 18
Number of Teachers: 1,102
Number of Private Schools: 5
Number of Colleges within 30 miles: 3
Number of Public Library Volumes: 80,000
Weslaco Independent School District
Airport Drive Elementary School
A.N. Tony Rico Elementary School
Clecker-Heald Elementary School
Dr. R. E. Margo Elementary School
Justice Raul A. Gonzalez Elementary School
Louise Black Elementary School
Memorial Elementary School
North Bridge Elementary School
Rodolfo “Rudy” Silva, Jr. Elementary School
Sam Houston Elementary School
Beatriz G. Garza Middle School
Central Middle School
Dr. Armando Cuellar Middle School
Mary Hoge Middle School
Secondary Schools:
Weslaco East High School-Grades 9-12
Weslaco High School Grades 9-12
South Palm Gardens High School -Grades 10-12
Alternative Schools
WISD Alternative School Grades 5-8
Horton AEP Campus Grades 9-12
Other Independent School Districts
IDEA Public Schools, Grades PreK-12
South Texas ISD, Grades 7 -12
Other Schools
First Christian Academy, Grades PK 3-8th
Mid Valley Christian School, Grades PK 3-12th
San Martin de Porres Catholic School, Grades PK-6th
Valley Grande Adventist Academy, Grades K -12th
Horizon Montessori II, Grades PK- 3rd Public Charter School
Technology Education Charter High School, Grades 9-12
Colleges & Universities
South Texas College
South Texas Vo-Tech
Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies
COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL SERVICES
Bank Branches: 13
Credit Unions: 3
Bank Deposits: $ 333,988,031 (June 2009)
Number of Daily Newspapers: 2
Major Newspaper in City: Mid Valley Town Crier
Circulation: 22,000
Number of Radio Stations: 1
TV Stations: 1
Cable TV Service Available: yes
HEALTH FACILITIES
Number of Hospitals: 1
Total Beds: 233
Number of Doctors: 220
Number of Dentists: 9
Nearest Emergency Room: Knapp Medical Center Level 3 Trauma Facility, Heli-Pad
Home Health Care Agencies: 16
Nursing Homes: 3
Pharmacies: 11
Number of Veterinarians: 1
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Golf Courses: 2
Swimming Pools: 2
Tennis Courts: 6
Lakes: 0
Parks: 6
Skateboard Park: 1
Hunting & Fishing Available: yes
HOTELS & CHURCHES
Number of Churches: 33
Number of Hotels & Motels: 9
Rooms: 642
RV Parks: 8
LABOR MARKET (April 2008)
Total Civilian Labor Force (MSA): 312,800
Total Civilian Labor Force (Weslaco): 15,008
Civilian Labor Force Unemployment Rate (MSA): 11.6%
Civilian Labor Force Unemployment Rate (Weslaco): 1206%
Radius of Labor Drawing Area: 60 miles
Wage and/or Labor Survey Available: yes
Median Household Income: $31,790
Distance to MSA: 15 miles
Nearest MSA: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission
MAJOR AREA EMPLOYERS
Weslaco ISD: Education – 2,825
Knapp Medical Center: Hospital - 980
Woodcrafters: Manufacturer – 541
Wal-Mart: Retail Dept. Store – 455
H-E-B (3 locations): Retail Grocery – 407
City of Weslaco: Government – 390
Payne Auto Group: Retail Auto Sales – 330
JC Penney: Retail Dept. Store – 146
Lowe’s: Retail – 120
South Texas College: Education-College – 193
Foremost Paving: Construction – 166
Texas A&M: Experiment Station,Extension Service,Citrus Center – 147
(Profile Updated 12/04/09)
