McAllen, Texas Area At A Glance 

A city flush with visitors is a city awash in growth. Such is the great fortune of McAllen, a Texas border city. McAllen is known as the "City of Palms" but the locals refer to it as "the Jewel in the Valley." The city's population doubles from October through March, when retirees known as "Winter Texans" flock here for the warm weather.  

Superlatives
Named as the best place to buy real estate in the nation (growth of 8.5 percent in 2007 and another 9.8 percent in 2008), Fortune magazine, Dec. 21, 2006  

Ranked as the No. 1 red-hot market in the country, with 11.4 percent (12-month growth forecast), Money magazine, June 2006  

McAllen is the No. 12 Best City to do Business in the Nation, Inc. magazine, May 2006 

Named as best place to invest in 2006 (57 percent projected gain in home prices in the next five years), Business 2.0 magazine (CNN.com)  

Ranked No. 1 in job growth and No. 2 for low cost of living in a survey of top U.S. metropolitan areas, Forbes magazine, 2005  

Ranked No. 7 on the list of “hot” metro areas for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur magazine, 2005  

Ranked No. 4 by Milken Institute-Best Performing Cities Index in the Nation for jobs created and sustained, 2005 

EDUCATION 

McAllen Independent
School District, 618-6000
Public Schools
Elementary, 20
Middle, 7
High school, 4
Alternative, 3 

McAllen ISD accolades Eight schools are state exemplary schools with TAAS achievement rates of at least 90 percent.  

Private Schools
Central Christian School
687-2340
Covenant Christian Academy
686-9470
The Discovery School, 381-1117
Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic
School, 686-3651
St. John’s Episcopal Day
School, 686-0231
St. Paul Lutheran Church and
School, 682-2345 

FAST FACT ABOUT MCALLEN 

The Candlelight Posada begins the holiday season with a large parade and procession that reenacts Joseph and Mary’s search for lodging. 

Paseo de Palmas is a network of walking/biking trails that stretch along main roads such as Bicentennial, Col. Rowe, Nolana, Trenton and U.S. Business 83. 

The Veteran’s War Memorial of Texas pays homage to the men and women who were killed or declared missing in action in all wars and conflicts involving the United States. 

McAllen’s slogan is “The Texas Tropics” because of its flora, fauna and climate. 

The majority of McAllen’s population – nearly 90 percent – is Hispanic. 

The Renaissance Casa de Palmas Hotel was built in 1918, but renovations in 2000 allow it to combine McAllen’s colorful past with the conveniences of today. 

There are more than 600 restaurants within the city limits of McAllen. 

More than 100 of the Fortune 500’s global manufacturers have operations in McAllen or across the border in Reynosa. 

The Valley Symphony Orchestra performs several times each year at various venues in McAllen. 

BEGINNINGS
The city of McAllen was unofficially founded in 1904 when rancher John McAllen donated land to establish a new railroad stop. McAllen became incorporated in 1911. 

Population (2006 estimate) 

McAllen: 126‚411
Greater McAllen area: 700‚634 

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