Harlingen Texas, at the Crossroads

Celebrating 100 Years

Locale Harlingen is located on the southernmost tip of Texas, at

the crossroads of Expressways 77 and 83, two hours south of Corpus Christi, four hours south of San Antonio and three hours north of Monterrey, Mexico. Located 35 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, Harlingen is located in the center of the Rio Grande Valley. Harlingens south Texas charm is influenced by the rich culture and traditions of Mexico. Harlingens relaxed lifestyle and youthful population keep it young at heart, and its seasonal visitors, affectionately called Winter Texans, come to take advantage of its mild, tropical winters. They add a carefree liveliness to the local cultural life and provide a boost to the local economy. Harlingens thriving economy was originally built on agricultural, predominately cotton, citrus and vegetables. Today, the economy has diversified to include health care services and logistics, manufacturing and distribution corporations, which continually bring in more residents. Whether youre interested in finding a home for a family, or a corporation, or looking for a captivating and relaxing vacation spot, Harlingens got it covered. With an estimated population of 74,950, Harlingen has a reputation as a trade and transportation center and is home to Valley International Airport, the Port of Harlingen, the Free Trade International Bridge at Los Indios, and is recognized as the medical center of the Rio Grande Valley. Harlingen is also the second largest city in Cameron County and the third largest in the Rio Grande Valley. The city covers more than 34 square miles (88 km2) and has an elevation of 38 feet (11.6m) above sea level.

Demographics

Climate Harlingens semi-tropical climate allows residents and visitors alike to enjoy a variety of yearround activities. Winters are delightfully warm and summers are hot...this is Texas, after all. Rainfall averages 25 inches and annual average temperature is 73 F.

Cost of Living Harlingen has long been an attractive place to live and work and is a popular destination
for retirees on fixed incomes. Currently ranked as the third lowest cost of living community in the nation, Harlingens housing prices are well below the national average. The average cost of grocery items, transportation and health care also fall below the national average.

Crime Statistics The Harlingen Police Department strives to develop strong partnerships within the
community and innovative programs have been developed and have proven to be instrumental in significantly reducing the overall crime rate in our city. In 2009, gang violence was reduced by 71%. The 2009 Uniform Crime Report shows a 35.2% decrease in violent crime; murder, rape and robbery is down 41.4% and burglaries dropped 22.1%. Link: View 2009 City of Harlingen Crime Report.

Education

The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District supports a fully integrated system of 17 elementary schools, five middle schools, two high schools, three alternative schools and an early college high school where students can graduate with both an associates degree and a high school diploma. The award winning district, with a projected enrollment of 18,292 students, earned a Recognized rating by the TEA for the 2009/2010 school year, with 14 of those campuses receiving an Exemplary rating. Harlingen CISD earns recognized rating from TEA

Links: Press Release 7/30/2010: Harlingen CISD earns recognized rating from TEA; 2008-2009 Academic Excellence Indicator System Pre-school, K-8 and secondary education are also available at several private and parochial schools in the area. Harlingen's Marine Military Academy is the only college preparatory school (grades 8-13) in the nation based on the traditions of the U.S. Marine Corps. Harlingen is also home to Texas State Technical College (TSTC), which, in addition to offering a core curriculum with transferable college hours, also offers advanced or emerging technical programs not offered by many public two-year colleges. TSTCs University Articulation and Career Center, a two-story, 38,000square-foot, state-of-the-art instructional facility now under construction, will provide an opportunity for public and private four-year universities to offer bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees at the TSTC University Center. Within a short drive from Harlingen, the University of Texas at Brownsville, with over 12,000 students, and the University of Texas - Pan American in Edinburg, with over 17,000 students, offer bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees for area students. Link: Higher Education Locator Map (HELM)

Culture & Leisure

There is plenty to do in Harlingen, from city parks, private and public golf courses, hike and bike trails and nature parks, to fitness centers, shopping centers, movies, exhibits and concerts. Excellent performances and programs entertain and enlighten at multiple venues throughout the city, including the Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre, Harlingen Municipal Auditorium, the Art Forum, Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, Harlingen Public Library, and the Iwo Jima Memorial Museum. The city also has a collection of murals and artistry showcased on walls and buildings throughout the city. Harlingen has it all! A trip to the beach at South Padre Island is just minutes away. Many wildlife and nature preserves in the Rio Grande Valley bring thousands of birders to the area yearly, many of whom attend Harlingens internationally acclaimed Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival held each November. Harlingen maintains 556 acres of park and recreational facilities: baseball, softball, soccer and football fields, hike/bike trails, and two birdingnature parks. Tennis, cycling and golf are year-round activities and ecotourism has become a major growth industry. With the World Birding Center headquarters in the Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen is perfect for avid birders or nature enthusiasts. Harlingen Field is home to the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings pro baseball team. Other Valley professional sports teams include the RGV Vipers NBA Development League, the Edinburg Roadrunners baseball team and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees hockey team. A full range of collegiate sports at two Valley universities also offers exciting entertainment for sports fans.

Recreation & Sports

Employment Harlingen has a growing skilled labor force. The agriculture industry used to be the
dominant industry, but Harlingen has diversified. Agriculture still serves an important part in the Harlingen economy, but one of the fastest growing industries in Harlingen is the health care industry. Links: Valley Morning Star, local paper; Work in Texas, Texas Workforce job online resource.

Health Care Harlingen is home to the regions largest hospital, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen,
a 600 bed acute care hospital. Harlingen Medical Center is a general acute care hospital led by physicians specializing in cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology and was named among the nations 100 Top Hospitals for cardiovascular care by Thomson Reuters in 2008. The Regional Academic Health Center, part of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, offers third and fourth year medical students classroom-based courses and attending rounds with doctors. Newly graduated doctors

are guided through a three-year Internal Medicine residency program. The VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System, is located on the campus of the Regional Academic Health Center, In additional to primary care, the state-of-the-art Harlingen VA Outpatient Clinic includes a laboratory, mental health, nutrition, social work, dental and ophthalmology, physical therapy, orthotics, physiatry, infectious disease, urology, Tele-Derm, orthopedics, spinal cord care, pulmonary functions, womens health, audiology, pharmacy, x-ray, CT scans, bone density and MRI services for veterans. In January 2011, a 120,000 sq. ft. VA Health Care Center at Harlingen will open nearby. Su Clinica Familiar, is a 62,000 sq. ft. multi-specialty clinic providing quality health services to people in Cameron and Willacy Counties. Su Clinica maintains four program/service delivery sites and provides services such as pharmacy, laboratory, dental, WIC, radiology, social services, family planning, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, health education and nutrition counseling.

Housing From established tree-shaded neighborhoods to new gated communities, Harlingen's housing
is as diverse as its residents. Median home price is $100,500 2009 Property Tax Rate for Harlingen - $2.077 (Tax rate per $100) Links: Real Estate Companies; Real Estate Agents; Harlingen Area Apartments; Real Estate Source magazine current property listings

Mexico The Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico share a common border, which is the Rio Grande
River. Passports are required to cross the border and many U.S. citizens enter Mexico each year for study, tourism or business. The Mexican government makes a concerted effort to protect U.S. citizens and other visitors to major Mexican tourist destinations. Mexico has deployed military troops and federal police throughout the country to combat drug-trafficking organizations and narcotics-related violence. The problems that exist along the US Mexican border are contained on the Mexican side. Link: Recent U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs press release.

Retirement

While many people vacation in Texas for only a week at a time, many of our northern neighbors have grown accustomed to spending the entire winter season in the Rio Grande Valley. Each year, thousands of retirement-age visitors, known as Winter Texans, spend anywhere from one to six months in Harlingen. In 2008, Harlingen became a Go Texan Certified Retirement Community, endorsing the community as an ideal location for seasonal or permanent residency for retirees.

Shopping & Dining From a contemporary mall, to a

national retail outlet mall just minutes away, to one-of-a-kind antique and boutique stores in the downtown area - Harlingen will be your one stop for hours of shopping. The Jackson Street Antique District draws treasure-seekers to an ever-growing number of shops filled with collectibles and treasures, particularly on Market Days held every first Saturday of the month. The highly anticipated Bass Pro Shop, Americas most popular outdoor store, is tentatively scheduled to open in Harlingen in the fall of 2011. Dining in Harlingen offers a wide variety of restaurant styles and food choices, from Mexican food to Texas barbecue to fine dining. Visit www.visitharlingentexas.com for more information on our local cuisine.

Worship

More than 20 different faiths are served by approximately 68 houses of worship: churches, mosques and synagogues. Link: Church listings

Additional Resources:
Brownsville-Harlingen Real Estate Market Overview 2010 Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce Harlingen Economic Development Corporation City of Harlingen Harlingen Convention & Visitors Bureau Harlingen Board of Realtors

Harlingen is home to:

Farmers Market (weekly) Jackson Street Market Days (Monthly) Winter Texan Appreciation Day (January) Jalapeo 100 Bike Ride Tour & Run (February) Chambers Annual Golf Tournament (May) Harlingen Heritage Festival (May) Chambers Summer Showcase Business Expo (June) Blues on the Hill (Blues concert held in May, June and August) July 4th Parade Taste of Harlingen (October) Sabor del Campo (October) Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival (November) Veterans Day Parade (November) Arroyo Holiday Lighting (December)

Points of Interest
Harlingen
Casa de Amistad/Municipal Auditorium City Lake Walking Trail Community Center/Casa Del Sol Harlingen Arts & Heritage Museum Harlingen Heritage Trail Harlingen Hike and Bike Trail at McKelvey Park Harlingen Historic City Cemetery Harlingen Murals Harlingen Performing Arts Theatre Harlingen Public Library Harlingen Soccer Complex Harlingen Sports Complex on Wilson Road H.E.B. Tennis Center at Pendleton Park Hugh Ramsey Nature Park Iwo Jima Monument & Museum Jackson Street District Marine Military Academy Pendleton Park indoor swimming pool RGV WhiteWings Baseball Texas State Technical College Texas State Travel Information Center Valley International Airport Valle Vista Mall

Rio Grande Valley

Children's Museum of Brownsville Gladys Porter Zoo, Brownsville International Museum of Art and Science, McAllen Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge Museums of Port Isabel & Port Isabel Lighthouse Rio Grande Valley Outlet Mall, Mercedes San Juan Shrine Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge Schlitterbahn Water Park

For more information about Harlingen, Texas, visit the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce website at www.harlingen.com or call us at (956) 423-5440. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!

311 E. Tyler Ave., Harlingen TX 78550 P: (956) 423-5440 | www.harlingen.com

311 E. Tyler Ave., Harlingen TX 78550 P: (956) 216-5085 www.harlingenedc.com

311 E. Tyler Ave., Harlingen TX 78550 P: (956) 423-5440 www.visitharlingetexas.com

118 E. Tyler Ave., Harlingen TX 78550 P: (956) 216-5000 www.myharlingen.us