Editing McAllen, Texas (section)

==Economy==
The [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]] began its rapid development with the introduction of [[irrigation]] in 1898 and the construction of the railroad in 1904. These major additions turned a once relatively desolate area into a major agricultural center. Throughout much of the 1900s, McAllen was a rural, agriculture-based economy characterized by sporadic growth.

Today, the area is transforming into a major international trade area. As recently as 1990, McAllen's unemployment rate was at 22.6%. By the end of 2005, that figure had dropped to 7.7%. However, in 2011, census.gov listed the McAllen metro area the poorest in the nation.<ref>Martha C. White (October 21, 2011) "[https://web.archive.org/web/20111022225509/http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/21/8432089-poorest-place-in-us-mcallen-texas-and-heres-why Poorest place in US? McAllen, Texas, and here's why] " ''[[MSNBC.com]]'' Accessed November 5, 2011.</ref> As of 2012, the average cost of a home in McAllen was the third-least expensive in the country, at $178,000, while average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment was $708. In 2012, the cost of living in McAllen was 16.2% lower than the national average.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/10-cheapest-places-to-live-in-the-us/3/ |title=10 cheapest places to live in the U.S. |date=November 13, 2012 |access-date=February 23, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

===Trade===
Since the 1980s and especially since the ratification of the [[North American Free Trade Agreement]] in 1994, the focal point of economic activity has shifted from agriculture to international trade, health care, retail, and tourism.

The McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) is located south of McAllen between McAllen and Reynosa. Commissioned in 1973, it was the first inland [[Foreign-trade zones of the United States|foreign-trade zone]] in the United States. Also, an FTZ designation site is at the [[McAllen Miller International Airport]] to facilitate air cargo needs. Under U.S. and Mexican laws and NAFTA provisions, the FTZ designation offers specific cost-saving opportunities to manufacturers. Products can be brought into the FTZ duty-free. Services have recently expanded to include full logistic support services, including public warehouse services such as pick and pack, order processing, inventory control, incoming/outgoing quality inspection, and kitting.<ref>{{cite web |title= Rio Grande Valley |publisher= Texas Border Business |url= http://www.texasborderbusiness.com/About/Rio-Grande-Valley |access-date=November 21, 2011}}</ref>