Editing Mercedes, Texas

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Mercedes, Texas
|official_name            =

|settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Texas|City]]
|nickname                 = The Queen City
|motto                    = "It Starts Here!"

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Mercedes historic downtown.jpg 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Downtown Mercedes in August 2010
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = TXMap-doton-Mercedes.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Mercedes, Texas
|image_map1               = Hidalgo County Mercedes.svg
|mapsize1                 = 250px
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{Flagu|United States|size=23px}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{Flag|Texas|size=23px}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Texas|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 30.72
|area_land_km2            = 30.56
|area_water_km2           = 0.17
|area_total_sq_mi         = 11.86
|area_land_sq_mi          = 11.80
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 16258
|population_density_km2   = 543.34
|population_density_sq_mi = 1407.24

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 21
|elevation_ft             = 69
|coordinates              = {{coord|26|8|58|N|97|55|7|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 78570
|area_code                = [[Area code 956|956]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 48-47700<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1341366<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|cityofmercedes.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Mercedes''' is a U.S. city in [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]], [[Texas]]. The population was 15,570 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4847700| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Mercedes city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=February 16, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213102214/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4847700| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> It is part of the [[McAllen–Edinburg–Mission metropolitan area|McAllen–Edinburg–Mission]] and [[Reynosa–McAllen Metropolitan Area|Reynosa–McAllen]] metropolitan areas.

==Geography==

Mercedes is located in southeastern Hidalgo County at {{coord|26|8|58|N|97|55|7|W|type:city}} (26.149315, –97.918675).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is bordered to the west by [[Weslaco, Texas|Weslaco]] and to the east, in [[Cameron County, Texas|Cameron County]], by [[La Feria, Texas|La Feria]].

The [[Interstate 2]]/[[U.S. Route 83 in Texas|U.S. Route 83]] freeway passes through the northern side of Mercedes, leading west {{convert|21|mi}} to [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]] and east {{convert|14|mi}} to [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]]. Mercedes is {{convert|9|mi|0}} north of the [[Progreso–Nuevo Progreso International Bridge]] over the Rio Grande, connecting Texas with the Mexican state of [[Tamaulipas]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Mercedes has a total area of {{convert|29.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|29.6|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.2|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 0.55%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==History==

[[Image:MercedesCa1915.jpg|thumb|left|Downtown Mercedes in 1915]]
[[File:Texas - Mercedes through Miller Dam - NARA - 68149596 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Mercedes in 1933]]
Mercedes is known as "The Queen City of the Valley" or "La Reina del Valle". Mercedes was founded September 15, 1907, by the American Rio Grande Land & Irrigation Company, and was incorporated March 8, 1909.<ref>Wheelus, William Doherty. "A Stupendous Irrigation Enterprise: Building the Biggest Irrigation System in the World." Gulf Coast Magazine: 1906, UTRGV Digital Library, The University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley. Accessed via: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/gulfcoastmag/ https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1018&context=gulfcoastmag</ref> It is one of the oldest towns in the [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]], and the city celebrated its centennial in 2007.

The city was located in Capisallo Pasture, part of Capisallo Ranch owned by Jim Welles. This location was known as the Pear Orchard because of the vast numbers of [[Opuntia|prickly pear]] cactus growing there at that time.

The origin of the city name - Mercedes - is not clear. A common claim is that the first name given to the city was "Diaz" in honor of [[Porfirio Diaz]], then president of Mexico. Later it was supposedly renamed "Mercedes Diaz" in honor of the president's wife, and from that, Mercedes became the Queen City. This story, however, is historically inaccurate, given that neither of Diaz's two wives were named Mercedes.<ref name="ReferenceA">de Leon Edwards, Beatrice, EdD. Images of America, Mercedes. Arcadia Publishing. 2014</ref>

During President Woodrow Wilson's administration, Camp Llano Grande was founded in 1916 southwest of Mercedes. Today, its location is in Weslaco, Texas, a town that didn't exist in 1916 and Mercedes was the nearest town. The National Defense Act called for the establishment of several National Guard camps, including Camp Llano Grande, to counter cross-border attacks led by Pancho Villa.
Soldiers from Indiana, Minnesota and North Dakota were stationed at the camp from 1916 - 1917.  Upon the onset or World War I, the camp merged with Camp Mercedes to train soldiers for service in France.<ref>"Camp Llano Grande." Texas Historical Commission. Marker Number 655. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=165728</ref>

General John J. Pershing chose Mercedes as the site for a permanent training camp when the United States entered WW1 in 1916. Construction of Camp Mercedes on an 80-acre tract southeast of town was completed in early 1917. Until the WWI recruits arrived, a 16th Cavalry training cadre occupied the camp. The soldiers who later arrived for WWI training specialized in the management of horses for service in France. At its peak, Camp Mercedes hosted 16 officers, 700 enlisted men and 600 horses. After the armistice, the camp was demobilized and closed in 1922.<ref>Camp Mercedes." Texas Historical Commission. Marker Number 17130. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=165822</ref>

The old Toluca Ranch still stands east of the International Bridge at [[Progreso, Texas|Progreso]], the sister city to the south. This ranch was close to the river and a prized target for the [[banditry|''bandidos'']] during the days of [[Pancho Villa]]. It was built with many secret rooms and passages, and had heavy wooden shutters on the windows to protect its residents.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1209
|1920= 3414
|1930= 6608
|1940= 7624
|1950= 10081
|1960= 10943
|1970= 9355
|1980= 11851
|1990= 12694
|2000= 13649
|2010= 15570
|2020= 16258
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Mercedes racial composition'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4847700&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Number
!Percentage
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|1,151
|7.08%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|38
|0.23%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|10
|0.06%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|25
|0.15%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|9
|0.06%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|31
|0.19%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|46
|0.28%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|14,948
|91.94%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''16,258'''
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 16,258 people, 4,834 households, and 3,726 families residing in the city.

===2000 census===
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2" /> there were 13,649 people, 4,170 households and 3,348 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,591.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,455 housing units at an average density of {{convert|636.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 79.42% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.89% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.07% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 16.95% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 90.01% of the population.

There were 4,170 households, of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.27 and the average family size was 3.75.

32.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The [[median household income]] was $23,064 and the median family income was $25,339. Males had a median income of $19,945 versus $18,387 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $8,658. About 30.4% of families and 36.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 49.4% of those under age 18 and 30.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Shopping==

The Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets, owned by Chelsea Property Group which is a brand of [[Simon Property Group]], opened in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114135484445188361|last=Chozick |first=Amy |date=March 3, 2006|title=Thanks to Mexican Shoppers, Retail Booms on Texas Border|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> The city is roughly the geographical center of the Rio Grande Valley urban agglomeration and is located on [[Interstate 2]]/[[U.S. Route 83|U.S. Highway 83]], which connects the major urban centers of [[McAllen, Texas|McAllen]], [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] and [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]]. The city is located near a major [[Mexico–United States border]] crossing making it accessible to the growing middle class population of [[Nuevo León]] and [[Tamaulipas]].

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Mercedes Post Office.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/mercedes-307-starr-st-mercedes-tx-1372731 Post Office Location - MERCEDES] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505042242/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/mercedes-307-starr-st-mercedes-tx-1372731 |date=2010-05-05 }}." [[United States Postal Service]]. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.</ref>

Mercedes incorporated in 1909 and formed a City Council style government. The first city election installed six council members: John Puckett, Gouverneur K Watson, Mayor William Lingenbrink, Dr. Edward Schoonmaker, Fred Cutting, and Lyle Harrison.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Current elected city officials (2023):
*Oscar Montoya, Mayor
*Jacob Howell, Commissioner Place 1
*Armando Garcia, Commissioner Place 2
*Joe Martinez, Commissioner Place 3
*Ruben Saldana, Commissioner Place 4
*Alberto Perez, City Manager

Police department
*Pedro Estrada, Chief of Police

==Education==
Mercedes is divided between two school districts:<ref name=schooldistmap>"[https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/sch_dist/st48_tx/c48215_hidalgo/DC10SD_C48215_001.pdf SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP (2010 CENSUS): Hidalgo County, TX]." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on July 9, 2017.</ref> eastern Mercedes is in the [[Mercedes Independent School District]], zoned to [[Mercedes High School]], while western Mercedes is in the [[Weslaco Independent School District]], zoned to [[Weslaco East High School]]<ref>"[http://images.pcmac.org/Uploads/WeslacoISD/WeslacoISD/Sites/DocumentsCategories/Documents/WISD%20Attendance%20Zones%20Tabloid%20High.pdf High School Attendance Zones]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[Weslaco Independent School District]]. Retrieved on July 11, 2017. Persons using Mozilla Firefox to directly view this file may encounter problems</ref>

In addition, [[South Texas Independent School District]], which is headquartered in Mercedes,<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120913221509/http://www.stisd.net/contact.html Contact STISD]." [[South Texas Independent School District]]. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.</ref> serves magnet students in many [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]] communities, including Mercedes.

[[The Science Academy of South Texas]] and [[South Texas High School for Health Professions]], schools of STISD, are in Mercedes.

In 2015, the city joined other cities in south Texas in support of the newly formed [[University of Texas Rio Grande Valley]] by adopting a resolution declaring August 31 as UTRGV day.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.utsystem.edu/sites/utsfiles/offices/external-relations/public-affairs/assets/Mercedes%20Resolution%202013-02%20UT%20Consolidation.pdf|title = City of Mercedes Resolution}}</ref> Also, they recognized the university by installing a boot with the university logos right across the municipal city hall.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Mercedes Helps UTRGV Kick Off with a New Boot|url = http://www.krgv.com/community/con-mi-gente/Mercedes-Helps-UTRGV-Kick-Off-with-a-New-Boot/33153952|access-date = 2015-09-03|last = KRGV|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150823213824/http://www.krgv.com/community/con-mi-gente/Mercedes-Helps-UTRGV-Kick-Off-with-a-New-Boot/33153952|archive-date = 2015-08-23}}</ref>
{{clear}}

[[Colegio Jacinto Treviño]]  located in Mercedes, Texas, was a pioneering Chicano institution of higher education founded in 1970. It played a critical role in the Mexican-American civil rights movement, focusing on bilingual and bicultural education for underserved communities. Established in response to the limited access Mexican-Americans had to higher education and to challenge mainstream educational systems, the college became an emblem of Chicano self-determination and empowerment.
The college was founded during the height of the Chicano Movement, a period in which Mexican-Americans were organizing for civil rights, labor rights, and educational equity. Named after Jacinto Treviño, a Mexican-American revolutionary and educator, the institution was conceived as a space where Chicano students could receive an education relevant to their cultural identity, history, and the socioeconomic challenges faced by their communities. It was created by activists and educators who sought to decolonize education, asserting that traditional institutions failed to reflect the realities and needs of Mexican-American students.

===Public libraries===
Dr Hector P Garcia Library serves Mercedes.<ref>"[http://www.hcls.lib.tx.us/web_pages/mercedes_information_page.htm Mercedes Public Library] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811200154/http://www.hcls.lib.tx.us/web_pages/mercedes_information_page.htm |date=2007-08-11 }}." Hidalgo County Library System. Retrieved on May 9, 2010.</ref>
{{clear}}

==Public arts==
[[File:Mercedes tx 2016-08-29-.png|thumb|One of many cowboy boots displayed throughout Mercedes]]
Mercedes is home to a unique public art project: there are 30 handcrafted {{convert|5+1/2|ft|m|adj=mid|-tall}} cowboy boots dispersed throughout the city, each painted with the insignia of different colleges from around the state, country and even Mexico.

==Radio stations==

These [[FM broadcast band|FM]] radio stations broadcast from Mercedes:
{{div-col|colwidth=18em|content=
* [[KFRQ]] 94.5 
* [[KKPS]] 99.5 
* [[KTEX]] 100.3 
* [[KNVO-FM|KNVO]] 101.1 
* [[KJAV]] 104.9 
* [[KHKZ]] 106.3 
* [[KVLY (FM)|KVLY]] 107.9 
}}

==Notable people==

* [[Natalia Anciso]], artist and educator
* [[Rolando Hinojosa-Smith]], author and professor of English
* [[Billy Gene Pemelton]], Olympic pole vaulter (1964)
* [[Elida Reyna]], [[Tejano music|Tejano]] musician
* [[Jeff Wentworth]], state senator
* [[Nancy Nash (actress)|Nancy Nash]], born Maude Miller, movie actress
* [[Amanda McBroom]], [[Singer Songwriter]], 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song "The Rose"

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Mercedes has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=638514&cityname=Mercedes%2C+Texas%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Mercedes, Texas]</ref>

==References==
<references />
{{notelist}}

==External links==
* [http://cityofmercedes.com/ City of Mercedes official website]
* [http://www.mercedeschamber.com/ Mercedes Chamber of Commerce]

{{Hidalgo County, Texas}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Hidalgo County, Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1907]]
[[Category:1907 establishments in Texas]]