According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,583 sq mi (4,100 km2), of which 12 sq mi (31 km2) (0.8%) are covered by water.[8] The northern part of the county has sandy and light loamy soils over deep reddish or mottled, clayeysubsoils. In some areas, limestone lies within 40 in (1 m) of the surface. The southern part of the county has moderately deep to deep loamy surfaces over clayey subsoils. Along the Rio Grande, brown to red clays are found. Hidalgo County is in theSouth Texas Plains vegetation area, which features grasses, mesquite, live oaks, and chaparral. Native plants, reduced in recent years by extensive farming, includechapote,guayacán,ebony,huisache,brasil, andyucca.
Natural resources included caliche, sand, gravel, oil, and gas. Oil and gas production in 1982 totaled 98,487,211,000 cubic feet (2.7888472×109 m3) of gas-well gas, 139,995 barrels of crude oil, 1,101,666 barrels of condensate, and 15,784,000 cubic feet (447,000 m3) of casinghead gas. The climate is subtropical and humid. Temperatures range from an average low of 47 °F (8 °C) in January to an average high to 96 °F (36 °C) in July; the average annual temperature is 73 °F (23 °C). Rainfall averages 23 inches (580 mm) a year, and the growing season lasts for 320 days of the year.[9]
U.S. Decennial Census[11] 1850–2010[12] 2010-2020[2]
Hidalgo County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. Except for the 1930 census, where Latinos are included under "Some Other Race", this table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
There were 216,471 households, and 179,668 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 363 people per square mile (140 people/km2). There were 248,287 housing units at an average density of 123 units per square mile (47/km2). There were 216,471 households, out of which 54.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.00% weremarried couples living together, 18.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.0% were non-families. 14.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.55 and the average family size was 3.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 34.7% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.3 years. For every 100 females there were 94.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,134, and the median income for a family was $31,760. Males had a median income of $22,635 versus $17,526 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $12,130. About 32.60% of families and 35.80% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 47.4% of those under age 18 and 29.8% of those age 65 or over. The county'sper-capita income makes it one of thepoorest counties in the United States. In 2009, it was tied withBronx County, New York for "the greatest share of people receiving food stamps: 29 percent."[19]
It has thelowest per capita income of the 276 MSAs within the 50 states at $9,899. Its median household income is also the lowest within the 50 states at $24,863. In a survey done in over 190 metropolitan areas it had the highest obesity rate of residents at 38.8 percent.[22] Today, the states with the highest poverty rates (of over 20 million living on $2 a day) are all in the southern part of the country (Table 1) [7], and the nation's poorest large metropolitan area is McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas.[23]
Hidalgo County tends to vote for theDemocratic Party, although there is representation of theRepublican Party in some of the offices that affect the county. Hidalgo County is represented byMonica De La Cruz ofTexas's 15th congressional district andVicente González ofTexas's 34th congressional district. In the2012 presidential election, 70.4% voted forBarack Obama, while 28.6% voted forMitt Romney. In the 2020 presidential election, Hidalgo County saw a significant shift to the Republican Party, withDonald Trump increasing the Republican vote from 27.9% in 2016 to 41%.[24] However, as an urban county, the shift was not as large as nearby less densely populated counties. In 2024, on his third run, Trump won the county by 3 points, following a trend that resulted in many Hispanic-majority counties in Texas and Florida flipping red, the first time the county voted for the Republican nominee since1972.
TheHidalgo County Sheriff's Office operates jail facilities and is the primary provider of law enforcement services to the county's unincorporated areas.
All of the county is in the service area ofSouth Texas College.[29] The Pecan, Mid-Valley, Technology, and Nursing & Allied Health campuses of South Texas College are located in Hidalgo County.[30]
In 2020, the total value of products produced in Hidalgo was $11.5 billion.[31]
In 1982, 91% of the land was in farms and ranches, with 52% of the farmland under cultivation and 85% irrigated; 51 to 60% of the county was considered prime farmland. The primary crops were sorghum, cotton, corn, and vegetables; Hidalgo County led Texas counties in the production of cabbage, onions, cantaloupes, carrots, and watermelons. The primary fruits and nuts grown in the county were grapefruit, oranges, and pecans. Cattle, milk cows, and hogs were the primary livestock products.[9] Hidalgo is the highest-producing county in the state foroilseeds anddry beans.[32]
The Southern Cattle Tick (Rhipicephalus microplus) is invasive here.[33] Populations here have also become highlypermethrin resistant.[33] In 2014 the problem had become so severe inCameron that spread here (and to other neighboring counties) was feared.[33] A Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area was established in Cameron to preserve efficacy in these counties.[33] This was unsuccessful however, due at least in part to the ticks' infestation of wildlife including whitetail (Odocoileus virginianus).[33]
