Weslaco ( ) is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census the population was 41,103, Studies from 2023 show the population is 43,053 and in 2020 the estimated population was 40,160. It is at the southern tip of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexican border, across the Rio Grande from the city of Nuevo Progreso, Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas.

Weslaco derives its name from the W.E. Stewart Land Company. It was the hometown of Harlon Block, one of the Marines photographed raising the flag at Iwo Jima, and of film and television actor David Spielberg.

Geography

Weslaco is located in southeastern Hidalgo County at (26.159130, –97.987374). It is bordered to the east by the city of Mercedes and to the west by the city of Donna. Interstate 2 and U.S. Route 83 pass through Weslaco, leading west to McAllen and east to Harlingen. Weslaco is north of Progreso and north of the bridge over the Rio Grande to Nuevo Progreso in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Weslaco has a total area of , of which are land and , or 0.49%, are water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by two seasons; a wet season from April to September and a dry season from October to March. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Weslaco has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. It is the most easterly city in the central states of the Great Plains with a humid subtropical climate bounded by a semi-arid climate to the west, reflecting in its most shrubby vegetation. The average high in January is and the average low is . The average high is and the average low is in August. The warm season is extremely long, as average high temperatures from May through September are above and average low temperatures are above , with relatively high dew point values resulting in higher relative humidity values and heat index values. Heat index values can consistently reach over during these months.

Average annual precipitation is only . Most precipitation occurs in the wet season which occurs from April to September, with the least precipitation distinctly occurring in the dry season from October to March. As September is the peak of the north Atlantic hurricane season and tropical storms and hurricanes occasionally drop copious amounts of rainfall on the region, this month tends to be by far the wettest, averaging of rain. The driest month is February, with only of precipitation. The record snowfall was on December 25, 2004. It snowed again on December 8, 2017. Weslaco received 10-12 inches of rain in October of 2015 that impacted several areas, particularly with drainage systems being overflooded.

Temperatures are frequently above , occasionally as early as February and as late as the end of October, the highest temperature ever recorded in Weslaco was on April 17, 1920. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Weslaco was , on January 12, 1962 and December 23, 1989.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Weslaco had a population of 40,160. The median age was 33.6 years; 28.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86.4 males.

There were 9,998 families residing in the city and 13,239 households, of which 42.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.7% were married-couple households, 15.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census

Healthcare services

Prime Healthcare Services, through its subsidiary Knapp Medical Center, serves Weslaco's emergency medical needs. The facility is outfitted with a Heli-Pad, Level 3 Trauma Unit and 233 hospital beds. Surrounding Knapp Medical is an unofficial healthcare district featuring a concentration of physicians, medical services and pharmacies. This district draws patients from the entire Mid-Valley. Weslaco residents can check with local providers for other specialized needs.

Government

The mayor was Adrian Gonzalez as of 2020.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public education in Weslaco is provided by the Weslaco Independent School District, Idea Public Schools, and South Texas Independent School District. There are 4 private schools: San Martin de Porres Catholic School, Valley Grande Adventist Academy, Mid-Valley Christian School, and First Christian Academy. Weslaco also has two Charter schools: Horizon Montessori and Technology Education Charter High School. The city has a Head Start Program, pre-kinder programs as well as several privately owned day care centers.

College and trade schools

Continuing education facilities located within Weslaco include South Texas College (Mid-Valley Campus), South Texas Vocational Technical Institute, and Valley Grande Institute for Academic Studies. Texas A&M operates an agricultural research center in Weslaco.

Public library

thumb|Public Library

The Mayor Joe V. Sanchez Public Library serves Weslaco.

Notable people

  • Natalia Anciso, contemporary artist and educator, born in Weslaco
  • Harlon Block, United States Marine; lived in Weslaco and graduated from Weslaco High School
  • Omar Figueroa Jr., professional boxer, former WBC Lightweight world title holder; lives in Weslaco and graduated from Weslaco East High School
  • Roberto García, professional boxer; former WBC Middleweight Silver title holder; lives in Weslaco and graduated from Weslaco High School
  • Pat Hingle, actor; lived in Weslaco and graduated from Weslaco High School
  • Chuck Leah; Americana singer-songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist born in Weslaco
  • Gonzalo Lopez, criminal, born in Weslaco
  • David Spielberg, actor, born in Weslaco

Museum

The Weslaco Museum has exhibits and hosts events for local residents.

Parks

Weslaco is home to one of the nine sites of the World Birding Center in the Rio Grande Valley. The site is located within the Estero Llano Grande State Park.

The Valley Nature Center is a six-acre park and environmental education center that focuses on the plants and animals of the Rio Grande Valley.

City parks

The City of Weslaco Parks & Recreation Department maintains six city parks, and three public swimming pools.

Tourism

Weslaco is a Winter Texan destination and a gateway between Texas and Mexico.

See also

References

English: Home located at 1027 S. Texas Blvd. Weslaco, Texas, coordinates 26°8′54″N 97°59′22″W. Presently it is well preserved and only the facade of a 15-acre nature preserve in the heart of the City of Weslaco in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas providing a haven for birds, butterflies and other wildlife that thrive among the native habitats of its Tamaulipan Thornscrub forest, orchard butterfly garden, wetlands, and ponds, according to fronteraaudubon.org.

  • City of Weslaco official website
  • Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Economic Development Corporation
  • "Weslaco, TX" in Handbook of Texas Online