The population of the Valley’s four counties (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy) has grown rapidly. The Texas Comptroller estimated that the Valley’s population in 2004 was 1,093,273, projecting a 24% climb during the next decade to 1.35 million people.
The Valley is composed of two Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) - McAllen/Edinburg/Pharr and Brownsville/Harlingen. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the McAllen/Edinburg/Pharr MSA showed a 3.5% increase in nonfarm employment from 2003 to 2004. Only three other Texas metropolitan areas showed a greater or equivalent percentage increase - Laredo (4.7%), San Angelo (3.6%) and Victoria (3.5%). The Brownsville/Harlingen MSA experienced a 1.3% increase in nonfarm employment in the same period.
