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Valley Towns
Brownsville, McAllen, and Harlingen: These are the Valley's three largest cities, all linked together by US Highway 83 and its parallel railroad system, along which most valley towns sprang up around during the turn of the century. Brownsville is a seaport and port of entry from Matamoros, Mexico.
Brownsville has become an international center of commerce without losing its sense of tradition or friendly bicultural heritage from starting out as a small frontier town. Brownsville is the site of the Univeristy of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. It's growing industial area and seaport bring ships from all parts of the world to trade under NAFTA.
McAllen is the upper Valley's largest city and has been coined "the Square Dance Capistal of the World." In addition to its preeminence as a major port of entry with Mexico, McAllen has become a vital retail and wholesale center with a major health care center in South Texas. McAllen also boasts an excellent arts and sciences museum and a full calendar of cultural events.
Harlingen is home to the Marine Military Academy which boasts the original Iwo Jima Memorial from which the Arlington, VA, statue was cast. The city’s excellent medical centers and related facilities offer services once found only in the largest metropolitan areas. It also has a major technical college for the Valley. Harlingen’s upper level medical school has fully accredited undergraduate programs in the six required disciplines of internal medicine: obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, psychiatry and family practice medicine. Harlingen’s revitalized historical area, the Jackson Street District, features architecture from the 1920s-50s. The palm-lined business district features quaint restored storefronts, old-fashioned street lamps and sidewalk benches and masses of colorful flowers. Stores sell antiques, apparel, collectibles, crafts, country treasures, flowers, furniture, jewelry and works of art.
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