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Brownsville
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville is a city in Cameron County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000
census, the city population was 139,722. As of 2005, U.S. Census estimates put
Brownsville at a population of 167,493. It is the county seat of Cameron
CountyGR6.
Geography
Brownsville is located at 25°55′49″N, 97°29′4″W (25.930307, -97.484424)GR1, on
the U.S.-Mexico border (marked here by the Rio Grande or Río Bravo del Norte)
from Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 215.0
km² (83.0 mi²), making it by far the largest city in the Rio Grande Valley.
208.2 km² (80.4 mi²) of it is land and 6.8 km² (2.6 mi²) of it (3.16%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 139,722 people, 38,174 households, and
32,180 families residing in the city. The population density was 671.0/km²
(1,737.8/mi²). There were 42,323 housing units at an average density of
203.2/km² (526.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 81.65% White, 0.41%
African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander,
14.66% from other races, and 2.29% from two or more races. 91.28% of the
population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 38,174 households out of which 50.1% had children under the age of 18
living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female
householder with no husband present, and 15.7% were non-families. 13.7% of all
households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was
65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.62 and the average
family size was 3.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 11.2%
from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65
years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there
were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,468, and the median income
for a family was $26,186. Males had a median income of $21,739 versus $17,116
for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,762. About 32.4% of
families and 36.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including
45.0% of those under age 18 and 31.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, the median gross rent paid for housing in Brownsville was $405 per
month. This was the lowest of any city in the United States with more than
100,000 people. [1]
* According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 51.7% of the population has a high
school diploma.
* According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 87.2% speak a language other than English
at home. [2]
History
* Fort Texas, a fort on the Mexican border was commissioned in 1845 less than a
mile from what would become downtown Brownsville.
* Not even completed yet, the Mexican Army began the Siege of Fort Texas on May
3-9, 1846. One of the only two American soldiers who died in the attack was the
Fort's commander, Major Jacob Brown, in honor of whom the post was renamed to
Fort Brown.
* The Battle of Palo Alto occurred five miles from the present location of
downtown Brownsville on May 8, 1846, the first battle of the Mexican-American
War. On May 9, the Battle of Resaca de la Palma was fought within the bounds of
the present city limits.
* Brownsville was established in January 13, 1849 by Charles Stillman.
* On July 13, 1859, the First Cortina War started. Juan Nepomuceno Cortina would
become one of the most important historical figures of the area, and continued
to exert a decisive influence in the local events until his arrest in 1875. The
First Cortina War ended on December 27, 1859. In May of 1861, the brief Second
Cortina War took place.
Main article: Cortina Troubles
* During the Civil War Brownsville was used as a smuggling point for Confederate
goods into Mexico.
* On May 15, 1865 a month after the surrender had been signed at Appomattox
Court House the Battle of Palmito Ranch was fought.
* On Valentine's day, 1895, 6 inches of snow fell in Brownsville. This was the
first recorded instance of snow in the region.
* On August 13, and 14th 1906 Brownsville was the site of the Brownsville Raid.
* On December 8, 1911 Brownsville's first international bridge was opened, which
was called the Brownsville & Matamoros Bridge.
* On September 8, 1926 The Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (later
known as Texas Southmost College) admitted its first class.
* In 1945 Fort Brown was decommissioned and in 1948 the City and College
acquired the land.
* From 1945 to 1970 Brownsville population doubled from 25,000 to 52,000 people.
* In 1991 Brownsville receives a University via the partnership between the
University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College.
* Brownsville was declared an All-America City in the year 2001.
* On December 25, 2004, Brownsville had its first instance of measurable snow in
109 years, with 1 1/2 inches, and the first recorded White Christmas. This was
part of the 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm. The snow was subsequently sold on
eBay.[3]
City Government
Picture of Brownsville taken on Elizabeth on the right is the "Old Federal
Courthouse" which Brownsville uses to hold City Commission meetings.
Picture of Brownsville taken on Elizabeth on the right is the "Old Federal
Courthouse" which Brownsville uses to hold City Commission meetings.
Brownsville has a Council-Manager style of Government. The Mayor and six City
Commissioners, two At-Large and four District, serve staggered four year terms.
With elections for one At-Large and two District seats every two years. General
elections are held on the first Saturday of May in odd numbered years.
As of 2006, the members of the Commission are:
* Mayor: Eddie Treviño (Since 2003)
* Commissioner At-Large "A": Sally Arroyo (Since 2003)
* Commissioner At-Large "B": Ernie Hernandez (Since 2005)
* Commissioner District 1: Ricardo Longoria Jr. (Since 2003)
* Commissioner District 2: Charlie Atkinson (Since 2006)
* Commissioner District 3: Carlos Cisneros (Since 2002)
* Commissioner District 4: Edward Camarillo (Since 2005)
Charlie Atkinson won the special election to fill the vacated District 2 seat on
Saturday, May 13, 2006. Atkinson will hold the seat for the remainder of former
incumbent David Betancourt's term. David Betancourt vacated his seat on 3
January 2006 to run for Cameron County treasurer.
The next regular elections for the City will occur in the following years:
* Mayor: 2007
* At-Large "A": 2007
* At-Large "B": 2009
* District 1: 2007
* District 2: 2007 (*)
* District 3: 2009
* District 4: 2009
The City Commission appoints the City Manager. As of 2006, the City Manager is
Charlie Cabler.
The City Commission also appoints a six member Public Utilities Board for a
four-year term. Members are limited to two consecutive or non-consecutive terms.
The Mayor is an ex-officio member of the Board.
Education
Universities and Colleges
UT School of Public Health
UT School of Public Health
* The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College
* South Texas Vocational Technical Institute
Public schools
Most of Brownsville is served by Brownsville Independent School District. The
B.I.S.D. counted its total enrollment in the 2003-04 at 45,986 students in 50
schools. It is the 17th largest school district in Texas. A portion of northern
Brownsville is served by the Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School
District.
In addition, Brownsville residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools
operated by the South Texas Independent School District, as well as B.I.S.D.
magnet schools. Each B.I.S.D. high school has a magnet school within the school
(example, Homer Hanna High School, a B.I.S.D. high school, has the district's
medical magnet program).
Private and Parochial Schools
Grades 9-12:
* Saint Joseph Academy(grades 7 through 12)
* Valley Christian High School
Grades 1-8:
* Brownsville SDA School
* Episcopal Day School
* First Baptist School
* Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School
* Faith Christian Academy
* Guadalupe Regional Middle School
* Incarnate Word Academy
* Kenmont Montessori School
* St. Luke's Catholic School
* St. Mary's Catholic School
Charter Schools
* Raul Yzaguirre School For Success
* Sentry Technology Prep Charter High School
Transportation
A picture of Boca Chica Blvd. overlooking in the background U.S. Highway 77.
Boca Chica Blvd. is a major traffic artery in Brownsville.
A picture of Boca Chica Blvd. overlooking in the background U.S. Highway 77.
Boca Chica Blvd. is a major traffic artery in Brownsville.
U.S. Highway 77/83 over International Boulevard.
U.S. Highway 77/83 over International Boulevard.
Mass Transit
The Brownsville Urban System, or "BUS" for short, is the largest Mass Transit
system in the Rio Grande Valley and the only Mass Transit system in Cameron
County. BUS provides bus service throughout the City of Brownsville. BUS is
particularly used by Mexican tourists as the main bus station is located within
two blocks of Brownsville's Gateway International Bridge. A north Brownsville
transfer station was recently established in mid-Brownsville, expanding bus
service to rapidly developing North Brownsville.
Highways
Brownsville is served by the following U.S. Highways: U.S. 77 and U.S. 281.
U.S. 77 is a proposed part of NAFTA's future Interstate 69.
International Bridges
Brownsville has 3 international bridges:
* The Brownsville & Matamoros (B&M) International Bridge, known locally as the
"Old Bridge".
o The B&M International Bridge also serves as an international railway for Union
Pacific
* Gateway International Bridge, known locally as the "new bridge" despite the
fact that it's no longer the city's newest international bridge.
* The Veteran's International Bridge at Los Tomates, or locally simply known as
the "Los Tomates" or "Veteran's" bridge.
Airport
Brownsville has its own city-owned airport, the Brownsville/South Padre Island
International Airport. The airport is used for general aviation and is served by
one commercial airline, Continental Airlines, with an average of seven flights
to Houston-Intercontinental (depending on the day of the week).
Art and Culture
The Brownsville area is full of well-established art galleries and museums that
represent not only art of the region and Mexico but feature traveling exhibits
from all over the world. The Brownsville Heritage Complex
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