South Texas

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San Antonio is the largest city and the fastest growing city in South Texas.
Corpus Christi is the second largest city in South Texas.
Laredo is the third largest city in South Texas. The San Agustin Cathedral was built during the Spanish Texas period.

South Texas is a region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of this region is about 4.67 million according to the 2013 census estimates.[1] The southern portion of this region is often referred to as the Rio Grande Valley. The eastern portion along the Gulf of Mexico is also referred to as the Coastal Bend.

Land

There is no defined northern boundary, although it is believed to be at the city of San Antonio and from an east to west line extending from the Rio Grande near Maverick County to the Gulf of Mexico, but turning southeast at or near Lavaca County, and continuing towards the Gulf of Mexico to separate it from East Texas and Southeast Texas. The Rio Grande serves as the western and southern boundaries and separates Texas from Mexico. The eastern portion of South Texas is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico. This region of Texas consist of 41 counties. South Texas terrain is flat, lying on the coastal plain. South Texas is so vast, there are even subregions. The very southern tip of South Texas, called the Rio Grande Valley, has fertile soils and is known for its citrus production. The eastern portion of South Texas is often referred to as the Coastal Bend; here, coastal salt marshes, estuaries, and wetlands are scattered. The western and central parts are known as the South Texas Plains or the brush country. Mesquite trees and crop fields dominate the land.

Counties

South Texas is depicted in red. Counties sometimes considered part of South Texas are in a lighter shade of red.
  • The fastest growing county in South Texas is Guadalupe County, growing by 5.64% from 2010 to 2012.
  • The slowest growing county in South Texas is Refugio County, shrinking by 1.21% from 2010 to 2012

Cities

Brownsville is the fourth largest city in South Texas.
Region Rank City 2013 Census Estimates Population[1] State Rank County
1 San Antonio 1,409,019 2 Bexar County
2 Corpus Christi 316,381 8 Nueces County
3 Laredo 248,142 10 Webb County
4 Brownsville 181,860 16 Cameron County
5 McAllen 136,639 22 Hidalgo County
6 Mission 81,050 43 Hidalgo County
7 Edinburg 80,836 44 Hidalgo County
8 Pharr 73,790 47 Hidalgo County
9 Harlingen 65,665 53 Cameron County
10 Victoria 65,098 54 Victoria County
11 Weslaco 37,093 88 Hidalgo County
12 Schertz 35,929 91 Bexar County
13 San Juan 35,593 92 Hidalgo County
14 Eagle Pass 27,708 109 Maverick County
15 Seguin 26,660 110 Guadalupe County
16 Kingsville 26,312 114 Kleberg County
17 San Benito 24,374 116 Cameron County
18 Alice 19,576 136 Jim Wells County
19 Universal City 19,372 142 Bexar County
20 Alamo 18,965 144 Hidalgo County
McAllen is the fifth largest city in South Texas.

Some people consider Houston to be in South Texas for several reasons: Numerous businesses in the Houston region contain 'South Texas' in their titles.[2] The South Texas College of Law is located in downtown Houston. The United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas includes the Houston division. However, Houston is most accurately classified as being within Southeast Texas, a subregion of East Texas.

Rivers

Name Note
Rio Grande Current border between Texas and Mexico
Nueces River At one time considered by Mexico as the border between Texas and Mexico
San Antonio River Part of the river is the location of San Antonio's Famous River Walk.
Aransas River A short river that drains in Copano Bay.
Frio River A fairly cold river, hence the name Frio, which means "cold" in Spanish.
Atascosa River A short river that empties into the Frio River
Mission River Flows into Mission Bay
Leona River A tributary of the Frio River, within the Nueces River Basin
Guadalupe River Flows into the San Antonio Bay estuary at Guadalupe Bay

Lakes and reservoirs

Bays

Padre Island is a popular beach destination.

Estuaries and waterways

  • Rincon Bayou - a bayou in the Nueces River Delta, just north of the mouth of the Nueces River, for Location, see Nueces Bay
  • Elm Bayou - a bayou on the Victoria-Refugio County line
  • Gulf Intracoastal Waterway - a navigable route along the Gulf Of Mexico without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea
  • Resacas of the Rio Grande Valley - many oxbow lakes found scattered throughout the lower Rio Grande Valley
  • Laguna Madre - a long, hypersaline bay that creates a barrier between Padre Island and mainland Texas

Islands

Climate

The climate of South Texas is varied. The area along the Mexican border is generally semi-arid (Köppen climate classification Bsh), while the area from the coast inland to just west of San Antonio has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). South Texas weather is affected by the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains to the west, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, and the Chihuahuan Desert to the west/northwest. Moisture from the Pacific is cut off by the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental and Oriental mountain ranges. Along coastal south Texas, the climate is best exemplified in the summers because they are long and almost tropical, though at times arid, depending upon whether tropical moisture from the Gulf and sometimes from the Pacific is flowing in or if the region is cut off from any moisture by high pressure systems, causing long droughts, which occur every few years. Temperatures reach freezing only a few times in the winter and snowfall is rare, usually three inches or less. Summers in this zone are hot and humid, with daily averages above 90 °F (32 °C). In addition, areas in Texas that are slightly inland from the Gulf of Mexico, such as San Antonio that border the semi-arid climate zone, generally see a peak of precipitation in the spring, and a deep, drought-like nadir in midsummer. Night-time temperatures are around 85 °F in summer. The region of South Texas includes the semi-arid ranch country and the wetter Rio Grande Valley. Considered to be the southernmost tip of the American Great Plains region, the inland region has rainfall similar to that of the Northern Plains. The coastal areas are warm most of the year due to currents of the Gulf of Mexico, but can get cold in winter if a strong front comes in, occasionally causing snow at sea level. Rain in the coastal region is more abundant than in the inland region, and subtropical forests line the Rio Grande. Inland, where it is drier, ranches dominate the landscape, characterized by thick, spiny brush and grasslands. The winters in the inland region are cooler and drier, as Arctic air can make it into the region, but snow is rare due to the lack of humidity. Summers are for the most part hot and dry, but at times can be humid if winds come off the warmer Gulf of Mexico. Tornadoes can occur in this region, but less frequently than in other parts of the state.


Climate data for Corpus Christi, Texas (Corpus Christi Int'l), 1981–2010 normals
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 91
(33)		 97
(36)		 102
(39)		 102
(39)		 103
(39)		 107
(42)		 105
(41)		 107
(42)		 109
(43)		 101
(38)		 98
(37)		 91
(33)		 109
(43)
Average high °F (°C) 66.9
(19.4)		 70.4
(21.3)		 75.9
(24.4)		 81.7
(27.6)		 86.6
(30.3)		 90.9
(32.7)		 93.1
(33.9)		 94.4
(34.7)		 90.1
(32.3)		 84.4
(29.1)		 76.0
(24.4)		 68.4
(20.2)		 81.6
(27.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 57.1
(13.9)		 60.5
(15.8)		 66.1
(18.9)		 72.4
(22.4)		 78.3
(25.7)		 82.4
(28)		 83.9
(28.8)		 84.7
(29.3)		 81.1
(27.3)		 74.5
(23.6)		 66.1
(18.9)		 58.5
(14.7)		 72.1
(22.3)
Average low °F (°C) 47.2
(8.4)		 50.5
(10.3)		 56.3
(13.5)		 63.0
(17.2)		 70.0
(21.1)		 73.9
(23.3)		 74.8
(23.8)		 75.0
(23.9)		 72.0
(22.2)		 64.8
(18.2)		 56.2
(13.4)		 48.6
(9.2)		 62.7
(17.1)
Record low °F (°C) 14
(−10)		 11
(−12)		 24
(−4)		 33
(1)		 45
(7)		 56
(13)		 64
(18)		 64
(18)		 52
(11)		 28
(−2)		 27
(−3)		 13
(−11)		 11
(−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.54
(39.1)		 1.92
(48.8)		 1.89
(48)		 1.84
(46.7)		 3.07
(78)		 3.36
(85.3)		 2.79
(70.9)		 2.92
(74.2)		 4.97
(126.2)		 3.64
(92.5)		 1.97
(50)		 1.82
(46.2)		 31.73
(805.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.1 6.5 5.3 5.3 6.0 6.8 5.7 6.5 8.8 6.3 6.0 6.4 76.6
Average relative humidity (%) 60.5 78.0 76.0 76.0 77.5 80.0 78.5 75.0 74.5 75.5 73.5 74.0 78.0
Source #1: NOAA (extremes 1887–present)[3]
Source #2: HKO (sun, 1961−1990)[7]


Climate data for Laredo, TX
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 95
(35)		 103
(39)		 105
(41)		 110
(43)		 114
(46)		 114
(46)		 113
(45)		 111
(44)		 110
(43)		 104
(40)		 99
(37)		 95
(35)		 114
(46)
Average high °F (°C) 67.9
(19.9)		 72.8
(22.7)		 80.7
(27.1)		 88.4
(31.3)		 94.4
(34.7)		 98.9
(37.2)		 100.1
(37.8)		 100.7
(38.2)		 94.3
(34.6)		 87.0
(30.6)		 77.2
(25.1)		 68.6
(20.3)		 85.9
(29.9)
Average low °F (°C) 45.4
(7.4)		 49.7
(9.8)		 56.3
(13.5)		 63.6
(17.6)		 70.8
(21.6)		 75.2
(24)		 76.0
(24.4)		 76.3
(24.6)		 72.0
(22.2)		 64.6
(18.1)		 54.5
(12.5)		 46.1
(7.8)		 62.5
(16.9)
Record low °F (°C) 19
(−7)		 20
(−7)		 27
(−3)		 32
(0)		 45
(7)		 58
(14)		 66
(19)		 61
(16)		 49
(9)		 28
(−2)		 27
(−3)		 11
(−12)		 11
(−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.88
(22.4)		 0.94
(23.9)		 1.11
(28.2)		 1.45
(36.8)		 2.48
(63)		 2.23
(56.6)		 2.20
(55.9)		 1.93
(49)		 2.93
(74.4)		 2.21
(56.1)		 1.10
(27.9)		 0.88
(22.4)		 20.35
(516.9)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.0 5.3 4.4 4.2 5.3 5.1 4.8 5.1 6.7 4.4 4.3 5.6 61.3
Source #1: NOAA (normals 1981−2010)[8]
Source #2: Weather Channel (extremes) [9]


Climate data for Brownsville, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 91
(33)		 94
(34)		 106
(41)		 102
(39)		 102
(39)		 103
(39)		 103
(39)		 104
(40)		 105
(41)		 99
(37)		 98
(37)		 94
(34)		 106
(41)
Average high °F (°C) 70.7
(21.5)		 73.9
(23.3)		 79.0
(26.1)		 83.9
(28.8)		 88.6
(31.4)		 92.3
(33.5)		 93.7
(34.3)		 94.5
(34.7)		 90.6
(32.6)		 85.7
(29.8)		 79.2
(26.2)		 72.0
(22.2)		 83.7
(28.7)
Average low °F (°C) 51.6
(10.9)		 54.7
(12.6)		 59.6
(15.3)		 65.9
(18.8)		 72.3
(22.4)		 75.7
(24.3)		 76.3
(24.6)		 76.2
(24.6)		 73.1
(22.8)		 66.9
(19.4)		 59.6
(15.3)		 52.7
(11.5)		 65.4
(18.6)
Record low °F (°C) 18
(−8)		 12
(−11)		 28
(−2)		 37
(3)		 41
(5)		 56
(13)		 57
(14)		 63
(17)		 51
(11)		 35
(2)		 27
(−3)		 16
(−9)		 12
(−11)
Average rainfall inches (mm) 1.27
(32.3)		 1.12
(28.4)		 1.23
(31.2)		 1.54
(39.1)		 2.64
(67.1)		 2.57
(65.3)		 2.04
(51.8)		 2.44
(62)		 5.92
(150.4)		 3.74
(95)		 1.82
(46.2)		 1.15
(29.2)		 27.48
(698)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.01 in) 7.7 5.4 4.2 4.0 5.0 6.6 5.0 7.2 9.3 7.3 5.9 7.2 74.8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 130.2 152.6 207.7 234.0 266.6 306.0 334.8 306.9 252.0 229.4 165.0 130.2 2,715.4
Source #1: National Weather Service (normals 1981−2010) [10]
Source #2: Hong Kong Observatory (sun, 1961−1990) [7]


Climate data for Victoria, Texas
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 88
(31)		 96
(36)		 99
(37)		 100
(38)		 102
(39)		 107
(42)		 110
(43)		 109
(43)		 111
(44)		 109
(43)		 93
(34)		 88
(31)		 111
(44)
Average high °C (°F) 62.8
(17.1)		 66.6
(19.2)		 73.4
(23)		 79.2
(26.2)		 85.1
(29.5)		 90.3
(32.4)		 93.4
(34.1)		 93.7
(34.3)		 89.9
(32.2)		 83.0
(28.3)		 73.0
(22.8)		 65.2
(18.4)		 79.63
(26.46)
Average low °C (°F) 43.6
(6.4)		 46.7
(8.2)		 53.9
(12.2)		 60.1
(15.6)		 68.1
(20.1)		 73.3
(22.9)		 75.0
(23.9)		 74.6
(23.7)		 70.3
(21.3)		 61.6
(16.4)		 52.3
(11.3)		 45.2
(7.3)		 60.39
(15.78)
Record low °C (°F) 9
(−13)		 15
(−9)		 21
(−6)		 33
(1)		 40
(4)		 54
(12)		 61
(16)		 61
(16)		 45
(7)		 31
(−1)		 18
(−8)		 9
(−13)		 9
(−13)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 2.44
(62)		 2.04
(51.8)		 2.25
(57.2)		 2.97
(75.4)		 5.12
(130)		 4.96
(126)		 2.90
(73.7)		 3.05
(77.5)		 5.00
(127)		 4.26
(108.2)		 2.64
(67.1)		 2.47
(62.7)		 40.1
(1,018.6)
Source: National Weather Service[11]

Hurricanes are the most dangerous weather systems to affect South Texas. Hurricane season is between June and November. However, the Texas coast gets affected usually between August and September, when systems sporadically organize in the southern Gulf around the Bay of Campeche or western Caribbean and the latter months forming off the coast of Africa.

Droughts- Although South Texas summers generally see rainfall in summer months, some years the lack of rain is persistent and leads to water shortages; lake levels drop significantly and lead to municipal water restrictions. In the summer of 2011, numerous records were set. On August 28, 2011, most of South Texas had temperatures reaching 110 °F, breaking many cities' record highs. Furthermore, 95% of the state faced an extreme or exceptional drought, according to the office of the Texas state climatologist. These drought conditions led to a string of dangerous wildfires across the state, and the enforcement of burn bans in 250 of the 254 counties in Texas.

Tornadoes do occur in this part of the state, but not as frequently as other parts. They approach, usually from the northwest to southeast, as a line of severe thunderstorms, mostly in the summer months and by cold fronts in fall.

Snow rarely falls south of San Antonio or on the coast except in rare circumstances. Of note is the 2004 Christmas Eve snowstorm, when 6 inches (150 mm) of snow fell as far south as McAllen.

Wildlife

(incomplete list)

Reptiles

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Mammals

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Sealife

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Arthropods

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Birds

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People

Multicultural influences

South Texas is well known for strong Hispanic, primarily Mexican American and Tejano (the Spanish term for "Texan") influences, due to its proximity to Mexico. Tejanos and Mexicans living in South Texas are descended from the Spanish and Sephardic Jewish settlers of Mexico, from Mexican indigenous groups allied with the Spanish, such as Tlaxcaltec and Otomi peoples, and from local indigenous groups of South Texas who were missionized by the Spanish, particularly Coahuiltecans. These migrations occurred and have been ongoing since the early 1700s in South Texas. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in the 1840s failed to secure land belonging to the Mexican settlers. The disputed area was between the Nueces River south of San Antonio and Corpus Christi, the King Ranch, and the Rio Grande. Recognized by neither Mexico nor the United States, the Republic of the Rio Grande was established in this region in 1840, lasting less than a year. Laredo served as its capital.

The Rio Grande Valley area played a significant role in the Mexican War of Independence, the Texas Revolution, the Mexican–American War, and the American Civil War, with many historical battle sites around the area. General Robert E. Lee resided at Fort Ringold (Rio Grande City) during this time as a colonel. President Zachary Taylor was General of the Army at Fort Brown (Brownsville) during the Mexican–American War.

The Texas Rangers gained popularity for their actions in South Texas during the Mexican bandit raids in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. On May 25, 1876, a band of 40 Texas Rangers rode out of Laredo and headed north to the infamous Nueces Strip. Their mission was to find, kill or capture John King Fisher, leader of a band of cattle rustlers and cut-throats who had been terrorizing the area. The Rangers were members of a select group known as the Special Force. Led by the legendary Leander McNelly, the Special Force was given the task to bring law and order to an area of South Texas that lay between Corpus Christi and the Mexican border.

Industry

Rice

Hauling rice in South Texas (postcard, circa 1909)

An important event in the development of South Texas and the Texas Gulf Coast rice industry was the introduction of seed imported from Japan in 1904. The Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Southern Pacific Railroad invited Japanese farmers to Texas to help area farms in the production of rice. The seed the Japanese farmers brought with them was a gift from the Japanese emperor. The production of Japanese rice began at Webster in Harris County. The Gulf Coast rice industry is credited to the Saibara family.[13]

Transportation

Air

Major highways

Interstate

US Routes

Texas State Highways

International Bridges

Laredo

Eagle Pass

Brownsville

Los Indios

Falcon Heights

Hidalgo
McAllen

Pharr

Progreso

Rio Grande City

Roma

Tourism

San Antonio

Corpus Christi

Laredo

Rio Grande Valley

Other

Education

Colleges

Public universities

Private universities

Sports

The only major professional sports team in South Texas is the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.

Team Sport League Venue
San Antonio Spurs Basketball NBA AT&T Center
San Antonio Silver Stars WNBA
Rio Grande Valley Vipers NBA D-League State Farm Arena
San Antonio Talons Arena Football AFL Alamodome
Corpus Christi Hammerheads Lone Star Football League American Bank Center
Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Texas League Whataburger Field
San Antonio Missions Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium
Laredo Lemurs AAIPB Laredo Ballpark
Brownsville Charros United League Baseball Harlingen Field
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Harlingen Field
San Antonio Rampage Ice hockey American Hockey League AT&T Center
Corpus Christi IceRays North American Hockey League American Bank Center
San Antonio Scorpions FC Soccer NASL Toyota Field
Laredo Heat PDL TAMIU Soccer Complex
La Fiera FC Indoor Soccer PASL State Farm Arena

Area codes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Official records for San Antonio were kept at downtown from March 1885 to December 1940, at Stinson Municipal Airport from January 1941 to June 1942, and at San Antonio Int'l since July 1942. For more information, see Threadex
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 [1]
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  13. ↑ Henry C. Dethloff, "RICE CULTURE," Handbook of Texas Online, accessed March 20, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
  14. ↑ Aransas County Airport Website Aransas Co Airport Call Sign: RKP(U.S), KRKP(International)

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