Hidalgo County, Texas
28 local notes for Hidalgo County — practical, plain-English, and pointed at the official source to confirm. Rio Grande Valley / Border.
See the McAllen place page ->Money & Taxes
Property Tax Basics
Two Separate Offices Handle Your Property Taxes
Hidalgo County has one office that values your property and a different office that collects the taxes—you need to know which to contact.
Homestead Exemption
A Homestead Exemption Can Lower Your Tax Bill
If your home is your main residence, you can file for a homestead exemption that reduces how much of its value gets taxed.
Taxing Units
Your Tax Bill Comes From Many Different Entities
Hidalgo County has 56 active taxing units, so your total tax bill is the sum of rates from several different entities.
Agricultural Valuation
Farm and Ranch Land Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value
Texas law lets qualifying farmland and ranchland be taxed on what it produces rather than what it could sell for, which can cut the tax bill significantly.
Appraisal Protest
You Have the Right to Protest Your Property's Appraised Value
If you think the Hidalgo Appraisal District overvalued your property, you can file a protest and get a hearing before an independent review board.
Home & Property
Flooding
Flood Risk Is Relatively High in Hidalgo County
Federal data shows Hidalgo County carries a relatively high natural hazard risk, with flooding as a major concern.
Drainage Infrastructure
Drainage Districts Manage the County's Flood Channels
Hidalgo County's drainage districts are special government entities that operate and maintain the major canals and channels that keep floodwater moving.
Floodways
The Rio Grande Has a System of Engineered Floodways
A network of engineered floodways runs through the Lower Rio Grande Valley to carry overflow away from communities.
Windstorm Insurance
Hidalgo County Is Not in the State Windstorm Insurance Zone
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) does not cover Hidalgo County—you must get windstorm coverage through a private insurer.
Water Rights
Rio Grande Water Rights Are Managed by a State Watermaster
A state-appointed Rio Grande Watermaster controls who draws from the Rio Grande, including the many irrigation districts in Hidalgo County.
Groundwater
Part of the County Has a Groundwater Conservation District
The Red Sands Groundwater Conservation District covers about 114 square miles in north-central Hidalgo County and regulates well drilling there.
Irrigation
Irrigation Districts Deliver Water Across the County
A network of irrigation districts—some dating to the 1910s—delivers Rio Grande water to farms and communities throughout Hidalgo County.
Cars & Driving
Evacuation
Know Your Hurricane Evacuation Route Before a Storm
Hidalgo County sits inland from the Gulf Coast but must evacuate across limited roads when a major hurricane threatens the Valley.
Roads
SH 68 Is Planned to Help Move Traffic in Eastern Hidalgo County
State Highway 68 in eastern Hidalgo County is a four-lane divided highway project designed to improve traffic flow and emergency evacuation capacity.
Outdoors
Hunting
Deer Hunting Has a Set Bag Limit for Hidalgo County
White-tailed deer hunting in Hidalgo County is governed by South Zone rules, with a bag limit of 5 deer and no more than 3 bucks per season.
Hunting
White-Winged Dove Hunting Is a Big Draw in the Valley
The Rio Grande Valley is one of Texas's most productive dove hunting areas, and Hidalgo County falls in the South Zone with early special white-winged dove days.
Hunting
The Plain Chachalaca Is a Legal Game Bird Only in South Texas
The plain chachalaca is a native bird of the lower Rio Grande brush country and can be hunted in Hidalgo County during a designated season.
Hunting
Javelina Can Be Hunted Year-Round in the Southern Region
Hidalgo County is in the Southern Region for javelina, where the season is open year-round with a limit of 2 per license year.
Public Hunting Access
A TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit Opens State Lands
Hunters who want access to state-managed public lands in Texas can buy a TPWD Annual Public Hunting permit for a set yearly fee.
Hunting
Alligators Have a Short Spring Hunting Season Here
Hidalgo County is in the non-core zone for alligator hunting, with a season from April 1 through June 30 and a limit of one per person per year.
Climate
The County Has a Subtropical Climate With Intense Summer Heat
Hidalgo County has a subtropical climate with July highs near 96°F, about 23 inches of annual rain, and a risk of severe tropical weather.
Natural Features
Resacas Are Old River Channels That Shape Life in the Valley
Resacas are the curved, oxbow-shaped lakes left behind when the Rio Grande shifted course—they provide wildlife habitat but also carry flood risk.
History & Culture
County History
Hidalgo County Was Formed in 1852 and Named for a Mexican Hero
The county was established in 1852 and named for Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who began Mexico's fight for independence from Spain.
Settlement History
Spanish Ranchers Settled This Area More Than 275 Years Ago
The lower Rio Grande Valley was settled by Spanish ranching families in 1749 under José de Escandón, making it one of the older continuously settled regions in Texas.
Economic History
The Railroad and Irrigation Transformed the County After 1904
When the railroad arrived in 1904 and irrigation canals followed, Hidalgo County shifted from open-range ranching to intensive farming, and land values exploded.
County Seat History
Edinburg Was Renamed in 1911 After a Scandal
The county seat was originally called Chapin but was renamed Edinburg in 1911 after one of its founders was involved in a homicide.
Demographics
Hidalgo County Has One of the Largest Hispanic Populations in Texas
About 91 percent of Hidalgo County residents are Hispanic, reflecting the region's centuries-old Spanish and Mexican ranching roots.
County Facts
Hidalgo County Is One of the Most Populous Counties in Texas
Hidalgo County covers 1,596 square miles and had a population exceeding 831,000 by 2014—making it one of the largest counties in Texas by population.