Weslaco, Texas

Weslaco, Texas
City
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Hidalgo
Area
• Total	12.8 sq mi (33.0 km2)
• Land	12.7 sq mi (32.9 km2)
• Water	0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation	79 ft (24 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	26,935
• Density	2,123.1/sq mi (819.7/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	78596, 78599
Area code	956
FIPS code	48-77272Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	1349656Template:GR

Weslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 26,935 at the 2000 census. Weslaco derives its name from the W.E. Stewart Land Company. It was the hometown of Harlon Block, one of the Marines photographed raising the flag at Iwo Jima.

Weslaco is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Weslaco is located at 26°9′33″N 97°59′15″W (26.159130, -97.987374)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33.0 km²), of which, 12.7 square miles (32.9 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.55%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 26,935 people, 8,295 households, and 6,602 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,123.1 people per square mile (819.5/km²). There were 10,230 housing units at an average density of 806.4/sq mi (311.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.92% White, 0.27% African American, 0.49% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 20.93% from other races, and 2.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 83.76% of the population.

There were 8,295 households out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.4% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.21 and the average family size was 3.68.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,573, and the median income for a family was $29,215. Males had a median income of $24,202 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,235. About 26.5% of families and 30.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.6% of those under age 18 and 23.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

All Weslaco residents are zoned to the Weslaco Independent School District.

In addition, Weslaco residents are allowed to apply to magnet schools operated by the South Texas Independent School District

Weslaco is also home to the South Texas College - Mid-Valley Campus

Health care

• Knapp Medical Center

Notable citizens

• Harlon Block, one of six United States Marines Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
• Bobby Lackey, football player
• Manny Jimenez, Major League Baseball Player
• Richard Nieto, Internet Celebrity
• Joshua Jurado, sports and news reporter for WeslacoSports.net and the Mid-Valley Town Crier.

External links

• City of Weslaco

For Weslaco High Panthers and Weslaco East High Wildcats scores, pictures, news and much more, click below:

• Weslaco Sports
• Weslaco Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Corporation
• Weslaco Public Library