County population in 2014: 62,955 (76% urban, 24% rural); it was 53,597 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 2,806 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 10,452 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 11,445 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,743 (it was 2,965 in 2000)
% of renters here:
21%
State:
36%
Land area: 1223 sq. mi.
Water area: 6.3 sq. mi.
Population density: 51 people per square mile (average).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Starr County: 79.7 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Estimated median household income in 2015: $27,375 ($16,504 in 1999)
This county:
$27,375
Texas:
$55,653
Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $369 (lower quartile is $286, upper quartile is $474)
This county:
$369
State:
$774
Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $72,759 (it was $35,900 in 2000)
Starr:
$72,759
Texas:
$152,000
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $43,554 - $112,562 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $962 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $296
Institutionalized population: 747
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 8
Rapes: 5
Robberies: 7
Assaults: 30
Burglaries: 175
Thefts: 95
Auto thefts: 67
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $1,465 (1.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $587 (0.9%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 36.6%
(24.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 72.7% for Black residents, 36.8% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 46.2% for American Indian residents, 30.9% for other race residents, 26.8% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 33.6%
Starr County:
33.6%
Texas:
15.9%
(22.9% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 64.7% for Black residents, 33.3% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 40.7% for American Indian residents, 26.1% for other race residents, 24.2% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2015: 29 years old
(Males: 27 years old, Females: 31 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 45 years old, Black residents: 45 years old, American Indian residents: 47 years old, Asian residents: 36 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 29 years old, Other race residents: 39 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Starr County is $438 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $484 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $706 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Starr County: Donna Pump (A), Donna Pumping Station (B), International Ferry (C), McAllen Pumping Station (D), South Texas Factory Stores (E), Adrien Windmill (F), Agua Dulce Windmill (G), Agua Salado Windmill (H), Alaniz Windmill (I), Andrea Ranch (J), Aquage Windmill (K), Bella Vista Windmill (L), Bellilluvia Windmill (M), Buena Vista Windmill (N), Buenos Aires Windmill (O), Caliche Windmill (P), Cantinas Pens (Q), Casa Blanca Ranch (R), Chorro Windmill (S), Christalinas Windmill (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Vela Cemetery (1), Asadores Cemetery (2), Balli Cemetery (3), Brewster Cemetery (4), Webber Cemetery (5), Campacuas Cemetery (6), Capota Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Lakes and reservoirs: West Lake (A), Callo Padrones (B), El Callo (C), Inland Lake (D), East Lake (E), La Cruz Resaca (F), Hackney Lake (G), Guajolotes Enramada (H). Display/hide their locations on the map
Parks in Starr County include: Anzalduas Park (1), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - Taormina Unit (2), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - Kelly Unit (3), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - Kiskadee Unit (4), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - MacWhorter Unit (5), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - McManus Unit (6), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - Penitas Unit (7), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - Adams Unit (8), Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area - Baird Unit (9). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 2,009 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 34.7% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 6.9%
Number of foreign born residents: 19,758 (32% naturalized citizens)
Starr County:
36.9%
Whole state:
13.9%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 3,374
1990 to 1994: 2,587
1985 to 1989: 3,525
1980 to 1984: 2,480
1975 to 1979: 2,558
1970 to 1974: 2,304
1970 to 1974: 1,255
1965 to 1969: 1,675
Note: State values scaled to Starr County population
Mean travel time to work (commute): 21.4 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 80.4%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 14,326
One, attached: 381
Two: 350
3 or 4: 294
5 to 9: 282
10 to 19: 98
20 or more: 28
Mobile homes: 1,797
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 33
Housing units in Starr County with a mortgage: 1,631 (23 second mortgage, 46 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 8,321
Here:
16.4% with mortgage
State:
64.2% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Starr County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Catholic
27,156
15
Evangelical Protestant
2,368
27
Other
544
3
Mainline Protestant
394
2
None
30,506
-
Starr County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 9
Starr County:
1.47 / 10,000 pop.
State:
1.47 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Here:
0.16 / 10,000 pop.
Texas:
0.14 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 13
This county:
2.12 / 10,000 pop.
Texas:
1.11 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 17
Starr County:
2.77 / 10,000 pop.
Texas:
3.95 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 15
This county:
2.45 / 10,000 pop.
State:
6.13 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Starr County:
8.5%
Texas:
8.9%
Adult obesity rate:
Starr County:
27.1%
State:
26.6%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
14.7%
State:
15.7%
Agriculture in Starr County:
Average size of farms: 656 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $76,717 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $256.56 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 83.95% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $81,836 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 7.32% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 11.70% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $33,769 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 90.46% Average age of principal farm operators: 58 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 11.15 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.03% Upland cotton: 1390 harvested acres Soybeans for beans: 3 harvested acres Vegetables: 2,262 harvested acres Land in orchards: 54 acres
Tornado activity:
Starr County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is significantly below Texas state average. It is 7161420.3 times below overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused 12 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 4/30/2003, a category 1 (max. wind speeds 73-112 mph) tornado injured 11 people and caused $2 million in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Starr County-area historical earthquake activity is below Texas state average. It is 82% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 5/23/2007 at 19:09:15, a magnitude 5.6 (5.4 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.6 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 350.3 miles away from Starr County center On 4/14/1995 at 00:32:56, a magnitude 5.7 (5.6 MB, 5.7 MS, 5.7 MW, Depth: 11.1 mi) earthquake occurred 384.8 miles away from the county center On 4/9/1993 at 12:29:19, a magnitude 4.3 (4.1 MB, 4.3 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 167.9 miles away from the county center On 3/24/1997 at 22:31:34, a magnitude 3.8 (3.8 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 98.1 miles away from the county center On 4/7/2008 at 09:51:12, a magnitude 3.9 (3.9 MB, 3.9 MW, 3.8 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 176.5 miles away from Starr County center On 7/20/1991 at 23:38:19, a magnitude 3.6 (3.4 LG, 3.6 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 175.7 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding, Incident Period: May 04, 2015 to June 23, 2015, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4223: May 29, 2015, FEMA Id: 4223, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood, Wind
Texas Hurricane Alex, Incident Period: June 30, 2010 to August 14, 2010, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1931: August 03, 2010, FEMA Id: 1931, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Tropical Storm Alex, Incident Period: June 27, 2010 to August 14, 2010, Emergency Declared EM-3313: June 29, 2010, FEMA Id: 3313, Natural disaster type: Tropical Storm
Texas Hurricane Ike, Incident Period: September 07, 2008 to September 26, 2008, Emergency Declared EM-3294: September 10, 2008, FEMA Id: 3294, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Hurricane Gustav, Incident Period: August 27, 2008 to September 07, 2008, Emergency Declared EM-3290: August 29, 2008, FEMA Id: 3290, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Hurricane Dolly, Incident Period: July 22, 2008 to August 01, 2008, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1780: July 24, 2008, FEMA Id: 1780, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Wildfires, Incident Period: March 14, 2008 to September 01, 2008, Emergency Declared EM-3284: March 14, 2008, FEMA Id: 3284, Natural disaster type: Fire
Texas Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, Incident Period: June 16, 2007 to August 03, 2007, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1709: June 29, 2007, FEMA Id: 1709, Natural disaster type: Storm, Tornado, Flood
Texas Hurricane Rita, Incident Period: September 23, 2005 to October 14, 2005, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1606: September 24, 2005, FEMA Id: 1606, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Texas Hurricane Rita, Incident Period: September 20, 2005 to October 14, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3261: September 21, 2005, FEMA Id: 3261, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
3 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Starr County (13) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 7 Emergencies Declared: 6
Causes of natural disasters: Hurricanes: 8, Floods: 3, Storms: 2, Tornadoes: 2, Winds: 2, Fire: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Tropical Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Office and administrative support occupations (7%)
Material moving occupations (7%)
Sales and related occupations (7%)
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (6%)
Management occupations (6%)
Personal care and service occupations (19%)
Education, training, and library occupations (15%)
Office and administrative support occupations (14%)
Healthcare support occupations (11%)
Sales and related occupations (8%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (8%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (7%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Mexico (99%)
Philippines (1%)
Nicaragua (0%)
Jordan (0%)
Canada (0%)
Australia (0%)
Italy (0%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Starr County (%):
United States or American (2%)
German (0%)
African (0%)
Irish (0%)
English (0%)
French (except Basque) (0%)
Italian (0%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 9,093 (69%)
Carpooled: 2,614 (20%)
Bus or trolley bus: 56 (0%)
Taxi: 8 (0%)
Walked: 628 (5%)
Other means: 416 (3%)
Worked at home: 332 (3%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
People in group quarters in Starr County, Texas in 2000:
279 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
85 people in nursing homes
17 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
12 people in religious group quarters
4 people in other nonhousehold living situations
People in group quarters in Starr County, Texas in 2010:
607 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
140 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
32 people in group homes intended for adults
31 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $29,188.
3.01% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($26,376 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
3.01%
Texas average:
7.14%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.32% relocated from other counties in Texas ($20,702 average AGI)
0.69% relocated from other states ($5,672 average AGI)
Starr County:
0.69%
Texas average:
2.49%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
4.22% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($27,155 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.22%
Texas average:
6.69%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
3.42% relocated to other counties in Texas ($22,177 average AGI)
0.80% relocated to other states ($4,980 average AGI)
Starr County:
0.80%
Texas average:
2.01%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Starr County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 6,939 (5,686 aged, 1,253 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 3,057 (13%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Starr County, Texas in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (909)
Atherosclerotic heart disease (268)
Septicaemia, unspecified (248)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (178)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (144)
Unspecified diabetes mellitus, without complications (130)
Malignant neoplasm without specification of site (68)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 38% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 39%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 1.67 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 3,754 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 82 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 15,789
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 2,716 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 474 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 2
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 4 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 39
EPA green book nonattainment status in 2004-2006: 1 Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Homicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 100.1. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of homicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 85.1
Other - 15.0
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 55.1. This is less than state average.
Household type by relationship:
Households: 60,158
In family households: 57,363 (9,495 male householders, 4,985 female householders)
10,357 spouses, 24,018 children (23,174 natural, 234 adopted, 610 stepchildren), 3,607 grandchildren, 756 brothers or sisters, 775 parents, 1,388 other relatives, 665 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 2,795 (1,077 male householders (976 living alone)), 1,444 female householders (1,342 living alone)), 274 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 810 (747 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 3,366 2-persons, 2,914 3-persons, 3,305 4-persons, 2,694 5-persons, 1,176 6-persons, 1,025 7-or-more-persons.
13,460 married couples with children.
3,493 single-parent households (528 men, 2,965 women).
9.3% of residents of Starr County speak English at home.
90.4% of residents speak Spanish at home (43% speak English very well, 27% speak English well, 13% speak English not well, 17% don't speak English at all).
0.1% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (64% speak English very well, 14% speak English well, 21% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (94% speak English very well, 6% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $260,368,000 ($4,352 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $996,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $63,363,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $58,271,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $8,015,000 Federal grants: $105,921,000 Federal procurement contracts: $3,181,000 ($221,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $21,617,000 ($176,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $2,081,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $1,765,000 Federal Government insurance: $23,042,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 7,738
Here:
127 per 1000 residents
State:
85 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,252
Here:
21 per 1000 residents
State:
35 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +2,680
Here:
+44 per 1000 residents
State:
+29 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -1,692
Here:
-28 per 1000 residents
State:
+10 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Starr County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 8.95 millions of gallons per day (0% from ground, 100% from surface)
Note: State values scaled to Starr County population
no vehicle: 1,423
1 vehicle: 4,021
2 vehicles: 4,480
3 vehicles: 1,133
4 vehicles: 296
5+ vehicles: 92
no vehicle: 695
1 vehicle: 1,426
2 vehicles: 707
3 vehicles: 111
4 vehicles: 18
5+ vehicles: 8
76% of Starr County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 79% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 72% lived in Texas.
Starr County:
75.7%
State average:
51.6%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 30,923
Northeast: 41
Midwest: 836
South: 263
West: 1,249
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $17,200
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 7%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 6%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Starr County
Click here to upload your Starr County photos (outside city limits)
29.0 years
33.0 years
(48.3%)
(51.7%)
, Lee County, Florida 
, Lee County, Florida 
, Zapata County 
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