McAllen, Texas (Laredo, Edinburg, Detroit: low crime, neighborhoods, school district)

[Colorado Girl]

Help - I've read of few disturbing things about McAllen. My husband was just offered HUGE amount to go there. We have two little boys, 4 & 2. Can anyone tell me something positive. I know I won't know until I get there but it would be nice to see something good about the area.

[lifertexan]

McAllen is your typical Mexican border town.Higher than normal crime,Spanish is the most widely spoken language and being an English only speaker will put you in the minority,drug smuggling is fairly common,it's hot and humid,most people are poor,etc,etc.I worked for a while down there and enjoyed the laid back atmosphere and wouldn't have any problem living there now that my kids are grown,but I wouldn't raise small children there,at least compared to where I live.It may be no worse than where you are now as far as gangs and drugs,I don't know.It is a different world down there,much more Mexico than Colorado.There is a reason they have to offer people so much to come down there.And it isn't going to get any better,only worse.

[musicman107]

I'm another lifelong Texan.
I've lived in the Rio Grande Valley where McAllen is.
You couldn't pay me enough to go back down there, for all the reasons cited in other "negative" posts about McAllena and the RGV.
And I, too, wouldn't want to raise chiildren there.

Help - I've read of few disturbing things about McAllen. My husband was just offered HUGE amount to go there. We have two little boys, 4 & 2. Can anyone tell me something positive. I know I won't know until I get there but it would be nice to see something good about the area.

[Colorado Girl]

Thanks Lifertexan and Musicman. Unfortunately it's not the news I wanted to hear. I don't want to offend but I have a question. My boys and I are as blonde as one gets. I've heard to be extra cautious??

[lifertexan]

Kidnapping blonde girls almost always,if not always,happens on the Mexico side.McAllen isn't as bad as the Mexican side,or even as bad as some US cities like Phoenix or Detroit,it just isn't near as nice as most of the rest of Texas.But it isn't someplace you have to cower in fear all day either.There are just a lot better places to live than McAllen.

[valleyoftexas]

Mcallen has a lot to offer, it is not your typical border town like Laredo. It is more diverse than what many people think. North Mcallen would be great, it is booming with shopping centers. The Mcallen school district is an excellent school district along with Sharyland school district. A lot of positive things going on in the Rio Grande Valley right now, we're growing so much, at a higher rate than the rest of the State. Mcallen has a low crime rate compare to other cities in the state. People are very friendly, and people are educated they have professional jobs. We have the University of Texas Pan-American in Edinburg with 18,000 students and South Texas College with another 18,000 students.

[Colorado Girl]

Finally! Something positive. My family is moving to McAllen regardless so I've really been trying to keep an open mind. Thanks for the info on the schools, that is one of my main concerns as my oldest will be starting kindergarten soon. Any tips on neighborhoods? My husband is a golf fanatic - so nicer golf courses would be of interest too.

[valleyoftexas]

Palm View Golf Course is a beautiful 18 hole championship golf course with a full service practice facility. It includes a 375 driving range with tees on both ends. Also it has a 10,000 square foot putting green and a short game practice area. They have a fleet of seventy new EZGO golf carts equipped with coolers. A full service restaurant and pro shop cater to all the needs.

McAllen is pleased to be served by McAllen Indepedent School District, a TEA Recognized district for 1998, 1999 and 2000. The mission of MISD is to educate all students to become lifelong learners and productive citizens in a global socity through a program of educational excellence utilizing technology and actively involving parents and the community.

I would recommend the North side of Mcallen, new subdivisions are developing gated communities. The Sharyland Plantation is west of Mcallen which has very exclusive neighborhoods.

[Colorado Girl]

Oh my husband will be so excited about the golf. Even though I've gotten some negatives I'm actually really excited for a new adventure to McAllen, we just have to go with the flow.

[TEBergh]

I was born and raised in McAllen, though I have lived a few other places in Texas. Definitely, some of the negative reports you have gotten are 100% true. Being blonde, expect your kids to have their heads touched by people. They are admiring of the blonde hair, and are warding off 'ojo' (the evil eye) by touching them. But all in all, if you are prepared for these types of things, and you keep a good eye out, it will absolutely be o.k. If you are a lover of superb Mexican food and are appreciative of a very rich culture, you will LOVE some aspects of living in the Valley. MY family is white, and my mother gets pretty frustrated as someone who does not speak Spanish. But,in all honesty, if you just make an effort to get along, people are usually pretty sweet. DO expect some REALLY stupid driving, though! ..... I guess that's pretty standard everywhere, huh?