3rd poorest county in nation-Starr County, Texas (McAllen, Allen: home, buying)

[Future Trooper]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 53,597 people, 14,410 households, and 12,666 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 17,589 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.92% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 9.91% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races.
97.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the Census Bureau, Starr County had the highest percentage of Hispanic residents of any county in the United States[3].
There were 14,410 households out of which 54.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.50% were married couples living together, 17.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.10% were non-families. 11.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.01.
In the county, the population was spread out with 37.40% under the age of 18, 11.00% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 16.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $16,504, and the median income for a family was $17,556. Males had a median income of $17,398 versus $13,533 for females. The per capita income for the county was $7,069. About 47.40% of families and 50.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 59.40% of those under age 18 and 43.30% of those age 65 or over. Starr County is one of the lowest-income counties in the United States.



IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO COUNTERACT THIS PROBLEM? IS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPING AND DOING SOMETHING TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF STARR COUNTY AND THE REST OF TEXAS?

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by gdude

IS ANYTHING BEING DONE TO COUNTERACT THIS PROBLEM? IS THE GOVERNMENT STEPPING AND DOING SOMETHING TO HELP THE RESIDENTS OF STARR COUNTY AND THE REST OF TEXAS?

Posting in all caps is considered very rude.

What do you expect the government to do about it? Have the taxpayers support them?

[Canine*Castle]

I would imagine they are receiving welfare checks just like many other people in poor counties in America. Some times people can help themselves out of the poverty they're in. It's very often a choice to live the way they do. I see it every day, food stamps, buying cigarettes and alcohol, loafing and whining, "Poor me." Many even drive better vehicles than I do. I just don't get it and will never like it.

Cathy4017, unfortunately we're already supporting them.

gdude ~ It is way too easy in this country to get government assistance. Why are you so interested in this county as well as Texas itself.?

[vantexan]

When I lived down the road in McAllen there was an article in the paper about how Starr County was one of the poorest counties in the country but also had one of the highest home ownership rates in the country. Relax, it's not Bangladesh, lol! While they aren't making alot of legitimate Dollars, there's plenty of illegitimate Dollars floating around. Importing contraband is a time honored vocation, if you know what I mean....

[whitechocolate86]

Originally Posted by vantexan

When I lived down the road in McAllen there was an article in the paper about how Starr County was one of the poorest counties in the country but also had one of the highest home ownership rates in the country. Relax, it's not Bangladesh, lol! While they aren't making alot of legitimate Dollars, there's plenty of illegitimate Dollars floating around. Importing contraband is a time honored vocation, if you know what I mean....

LOL, vantexan, LOL

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

I would imagine they are receiving welfare checks just like many other people in poor counties in America. Some times people can help themselves out of the poverty they're in. It's very often a choice to live the way they do. I see it every day, food stamps, buying cigarettes and alcohol, loafing and whining, "Poor me." Many even drive better vehicles than I do. I just don't get it and will never like it.

Cathy4017, unfortunately we're already supporting them.

gdude ~ It is way too easy in this country to get government assistance. Why are you so interested in this county as well as Texas itself.?

Yes, I know, dangit..I should have added "more" to the end of the question..........and he wants us to dole out MORE!

You got it, CC......

[teatime]

One of the reasons the income is so low there is that they ARE living on government assistance. No, the government doesn't need to do more. They need to break the cycle.

And, they need to stop fighting the building of the fence!!!!!! Wages might have a chance of rising down there if the citizens didn't have to compete with illegals for work!

[whitechocolate86]

Originally Posted by teatime

One of the reasons the income is so low there is that they ARE living on government assistance. No, the government doesn't need to do more. They need to break the cycle.

And, they need to stop fighting the building of the fence!!!!!! Wages might have a chance of rising down there if the citizens didn't have to compete with illegals for work!

Amen, Teatime...

[TurboD]

I'll second that Amen by Teatime.
Texas could do like Arizona, and enforce a law to punish employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens. This is driving some illegals to leave Arizona. Hopefully, most will go to Califirnia, but some will go to New Mexico and Texas.
Illegals should go to San Francisco, where Mayor Gavin Newsome has promised safe haven for illegals.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Posting in all caps is considered very rude.

What do you expect the government to do about it? Have the taxpayers support them?

Gotta get the money from somewhere, right?