Moving to Rio Grande Valley

[NeoPlanner]

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the best places filled with opportunity in Texas. Job industry and housing market is still booming down there and the crime thing by BOB is totally exaggerated. Valley is one of the safest compared to cities like Austin, San Antonio, or Dallas. Trust me; this is coming from a Valley native that was living there for 16 years. McAllen is the city that is truly leading the metroplex area, if you will, and is striving to do many things to become a big city. You should still take the opportunity if it isn't too late, or visit for a week. Good luck! Burrito is taco for Americans. Tacos are a true homemade tortilla (corn or flour; hard or soft-shelled) that is filled with whatever meat or breakfast items. A burrito in Mexico (plus the valley) is a deep fried wrap filled with meat and beans. Similar to a "chimichanga" at Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants everywhere in Texas but the RGV.

[lemonfresh]

Originally Posted by NeoPlanner

The Rio Grande Valley is one of the best places filled with opportunity in Texas. Job industry and housing market is still booming down there and the crime thing by BOB is totally exaggerated. Valley is one of the safest compared to cities like Austin, San Antonio, or Dallas. Trust me; this is coming from a Valley native that was living there for 16 years. McAllen is the city that is truly leading the metroplex area, if you will, and is striving to do many things to become a big city. You should still take the opportunity if it isn't too late, or visit for a week. Good luck! Burrito is taco for Americans. Tacos are a true homemade tortilla (corn or flour; hard or soft-shelled) that is filled with whatever meat or breakfast items. A burrito in Mexico (plus the valley) is a deep fried wrap filled with meat and beans. Similar to a "chimichanga" at Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurants everywhere in Texas but the RGV.

First, the Rio Grande Valley is the poorest region in the entire country,

Second, "The Rio Grande Valley is one of the best places filled with opportunity in Texas." has to be one of the most cleverly worded sentences I've read on this forum. The only real opportunity one has is low wage jobs most in the minium wage range of things.

Third, Metro San Antonio with 2 million people in 2007 had a crime index of 497. Ranked 111.

The RGV with 1.1 million had a crime index of 405. Ranked 162.

[956kidd]

Four high schools in the Rio Grande Valley are among the best in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The newsmagazine listed IDEA College Preparatory in Donna, The Science Academy (Sci Tech) and The High School for Health Professions (Med High) in Mercedes and South Texas Academy of Medical Tech (Med Tech) in San Benito among its America's Best High Schools list, which was published Monday.
U.S. News & World Report looked at the participation and pass rates of students enrolled in Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate programs or both at 21,000 across 48 states. The list includes what the magazine deems are the top 100 schools in the country.
IDEA College Preparatory and Med Tech made their debuts on the list at No. 19 and No. 65, respectively. Sci Tech and Med High have made the list before. This year Sci Tech ranked No. 40 and Med High ranked No. 83.
"It really validates all the hard work our students, teachers and parents put into this," said Jeff Hembree, deputy superintendent of the South Texas school district, which includes Med High, Med Tech and Sci Tech.
Officials with IDEA Public Schools and South Texas school district said they also find it rewarding to be included with schools that are selective in what students they accept. Both Valley school districts have open enrollment.
Tom Torkelson, chief executive officer and co-founder of IDEA Public Schools, said the rankings show that Valley students can compete with other students throughout the nation when they are challenged.
"The proof's in the pudding," Torkelson said

[NeoPlanner]

Originally Posted by lemonfresh

First, the Rio Grande Valley is the poorest region in the entire country,

Second, "The Rio Grande Valley is one of the best places filled with opportunity in Texas." has to be one of the most cleverly worded sentences I've read on this forum. The only real opportunity one has is low wage jobs most in the minium wage range of things.

Third, Metro San Antonio with 2 million people in 2007 had a crime index of 497. Ranked 111.

The RGV with 1.1 million had a crime index of 405. Ranked 162.

The State of Texas is probably the poorest places with indecent wages. San Antonio has a median household income of about $36,000, while McAllen (the big city that is the central node of the RGV) has a median household income of about $33,000. (Mind you there are as much as 40 or more cities and towns with a population ranging from 100 to over 125,000; This explains why poverty levels are outrageous down in the RGV.

When I stated that "The Rio Grande Valley is one of the best places filled with opportunity in Texas" that's because it is and that's my opinion. The Valley is pretty much the gateway for the Americas. Give it 10 years and you'll see the rebirth of a new RGV. If you've only been there for a vacation or a trip to Mexico, then you don't have any place to talk about that location or judge it. I've lived in both the Valley and San Antonio, San Antonio clearly has a higher VIOLENT CRIME RATE than McAllen does. *San Antonio has a 617 violent crime rate per 100,000 people, and McAllen just has a mere 300 violent crime rate per 100,000 people. (Better watch it, might get shanked while walking in the streets of SA [my opinion]) A crime index rate includes Anybody can pull numbers out of there.... which is why you should state where you obtained your information.

*San Antonio Profile | San Antonio TX

[NeoPlanner]

Originally Posted by 956kidd

Four high schools in the Rio Grande Valley are among the best in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The newsmagazine listed IDEA College Preparatory in Donna, The Science Academy (Sci Tech) and The High School for Health Professions (Med High) in Mercedes and South Texas Academy of Medical Tech (Med Tech) in San Benito among its America's Best High Schools list, which was published Monday.

That's right. *Hmm...I only saw Donna, TX, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, San Benito, TX, and Mercedes, TX........ For those who may not know, Donna, San Benito, and Mercedes are located in the RGV. Education system still needs improvement across the state of Texas.

Cheers Everyone!

*Best High Schools: Gold Medal List - US News and World Report

[eltexasboy956]

Now one thing you forgot is that Mcallen only looks like a big city because Mission and Pharr and Edinburg surround it but in only has 120,000 people on the other hand Brownsville is the biggest city in the valley mounting up a population of 179,000 expected to hit nearly 190,000 by next year now Brownsville is not near another good size city so there is no way mcallen can compare to brownsville in anyway and the dodge arena is in hidalgo not mcallen now this is not being rude its just that im tired of all the valley credit goin to mcallen when it hasnt even gotten close to brownsvilles accomplishments

Originally Posted by j96g

i want to leave the valley for the weather, not much else. When i was young, i wanted to leave for other reasons. no radio stations, no tv stations, too much spanish. but the valley has really grown since then. Example, about 10 years ago, the valley had only CBS,NBC, ABC. One country station, top 40, Variety, and pretty much everyting else was spanish, but now we Have a rock, two country, oldies, old school motown, top 40, adult contemp. The Dodge Arena in Mcallen has good concerts and attracts big names, Lonestar, akon, ciara, tracy lawrence, and a boxing event was recently televised on HBO. We have a new convention center, mall, movie theatre. I'm choosing to leave the valley only because it's too hot and humid in Summer (APRIL-OCTOBER) and want the 4 seasons. if you choose to live down here, get ready for high 70s or low 80s at night in summer and consistent high 90s in the day. I would choose Mcallen pop 120,000 if too big pick Mission 45,000.

[956kidd]

Originally Posted by eltexasboy956

Now one thing you forgot is that Mcallen only looks like a big city because Mission and Pharr and Edinburg surround it but in only has 120,000 people on the other hand Brownsville is the biggest city in the valley mounting up a population of 179,000 expected to hit nearly 190,000 by next year now Brownsville is not near another good size city so there is no way mcallen can compare to brownsville in anyway and the dodge arena is in hidalgo not mcallen now this is not being rude its just that im tired of all the valley credit goin to mcallen when it hasnt even gotten close to brownsvilles accomplishments

Well about the whole Dodge Arena topic, it's just like any other major city in the nation...
when there are stadiums/venues in small towns they are mention under the major city..

ex. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Selma, Texas... many people say it's in San Antonio because it's a familiar name and more attractive-sounding location than Selma.

The same thing goes for the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, less than a mile from its location is McAllen city limits. McAllen sounds more attractive than Hidalgo.

The Brownsville/ McAllen topic:
McAllen has more potential than Brownsville in becoming a major city. McAllen has many city around itself while Brownsville is isolated from other cities.