Advice for someone new to Harlingen (Brownsville, McAllen: fit in, violent crime, neighborhoods)

[ncvalleygirl]

I am 28 year old female and was recently offered a position at Valley Baptist in Harlingen. I will ultimately be working in Brownsville after the initial training period. I am married and have three small children who will be moving there shortly after I do, but for the first few months I will be alone. I will be looking for housing and would like to know about the neighborhoods. Also my oldest will be starting kindergarten next year, so I would like to know what areas have good schools. I have heard that Brownsville is not as desirable a location as Harlingen, but have also heard the contrary.
Any advice or opinions will be appreciated!

[NOTAM]

are you an RN? i would assume so. have you visited the area? i assume you are in NC...if you dont know it already you are in for a culture shock of great magnitude. all i can say is i hope you like it. if you are an RN, i hope the huge sign on bonus is worth it.

[ncvalleygirl]

I am not an RN, imaging tech. I flew out for the interview and was there only over night. I should be moving around august.

[NOTAM]

yep i was flown down all expenses paid for an interview too. i wish i had not just spent an overnight.........oh boy had i wished i had looked around first...
would have NEVER taken a contract in South Texas. (and i am in love with the Lonestar State where i have spent most of my life and couldnt wait to come back to Texas...had i only known how different it is in South Texas)
all i can say is that i hope you like it

Originally Posted by ncvalleygirl

I am not an RN, imaging tech. I flew out for the interview and was there only over night. I should be moving around august.

[yosoyway]

It is not that bad as some persons portray it.

But I would suggest that you visit for a weekend at least.

It is a different culture and some persons cannot get used to it. Some persons love it. It depends on you and your family.

Brownsville and Harlingen have their good and bad things. I have family in both cities and my family in Harlingen has always had problems with their kids. Gangs, drugs and other things. I personally don't think it's the community but the family that causes these problems.

I have friends and know some persons that work in VBMC and they are very nice people.

Good luck and if you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask.

[camarongrande]

Originally Posted by ncvalleygirl

I am 28 year old female and was recently offered a position at Valley Baptist in Harlingen. I will ultimately be working in Brownsville after the initial training period. I am married and have three small children who will be moving there shortly after I do, but for the first few months I will be alone. I will be looking for housing and would like to know about the neighborhoods. Also my oldest will be starting kindergarten next year, so I would like to know what areas have good schools. I have heard that Brownsville is not as desirable a location as Harlingen, but have also heard the contrary.
Any advice or opinions will be appreciated!

I am an Anglo male from Ohio who works as an engineer/manager in Brownsville, Texas. I have lived in Harlingen for approximately 10 years: Please be assured that Valley Baptist is a great hospital, and Harlingen is very decent place to live. I have three daughters -- ages 7, 13, and 16. Personally, I would recommend that you live in Harlingen, and commute to work in Brownsville as I do (Harlingen is a much, much better family town). Although petty crime is a problem, violent crime is almost non existant (in Harlingen). If you do your research, you will find that Harlingen is below the national average for a city its size (about 60,000 population) for "violent" crime. Harlingen South is the best of the two high schools in the city, and Stewart Place and Treasure Hills have some of the best elementary schools/neiborhoods. Personally, I have seen that (alot, but certainly not all) "Anglo" Texan's (from the northern part of the state) seem to have a problem assimilating themselves into South Texas (Hense "Cultural Shock") Ironically, many northerners, and easterners just don't seem to have this kind of problem...... I guess it is just an issue of have an open mind, and being accepting of different cultures. A redneck mentality does not go over very well down here ----- maybe that is part of the problem ---- At any rate, Harlingen is a good place to live. Good schools, good churches, and good people, and decent infrastructure. I am not crazy about "June, July and August" (The heat!!), and I miss the vegetation/Trees of the northern/eastern U.S. ...... but the people are great .... and you have Beautiful South Padre Island, and the Ocean a hour away. My advice: "Come with an open mind, and form your own conclusions". The Rio Grande Valley is not for everyone, but it is a "heck of alot nicer" than a lot of decaying/crime ridden North Eastern U.S. cities.

[cdn nurse]

I moved to the Rio Grande Valley 14 years ago from Canada and have lived in McAllen, Edinburg and Harlingen. I have worked in many cities and towns in the valley. I love Harlingen and would never live in any other city in the valley. It is more of a family oriented community. Crime is low. I sometimes forget my doors (house or car) unlocked and have never had anything stolen. I would definitely live in Harlingen with kids. Better schools in my opinion than Brownsville. That Hospital is great. I worked there for a few years before moving on to other things.

[NOTAM]

so true about redneck mentality....i would be considered your average redneck woman...and i definitely dont fit in, in any way shape or form. everywhere else i have lived in Texas, i have always found my niche and found many like me...not down here....first of all, they can tell by the way i talk that i aint from around here, and am a blonde anglo, and i listen to country music (not tejano or rap), i like to hunt and fish (havent found ANY females around here that do, with a passion anyway), i drive a pickup truck (not many women here do)......i look forward to moving next month and never coming back

Originally Posted by camarongrande

I am an Anglo male from Ohio who works as an engineer/manager in Brownsville, Texas. I have lived in Harlingen for approximately 10 years: Please be assured that Valley Baptist is a great hospital, and Harlingen is very decent place to live. I have three daughters -- ages 7, 13, and 16. Personally, I would recommend that you live in Harlingen, and commute to work in Brownsville as I do (Harlingen is a much, much better family town). Although petty crime is a problem, violent crime is almost non existant (in Harlingen). If you do your research, you will find that Harlingen is below the national average for a city its size (about 60,000 population) for "violent" crime. Harlingen South is the best of the two high schools in the city, and Stewart Place and Treasure Hills have some of the best elementary schools/neiborhoods. Personally, I have seen that (alot, but certainly not all) "Anglo" Texan's (from the northern part of the state) seem to have a problem assimilating themselves into South Texas (Hense "Cultural Shock") Ironically, many northerners, and easterners just don't seem to have this kind of problem...... I guess it is just an issue of have an open mind, and being accepting of different cultures. A redneck mentality does not go over very well down here ----- maybe that is part of the problem ---- At any rate, Harlingen is a good place to live. Good schools, good churches, and good people, and decent infrastructure. I am not crazy about "June, July and August" (The heat!!), and I miss the vegetation/Trees of the northern/eastern U.S. ...... but the people are great .... and you have Beautiful South Padre Island, and the Ocean a hour away. My advice: "Come with an open mind, and form your own conclusions". The Rio Grande Valley is not for everyone, but it is a "heck of alot nicer" than a lot of decaying/crime ridden North Eastern U.S. cities.

[supertexan]

Treasure Hills is a nice neighborhood. You may also look out at the Harlingen Country Club, but it is a little far from the Hospital. Harlingen grows on you. It feels safe and people are friendly. On the downside, there is no good shopping. You have to go to McAllen or Brownsville.

[Speech]

Originally Posted by NOTAM

so true about redneck mentality....i would be considered your average redneck woman...and i definitely dont fit in, in any way shape or form. everywhere else i have lived in Texas, i have always found my niche and found many like me...not down here....first of all, they can tell by the way i talk that i aint from around here, and am a blonde anglo, and i listen to country music (not tejano or rap), i like to hunt and fish (havent found ANY females around here that do, with a passion anyway), i drive a pickup truck (not many women here do)......i look forward to moving next month and never coming back

Lol, I lived in the Valley, and a not a lot of women drive pickup trucks, they are just fatties driving minivans to the drive thru, wearing "i know i'm cute" t shirts. Then they hunk at pedestrians while they chew their healthy snack.