CHAPTER 2
DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Introduction
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the most recent available demographic
and economic data for the City of Harlingen as of September 2001. The source of
the most recent population data is the 2000 Census by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Not all 2000 Census reports are available as of September 2001; additional
demographic data will be available in 2002 as reports are issued. Economic data
are available from a variety of sources and time horizons. The source and
effective date for economic data are documented in the narrative and tables in
this chapter.
Location
The City of Harlingen is in the western part of Cameron County in South Texas
as shown in Figure 2-1. Cameron County is bordered by Hidalgo County to the
west, Willacy County to the north, the Gulf of Mexico to the east and the Rio
Grande River and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas to the south. Cameron,
Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy Counties together comprise the Lower Rio Grande
Valley region of Texas, commonly referred to as "the Valley." The City's nearest
large neighbors within Cameron County are the City of San Benito immediately
to the southeast and the town of La Feria approximately three miles to the west.
Geographic Levels
Demographic data are available at differing levels of geography depending on
their source. When not available at the level of the City of Harlingen, data are
presented for the Zip Codes encompassing Harlingen, or for Cameron County.
When data are available at lower levels of geography, tables and maps illustrate
data at the census tract or traffic analysis zones (TAZ) level. Census tracts are
small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county delineated by
local participants as part of the U.S. Census Bureau 's Participant Statistical
Areas Program. Census tracts generally have between 1,500 and 8,000 people. A
TAZ is a statistical entity delineated by state and/or local transportation officials
for tabulating traffic-related census data -especially journey-to-work and placeof-work statistics. A TAZ usually traverses one or more census blocks, block
groups, or census tracts. Usually smaller than Census Tracts, they are used here
to provide data for mapping at a finer level of detail.
The City of Harlingen defines a study area for planning purposes that includes
the City and its five-mile extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). Unlike the City
limits, the limits of the ETJ are not recognized by the census bureau. Therefore,
exact figures for population in the ETJ area are not available. In order to provide
a regional perspective and include the Harlingen ETJ, data are provided for all
tracts or TAZs that are completely or partially within the 5-mile ETJ limits. The
area defined by TAZs is slightly different from that defined by Census Tracts.
Although some census tracts extend beyond the study area, tracts were not
divided, in order to facilitate comparison of data between years. Figure 2-2
illustrates the location of individual census tracts identified in the tables, while
Figures 2-3a and 2-3b illustrate the location of TAZs.
History
Cameron County was established in 1848. Prior to that time, the area was a part
of Nueces County. The county was named after Ewen Cameron, a Texas
Independence war hero. Later, Willacy and Kenedy Counties were created out of
the northern portions of Cameron County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau,
the population of Cameron County has increased from 8,541 persons in 1850 to
335,227 persons in 2000.
Harlingen began as small village in 1904 and was incorporated as a municipality
in 1910. The City is named after a town in the Netherlands, Van Harlingen,
which is similarly located on a coastal plane with many canals. The U.S. Census
Bureau first reported the population of the City of Harlingen as 1,784 persons in
1920. According to the latest Census of Population and Housing, the population
in April 2000 was 57,564 persons. The City believes this number to be an
undercount of approximately 5,457 persons based on permits, annexation and
electrical meter services. An appeal is pending.
Population
The population and growth rates for Cameron County and the City of Harlingen
over the past 100 years are shown in Table 2-1. Growth rates include the percent
change each decade (decennial) and the average annual percent change.
Table 2-1
HISTORICAL POPULATION OF
CAMERON COUNTY AND CITY OF HARLINGEN
1900-2000
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
CAMERON COUNTY
CITY OF
HARLINGEN
Year Population Decennial Average Annual Percent Population Decennial Average
Percent
Change
Percent
Annual
Change
Change
Percent
Change
1900
16,065
-
-
n/a
-
-
1910
27,158
69.1%
5.4%
n/a
-
-
1920
36,662
35.0%
3.1%
1,784
-
-
1930
77,540
111.5%
7.8%
12,124
579.6%
21.1%
1940
83,202
7.3%
0.7%
13.306
9.7%
0.9%
1950
125,170
50.4%
4.2%
23,229
74.6%
5.7%
1960
151,098
20.7%
1.9%
41,207
77.4%
5.9%
1970*
140,368
-7.1%
-0.7%
33,503
-18.7%
-2.1%
1980
209,727
49.4%
4.1%
43,543
30.0%
2.7%
1990
260,120
24.0%
2.2%
48,735
11.9%
1.1%
2000
335,227
28.9%
2.9%
57,564
18.1%
1.8%
* Harlingen Air Force Base closed during this decade.
Source: 1990 Census of Population and Housing, UTPA CEED State Data Center Affiliate & Census 2000 Profiles of General
Demographic Characteristics [Texas] / prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, 2001
Population Growth
The City of Harlingen began significant growth around 1927. The population
increased more than five fold from 1,784 persons in 1920 to 12,124 persons in
1930. The City's early growth years slowed with the Depression era of the 1930's.
The population increased 9.7 percent to 13,306 persons in 1940.
World War II (WWII) and the post war years brought an increase in the growth
rate for the City of Harlingen. Early in WWII, the U.S. Army Air Corps
established an Air Field at Harlingen to train aerial gunners. The City's
population increased 74.6 percent to 23,229 persons in 1950. By 1960 the
population in Harlingen had increased an additional 77.4 percent to 41,207
persons. However, the Air Force base was closed in 1963. The local economy
was significantly impacted by the base closure, and the population of the city fell
18.7 percent to 33,503 persons by 1970. Today, the area of the former base is
home to the Valley International Airport, the Marine Military Academy, and
Texas State Technical College.
Over the past three decades, the City of Harlingen has established a more diverse
economy including commerce, industry, government, education, agriculture,
tourism, and medicine. The population in 1980 was 43,543 persons, a 30 percent
increase over 1970. During the next two decades, the City grew 12 percent to
48,735 persons in 1990 and 18 percent to 57,564 persons in 2000. The average
annual growth rate since 1990 is 1.7 percent.
The City of Harlingen made up 17.2 percent of the population of Cameron
County in 2000. Until 1963, the population of Harlingen was growing at a higher
rate than Cameron County as a whole. Harlingen lost one-fifth of the population
between 1960 and 1970. Since 1970, the growth rate for Harlingen has been
lower than for Cameron County. The population of Harlingen increased 18.1
percent from 48,735 persons in 1990 to 57,564 persons in 2000. The population
of Cameron County increased 28.9 percent during the last decade, from 260,120
persons in 1990 to 335,227 persons in 2000.
Cameron County represented 34.3 percent of the Lower Rio Grande Valley
population in 2000. The four counties that make up the Valley are growing in
population more rapidly than Cameron County, as shown in Table 2-2. The
Valley had a population of 701,888 persons in 1990 and 978,369 persons in
2000, a 39.4 percent increase in ten years. This growth rate is double that of the
city of Harlingen and much higher than the state growth rate of 22.8 percent per
10 years.
Table 2-2
GROWTH OF HARLINGEN COMPARED TO COUNTY, REGION AND
STATE
1990-2000
City of
Harlingen
Cameron
County
Rio Grande Valley
(Starr, Willacy,
Hidalgo and
Cameron
Counties)
Texas
1990
48,735
260,120
701,888
16,986,510
2000
57,564
335,227
978,369
20,851,820
Decennial
Percent Change
18.1%
28.9%
39.4%
22.8%
Source: LKC/UC Bureau of the Census 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing
Population Density
The population density for Cameron County and the City of Harlingen for 1990
and 2000 are shown in Table 2-3. The total area of each jurisdiction includes land
area and water area.
The city limits of the City of Harlingen were revised between 1990 and 2000.
The land area increased from 26.9 to 34.1 square miles, a 27.1 percent increase.
Population increased 18 percent during the same 10-year period. The population
density for the City of Harlingen was 1,810 persons per square mile of land area
in 1990 and 1,690 persons per square mile of land area in 2000. Since population
did not increase as much as land area, population density actually decreased 7
percent.
Table 2-3
AREA AND POPULATION DENSITY FOR CAMERON COUNTY
AND CITY OF HARLINGEN
1990-2000
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Cameron County
City of Harlingen
1990
2000
Change
1990
2000
Change
Population
260,120
335,227
29.0%
48,735
57,564
18.0%
Land Area
(Sq Mi)
905.6
905.8
0.0%
26.9
34.1
26.5%
Water Area
(Sq Mi)
370.9
370.6
-0.1%
0.2
0.3
38.8%
Total Area
(Sq Mi)
1,276.4
1,276.3
0.0%
27.1
34.3
26.6%
287
370
28.8%
1,810
1,690
-6.6%
Population
Density
(Polulation/Sq
Mi Land
Area)
Source: LKC/US Bureau of the Census, Census of Population and Housing
Note: Area values were rounded to the nearest tenth of a square mile after calculations, and therefore may not add up exactly.
Population and Population Density by Census Tract
The characteristics of census tracts that represent the city limits of Harlingen and
the surrounding areas are presented in Table 2-4. Census tract boundaries are not
always consistent with city limits. Table 2-4 documents the population and land
area (square miles) of each census tract included in the study area for Harlingen's
Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan. The portion of each tract that is within the city
limits of Harlingen is shown as a percent for population and for land area.
The total population of all tracts wholly or partially in the study area is 137,875
persons, of which 57,564 persons, or 41.8 percent, are within the City of
Harlingen. The total land area of these tracts is 519.3 square miles, of which 34.1
square miles, or 6.5 percent, are in the City of Harlingen.
Table 2-4 also includes population density (persons per square mile) by census
tract for the metropolitan planning area. Figure 2-4 illustrates population density
by TAZ for the City of Harlingen and surrounding areas. TAZs are generally
smaller and contained within census tract boundaries. Population and population
density by TAZ (subdivided, when applicable, into the portion in or outside a
city, town or Census-designated place) are included with this document as
Appendix 2-1.
Population Growth by Census Tract
Population and decennial population growth for 1980, 1990, and 2000 by census
tract for the metropolitan planning area including the City of Harlingen are
shown in Table 2-5. Between 1990 and 2000, census tract 119 was subdivided
into three smaller tracts, and between 1980 and 1990 census tracts 120.01 and
120.02 were combined to a larger census tract 120. Figure 2-5 illustrates the
population growth for census tracts between 1990 and 2000.
Population Projections
The Texas State Data Center (TxSDC) projects population for each county in
Texas. The latest projections were made in May 2000 before the 2000 Census
data were available. The TxSDC methodology involves a cohort-component
projection technique. As the name implies, the basic characteristics of this
technique are the use of separate cohorts (in this case racial and ethnic groups)
and the separate projection of each of the major components of population
change (fertility, mortality and migration--for each of the cohorts).
TxSDC publishes four different scenarios. Each scenario assumes the same set of
mortality and fertility assumptions but differs in assumptions relative to net
migration. The net migration assumptions for the first three scenarios are derived
from 1980-1990 patterns. The zero migration scenario (Scenario 0.0) assumes
that inmigration and outmigration are equal (i.e. net migration is zero) resulting
in growth only through natural increase. The one-half 1980-1990 migration
scenario (Scenario 0.5) assumes rates of net migration are one-half of those in the
1980s. The 1980-1990 migration scenario (Scenario 1.0) assumes that the trends
of the 1980s will characterize those occurring in the future in Texas.
Table 2-4
POPULATION AND POPULATION DENSITY BY CENSUS TRACT
CITY OF HARLINGEN AND SURROUNDING AREA
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
2000 Population
Census
Tract
Tract
Total
Land Area (Sq. Miles)
City
Portion in
Portion
City of
as
Harlingen
Percent
Limits
of Tract
Tract
Total
Tract
Portion in
City
Density
City of Portion as
(Population
Harlingen Percent of
per Sq
Limits
Tract
Mile)
101
6,281
0
0.0%
143.3
0.0
0.0%
44
102.01
1,971
10
0.5&
53.7
1.0
1.8%
37
102.02
6,589
4,114
62.4%
16.3
4.5
27.6%
404
103
9,966
0
0.0%
71.2
0.0
0.0%
140
104.01
4,605
480
10.4%
5.3
0.4
8.1%
867
104.02
5,566
1,403
25.2%
3.9
1.2
31.3%
1,437
105
2,996
2,996
100.0%
1.8
1.8
99.9%
1,688
106.01
7,686
7,674
99.8%
2.2
2.2
97.1%
3,417
106.02
1,898
1,898
100.0%
0.5
0.5
100.0%
3,675
107
3,486
3,486
100.0%
0.8
0.8
100.0%
4,278
108
6,005
5,942
99.0%
9.5
4.9
51.5%
634
109
2,002
2,002
100.0%
0.6
0.6
100.0%
3,233
110
3,802
3,802
100.0%
0.6
0.6
100.0%
6,040
111
3,236
3.236
100.0%
0.5
0.5
100.0%
6,848
112
1,794
1,794
100.0%
0.4
0.4
100.0%
4,381
113.01
1,637
1,637
100.0%
0.5
0.5
100.0%
3,160
113.02
4,508
4,508
100.0%
1.2
1.2
99.8%
3,794
114
5,361
116
2.2%
20.5
1.0
5.0%
261
115
6,013
0
0.0%
1.8
0.0
0.0%
3,389
116
6,711
0
0.0%
2.3
0.0
0.0%
2,864
117
6,927
16
0.2%
3.3
0.2
6.8%
2,111
118.01
4,434
4,434
100.0%
2.3
2.3
100.0%
1,947
118.02
3,525
3,525
100.0%
1.8
1.8
100.0%
1,916
119.01
6,019
0
0.0%
3.3
0.0
0.0%
1,832
119.02
3,623
0
0.0%
11.9
0.0
0.0%
306
119.03
1,932
0
0.0%
23.5
0.0
0.0%
82
120
8,904
4,222
47.4%
30.7
4.3
14.0%
290
121
7,986
269
3.4%
50.3
3.3
6.5%
159
W 95.06
2,412
0
0.0%
55.3
0.0
0.0%
44
137,875
57,654
41.8%
519.3
34.1
6.5%
367
Total
(29
Tracts)
Source: 2000 Census of Population and Housing, Summary File 1
Table 2-5
POPULATION BY CENSUS TRACT
1980, 1990 AND 2000
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Census Tract
101
1980
4,710
1990
4,990
Decennial
Change 19801990
5.9%
2000
6,281
Decennial
Change 19902000
25.9%
102.01
1,404
1,431
1.9%
1,971
37.7%
102.02
3,534
4,864
37.6%
6,589
35.5%
103
5,983
7,700
28.7%
9,966
29.4%
104.01
1,903
2,921
53.5%
4,605
57.7%
104.02
2,653
3,828
44.3%
5,566
45.4%
105
2,947
2,696
-8.5%
2,996
11.1%
106.01
5,512
6,250
13.4%
7,686
23.0%
106.02
1,424
1,592
11.8%
1,898
19.2%
107
3,211
3,235
0.7%
3,486
7.8%
108
4,284
5,127
1937%
6,005
17.1%
109
2,561
2,060
-9.6%
2,002
-2.8%
110
4,897
4,428
-9.6%
3,802
-14.1%
111
3,918
3,563
-9.1%
3,236
-9.2%
112
2,235
1,802
-19.4%
1,794
-0.4%
113.01
1,855
1,502
-19.0%
1,637
9.0%
113.02
n/a
3,812
n/a
4,508
18.3%
114
2,688
3,601
34.0%
5,361
48.9%
115
5,400
5,649
4.9%
6,013
6.4%
116
6,137
6,736
9.8%
6,711
-0.4%
117
4,886
5,747
17.6%
6,927
20.5%
118.01
2,909
3,723
28.0%
4,434
19.1%
118.02
3,135
3,357
7.1%
3,525
5.0%
119
6,417
8,502
32.5%
See below
36.1%
119.01
See above
See above
6,019
See above
119.02
See above
See above
3,623
See above
119.03
See above
See above
1,932
See above
120
See above
6,319
8,904
40.9%
120.01
3,337
See above
See above
See above
120.02
450
See above
See above
See above
3,828
4,967
29.8%
7,986
60.8%
W 95.06
n/a
2,122
n/a
2,412
13.7%
Total of
Tracts
>92,218*
112,524
<22.0%*
137,875
22.5%
121
66.9%
Source: 2000 Census of Population and Housing SF1
*Because the 1980 population of two tracts is not available, the total 1980 population is an underestimate, while the 1980-1990
percent change is an overestimate.
The fourth scenario (Scenario 1990-1998) assumes rates consistent with 19901998 patterns of total net migration and the 1980-1990 patterns of ethnicdistribution of migrants.
The TxSDC population projections for Cameron County are shown in Table 2-6
in five-year increments from 1990 to 2030 for each of the four scenarios. The
actual population for Cameron County in 2000 was 335,227 and corresponds
most closely to Scenario 1.0.
Table 2-6
POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR CAMERON COUNTY
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Scenario
Year
0.0
0.5
1.0
1990-1998
1990
260,120
260,120
260,120
260,120
1995
284,253
290,277
296,333
301,524
2000*
310,159
323,510
336,454
349,531
2005
335,634
357,339
378,284
401,908
2010
359,075
390,588
421,048
455,529
2015
382,729
425,299
465,900
512,414
202
408,618
463,206
514,658
575,344
2025
435,720
503,147
565,937
643,473
2030
461,601
543,152
617,442
713,375
*Actual census count was 335,227
Source: Texas State Population Estimates and Projections Program, Texas State Data Center, May 2000
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan includes projections for the future
number of people living in the area. The projections include a range of growth
rates based on different expectations as compared to Cameron County.
All the population projections for the City of Harlingen are based on TxSDC
Scenario 1.0 for Cameron County. This is the scenario that most accurately
projected 2000 population and is currently used by the Texas Department of
Transportation for the update to the Statewide Plan for 2025. However, since
1970 the growth rate for Harlingen has been lower than that of Cameron
County. In each of the past two decades, the City of Harlingen's decennial
population growth rate has been 50 percent to 65 percent that of Cameron
County (see Table 2-1)
The TxSDC does not produce projections for cities. To estimate future
population for the metropolitan planning area and City of Harlingen, a range of
three projections (low-medium-high) are based on TxSDC Scenario 1.0 for
Cameron County. The low growth projection assumes the metropolitan planning
area and the City of Harlingen will grow at 50 percent of the Scenario 1.0
growth rate for Cameron County. The medium growth projection assumes the
metropolitan planning area and the City will grow at 65 percent of the Scenario
1.0 growth rate for Cameron County. The high growth projection assumes the
Scenario 1.0 growth rate for Cameron County will also apply to the planning
area and the City. Each projection starts with the actual 2000 census population.
The low, medium, and high growth projections for every five years from 2000 to
2030 are shown in Tables 2-7, 2-8 and 2-9, respectively.
Table 2-7
LOW POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR
METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA AND CITY OF HARLINGEN
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Year
Multiplier
City of
Harlingen
Planning Area
(272 TAZs)
Planning Area
(31 Tracts)
2000
*
57,564
116,313
135,463
2005
1.06
61,140
123,540
143,880
2010
1.13
64,800
130,940
152,490
2015
1.19
68,640
138,690
161,520
2020
1.26
72,810
147,120
171,340
2025
1.34
77,200
155,980
181,660
2030
1.42
81,600
164,880
192,030
*Actual value from Census
Source: LKC Consulting Services, Inc. All projections are rounded to the nearest 10 people.
Table 2-8
MEDIUM POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR
METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA AND CITY OF HARLINGEN
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Year
Multiplier
City of
Harlingen
Planning Area
(272 TAZs)
Planning Area
(31 Tracts)
2000
*
57,564
116,313
135,463
2005
1.08
62,220
125,710
146,410
2010
1.16
66,970
135,320
157,600
2015
1.25
71,960
145,400
169,340
2020
1.34
77,380
156,3606
182,100
2025
1.44
83,080
167,880
195,520
2030
1.54
88,810
179,450
209,000
* Actual value from Census Source: LKC Consulting Services, Inc. All projections are rounded to the nearest 10 people
Table 2-9
HIGH POPULATION PROJECTIONS FOR
METROPOLITAN PLANNING AREA AND CITY OF HARLINGEN
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Year
Multiplier
City of
Harlingen
Planning Area
(272 TAZs)
Planning Area
(31 Tracts)
2000
*
57,564
116,313
135,463
2005
1.12
64,720
130,770
152,300
2010
1.25
72,040
145,560
169,520
2015
1.38
79,710
161,060
187,580
2020
1.53
88,050
177,920
207,210
2025
1.68
96,830
195,650
227,860
2030
1.84
105,640
213,450
248,590
* Actual value from Census Source: LKC Consulting Services, Inc. All projections are rounded to the nearest 10 people
Demographics
The characteristics of the population in the City of Harlingen include age,
gender, race and ethnic origin, income status, and education attainment.
Statistics for age, gender, race and ethnic origin are presented by TAZ in
Appendix 1.
Age and Gender
The age and gender composition of the City of Harlingen for 1990 and 2000 is
shown in Table 2-10. The proportion of males to females in Harlingen in 2000
is 48 percent to 52 percent.
The median age of the population of Harlingen is 31.8, slightly older than the
county median age of 29.0 and comparable to the state median age of 32.3.
The age and gender characteristics for the City of Harlingen population in 2000
are portrayed graphically in the age-gender pyramid shown in Figure 2-6. Each
horizontal level of the pyramid represents a different age group and the groups
are divided with females on the right side and males on the left. The length of
the horizontal bars indicates the number of persons in each age and gender
group, as indicated by the scale along the bottom graduated in thousands of
persons.
Table 2-10
AGE AND GENDER COMPOSITION FOR
CITY OF HARLINGEN - 2000 POPULATION
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Category
1990 Population Percent of 1990 2000 Population Percent of 2000
Age
Age 0-19
17,404
35.7%
19,457
33.8%
Ages 20-44
17,141
35.2%
19,058
33.1%
Ages 45-59
5,854
12.0%
8,427
14.6%
Ages 60 & Over
8,336
17.1%
10.622
18.5%
Total
48,735
100.0%
57,564
100.0%
Males
23,039
47.3%
27,402
47.6%
Females
25,696
52.7%
30,162
52.4%
Total
48,735
100.0%
57,564
100.0%
Gender
Source: 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing
Table 2-6
AGE AND GENDER PYRAMID
CITY OF HARLINGEN - 2000 POPULATION
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Source: LKC Consulting Services, Inc. with data from US Census Bureau 2000 Census of Population and Housing Summary
File 1.
Race and Ethnic Origin
Nearly three-quarters (72.8 percent) of the population of Harlingen is of
Hispanic origin according to the 2000 Census. This represents an increase from
70.6 percent in 1990. The federal government considers race and Hispanic
origin to be two separate and distinct concepts. Of the population of 57,564
persons, 78.7 percent are white, 0.9 percent black or African-American, 0.9
percent Asian and 0.5 percent American-Indian. Another 2.6 percent of the
population are of two or more races, and 16.4 percent are of "some other race."
Almost all persons who are of some other race are also of Hispanic origin. This
presumably reflects the Census Bureau practice of assigning write-in race
entries such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, or Cuban to the "some other race"
category. A profile of the 2000 population of Harlingen by race and ethnic
origin is provided as Table 2-11.
Table 2-11
CITY OF HARLINGEN RACE/HISPANIC ORIGIN
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
NonHispanic
One Race
%
Hispanic
%
Total of
Race
Percent by
Race
Only
White
14,410
25.0%
30,880
53.6%
45,290
78.7%
Black or
African
American
425
0.7%
103
0.2%
528
0.9%
American
Indian
96
0.2%
205
0.4%
301
0.5%
500
0.9%
6
0.0%
506
0.9%
6
0.0%
10
0.0%
16
0.0%
Some Other
race
32
0.1%
9,403
16.3%
9,435
16.4%
Two or
more Races
214
0.4%
1,274
2.2%
1,488
2.6%
100.0%
Asian
Native
Hawaiian
and Other
Pacific
Islander
Total by
Hispanic
Origin
15,683
41,881
57,564
Percent by
Hispanic
Origin
27.2%
72.8%
100.0%
Source: LKC Consulting Services, Inc. with data from 2000 Census of Population and Housing Summary File 1.
Percent Living Below Poverty Level
In 1990, 14,242 persons lived below the poverty level in the City of Harlingen,
30 percent of the total the population of 48,735 persons. This percentage is
lower than the percent of persons living below the poverty level for Cameron
County as a whole (39 percent), but higher than the percent of persons living
below the poverty level for the State of Texas (18 percent).
According to data from the 1997 Economic Census by the U.S. Census Bureau,
34 percent of persons in Cameron County and 16 percent of persons in the State
of Texas were living below the poverty level. These data for Harlingen from the
2000 Census will be available in 2002.
Median Annual Income
Median household income for Harlingen was $20,858 in 1990, compared to
$17,336 for Cameron County and $27,016 for the State of Texas. According to
data from the 1997 Economic Census by the U.S. Census Bureau, the median
household income was $21,699 for Cameron County (an increase of 25.2
percent since 1990) and $34,478 for the State of Texas. Median household
income data for Harlingen will be available from the 2000 Census in 2002.
Spanish Speaking
SOf the total population of 48,735 in the City of Harlingen in 1990, 28,465
persons, or 58.4 percent, spoke Spanish at home. Of those who spoke Spanish at
home, 4,919 felt they spoke English "not well or not well at all." These statistics
from the 2000 Census will be available in 2002.
Educatinal Attainment
In 1990, 59.4 percent of persons 18 years and older in Harlingen had a high
school diploma or equivalent. Statistics on educational achievement from the
2000 Census will be available in 2002.
Households
The total number of households in the City of Harlingen in 2000 was 19,021, an
increase of 3,566, or 23 percent, over 1990. A household includes all of the
people who occupy a housing unit. People not living in households are classified
by the census as living in group quarters. Statistics and details for population in
households for each TAZ are provided in Chapter 11 and associated Appendix
11-1.
Household Characteristics
Of the 19,021 households in Harlingen in 2000, 14,358 were family households
and 4,663 were non-family households, as shown in Table 2-12 and Figure 2-7.
The census defines as a family household as one where one or more one or more
people who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption live.
Family households comprised 75.5 percent of all households. A non-family
household is a householder living alone or with non-relatives only. The average
household size is 2.9 persons, and the average family size is 3.4 persons.
Demographic characteristics for family households in Harlingen are provided as
Table 2-12.
Families are classified by type as either a "married-couple family" or an "other
family" according to the presence of a spouse. "Other family'' is further broken
out according to the sex of the householder. Of all family households in
Harlingen, 10,576 are married couples, and 3,088 are female householder (no
husband present). The remaining family households (694) are not defined by
census reports, but may be households with no wife present.
Family households with children under 18 years of age represent 7,339, or 51.1
percent of all family households. There are a total of 8,331 households with
children under 18 years of age. Of all householders reporting, 5,732 said persons
65 years of age and older lived in the household.
More detailed household characteristics will be available in 2002 when the
results of the 2000 Census sample are made public. Detailed household
characteristics at the place level will be available between March and May of
2002. The Census Bureau anticipates releasing tract and block group level data
between June and September 2002.
Table 2-12
CITY OF HARLINGEN PROFILES OF GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC
CHARACTERISTICS 2000
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Household by Type
Number
Percent
Total households
19,021
100.0
Family households
14,358
75.5
7,339
38.6
10,576
55.6
5,184
27.3
Female householder, no husband present
3,088
16.2
Nonfamily households
4,663
24.5
Householder living alone
3,983
20.9
Householder 65 years and over
1,953
10.3
Householder with individuals under 18 years
8,331
43.8
Householder with individuals 65 years and
over
5,732
30.1
with own children under 18 years
Married-Couple Family
with own children under 18 years
Average household size
2.94
Average family size
3.44
Source: 2000 Census of Population and Housing Profile of General Demographic Characteristics
Table 2-7
AGE AND GENDER PYRAMID
CITY OF HARLINGEN - 2000 POPULATION
Harlingen's Vision 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Harlingen, Texas
Source: LKC Consulting Services, Inc. from 2000 Census of Population and Housing Profiles of General Demographic
Characteristics