View source for Cameron County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}}
{{Distinguish|Cameron, Texas}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{update|part=politics, government, and the economy|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Cameron County
 | state                = Texas
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | seal                 = Seal of Cameron County, Texas.svg
 | seal size         = 90px
 | logo                 = Logo of Cameron County, Texas.png
 | logo size          = 200
 | founded              = 1848
 | seat wl              = Brownsville
 | largest city wl      = Brownsville
 | leader_title         = [[County judge]]
 | leader_name          = [[Eddie Treviño|Eddie Treviño, Jr.]]
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 1276
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 891
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 386
 | area percentage      = 30
 | pop                  = 421017
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | ex image             = Camcourthouse.jpg
 | ex image size        = 250
 | ex image cap         = The Cameron County Courthouse in Brownsville
 Administration Building
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.cameroncountytx.gov/|cameroncountytx.gov}}
 | time zone            = Central
 | district             = 34th
 | named for            = [[Ewen Cameron (soldier)|Ewen Cameron]]
 | census yr            = 2020
}}

'''Cameron County''' is the southernmost [[County (United States)|county]] in the U.S. state of [[Texas]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], its population was 421,017.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Cameron County, Texas|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cameroncountytexas/PST120221|access-date=January 31, 2022|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=August 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804013112/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cameroncountytexas/PST120221|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cameron County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48061|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=February 23, 2021|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225235226/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48061|url-status=live}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

The county was founded in 1848 and is named for [[Captain (OF-2)|Captain]] [[Ewen Cameron (Captain)|Ewen Cameron]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/captains.htm#cameron |title=DeWitt Colony Militia Captains |publisher=Tamu.edu |access-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110063640/http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/captains.htm#cameron |archive-date=January 10, 2011 }}</ref> a soldier during the [[Texas Revolution]] and in the ill-fated [[Mier Expedition]]. During the later 19th century and through World War II, [[Fort Brown]] was a US Army outpost here, stimulating the development of the city of Brownsville.

Cameron County comprises the Brownsville–[[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]], TX [[Brownsville–Harlingen metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]], as well as the Brownsville–Harlingen–[[Raymondville, Texas|Raymondville]] [[Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville combined statistical area|combined statistical area]], which itself is part of the larger [[Rio Grande Valley (Texas)|Rio Grande Valley]] region.

The second-largest city in the county is [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]].

The county is home to the [[SpaceX Starbase]] spaceport, situated in [[Boca Chica (Texas)|Boca Chica]]; it is also the residence of [[Elon Musk]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://observer.com/2023/08/elon-musk-boca-chica-home-photo/ | title=Rare Photo of the Elon Musk's $50,000 Tiny Home Shared by Biographer | website=[[The New York Observer]] | date=August 7, 2023 }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1276|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|891|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|386|sqmi}} (30%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 20, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309153527/http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|url-status=live}}</ref> To the east, the county borders the [[Gulf of Mexico]].

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-2 (TX).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 2]]
* [[Image:I-69E (TX).svg|25px]] [[Image:US 77.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 69E]]/[[U.S. Route 77 in Texas|U.S. Highway 77]]
* [[Image:I-169 (TX).svg|25px]] [[Image:Toll Texas 550.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 169 (Texas)|Interstate 169]]/[[Texas State Highway 550|State Highway 550]]
* [[Image:US 83.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 83 in Texas|U.S. Highway 83]]
* [[Image:US 281.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 281 in Texas|U.S. Highway 281]]
* [[Image:Texas 4.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 4|State Highway 4]]
* [[Image:Texas 48.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 48|State Highway 48]]
* [[Image:Texas 100.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 100|State Highway 100]]
* [[Image:Texas 107.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 107|State Highway 107]]
* [[Image:Texas 345.svg|20px]] [[Texas State Highway 345|State Highway 345]]

===Adjacent counties and municipalities===
* [[Willacy County, Texas|Willacy County]] (north)
* [[Gulf of Mexico]] (east)
* [[Matamoros Municipality, Tamaulipas|Matamoros Municipality]], Tamaulipas, Mexico (south)
* [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]] (west)

===National protected areas===
* [[Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)
* [[Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 8541
|1860= 6028
|1870= 10999
|1880= 14959
|1890= 14424
|1900= 16095
|1910= 27158
|1920= 36662
|1930= 77540
|1940= 83202
|1950= 125170
|1960= 151098
|1970= 140368
|1980= 209680
|1990= 260120
|2000= 335227
|2010= 406220
|2020= 421017
|estyear= 2024
|estimate= 431874
|estref=<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/cameroncountytexas/PST045224|title=QuickFacts: Cameron County, Texas |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=|archive-date=April 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416083850/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />1850–2010<ref>{{cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://texasalmanac.com/sites/default/files/images/topics/ctypophistweb2010.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Texas Almanac: Population History of Counties from 1850–2010|publisher=Texas Almanac|access-date=April 20, 2015}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Cameron County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cameron County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US48061&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cameron County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48061&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cameron County, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48061&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|48,679
|43,427
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,107
|14.52%
|10.69%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.81%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|909
|1,192
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,405
|0.27%
|0.29%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.33%
|-
|Native American or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|334
|385
|style='background: #ffffe6; |365
|0.10%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.09%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|1,522
|2,486
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,596
|0.45%
|0.61%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.62%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|41
|76
|style='background: #ffffe6; |80
|0.01%
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census| Other Race]] alone (NH)
|118
|191
|style='background: #ffffe6; |846
|0.04%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.20%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|888
|716
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,938
|0.26%
|0.18%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|282,736
|357,747
|style='background: #ffffe6; |376,680
|84.34%
|88.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |89.47%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''335,227'''
|'''406,220'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''421,017'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=December 27, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961227012639/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> of 2010, 406,220 people, 119,631 households, and 96,579 families were residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|370|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. The 141,924 housing units averaged {{convert|132|/mi2|/km2}}. The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the county was 87.0% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 9.8% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. About 88.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 119,631 households, 50.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.3% were not families. About 16.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.36, and the average family size was 3.80.

In the county, the age distribution was 33.0% under the age of18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 86.30 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the county was $31,264, and for a family was $33,770. Males had a median income of $21,410 versus $15,597 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,695. About 30.0% of families and 34.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.8% of those under age 18 and 24.8% of those age 65 or over.

A 2000 [[Texas A&M]] study stated that of the residents of Cameron County, 43% do not have basic literacy skills.<ref>Clark, Steve. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110912134942/http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/articles/borders-129018-waldenbooks-mall.html Borders liquidation to bring down local Waldenbooks]." ''[[The Brownsville Herald]]''. July 20, 2011. Retrieved on July 21, 2011.</ref>

Within the 2010s decade, a noticeable trend in the county population showed that growth among the county's northern cities (defined as major towns whose city limits lie entirely north or east of U.S. Highway 83 in the county) on average has been greater than those cities on U.S. Highway 83 in the county, suggesting a possible desire among both locals and new residents from outside the Rio Grande Valley to move away from the population centers of the county. This trend has also been shared by nearby [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]].  [[Los Fresnos, Texas|Los Fresnos]], for example, grew by 42.2% from 2010 to 2018. Other major cities, such as [[Indian Lake, Texas|Indian Lake]], [[Primera, Texas|Primera]], and [[Rio Hondo, Texas|Rio Hondo]], all grew by more than 15% in the same period. In contrast, the cities of [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]], [[La Feria, Texas|La Feria]], and [[San Benito, Texas|San Benito]], all cities along U.S. Highway 83, have seen growths less than 1% in the same period. The city that grew the most among the Highway 83 cities in the county was [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]], which grew by 4.4% from 2010 to 2019.

==Government and infrastructure==
[[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] operates the Port Isabel Service Processing Center, located in an [[unincorporated area]] adjacent to the [[Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport]],<ref>"[http://www.ice.gov/pi/dro/facilities/harlingen.htm Port Isabel Service Processing Center] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527213651/http://www.ice.gov/pi/dro/facilities/harlingen.htm |date=May 27, 2010 }}." [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]]. Retrieved on 21.July 2010.</ref> which is itself owned and operated by the county.<ref name=txdot_pil>{{cite web | url=https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/pil.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/avn/airport_directory/pil.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live | title = Texas Airport Directory – Port Isabel, Port Isabel-Cameron County (PIL) | publisher = [[Texas Department of Transportation]] | access-date = May 5, 2018}}</ref> The airport has four runways and offers fuel and other [[general aviation]] services.<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=PIL|use=PU|own=PU|site=site=23925.*H}}. Federal Aviation Administration, Effective April 26, 2018.</ref>

U.S. District Judge [[Andrew S. Hanen]] stated in 2013 that the corruption in the county judiciary and legal system was so pervasive that most people would not believe it "unless they heard it themselves."<ref>Perez-Treviño, Emma. "[http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_0f217fb2-725f-11e3-98d3-001a4bcf6878.html Judge: Hard to believe depths of Cameron County corruption] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914211431/http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/article_0f217fb2-725f-11e3-98d3-001a4bcf6878.html |date=2014-09-14 }}." ''[[Valley Morning Star]]'' at ''[[The Monitor (Texas)|The Monitor]]''. Wednesday, January 1, 2014. Retrieved on January 5, 2014.</ref>

==Politics==
Cameron County has historically leaned toward the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] in presidential elections, supporting the party in all but three between 1960 and 2020. [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] candidate [[George W. Bush]] carried the county in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 election]], but no Republican would do so again until [[Donald Trump]] won in [[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]. Many voters supported Trump while voting for down-ballot Democratic politicians. Trump outperformed [[Ted Cruz]] in the area in the 2024 election.<ref name=UlloaMuskTrump>{{cite web|last=Ulloa|first=Jazmin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/us/politics/elon-musk-cameron-county.html|title=How the Border County Where Elon Musk Is a Local Flipped for Trump|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2024-12-01|access-date=2024-12-01}}</ref> Trump's 2016 showing of 32.0% was the lowest received by a Republican candidate in the county since [[Alf Landon]] in 1936. Four years later, however, Trump's performance of 43% in [[2020 United States presidential election |2020]] was the best for a Republican in the county since 2004, while in 2024, Trump won the county with a majority of 52.51% as part of the continued Republican trend in the Rio Grande Valley.{{fact|date=December 2024}}<!--need secondary sources for analysis--> ''[[The New York Times]]'' stated that [[Elon Musk]] placed significant economic development in the county, opposed [[illegal immigration]], and did considerable campaigning for Trump in Cameron County, so "Mr. Trump didn't have to campaign very hard in Cameron."<ref name=UlloaMuskTrump/>

In the [[Texas House of Representatives]], Cameron County is covered by districts [[Texas's 35th House of Representatives district|35]], [[Texas's 37th House of Representatives district|37]], and [[Texas's 38th House of Representatives district|38]].

{{PresHead|place=Cameron County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 20, 2018|archive-date=March 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323225526/https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|149|2,146|134|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|420|1,260|36|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|909|920|17|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,266|2,225|176|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,544|3,202|11|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,785|7,146|54|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,160|5,887|159|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,370|6,035|28|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|5,309|5,998|539|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,689|6,778|392|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|14,018|7,559|25|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|11,952|8,829|241|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|10,190|12,416|34|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,531|16,056|72|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|11,759|15,726|2,042|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|20,816|13,340|144|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|16,448|25,310|353|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|22,041|23,200|1,044|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|29,545|26,394|187|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|24,263|30,972|317|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|20,123|29,435|9,499|Texas}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|18,434|34,891|3,168|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|27,800|33,214|1,043|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|34,801|33,998|357|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|26,671|48,480|926|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|26,099|49,975|821|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|29,472|59,402|3,791|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|49,032|64,063|1,231|Texas}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|60,991|54,258|1,060|Texas}}
{{PresFoot}}
{{U.S. SenHead|place=Cameron County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}
<!-- U.S. SenRow should be {{U.S. SenRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{U.S. SenRow|2024|Democratic|53,391|58,330|2,789|Texas}}
{{U.S. SenFoot}}

==Education==
Cameron County is served by several [[school districts]]. They include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48061_cameron/DC20SD_C48061.pdf|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48061_cameron/DC20SD_C48061.pdf|archive-date=October 9, 2022|url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Cameron County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} – [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48061_cameron/DC20SD_C48061_SD2MS.txt list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630022607/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48061_cameron/DC20SD_C48061_SD2MS.txt |date=June 30, 2022 }}</ref>
* [[Brownsville Independent School District]]
* [[Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[La Feria Independent School District]]
* [[Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Lyford Consolidated Independent School District]] (partially)
* [[Point Isabel Independent School District]]
* [[Rio Hondo Independent School District]]
* [[San Benito Consolidated Independent School District]]
* [[Santa Maria Independent School District]]
* [[Santa Rosa Independent School District]]

In addition, residents are eligible to apply to [[South Texas Independent School District]]'s magnet schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stisd.net/about|title=About|publisher=[[South Texas Independent School District]]|accessdate=June 29, 2022|quote=The district stretches over three counties, Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy,[...]|archive-date=May 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519174612/https://www.stisd.net/about|url-status=live}}</ref>

All of the county is in the service area of [[Texas Southmost College]].<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.204. TEXAS SOUTHMOST COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922180708/https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm |date=September 22, 2021 }}.</ref>

==Economy==
Cameron County has been considered one of the poorest urban counties in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2008 |title=Poverty in Texas |url=https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/poverty-texas |access-date=July 22, 2023 |website=The Texas Politics Project |language=en |archive-date=July 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722151611/https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/poverty-texas |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kaswan |first=Mark J. |date=July 3, 2014 |title=Developing democracy: cooperatives and democratic theory |journal=International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=190–205 |doi=10.1080/19463138.2014.951048 |issn=1946-3138 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2014IJUSD...6..190K }}</ref>

The [[FAA]] approved a [[SpaceX]] private spaceport east of Brownsville on the Gulf Coast.<ref name="tm20120410">
{{cite news
 |last=Martinez
 |first=Laura
 |title=Brownsville area candidate for spaceport
 |url=http://www.themonitor.com/articles/space-60007-brownsville-south.html
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414180555/http://www.themonitor.com/articles/space-60007-brownsville-south.html
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-date=April 14, 2012
|access-date=May 12, 2012
|newspaper=The Monitor
 |date=April 10, 2012
}}</ref>

The [[SpaceX South Texas Launch Site]] was originally projected to employ 75–100 full-time workers in the early years with up to 150 full-time employees/contractors by 2019.<ref name=faa201304v1>
{{cite report
 |last=Nield
 |first=George C.
 |title=Draft Environmental Impact Statement: SpaceX Texas Launch Site
 |volume=1
 |date=April 2014
 |url=http://1.usa.gov/YtxBzo
 |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207085028/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/spacex_texas_launch_site_environmental_impact_statement/media/SpaceX_Texas_Launch_Site_Draft_EIS_V1.pdf
 |archive-date=December 7, 2013
}}</ref>  In 2014, SpaceX acquired additional land near Boca Chica, which they consolidated into a subdivision called "[[Mars Crossing]]", possibly named after the novel by science-fiction writer [[Geoffrey A. Landis]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Perez-Treviño |first=Emma |title=SpaceX continues local land purchases |url=http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_1e325e0c-9917-11e3-944b-001a4bcf6878.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140220154528/http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/article_1e325e0c-9917-11e3-944b-001a4bcf6878.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 20, 2014 |access-date=February 19, 2014 |newspaper=Valley Morning Star |date=February 19, 2014 }}</ref><gallery mode="nolines" widths="168" heights="269">
File:SpaceX Starbase launch facility (51438071556).jpg|View of SpaceX's launch pad at Starbase
File:USA - Texas - Boca Chica - Starbase (51286054441).jpg|SN15 and SN16
File:USA - Texas - Boca Chica - Starbase (51285307187).jpg|[[SpaceX Starship|Starship]] and [[Super heavy-lift launch vehicle|SuperHeavy]] production site
</gallery>

The southern cattle tick (''[[Rhipicephalus microplus]]'') is invasive here.<ref name="Thomas" /> Populations here have also become highly [[Permethrin#Resistance|permethrin resistant]].<ref name="Thomas" /> In 2014 the problem had become so severe that spread to neighboring counties was feared, and a Temporary Preventative Quarantine Area was established to preserve efficacy in those counties.<ref name="Thomas" /> All quarantine efforts have been somewhat unsuccessful, due at least in part to the ticks' infestation of wildlife including whitetail (''[[Odocoileus virginianus]]'').<ref name="Thomas">
   {{Unbulleted list citebundle
      |{{*}} {{cite journal | journal=[[Journal of Medical Entomology]] | issn=0022-2585 | year=2021 | issue=4 | volume=58 | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] ([[Entomological Society of America]]) | last1=Showler | first1=Allan T. | last2=Pérez de León | first2=Adalberto | last3=Saelao | first3=Perot | title=Biosurveillance and Research Needs Involving Area-Wide Systematic Active Sampling to Enhance Integrated Cattle Fever Tick (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Eradication | doi=10.1093/jme/tjab051 | pages=1601–1609 | pmid=33822110 | s2cid=233036282| doi-access=free }}
      |{{*}} {{cite journal | journal=[[Annals of the Entomological Society of America]] | issn=0013-8746 | year=2020 | issue=4 | volume=113 | publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] ([[Entomological Society of America]]) | last1=Thomas | first1=Donald B. | last2=Klafke | first2=Guilherme | last3=Busch | first3=Joseph D. | last4=Olafson | first4=Pia U. | last5=Miller | first5=Robert A. | last6=Mosqueda | first6=Juan | last7=Stone | first7=Nathan E. | last8=Scoles | first8=Glen | last9=Wagner | first9=David M. | last10=Perez-De-Leon | first10=Adalberto | title=Tracking the Increase of Acaricide Resistance in an Invasive Population of Cattle Fever Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and Implementation of Real-Time PCR Assays to Rapidly Genotype Resistance Mutations | doi=10.1093/aesa/saz053 | pages=298–309 | s2cid=216254066| doi-access=free }}
   }}
</ref>

==Media==
===Radio stations===
* KFRQ 94.5FM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.q945rocks.com/|title=Q945rocks.com|access-date=October 20, 2006|archive-date=November 8, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108043148/http://www.q945rocks.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* KKPS 99.5FM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.995quepasa.com|title=99.5 La Nueva FM KKPS musica regional Mexicana.|access-date=July 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520155639/http://995quepasa.com/|archive-date=May 20, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* KNVO 101.1FM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.romantica101.com/|title=Inicio – RADIO JOSE McAllen|date=July 19, 2012|access-date=October 20, 2006|archive-date=November 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105063320/http://www.romantica101.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* KVLY 107.9FM<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mix1079.net/|title=107.9 Mix FM – KVLY|first=107.9 Mix FM|last=Staff|access-date=October 20, 2006|archive-date=November 2, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061102221225/http://www.mix1079.net/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* KVMV 96.9FM<ref>{{cite web|title=Faith, Hope, and Love: KVMV 96.9FM|url=http://www.kvmv.org/|publisher=KVMV 96.9FM|access-date=March 6, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216120115/http://kvmv.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Newspapers===
* ''The Brownsville Herald'' (A Freedom Communications, Inc. newspaper based in Brownsville, TX)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/|title=Brownsville Herald|access-date=May 10, 2011|archive-date=May 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510073009/http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''Valley Morning Star'' (A Freedom Communications, Inc. newspaper based in Harlingen, TX)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.valleymorningstar.com/|title=Valley Morning Star|access-date=May 10, 2011|archive-date=February 16, 2007|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070216231002/http://www.valleymorningstar.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* ''El Nuevo Heraldo'' (AIM Media Texas newspaper based in Brownsville, TX)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elnuevoheraldo.com/|title=El Nuevo Heraldo|access-date=November 25, 2016|archive-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130212930/http://www.elnuevoheraldo.com/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Communities==
===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Brownsville, Texas|Brownsville]] (county seat)
* [[Harlingen, Texas|Harlingen]]
* [[La Feria, Texas|La Feria]]
* [[Los Fresnos, Texas|Los Fresnos]]
* [[Palm Valley, Cameron County, Texas|Palm Valley]]
* [[Port Isabel, Texas|Port Isabel]]
* [[Rio Hondo, Texas|Rio Hondo]]
* [[San Benito, Texas|San Benito]]                                                                                                 
* [[Starbase, Texas| Starbase]]
{{div col end}}

===Towns===
[[Image:Dancycourthouse.jpg|thumb|right|180px|A picture of the [[Cameron County Courthouse (1912)]], the Dancy Building, in Brownsville, Texas, which served as the County Courthouse until the construction of a replacement: It was restored in 2006 and houses County Court at Law No 1, as well as some county offices.]]
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bayview, Texas|Bayview]]
* [[Combes, Texas|Combes]]
* [[Indian Lake, Texas|Indian Lake]]
* [[Laguna Vista, Texas|Laguna Vista]]
* [[Los Indios, Texas|Los Indios]]
* [[Primera, Texas|Primera]]
* [[Rancho Viejo, Texas|Rancho Viejo]]
* [[Santa Rosa, Texas|Santa Rosa]]
* [[South Padre Island, Texas|South Padre Island]]
{{div col end}}

===Village===
* [[Rangerville, Texas|Rangerville]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Arroyo Colorado Estates, Texas|Arroyo Colorado Estates]]
* [[Arroyo Gardens, Texas|Arroyo Gardens]]
* [[Bixby, Texas|Bixby]]
* [[Bluetown, Texas|Bluetown]]
* [[Cameron Park, Texas|Cameron Park]]
* [[Chula Vista, Cameron County, Texas|Chula Vista]]
* [[Del Mar Heights, Texas|Del Mar Heights]]
* [[El Camino Angosto, Texas|El Camino Angosto]]
* [[Encantada-Ranchito-El Calaboz, Texas|Encantada-Ranchito-El Calaboz]]
* [[Green Valley Farms, Texas|Green Valley Farms]]
* [[Iglesia Antigua, Texas|Iglesia Antigua]]
* [[Juarez, Texas|Juarez]]
* [[La Feria North, Texas|La Feria North]]
* [[La Paloma, Texas|La Paloma]]
* [[La Tina Ranch, Texas|La Tina Ranch]]
* [[Lago, Texas|Lago]]
* [[Laguna Heights, Texas|Laguna Heights]]
* [[Las Palmas II, Texas|Las Palmas II]]
* [[Lasana, Texas|Lasana]]
* [[Laureles, Texas|Laureles]]
* [[Lozano, Texas|Lozano]]
* [[Olmito, Texas|Olmito]]
* [[Orason, Texas|Orason]]
* [[Palmer, Cameron County, Texas|Palmer]]
* [[Ratamosa, Texas|Ratamosa]]
* [[Reid Hope King, Texas|Reid Hope King]]
* [[Rice Tracts, Texas|Rice Tracts]]
* [[San Pedro, Texas|San Pedro]]
* [[Santa Maria, Texas|Santa Maria]]
* [[Solis, Texas|Solis]]
* [[South Point, Texas|South Point]]
* [[Tierra Bonita, Texas|Tierra Bonita]]
* [[Villa del Sol, Texas|Villa del Sol]]
* [[Villa Pancho, Texas|Villa Pancho]]
* [[Yznaga, Texas|Yznaga]]
{{div col end}}

===Former census-designated places===
* [[Arroyo Gardens-La Tina Ranch, Texas|Arroyo Gardens-La Tina Ranch]] (split into the [[Arroyo Gardens, Texas|Arroyo Gardens]] and [[La Tina Ranch, Texas|La Tina Ranch]] CDPs)
* [[Bluetown-Iglesia Antigua, Texas|Bluetown-Iglesia Antigua]]
* [[Chula Vista-Orason, Texas|Chula Vista-Orason]]
* [[Grand Acres, Texas|Grand Acres]]
* [[Las Palmas-Juarez, Texas|Las Palmas-Juarez]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Adams Gardens, Texas|Adams Gardens]]
* [[Arroyo Alto, Texas|Arroyo Alto]]
* [[Arroyo City, Texas|Arroyo City]]
* [[Buena Vista, Cameron County, Texas|Buena Vista]]
* [[Carricitos, Texas|Carricitos]]
* [[Cavazos, Texas|Cavazos]]
* [[Holly Beach, Texas|Holly Beach]]
* [[La Penusca, Texas|La Penusca]]
* [[Landrum, Texas|Landrum]]
* [[Lantana, Cameron County, Texas|Lantana]]
* [[Las Yescas, Texas|Las Yescas]]
* [[Los Cuates, Texas|Los Cuates]]
* [[Monte Grande, Texas|Monte Grande]]
* [[Russelltown, Texas|Russelltown]]
* [[Villa Nueva, Texas|Villa Nueva]]
{{div col end}}

===Ghost towns===
* [[Del Mar, Texas|Del Mar]]
* [[La Leona, Texas|La Leona]]
* [[Las Rusias, Texas|Las Rusias]]
* [[Santa Rita, Texas|Santa Rita]]
* [[Stuart Place, Texas|Stuart Place]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Texas}}
* [[List of museums in the Texas Gulf Coast]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Cameron County, Texas]]
* [[List of Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (Cameron-Duval)#Cameron County|Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Cameron County]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website|http://www.cameroncounty.us/ }}
* [https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hcc04 Cameron County at Texas State Historical Association]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Cameron County, Texas
|North     = [[Willacy County, Texas|Willacy County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = ''[[Gulf of Mexico]]''
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Matamoros Municipality, Tamaulipas]] {{flagicon|Mexico}}
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Hidalgo County, Texas|Hidalgo County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Cameron County, Texas}}
{{Texas counties}}
{{Texas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|26.15|-97.45|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Cameron County, Texas| ]]
[[Category:1848 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1848]]
[[Category:Lower Rio Grande Valley]]
[[Category:Majority-minority counties in Texas]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American culture in Texas]]