Harlingen (Texas)

Cameron County

48-32372

Harlingen is the second largest city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas. The city had in the year 2000 57.564 inhabitants to 88.9 km ². In the year 2005 62.318 inhabitants were estimated. Harlingen is located near the Mexican border and South Padre Iceland.

History

The city was founded in 1904 and named after Harlingen in the Netherlands. In the same year a post office was built, in 1905 a school. On April 15, 1910, the town had 1,126 inhabitants, 1,748 inhabitants in 1920. The economy was initially completely agriculturally based. It was grown vegetables and cotton. However, the resolution of the Harlingen Air Force Base in 1962 then led to a diversification of the local economy.