Pharr

by The Linguist

Pharr, Texas

Pharr is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 84,532 making it the 26th largest city in Texas. Pharr lies on the southern side of the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen and is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas.

For more general information about Pharr, visit the Pharr, Texas Wikipedia page.

History

The city of Pharr has its origins tracing back to 1907 when it was established as a switching point for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. It was originally known as the community of “Las Milpas.” In 1925, the name was changed to Pharr after sugar cane farmer and local community leader Henry N. Pharr. Henry Pharr was instrumental in helping establish the town and bringing irrigation and electricity into the Rio Grande Valley.

To learn more about the history of Pharr, visit the City of Pharr’s History page.

Demographics and Population

As of the 2020 US Census, Pharr had a population of 84,532 making it the 138th largest city in the United States. Pharr boasts a young population with a median age of 30.7 years old. It has experienced rapid growth, more than doubling in population since 1990 when the population was just 33,828. It is estimated that the current 2023 population is now over 90,000 residents.

Pharr City Government

Pharr is led by a council-manager style government. The city council consists of the mayor and six council members elected to serve three year terms. The day-to-day operations are managed by a city manager appointed by the city council. Some of the city departments include Economic Development, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Public Safety.

The address for Pharr City Hall is:

City of Pharr
City Hall
118 S Cage Blvd
Pharr, TX 78577

Phone: (956) 402-4000

Website: www.pharr-tx.gov

Pharr Economy

Pharr has a strong and diverse economy. Key industries include trade, transportation and utilities, government, education, health, and manufacturing. Many international companies have operations in Pharr due to its proximity to the US-Mexico border and affordable land and labor.

For more details about the Pharr economy, visit the Pharr Economic Development Corporation website: https://pharredc.com

Landmarks and Attractions

Some of the top attractions and landmarks in Pharr include:

  • Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle – A famous cathedral that attracts over 1.5 million visitors annually. Address: 400 N Virgen de San Juan Blvd, San Juan, TX 78589. Phone: (956) 702-0107. Website: https://www.olsjbasilica.org
  • International Museum of Art & Science – Art and science museum located in McAllen but serving the entire Rio Grande Valley region. Address: 1900 W Nolana Ave, McAllen, TX 78504. Phone: (956) 682-1564. Website: https://theimasonline.org/
  • Quinta Mazatlan – Spanish colonial style mansion with nature trails and gardens. Address: 600 Sunset Dr, McAllen, TX 78503. Phone: (956) 688-3370. Website: https://www.quintamazatlan.com/

GPS Coordinates for 3 Pharr Landmarks:

  • City Hall: 26°11’26.6″N 98°10’15.5″W
  • Pharr Event Center: 26°10’51.7″N 98°10’15.8″W
  • Pharr Park: 26°12’14.4″N 98°10’49.7″W

Pharr Map

Here is an embedded Google Map showing the location of Pharr:

Hidalgo County

Pharr is located in Hidalgo County in the Rio Grande Valley region of south Texas. The county seat is Edinburg and it was founded in 1852. Other major cities in Hidalgo County include McAllen, Mission, Edcouch and Elsa.

Hidalgo County Website: https://www.co.hidalgo.tx.us/

Hidalgo County Address:

Hidalgo County Courthouse
100 E Cano St,
Edinburg, TX 78539

School Districts

Pharr is primarily served by the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District. PSJA ISD has over 32,000 students enrolled in its 37 campuses. There are also some portions of Pharr that are within the McAllen Independent School District.

PSJA ISD Website: https://www.psjaisd.us/

McAllen ISD Website: https://www.mcallenisd.org/

Transportation

The main highway serving Pharr is Interstate 2/U.S. Highway 83 which connects to the Pharr International Bridge border crossing with Mexico. The McAllen Miller International Airport located in McAllen provides air service to the region. Public transportation is provided by Valley Metro which operates bus routes throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Valley Metro Website: https://www.lrgvdc.org/valleymetro/index.html

Major Employers

Some of the top employers in Pharr include:

  • Walmart Distribution Center (956-787-6179, 700 W Ferguson Ave)
  • Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (956-354-2000, 613 W Sugar Rd)
  • City of Pharr (956-402-4000, 118 S Cage Blvd)
  • South Texas Health System (956-632-4000, 2100 S Main St)
  • Lacks Valley Stores (956-787-0359, 3900 N Sugar Rd)

Local Resources

Here are some additional local resources and websites for Pharr: