Harlingen, Agricultural center in Cameron County, Texas
Harlingen is a city in Cameron County in southern Texas, roughly 30 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It sits in the Rio Grande Valley at low elevation and serves as a trade and farming hub for the region.
Lon C. Hill founded the city in 1904 and named it after a Dutch town in Friesland. The first post office and school opened soon after, drawing new residents quickly.
The city takes its name from a Frisian town in the Netherlands, reflecting the founder's European roots. Today this connection is barely visible in daily life, while the proximity to the Mexican border shapes local habits more strongly.
Valley International Airport links the city with other towns in Texas and beyond. U.S. Highways 77 and 83 pass through town and help travelers orient themselves in southern Texas.
The town hosts a large medical center that acts as a trauma facility for much of southern Texas. This gives the city an important role in healthcare across a thinly populated border region.
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