Page Contents for Brownsville, Texas

Statistics & Facts

Location

Weather & Climate

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Libraries.

Schools.

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Statistics & Facts

The Texas state capital is Austin.
The population of Brownsville is approximately 98,962 (1990), 175023 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 28,992 (1990), 49871 (2010).
The amount of land area in Brownsville is 72.268 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 2.291 sq kilometers.
The distance from Brownsville to Washington DC is 1514 miles.
The distance to the Texas state capital is 302 miles. (as the crow flies)
Brownsville is positioned 25.92 degrees north of the equator and 97.48 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Brownsville elevation is 45 feet above sea level.
The city bird is the The Red-Crowned Parrot.
Brownsville average annual rainfall is 27 inches per year
Brownsville average temperature is 74 degrees F.

Location

25 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico in southeastern Texas
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Climate

Semi-tropical. 220 days of sunshine!
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History & History Related Items

A border town, at the souternmost tip of Texas, Brownsville is intertwined with Matamoros, its sister city south of the border, in many ways. As a major seaport and shipping center, it ships not only the agricultural products of the area, but also that of Matamoros. The two cities are treated as one by most of the local people. There is a strong Spanish culture in Brownsville with both languages spoken everywhere. Brownsville is the largest city in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Brownsville began in the 1800's as Fort Brown, which was built to protect the Rio Grande border area. It was first activated in 1846 as a home base for the armies of General Zachary Taylor during the war with Mexico. Two battles, Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, took place with victories for the US, but they were also the start of the Mexican War. The fort was abandoned in 1850 and given to the town of Brownsville, which had grown up around it.

The Civil War brought prosperity as the cotton port for the confederacy. During the War, in 1863, Fort Brown was re-activated as the UnionArmy occupied Fort Brown as well as the surrounding town ofBrownsville. The armies of the Union were soon driven out by thearmies of the Confederacy, who occupied the fort throughout theremainder of the Civil War. The last land battle of the Civil War tookplace 12 miles east of Brownsville at Palmito Ranch on May 11, 1865, This was after the surrender a month before. Troops here had not heard yet of the end of the war.

During the early 1900s, the fort was garrisoned by black infantry.Race relations between the military and white civilians were guardedand, following an unsubstantiated claim that a black soldier had rapeda local white woman, the fort was closed in 1906.

Eventually, the Missouri Pacific and Southern Pacific railroads reachedBrownsville, and the town became a city which today is a resort centeras well as a thriving agricultural and industrial community.
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Attractions

A Website about Brownsville.

Brownsville is the southernmost city in Texas. It is the County seat of Cameron County. The Gulf coast and South Padre Island are among its attractions

Gladys Porter Zoo
500 Ringgold St.
Phone: (956) 546-2177
more than 1,500 mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates and fish, including some endangered species.

Historic Brownsville Museum
off SR 77/83 6th St. exit to the old Southern Pacific Railroad Depot
Phone: (956) 548-1313
The depot, built in 1928, offers exhibits from Brownsville's past along with artifacts and pictures from the Mexican-American War.

Other attractions:
Immaculate Conception Cathedral

Confederate Air Force Museum

University of Texas at Brownsville

Pal Alto Battlefield Visitor Center

Great Birding area - over 370 bird species in and around Brownsville

Port of Brownsville
Matamoros, Mexico is just across the Rio Grande River.

Fort Brown
east of the International Bridge
600 International Blvd.
Phone: (956) 542-3367
Built in 1846 next to the Rio Grande River to fortify the area against Mexican Army attacks.
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Brownsville City Government

Brownsville City Hall
Market Street Square
Brownsville, Texas 78520
Phone: 956-548-6000

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COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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Cameron County Clerk Administration
964 E Harrison St
Brownsville, TX 78520-7123
Phone: 956-544-0815

Brownsville is the County Seat for Cameron County

Brownsville Chamber

Chamber of Commerce
1600 E. Elizabeth St.
Brownsville, Texas 78520-4962
Phone: 956-542-4341

Brownsville Organizations

Chamber of Commerce
1600 E. Elizabeth St.
Brownsville, Texas 78520-4962
Phone: 956-542-4341

Brownsville Libraries

Brownsville Library
2600 Central Blvd.
Brownsville, Texas 78520-8824
Phone: 956-548-1055

Brownsville Schools

Brownsville Independent School District
1900 E. Price Rd.
Brownsville, Texas 78521-2417
Phone: 956-548-8151

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Gladys Porter High School
3500 International Blvd.
Brownsville, Texas
Phone: 956-548-7800
Email: dhino@k12.brownsville.isd.tenet.edu
The Gladys Porter High School of Technology is a9th to 12th grade public high school, a campus of the BrownsvilleIndependent School District.