Texas' Pharr Bridge is America's busiest land crossing for Mexican farm-produced goods. It's located in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), an area known for its rich farmland.
Farming in the RGV has been good for the economy and led to innovations, like the world's first mild jalapeño pepper, which helped salsa replace ketchup as the country's #1 condiment.
The RGV is also the state's only subtropical region. Scientists use it to solve many problems with fruits and vegetables, as well as cotton, corn, and sugarcane.
But the RGV has people power too.
The US Census Bureau said some areas of the RGV had low population growth. But new research by Texans for Economic Growth shows that Hispanic Texans are helping population growth. They went from 89.6% of the total population in 2010 to 91.5% in 2019, an 11% increase.
Out of the 1.3 million Hispanic Texans in 2019, more than 25% were immigrants. And they contribute in many ways-both socially and economically-to the state's communities.
They start businesses and create jobs for all Texans, serve on PTAs, volunteer in churches, and teach at K-12 schools. They pay over $1 billion in taxes every year, supporting the local economy, maintaining roads, and funding schools.
Hispanic immigrants also hold $5 billion in spending power that can go back into the community and make up 13% of the RGV's eligible voters.
The new research proves that Hispanic Texans are an important part of Texas' past, present, and future.
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