vue - History of McAllen: 1961-1970

McAllen had gained more population in the 1950's than the total population of 1940 and in 1950 McAllen's population was 32,728. In the city's past was an economy based on agriculture and in McAllen's future it was an economy base which would include tourism and retail shopping. In 1961 McAllen celebrated it's 50th birthday as a Texas city. It was a leading resort for Americans from the Nothern states wanting to avoid the snow and ice of winter and Winter Texan became a new phrase to describe these visitors. McAllen was also becoming a very imortant port of entry for goods and services from Mexico. Air stream caravans into Mexico were a large and yearly event. Citrus, cotton and vegitables were being shipped North by the train car load. The new McAllen High School was opened, large, expansive and very modern for 1965. In 1967 the new McAllen City Hall was dedicated, also a modern design. The Library was expanded due to demand from the growing population.