McAllen, TX

Overall Score

3.7

Mac-Allen is located in the southernmost region of Texas. The boundary separating the United States from Mexico is 8 kilometers from the city. Mac-Allen is part of the federal district of Idaho. The city covers an area of 120 square kilometers. During the winter months, the population grows significantly as retirees from the northernmost states who want to winter in a warmer region with a colder climate move to the area. Mac-Allen is named «s poultry city for the large number of poultry trees that can be found in its territory.

The citys founding is credited to John Mack-Allen, who in 1904 built a settlement called Mack-Allen West. Railroad construction in 1905 allowed the city to be connected to other railroad lines of the Northern Africa and Mexico railroads. By 1907 the construction of the Eastern Mac-Allen was finished next to the Western Mac-Allen. Consequently, it became one in 1910.

In the 1960s, the 20th century, the city built a new building for the library and also expanded the central library area of the city. This period also included the opening of a small museum. Opened in 1976, the citys first LaPlazaMal Shopping Center was the largest in the Southeast Texas region at the time. There are six campuses in the Mac-Allen area that belong to the College of South Texas, which educates close to 30,000 students each year and has more than 1,500 employees.

Overall Score

3.7
  • Air quality: 36 US AQI Good. Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
  • Tap water: Yes, safe to drink
  • Religious government: Non-religious
  • Population: 140,000 people
  • GDP: $57,808 / year
  • Foreigners can own real estate: Yes
  • Power outlets: 115V60Hz
  • Internet: 54 Mbps
  • Best wireless: T-Mobile
  • Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
  • Tipping: How much should I tip at a restaurant? A gratuity of 15 to 20 per cent on top of the bill (before sales tax) is standard, with 25 per cent given for topnotch service. Servers in America work hard for the money – they’re generally friendly, knowledgeable and willing to go the extra mile for customers.
  • Apartment listings: Craigslist
  • Apartments: Airbnb
  • Hotels: Booking.com
  • More hotels: Hotels.com
  • Best taxi: Uber
  • Online electronics shop: Amazon
  • Best hospital: Rio Grande Regional Hospital
  • Best intl air carrier: United
  • Monthly costs for expat: $1800
  • Monthly costs for family: $3500
  • Monthly costs for local: $1000
  • Meal: $8
  • Small Cola: $1.4
  • Beer 1 Pint: $4
  • Coffee: $3


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