Overview

Introduction to San Juan, Texas

San Juan, Texas, in Hidalgo county, is 4 miles E of McAllen, Texas (center to center) and 120 miles SW of Corpus Christi, Texas. The city is in the McAllen - Edinburg - Mission area.

San Juan History

This area was originally a part of two Spanish land grants issued to José María Ballí and Narciso Cabazos in 1767. Families of these two men occupied the land till the mid-1800s, and used it for farming and ranching. John Closner organized the community of San Juan in 1909 and the city is said to have been named after him. It was incorporated on December 29, 1917. Following the construction of the Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine in 1954, San Juan became a major attraction for tourists and pilgrims. This shrine suffered serious damages after Francis B. Alexander smashed a single-engine plane into it on October 23, 1970. The economy of San Juan is largely based upon agriculture, commerce, and tourism.

San Juan and Nearby Attractions

  • Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine
  • Anzalduas State Park
  • Weslaco Bicultural Museum
  • International Museum of Art & Science
  • Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park
  • Gladys Porter Zoo

Things To Do In San Juan

The Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine, built by Rev. Alfonso Jalbert, is a major attraction for tourists and pilgrims. Weslaco Bicultural Museum features exhibits reflecting the heritage of Weslaco and Rio Grande Valley. A large collection of fine art and Latin American folk art is housed in the International Museum of Art & Science. A variety of recreational activities like boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and picnicking can be enjoyed at the Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park. The city of San Juan is also home to several parks including the North San Juan Park, Aldridge Park, Tierra Del Sol Park, Bears Trail Park, and Lions Park. Gladys Porter Zoo is also close by. Another popular destination is the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, which is spread over 2,000 acres and is a prime habitat for more than 400 species of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and other wildlife.

San Juan Transportation

McAllen Miller International Airport is close by.

San Juan Higher Education

South Texas Community College, Texas State Technical College - Harlingen, and University of Texas-Pan American are some of the colleges near San Juan.

Demographics

People

Total Population36,740
Male Share of the Population48.5%
Female Share of the Population51.5%
Senior Citizens10.4%
Employed Population 16+13,689
Age of the Population30

Families

% of people married47.1%
Average household size4

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher16.8%
Median Earnings25+$27,225
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$21,639
Median Earnings With High School Degree$22,961

Wealth

Median Family Income$38,482
% Above Poverty Level68.6%
% Below Poverty Level31.4%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time20 minutes
% Working from Home5%
% Walking and Biking to Work1%
% Using Public Transportation0.1%

Housing

People Living Alone11%
Median Gross Rent$678
Median House Value$84,900

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)93.6%
German0.6%
Norwegian0.2%
Irish0.2%
Scottish0.1%
Dutch0.1%
English0.1%
French Except Basque0.1%
+ Show More

San Juan Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyHidalgo County
Standard Zip Codes78589
Phone Area Codes956
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude26.19
Approximate Longitude-98.15

San Juan Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationMCALLEN MILLER INTL AP
Distance4.9 miles
Jan Temp50 to 70 F
Apr Temp66 to 86 F
Jul Temp76 to 96 F
Oct Temp66 to 86 F
Annual Precip22.9 inches
StationMCALLEN
Distance5.9 miles
Jan Temp48 to 69 F
Apr Temp64 to 85 F
Jul Temp75 to 96 F
Oct Temp65 to 86 F
Annual Precip22.6 inches
StationHARLINGEN
Distance30.3 miles
Jan Temp48 to 69 F
Apr Temp64 to 84 F
Jul Temp74 to 95 F
Oct Temp64 to 85 F
Annual Precip28.1 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Alamo19,591$47,645
Donna16,576$31,794
Edinburg94,019$53,699
Hidalgo13,760$37,474
McAllen141,597$52,690
Pharr77,835$41,290

San Juan Public Libraries

San Juan Memorial Library
1010 S STANDARD AVE
San Juan, Texas
(956) 702-0926

library logo

More Information for Librarians

San Juan Public Schools

Alfred Sorensen El
701 E Sam Houston
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2910
Primary
Total Enrollment 670
Amanda Garza-pena El
230 E Sgt L Trevino St
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2800
Primary
Total Enrollment 647
Arnoldo Cantu Sr El
2900 N R Longoria
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2850
Primary
Total Enrollment 690
Austin Middle
804 S Stewart Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2570
Middle
Total Enrollment 746
Drs Reed - Mock El
400 E Eldora Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2890
Primary
Total Enrollment 586
Edith & Ethel Carman El
100 W Ridge Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2700
Primary
Total Enrollment 616
Elvis J Ballew H S
715 S Standard St
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2520
High
Total Enrollment 201
Idea Academy San Juan
200 N Nebraska Ave
ZIP: 78589
(956) 702-5150
Primary
Total Enrollment 715
Idea College Preparatory San Juan
600 E Sioux Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 588-4021
Other
Total Enrollment 750
John Doedyns El
1401 N Raul Longoria Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2740
Primary
Total Enrollment 686
New El
715 S Standard
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2910
Premier H S Of San Juan
1202 E Business 83
ZIP: 78589
(956) 961-4721
High
Total Enrollment 142
Psja Early College H S
805 W Ridge Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2300
High
Total Enrollment 1805
Psja Sonia M Sotomayor H S
1229 S Veterans Blvd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2510
High
Total Enrollment 117
R Yzaguirre Middle
1229 S I Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2630
Middle
Total Enrollment 832
Sgt Leonel Trevino El
901 E El Dora Rd
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2900
Primary
Total Enrollment 666
Vida N Clover El
800 E Carrol St
ZIP: 78589
(956) 354-2730
Primary
Total Enrollment 586
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