7 Reasons to Move to McAllen, TX
There are many reasons to move to McAllen and this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to opportunities in this Southern Texas city.
Nicknamed “City of Palms†and at the southern tip of Texas is McAllen, one of the fastest growing cities in America. The local economy is strong in health care, international trade, manufacturing, retail and tourism, and here are other reasons why residents of McAllen are experiencing an escalating quality of life:
In This Article
1. Dynamic Downtown
Just a few miles from the Mexican border is downtown McAllen, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors each year to its stores, restaurants, bars and nightspots. More than 30 venues make up the downtown’s popular 17th Street Entertainment District, and other downtown destinations are the Arts District, World Birding Center, Cine El Rey theater and Archer Park.
2. Matters of Taste
Foodies can rejoice in McAllen, with a variety of restaurants ranging from Mexican food to international cuisine to fine fare. One of the most popular Tex-Mex eateries is Costa Messa Restaurant, while fans of international food can enjoy places like Capellini Ristorante and Kumori. Anyone who enjoys steaks will savor the flavor at Republic of the Rio Grande Grill and Cantina.
3. Students Earn High Marks
Students have multiple choices to receive a quality education in McAllen, including at South Texas College that offers two-year academic programs in more than 50 areas of study. For students looking to pursue careers in technical fields, SWS Southwest Schools graduates about 1,000 McAllen resident students every year. Also education related: McAllen Public Library’s main branch building won the Top Design Award from The International Interior Design Association.
4. Move It, Move It
The active life is a good life in McAllen, where recreational opportunities are numerous and the city’s many facilities are well maintained and easily accessible. Nearly 20 golf courses grace the McAllen region, and two disc golf courses are available for play. The city has 52 parks, and bikers and hikers can enjoy plenty of trails within the city. For runners, the community hosts an annual McAllen Marathon.
5. Enjoy the View
There is so much going on in the arts these days in McAllen, including a McA2 Creative Incubator that has 20 rental studios where tenants work and teach classes that include painting, drawing, photography, violin, singing, modeling and more. The Incubator is in the heart of downtown McAllen’s Arts District, which the Texas Arts Commission named as the state’s first officially designated arts district.
6. Keep a Healthy Outlook
Four hospitals serve the residents of McAllen, including McAllen Medical Center that is the largest full-service hospital in the South Texas region. Meanwhile, McAllen Heart Hospital is the first freestanding cardiology and cardiovascular hospital built in the United States, and Doctors Hospital at Renaissance has more than 3,900 employees. Rio Grande Regional Hospital staffs 500 physicians who represent 35 specialties.
7. Driven to Perform
Quality of life often includes a convenient transportation system for residents, and McAllen is lucky enough to have one. Interstate 2, U.S. 83 and three state highways all run through the city, while McAllen-Miller International Airport offers daily commercial flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Mexico City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Orlando.