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Laredo, TX

Frequently asked questions

Laredo, TX

Laredo is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and seat of Webb County, on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Founded in 1755, Laredo grew from a village to the capital of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande to the largest inland port on the Mexican border. Laredo's economy is primarily based on international trade with Mexico, and as a major hub for three areas of transportation: land, rail, and air cargo. The city is on the southern end of I-35, which connects manufacturers in northern Mexico through Interstate 35 as a major route for trade throughout the U.S. It has four international bridges and one railway bridge.

According to the 2020 census, the city's population was 255,205, making it the 11th-most populous city in Texas and third-most populated U.S. city on the Mexican border, after San Diego, California and El Paso, Texas. Its metropolitan area is the 178th-largest in the U.S. and includes all of Webb County, with a population of 267,114. Laredo is also part of the cross-border Laredo-Nuevo Laredo metropolitan area with an estimated population of 636,516.

Laredo's Hispanic proportion of 95.15% is one of the highest proportion of Hispanic Americans of any city in the United States outside of Puerto Rico. It is one of the least ethnically diverse cities in the United States. When economic, household, and social diversity is considered, Laredo is the 19th-least diverse of the 313 largest cities in the nation.

Texas A&M International University and Laredo College are in Laredo. Laredo International Airport is within the Laredo city limits, while the Quetzalcoatl International Airport is nearby in Nuevo Laredo on the Mexican side.

The biggest festival, Washington's Birthday Celebration, is held during the later part of January and the majority of February, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists.

The Spanish colonial settlement of Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was founded in 1755 by Don Tomás Sánchez Barrera, while the area was part of the Nuevo Santander region in the Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain. Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was named after Laredo, Cantabria, Spain and in honor of Saint Augustine of Hippo. In 1840, Laredo was the capital of the independent Republic of the Rio Grande, set up in opposition to Antonio López de Santa Anna; it was brought back into Mexico by military force.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 102.6 square miles (265.7 km2), of which 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (1.37%) are covered by water.

Health and wellness are integral to the fabric of Laredo's community. The Doctors Hospital of Laredo, a prominent healthcare institution, plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive medical services to residents. The city also emphasizes community well-being through initiatives like the Laredo Health Department, promoting a healthy lifestyle. Laredo's parks, such as North Central Park and Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, offer recreational spaces for outdoor activities, contributing to the overall well-being of its residents. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Rock Fitness Center, Laredo FitClub, and Anytime Fitness.

Top sites in Laredo, TX are Laredo Little Theatre, Republic of the Rio Grande Museum, and Lake Casa Blanca.

Population: 257,602 (2023). ZIP codes: 78040–78046, 78049. Area code: 956. Elevation: 438 ft (137.2 m). Area: 102.6 square miles (265.7 km2).

FAQs

What is Laredo, Texas famous for?

Laredo is one of the oldest crossing points along the Mexico–United States border, and the nation's largest inland port of entry. In 2005, Laredo celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding. The etymology of the name for the Spanish town of Laredo is unclear.

Is Laredo, TX a good place to live?

Living in Laredo offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Laredo, there are a lot of parks. Many families live in Laredo and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Laredo are above average.

Is Laredo, TX a nice place to live?

The crime rate in Laredo is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 16 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Laredo is 1 in 62. Based on FBI crime data, Laredo is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Texas, Laredo has a crime rate that is higher than 66% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia 

City of Laredo 

Doctors Hospital of Laredo

Laredo Health Department

North Central Park 

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park

Rock Fitness Center

Laredo FitClub 

Anytime Fitness

Laredo Little Theatre

Republic of the Rio Grande Museum

Lake Casa Blanca

Niche

Neighborhoodscout

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