Rio Grande City
Around Rio Grande City
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Town and around · Texas · 66k people
Rio Grande City
Locals say Starr County
Rio Grande City · Roma
Where the river meets the border
citrus orangeriver blueorchard green
Welcome to Rio Grande City, the heart of Starr County. Here you'll find a mix of border culture, river life, and small-town charm. Come for the tacos, stay for the sunsets over the Rio Grande.
Clubs for Rio Grande City
No clubs for Rio Grande City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Rio Grande City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Rio Grande City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Fort Ringgold 19th-century military post in Rio Grande City, now a park.
- Starr County Courthouse Historic courthouse in Rio Grande City.
- Roma Historic District National Historic Landmark with 19th-century buildings along the river.
- Rio Grande River The border river with levee parks and wildlife.
- Falcon International Reservoir Large border lake for fishing and boating.
- Outdoors Birdwatching along the Rio Grande
- Outdoors Fishing at Falcon Lake
- With kids Visit the Roma Historic District
- With kids Picnic at a river park
- Evenings Live music at the plaza
- Evenings Dance halls with Tejano music
- Locals love taquerias
- Locals love mercardos
Through the year
- Starr County Fair March Annual fair with livestock shows, carnival rides, and local food.
- Roma Riverfest July Summer music festival along the river with local bands and food vendors.
- Rio Grande City Borderfest October Fall festival celebrating border culture with live music and crafts.
- Falcon Lake Fishing Tournament Spring Annual bass fishing competition on the reservoir.
Semi-arid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is from October to April. Best: Fall and spring are mild and pleasant, ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Valley”
- The Rio Grande Valley region
- “resaca”
- Oxbow lake formed by the river
- “colonia”
- Unincorporated subdivision, often rural
- “la plaza”
- Town square, often a gathering spot
Getaways
- McAllen for shopping and dining Largest city in the Valley with malls and diverse restaurants.
- Falcon Lake for fishing and boating Reservoir on the border, great for water sports.
- Brownsville for the beach South Padre Island access and historic sites.
- Laredo for historic sites Old city with missions and riverfront attractions.
Local flavour
Rooting for Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, San Antonio Spurs, Texas Longhorns, Texas A&M Aggies
Eat and drink
- tacos al pastor often served with pineapple and cilantro
- cabrito roasted goat, a border specialty
- carne asada grilled beef, often with tortillas and salsa
- barbacoa slow-cooked meat, weekend tradition
- horchata sweet rice drink
- agua fresca fresh fruit water, like tamarindo or jamaica
- RGV-style Mexican food border cuisine with a distinct local flair
Where people go
- border towns where two cultures meet
- plazas central gathering spots
- resacas (oxbow lakes) remnants of the river's old channels
- citrus groves orange and grapefruit orchards
- historic missions
- taquerias street-side taco stands
- mercados (markets) open-air markets with local goods
Heritage and traditions
Starr County is proud of its deep Tejano roots, the historic border towns of Rio Grande City and Roma, and its role as a gateway between the U.S. and Mexico, where the Rio Grande and the river's history shape daily life.
This time of year in Rio Grande City
- Hurricane season Fall Fall brings storm watches and preparedness
Say it like a local: “qué pasó” — What's up?
Festivals
- Fiestas Patrias September Mexican Independence Day celebrations with parades and music in September
- Día de los Muertos November Altars and marigolds to remember ancestors in November
- Las Posadas December Reenactment of Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in December
- Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe December 12 Processions and masses honoring the patroness of Mexico on December 12
- Charreada Various dates Mexican rodeo events with traditional skills like roping and riding
- Tamale Festival December Local tamale-making contests and tastings in December
Landmarks with a story
- Our Lady of Refuge Church Historic Catholic church in Roma, built in the 1800s
- La Borde House Victorian-era hotel in Rio Grande City, now a museum
- Old Starr County Jail 19th-century jail building, now a local museum
- Roma National Bank Building 1886 bank, part of the Roma Historic District
- Falcon State Park Recreation area around Falcon Lake, site of the flooded town of Falcon
Food traditions
- Weekend menudo A hearty tripe soup often eaten on Sundays to cure a night out
- Tamaleadas Family gatherings to make tamales for Christmas, with everyone helping
- Raspados Shaved ice with fruit syrup, a summer staple sold by street vendors
- Pan dulce Sweet bread from local bakeries, enjoyed with coffee or hot chocolate
- Fideo Vermicelli soup, a comforting home dish often served with tortillas
Music and arts
- Conjunto music Accordion-based music popular in the Valley
- Norteño Mexican folk music with polka rhythms
- Tejano Blend of Mexican and American styles
- Corridos Narrative ballads about border life and heroes
A little history
- 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Fort Ringgold
- 1850s Steamboat era made Roma a major port on the Rio Grande
- 1900s Railroad arrival connected the region to the rest of Texas
- 1954 Falcon Dam built, flooding the old town of Falcon
- 1960s Citrus boom with orange and grapefruit groves
Rivalries
- Rio Grande City vs. Roma high school football Local gridiron clash that splits the county.
- Starr County vs. Zapata County in football Border county rivalry with intense games.
- Game day Charreadas
- Game day Soccer leagues
- Outdoors Camping at Falcon State Park
- Outdoors Driving the River Road (FM 2098)
- With kids Eating paletas
- With kids Playing in the plaza
Locals speak a mix of English and Spanish, often code-switching. Spanish pronunciation is common for place names, like 'Rio Grande' with a soft 'e'. Common interjections include 'órale' and 'qué pasó'.
Only here
- The only place in the U.S. where you can see the border wall and the Rio Grande up close.
- Roma's historic district is a National Historic Landmark.
- Falcon Lake submerged the old town of Falcon.
- Starr County has a high concentration of colonias.
New here? A few tips
- Learn some Spanish; it will help.
- Be prepared for hot summers; drink water.
- Cross the border into Mexico for day trips; bring your passport.
- Drive carefully on rural roads; watch for livestock.
- Check flood warnings during heavy rains.
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Part of McAllen area
Nearby
Every areaRio Grande ValleyTexasSunshine, citrus, and a warm border welcomeZapataTexasWhere the river meets the brushRaymondvilleTexasSmall town, big Valley heart.Brush CountryTexasWhere the brush meets the sky and the heart stays grounded.Brownsville–HarlingenTexasSun, citrus, and the river's edge.LaredoTexasWhere the Rio Grande greets the Texas sun.KingsvilleTexasWhere the prairie meets the ranchAliceTexasThe crossroads of South Texas.
Rio Grande City-Roma, TX. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.