Community Profile

Summary

McAllen, nicknamed “City of Palms”, is a bustling city at the southern tip of Texas in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). Because of its geographical location –Gulf Coast to the east, Chihuahuan desert to the west, temperate zone to the north, and proximity to the tropics in the south– the LRGV has an extraordinary amount of biodiversity. The region is also in the migratory path of Monarch butterflies and birds following the Central flyway. For many tropical birds and butterflies, the LRGV is their northern-most range. McAllen is home to Quinta Mazatlan, one of the wings of the World Birding Center, and the McAllen Nature Center; both of which are magnets for birds, butterflies, and nature lovers. Birders from all over the world come to the area. McAllen’s citizens and its leaders understand the importance of preserving natural habitat for wildlife and for the enjoyment of future generations.