Brownsville

About Brownsville

Brownsville is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the largest city and county seat of Cameron County, located on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The city covers 145.2 sq mi (376.066 km2), and had a population of 186,738 at the 2020 census. As of the 2020 U.S. census, it is the 136th-most populous city in the United States and 18th-most populous in Texas. It is part of the Matamoros–Brownsville metropolitan area. The city is known for its year-round subtropical climate, deep-water seaport, and Hispanic culture.

The city was founded in 1848 by American entrepreneur Charles Stillman after he developed a successful river-boat company nearby. It was named for Fort Brown, itself named after Major Jacob Brown, who fought and died while serving as a U.S. Army officer during the Mexican–American War (1846–1848). As a county seat, the city and county governments are major employers. Other primary employers fall within the service, trade, and manufacturing industries, including a growing aerospace and space transportation sector. It operates international trading through the Port of Brownsville. The city experienced a population increase in the early 1900s, when steel production flourished.

Due to significant historical events, the city has multiple houses and battle sites listed under the National Register of Historic Places. The city played a primary role in the Mexican–American War with the siege of Fort Texas and the first engagements of the war: The Battle of Palo Alto and the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. Several key events of the American Civil War took place in the city, such as the Battle of Brownsville and the Battle of Palmito Ranch. The city was also involved in the Texas Revolution. Brownsville's idiosyncratic geographic location has made it a wildlife refuge center. Several state parks and historical sites are protected by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Brownsville has a predominantly Hispanic population, which at 93.9% is the fourth-highest proportion of Hispanic Americans of any city in the United States outside of Puerto Rico.

Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Brownsville weather: 7-day forecast

Source: National Weather Service (NOAA).

Live webcams in Brownsville

Webcams: Windy.com

Living in Brownsville

Median household income

$52,130

Median home value

$139,900

Median rent

$923/mo

Median age

31.2

Map of Brownsville

Tap any street on the map to see it in Street View below. Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Brownsville Street View

Drag the image to look around and tap the arrows on the ground to move. If it says there is no imagery, tap a nearby street on the map above.

Brownsville, TX population

Brownsville had 186,738 residents in the 2020 Census.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.

Brownsville at a glance

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.

Towns near Brownsville

• Cameron Park1.3 mi S
• Olmito4.5 mi NW
• Rancho Viejo5.6 mi NW
• Del Mar Heights5.8 mi NE
• Los Fresnos5.9 mi N
• Reid Hope King6.2 mi SE
• Orason6.2 mi N
• Chula Vista6.4 mi NE
• San Pedro6.7 mi W
• Indian Lake6.9 mi N
• Villa Pancho8.3 mi SE
• Laureles9.0 mi N

Straight-line distance between town centers.

Frequently asked questions about Brownsville