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Starr County, Texas

56 topographic sheets cover 228 settlements here, and 9 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

9 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Texas within the United States
Starr County within Texas

What the record shows

  • 2,262 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 9 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 5 buildings, 3 districts and 1 structure.
  • 1 of the 9 listings was added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 228 populated places in this county; 228 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

9

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Fort Ringgold Historic Districtdistrict199393000196
Fred and Nell Kain Guerra Housebuilding200505001400
LaBorde House, Store and Hotelbuilding198080004149
Mifflin Kenedy Warehouse and Old Starr County Courthousebuilding200505000657
Rio Grande City Downtown Historic Districtdistrict200505000656
Roma Historic Districtdistrict197272001371
Roma-San Pedro International Bridgestructure198484001959
Yzaquirre-Longoria Housebuilding200505001462
de la Pena, Silverio, Drugstore and Post Officebuilding198080004150

Bird's-eye views and land ownership maps

1

Drawn when these were printed as single large sheets: the town seen from the air, and the county divided into its farms with every owner named. Each opens the original at the Library of Congress.

Land ownership map, 1900 - Map of Starr County
Land ownership map (1900) - Map of Starr County. Library of Congress.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 4,446 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-09-22, scale 1:20000
1946-09-22, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-09-22, scale 1:20000
1946-09-22, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-09-22, scale 1:20000
1946-09-22, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-09-22, scale 1:20000
1946-09-22, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-01-13, scale 1:20000
1947-01-13, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-01-14, scale 1:20000
1947-01-14, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-01-14, scale 1:20000
1947-01-14, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-01-14, scale 1:20000
1947-01-14, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-02-05, scale 1:20000
1953-02-05, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-02-05, scale 1:20000
1953-02-05, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-02-05, scale 1:20000
1953-02-05, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1953-02-05, scale 1:20000
1953-02-05, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-01-24, scale 1:71500
1955-01-24, scale 1:71500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-01-24, scale 1:71500
1955-01-24, scale 1:71500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-01-24, scale 1:71500
1955-01-24, scale 1:71500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-01-24, scale 1:71500
1955-01-24, scale 1:71500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-12-19, scale 1:26400
1961-12-19, scale 1:26400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-12-19, scale 1:26400
1961-12-19, scale 1:26400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-12-19, scale 1:26400
1961-12-19, scale 1:26400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1961-12-19, scale 1:26400
1961-12-19, scale 1:26400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-26, scale 1:17200
1964-02-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-26, scale 1:17200
1964-02-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-26, scale 1:17200
1964-02-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1964-02-26, scale 1:17200
1964-02-26, scale 1:17200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-08-31, scale 1:10000
1967-08-31, scale 1:10000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-08-31, scale 1:10000
1967-08-31, scale 1:10000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-08-31, scale 1:10000
1967-08-31, scale 1:10000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-08-31, scale 1:10000
1967-08-31, scale 1:10000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-13, scale 1:17600
1970-02-13, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-13, scale 1:17600
1970-02-13, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-13, scale 1:17600
1970-02-13, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-02-13, scale 1:17600
1970-02-13, scale 1:17600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-04, scale 1:65555
1971-03-04, scale 1:65555. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-04, scale 1:65828
1971-03-04, scale 1:65828. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-04, scale 1:65828
1971-03-04, scale 1:65828. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-03-04, scale 1:65481
1971-03-04, scale 1:65481. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-08-30, scale 1:118163
1972-08-30, scale 1:118163. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-08-30, scale 1:118163
1972-08-30, scale 1:118163. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-08-30, scale 1:118163
1972-08-30, scale 1:118163. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1972-08-30, scale 1:118163
1972-08-30, scale 1:118163. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-07-26, scale 1:55427
1977-07-26, scale 1:55427. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-07-26, scale 1:54785
1977-07-26, scale 1:54785. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-07-26, scale 1:54785
1977-07-26, scale 1:54785. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-07-26, scale 1:54785
1977-07-26, scale 1:54785. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-03-05, scale 1:64857
1980-03-05, scale 1:64857. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-03-05, scale 1:64857
1980-03-05, scale 1:64857. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-03-05, scale 1:64666
1980-03-05, scale 1:64666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1980-03-05, scale 1:64666
1980-03-05, scale 1:64666. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

11 stations

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

14 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 214-1Justice Precinct 1: Rio Grande City, unincorporated: Rio Grande City, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Irrigation Ditch, Flores St.; Los Olmos Creek; Fort Ringgold Military Reservation line, Unnamed st.; Lopez St.
  • 214-2Justice Precinct 1: Rio Grande City, unincorporated - That part Bounded by North Easterly line from the jct. of two Unnamed roads to jct. of East St. and Irrigation Ditch, Irrigation Ditch Lopez St. Unnamed st., Unnamed st. Unnamed rd.
  • 214-3Justice Precinct 1: Rio Grande City, unincorporated - That part Bounded by Unnamed rd., Unnamed st., Unnamed st.; Lopez St.; 1st St., U.S. Highway 83; Unnamed rd.
  • 214-4Justice Precinct 1: Rio Grande City, unincorporated - That part Bounded by U.S. Highway 83, 1st St.; Lopez St., Unnamed St.; Fort Ringgold Military Reservation line, San Tonio St., San Tonio St. extended; Offset line 1/4 mile south of and parallel to 1st St. and U.S. Highway 83; Unnamed rd. extended, Unnamed rd.
  • 214-5Justice Precinct 1 - That part east of Rio Grande City - El Sauz Rd., outside Rio Grande City, unincorporated (See separate map for boundaries of Rio Grande City)
  • 214-6Justice Precinct 1 - That part west of El Sauz - Rio Grande City Rd., outside Rio Grande City, unincorporated (See separate map for boundaries of Rio Grande City)
  • 214-7Justice Precinct 2: Roma - Los Saenz city. SUPERVISOR'S NOTE: This Enumeration District is expected to require subdivision. Examine before enumeration. See instructions
  • 214-8Justice Precinct 2 - That part outside Roma - Los Saenz city, including all islands in this enumeration district
  • 214-9Justice Precinct 3
  • 214-10Justice Precinct 4: Justice Precinct 4 - That part southeast of Rio Grande City - Robberson - Santa Elena Rd.
  • 214-11Justice Precinct 4 - That part northwest of Santa Elena - Robberson - Rio Grande City Rd.
  • 214-12Justice Precinct 5: Grulla, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo CUK-6B-68)
  • 214-13Justice Precinct 5 - That part outside Grulla, unincorporated (See aerial CUK-6B-68 for boundaries of Grulla)
  • 214-14Justice Precinct 6

Wildfire, 1996 to 2020

2,170 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,170 of them, burning about 53,063 acres. 5 started naturally and 102 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined1256
Debris and open burning732
Arson/incendiarism102
Equipment and vehicle use44
Railroad operations and maintenance9
Misuse of fire by a minor8
Smoking6
Natural5
Power generation/transmission/distribution5
Recreation and ceremony2
Other causes1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 March 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined3,000 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceSAN CARLOS
5 May 2005Debris and open burning2,950 acresSouth Texas Refuge Complex2686
26 December 2007Debris and open burning2,500 acresLower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife RefugeLAS BRISAS
21 May 2005Arson/incendiarism2,200 acresSouth Texas Refuge ComplexYZAGUIRRE
5 May 2005Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,000 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
18 March 2008Debris and open burning1,500 acresSouth Texas Refuge ComplexGAS PLANT
1 December 2010Railroad operations and maintenance1,500 acresSouth Texas Refuge Complex755
30 January 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,300 acresSouth Texas Refuge ComplexLA MORITA

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1961 to 2026

60 of 212 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 212 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 3 injuries and about $50,395,530 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail81
Thunderstorm Wind58
Flash Flood50
Heavy Rain10
Flood8
Tornado4
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
March 2026Thunderstorm WindOlnos3 hurt, $30,000The storm survey investigated an incident at a fuel service station on the east side of Rio Grande City. The gull canopy tipped over with bent columns at foundation. No other damage in area was noted, so wind speed at the site was estimated to be 65 to 70 mph. The canopy collapsed onto a pickup truck underneath, and injured one adult and two children inside. Wind driven hail may have also been a factor based on vehicle impacts near the location.
July 2010FloodFalcon Hgts$37,000,000Incredible rainfall estimated to be more than 50 inches in around 10 days' time between June 30th and July 9th across the front range and peaks of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Coahuila Province, Mexico, ultimately flowed through the entire Lower Rio Grande basin for much of the summer of 2010. The rare and extreme event rapidly produced major flooding along the river in Starr County, the result of planned dam releases from Falcon International Reservoir, which lasted for nearly a month, beginning on July 9th and continuing through August 3rd. ||Releases of water from reservoirs behind dams on both sides of the border began soon after the heaviest rains from Alex ended. On July 4th, releases began at the Marte R. Gomez Reservoir, flowing into Mexican Floodways but also toward the Rio Grande bordering Starr and western Hidalgo County. On July 5th, water levels had increased sufficiently at Amistad Dam, located much farther upstream near Del Rio, Texas, to begin releases down the river. By the 7th, with waters from Amistad having created major flooding in and near Laredo, Falcon Reservoir, located along the Rio Grande including Starr and Zapata County, began releasing water. ||The initial rate of 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) was initially within capacity of the United States side of the flood control system, and the expectation for a potentially critical flood area between Falcon and Anzalduas Reservoir just upstream from Mission (Hidalgo County) was high water, but little if any flooding. That would quickly change on July 8th, when releases from Falcon Dam were more than doubled to 39,700 cfs (1125 cubic meters per second, cms). Soon after these releases were increased,the river quickly rose from just above flood stage (50 feet) at Rio Grande City to above major flood stage (53 feet) on July 9th. The time it took to rise from flood stage (1320 CST July 8th) to above major flood (630 AM July 9th) was a little more than 17 hours. ||By July 14th, outflow from Falcon Dam was raised to 60,000 cfs (1700 cms) in order to relieve pressure on the dam from the reservoir pool, which had risen steadily above conservation stage of 301.2 feet at 822 AM CST July 12th. This release rate would both raise and swell the Rio Grande downstream; reports from local emergency management noted the river up to 2 miles wide in some spots. Prior to the peak outflow, the river crested at 57.63 feet at 6 AM July 11th, the second highest level ever recorded. A secondary peak occurred five days later - 57.31 feet at 4 PM CST July 16th. ||All this water would continue to remain high and spread, and hundreds, of structures were impacted during the event. The city of La Grulla was under mandatory evacuation by July 15th as increasing water levels and currents threatened more of the community than earlier in the week; these orders would continue until July 22nd when the waters began to recede slowly. As a precautionary measure in the city of Roma, three small subdivisions located in the low lying areas and along the bank just south of the Port of Entry were placed under mandatory evacuation. These included De La Cruz sub-division about (20 to 25 homes), Campo Verde (4 homes), and Garza sub-division (1 home). By July 22nd, the flooding in Starr County had impacted 178 homes/businesses, including 65 in La Grulla and 39 in Roma. 166 families required temporary housing. Preliminary damages to highways and bridges in Starr County was at $19 million; preliminary public and private property estimates were listed at an additional $18 million. Agricultural damage was also notable in flooded areas. Full accounting of both crop and property damage will be available during autumn, 2010.
June 2007Flash FloodLos Saenz$7,770,000The public reports extensive flooding is occurring in the city of Roma. Numerous streets are impassible. Local streams and arroyos are flowing and their banks are full.
June 2018Flash FloodRoma Arpt$3,000,000The Roma Fire Department reported that Arroyo Roma exceeded its banks, flooding parts of town with 1 to 3 feet of standing and flowing water during the pre-dawn hours of June 21st, 2018. The flooding was associated with the initiation of a thunderstorm system that would later cause significant flooding in western Hidalgo County, including the McAllen/Mission metropolitan region during the daylight hours later that morning. Measured and estimated rainfall was between 3 and 7 inches across southern and central Starr County. Estimated public damage, along with a standard doubling, left nearly $3 million in property and other damage (estimated).
August 2008FloodEscobares$700,000Though the rains tapered off shortly after noon, and sunshine peeked through the clouds during later in the day, floodwaters continued to cover much of Roma, but particularly Escobares and Garceno, as Arroyo Quiote continued to rise and remain in flood for several hours after the rains ended. Farm-to-Market Road 650 was closed due to the high water covering the roadway, and numerous local roads and some major thoroughfares were closed due to flooding. ||Federal Highway 83, the primary east-west highway connecting the Upper Rio Grande Valley with the Lower Rio Grande Valley, was closed with up to three feet of water covering portions of the highway into the evening of the 18th. Total structural damage and repair costs were estimated to be in excess of one million dollars from the entire flood episode. At the peak of the flash flooding and areal flooding, an estimated 500 water rescues were undertaken by emergency management personnel.
August 2008Flash FloodEscobares$500,000Torrential rainfall of at least 8 to 10 inches, but perhaps locally 12 inches, produced significant flash flooding from mid morning through early afternoon of the 18th in a pocket of Starr County along Federal Highway 83, stretching from the east side of Roma through Garceo and Escobares. Initial urban flooding as far east as the Los Lomas colonia near Rio Grande City soon evolved into a flash flood. The Roma Police Department reported one to one and a half feet of water throughout the city, with locally higher amounts, which has been confirmed by a number of home videos. ||Major flash flooding developed in these areas when several Arroyos, including the Arroyo Quiote (east of Rosita), Arroyo Los Morenos (near Escobares), and Arroyo Grande temporarily became raging rivers and aggravated the already high water. Starr County Emergency Management officials estimated at least 1100 homes had some degree of flooding ranging from 2 to 3 inches up to 5 feet at the peak of the flooding. A number of these homes were in newer communities near the Arroyo. First responders evacuated 234 or more people from the flooding areas. ||Structural damage and repair costs were estimated to be in excess of one million dollars.
March 2026Thunderstorm WindRosita$250,000Damaging winds, mainly to poorly built structures, combined with wind-driven hail (generally between 1 and 2.75 in diameter) caused widespread damage in the western side of Rio Grande City, from Zinnia St. near N. Alvarez Road to neighborhoods along and just south of Eisenhower Rd. in the northwest side of the City. ||Based on the survey and surrounding reports, as well as quality of building construction, the estimated wind was 65 to 70 mph in most areas. This included locations with wind-driven hail south of Eisenhower Rd. Specific damage included:|*A sheet-metal roof blown off a residence, part of which collapsed into the home and trapped a resident, who was uninjured.|*Wind-driven hail damage to at least 100 single-family residences along Santa Lucia, Santa Maria, and Santa Isabel Roads. The vast majority of damage was shattered windows to every home surveyed.|*Direct wind damage to homes, including peeled-back shingles from 5 to more than 20% to at least a dozen structures, several fences blown down, and flipped trampolines|*A destroyed permanent food-truck canopy (blown off) which did not have appropriate rebar reinforcement, which led to collapse of the support concrete poles. This building was fully exposed to the microburst winds, which came from the northwest.||Damage values provided are estimated, but include the combination of direct wind as well as wind-driven hail situations.
May 1991Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
August 2008FloodRoma$150,000After the rains had long ended, remaining flood waters around and near teh city of Roma continued to remain an issue for many. At least eight residents were rescued from the Las Flores subdivision, and a number of residents in the Robinson subdivision self evacuated as water continued to rise or remain high. Another resident was evacuated off of Ranchito Street from high water in a residence, and a rescue call was received for four children who may have been affected by the flood waters; thankfully, all were found unharmed.||Aircraft video confirmed that high standing water continued well into the 25th in many neighborhoods, particularly those which received the heaviest rains between the 22nd and 24th and were either low lying or had poorly draining streets. Other affected streets were caked with mud. While most of the flooded roads and residences had 2 feet or less of water in them on the 25th, some pockets of 3 feet of water may have remained.||At least 67 residents sought shelter during the night, with several remaining for the next few days as the flood waters gradually receded.
May 2007Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City$75,000Display signs and posts blown over on top of automobiles at Ramirez Ford.
May 2018Flash FloodRio Grande City$50,000Slow moving thunderstorm clusters dumped torrential rains over and near Rio Grande City during the early to mid evening of May 4th, with storm totals likely between 4 and 5 inches across the area. A combination of reports from law enforcement, emergency management, and social media indicated dangerous flooding in parts of the city, with several water rescues and minor flooding reaching into several homes on the east side of town. Social media photos and discussion reported a yard with 1 to 2 feet of water flowing through it at around 8 PM CST; water rescues from stranded vehicles were reported along US 83 on the east side of town at around 8:55 PM CST, and another vehicle was reported stranded in floodwaters at the intersection of Flores and Monroe Street, also on the east side of town. The NWS cooperative observer reported 4.28 inches with the event, most falling within two to three hours.
August 2008Flash FloodRoma$50,000Only a few hours after rains had tapered off Starr County, another complex of thunderstorms crept into the already flooded areas of southwestern portions of the area, and an additional 4 inches or more fell in or near areas impacted by the original floods during the evening of the 22nd, causing perhaps up to eight or nine neighborhoods to have a number of road closures, as well as homes having water pushed into them by passing vehicles. After the rains subsided, the event evolved into an area wide flood which continued well into the night, requiring additional water rescues.
May 2004Thunderstorm WindGarciasville$50,000Power and light poles were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.
October 1998Flash FloodRio Grande City$35,000Widespread street flooding. Fifty houses damaged by high water, mainly in the Las Lomas and Chaparral Subdivisions.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindLos Saenz$30,000Report via social media of damage to trees, billboards, and utility poles in the city of Roma that occurred between 11:10PM CDT and 11:35PM CDT. Damage confirmed by phone call to Roma Police Department.
May 2022Flash FloodLa Casita$30,000Social media pictures showed several submerged cars that were being removed from flood waters from the heavy rain the night before. Flood depth of 3 to 4 feet is estimated due to how high the water was on the cars.
May 2007Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City$30,000Sheriff's Office reported roof damage to structures.
June 1997Flash FloodRio Grande City$28,000263 dwellings damaged by water.
March 2026Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City Arpt$25,000As part of a storm survey in and near Rio Grande City, damage was assessed at and near the Starr County/Rio Grande City Regional Airport. Based on the damage, winds were estimated at 70 mph. Damage included:|*Five large mesquite tree limbs blown down in a 100-yard diameter across the street from the airport.|*A garage door was blown in on the airport grounds, and roof panels were lifted by the wind after entering the structure. The garage was not hurricane rated; it did not have any metal/aluminum cross-beams.
March 2026Flash FloodRoma$25,000Torrential rains estimated up to 2.5 in 30 to 45 minutes in Roma filled|up culverts near Arroyo Roma, and an estimated additional 1 to 2 following the|supercell overflowed drainage, resulting in a flash flood in the hilly parts of the city. Flooding began around 1 AM CST, and persisted until just after 4 AM CDT (3 AM CST), peaking at 320 AM CDT (220 AM CST). ||The combination of intense rainfall/rainfall rate, hilly terrain and poor|drainage, and rapid runoff due to prior extreme drought led to the flash flood|in Roma. Fast flowing water in streets was between 2 and 3 feet high at|the peak. ||The floodwaters pulled up pavement from several neighborhood streets in|the city. Up to 30 homes reported water levels inside, ranging from 6 to 1|foot, during peak flooding. A 2- to 3-foot deep hole was scoured out by the floodwaters next to a home near the intersection of Rau-Con St. and Bravo Ave., and several vehicles parked in driveways near the fast-flowing water had grass and mud left behind, up to 2 feet high on the sides of the vehicles.
May 2020Flash FloodRio Grande City$25,000Starr County Sheriffs Office reported floodwater entering at least 10 homes on the west side of Rio Grande City when an arroyo overspilled its banks in the neighborhood. Damage values are estimated.
May 2015Flash FloodRio Grande City$25,000Starr County Sheriffs Office reported at least a dozen water rescues in and near Rio Grande City, including the Las Lomas neighborhood and Garciasville, where some homes had up to 3 feet of water inside them after a likely combination of freshwater (drainage) and arroyo flooding from an estimated/measure five to seven inches of rain in two to three hours. Portions of U.S. 83 were closed in southeast Starr County, mainly from Rio Grande City to near the Hidalgo County line, due to standing water of 2 to 4 feet.
August 2008Flash FloodEscobares$25,000Torrential rains redeveloped during the pre dawn hours in western Jim Hogg, much of Zapata, and northwest Starr County, early on the 24th. Rainfall estimated to be at least 4 to 6 inches, perhaps more, flowed south out of the El Sauz/San Carlos area and soon reached previously swollen Arroyo Los Morenos, which soon overtopped its banks once again, possibly flooding up to six homes in Escobares.||An additional band of heavy rain likely dropped another 1 to 2 inches or more across water logged neighborhoods in and near Roma, along Federal Highway 83 between 9 and 10 AM CDT, further exacerbating the flood conditions which were already in place.
May 2007Thunderstorm WindGarciasville$25,000Post Office reported several large limbs blocking roads.
May 2005Flash FloodRio Grande City$25,000no account filed
March 2026Thunderstorm WindRoma$15,000An NWS Storm Survey conducted on March 8th found a track of wind damage from Roma High School to the east side of the city neighborhood grid. Average wind speed for all damage points was estimated at 65 mph, though the surveyed swath suggested 60 to 70 mph in the area. Damage included the following:|* Temporary fencing and benches blown down, field goal posts bent, and a sign adjacent to the baseball field bent of out the ground at Roma High School.|*Large wooden pole holding an election billboard ripped out of the ground across from the school.|*Several medium to large branches of healthy mesquite trees blown down in City of Roma neighborhoods.|*Electrical pole leaning at a 30 degree angle in the City of Roma.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindGarciasville$15,000A social media post showed damage to several metal sheds and a metal carport roof on the north side of US Hwy 83, behind Norma's, in Garciasville. Timing estimated from radar and social media posts.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City Arpt$15,000Thunderstorm winds estimated at 50 knots peeled the roof off of a mobile home and blew debris several feet along La Sagunada Road in Starr County west of FM755.
May 2020Flash FloodRio Grande City$10,000Starr County Sheriffs Office reports floodwater entering at least one home in east central Rio Grande City as a nearby Arroyo overspilled its banks and combined with heavy rainfall to flood city roads. An estimated 1 to 2 feet of fast flowing water impacting U.S. highway 83 on the east side of Rio Grande City.
March 2016Flash FloodGrulla$10,000Starr County Sheriffs Office reported that most of Alto Bonito received significant street flooding, that the US 83 underpass at FM 2360 was completely blocked due to flooding and that flooding was being rerouted in La Victoria. Starr County Sheriffs Office also reported one home in danger of being flooded on Familia Street in the El Poso colonia. A few houses in lower areas were reported to have about a foot of water inside, with some residents being evacuated.
September 2011Thunderstorm WindFronton$10,000A small but severe thunderstorm, featuring a bow-shape on its front edge and containing small cores of microbursts, raced through southwest Starr County around 1030 PM CDT September 17th. One of those microbursts reached ground.||KRGV-TV-5 reported structural damage in the small community of Fronton (along the Rio Grande). Damage included at least two roofs torn off/peeled back, several fences blown down, power lines blown down, and numerous large mesquite and live oak limbs broken off trees.
August 2008Flash FloodRoma$10,000Numerous thunderstorms developing in Starr and Zapata County during the late afternoon of the 22nd merged into a relatively small, but intense, complex across extreme western and southwestern Starr County, extending from across the west side of Roma northward toward, but just south, of Falcon Dam. Thankfully for residents living in the east side of Roma, extending into Escobares and Garceo, these torrential rains - estimated to be at least 7 inches or more in a few spots - never stretched east toward previously swollen arroyos from the east side of Roma toward Escobares and Garceno. ||While these torrential rains caused widespread street flooding in the western and northwestern portions of Roma (along the northward bend in Highway 83), as reported by law enforcement, no structures were threatened. Lighter rains followed overnight into early Saturday in Starr County, with little additional impact.||The heaviest rains, perhaps nearing 9 inches, fell just across the Rio Grande in Ciudad Aleman, Mexico. No information on impacts to this location was received by the NWS office in Brownsville.
July 2008Flash FloodLa Gloria$10,000The slow west, then northwest, movement of Hurricane Dolly through Willacy County during the daylight hours of the 23rd generally kept the heaviest rains from moving into the western Lower Rio Grande Valley. However, overnight on the 23rd, and especially during the morning hours of the 24th, persistent heavy rain bands developed, initially just west and southwest of the immediate center of circulation as it moved into southern Jim Hogg County between 230 and 430 AM, then mainly around and after sunrise in bands stretching from Roma in southwest Starr County northeast toward La Gloria. Arroyos in and near Roma filled quickly, and some minor flash flooding likely resulted from the rainfall, before the rains gradually tapered off toward noon on the 24th. ||Measured and estimated rainfall in Starr County, particularly where the likely flooding occurred, 8 to 12 inches occurred, with perhaps a bit more just to the southeast of Falcon Heights and north/northeast of Roma.||Property and Crop damage are currently estimated. Property damage is estimated based on insured damage reports from FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, but are likely a bit lower than actual damages since most impacted areas were likely insured. Updates will be provided as additional data are received.
May 2007HailGarciasville$10,000no account filed
May 2015Thunderstorm WindGarciasville$7,500Starr County Sheriffs Office reported shingles blown off of a roof and damage to the walls of a structure in Alto Bonito.
May 2022HailSanta Elena$5,000A homeowner interviewed by a local television station reported ping pong to golf ball sized hail, which damaged his roof and several of his windows. He also reported severe damage to trees, shingles, and a destroyed wooden playground due to very gusty winds.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindSanta Elena$5,000A homeowner interviewed by a local television station reported severe damage to trees, shingles, and a destroyed wooden playground due to very gusty winds. He also reported ping pong to golf ball sized hail, which damaged his roof and several of his windows. Radar indicated this storm strengthening with the potential for even higher wind gusts as it moved into extreme eastern Starr County, but there were not additional corroborating reports as of this writing.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindEscobares$5,000An NWS Storm Survey team on the way out to the City of Zapata noted at least a dozen mainly mesquite, live oak, and ebony trees large limbs blown down between Rio Grande City and Roma. A social media report also noted an uprooted tree in the Escobares area. Time was estimated via radar.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindFronton$5,000Media reported portion of roof blown off of house in Fronton. Several trees were blown down as well. Time estimated via radar imagery.
May 2015Flash FloodEscobares$5,000Starr County Sheriffs Office reported that a home had to be evacuated due to flooding along Lolo Flores Road in Escobares, as well standing water on roadways.
September 2013Flash FloodRosita$5,000Local law enforcement reported water approaching and entering homes in Rio Grande City.
September 2013Flash FloodVillareales$5,000Local law enforcement reported water approaching and entering homes in Rio Grande City.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindRoma$5,000Law enforcement in Starr County reported power lines down and power outages occurred in Roma due to high winds from strong to severe thunderstorms in and near the area.
September 2006Flash FloodRoma$5,000City officials in Roma reported flash flooding in the Roma Creek with produced damage to the home of one resident in the area.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City$5,000Numerous power lines and poles down. Tree damage.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindNorthern Portion$5,000Telephone lines down. Tree damage.
September 1998Flash FloodRio Grande City$4,000Three to four inches of rain caused extensive flooding of streets and some houses located in low lying areas.
March 1999Thunderstorm WindGrulla$3,000Roofs blown off two houses.
April 2018Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City$2,000A newspaper report from Starr County indicated a large restaurant sign blew onto a vehicle and caused an unknown amount of damage to the vehicle during the passage of a thunderstorm in Rio Grande City a little after 8 PM on April 25th.
May 2016HailFalcon Hgts$2,000COOP observer at Falcon Dam reported the front and back windows of a front end loader shattered.
May 2015Flash FloodRosita$2,000Starr County Sheriffs Office reported residence on Chapotito Road had 5 to 6 inches of water in it.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindViboras$2,000Power lines down, and power outages, were reported across a large part of Starr County as a developing line of severe thunderstorms moved through. One of the strongest cells likely produced some of these power outages between Viboras and La Gloria along Farm-to-Market road 2686.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindLa Gloria$2,000Tree and roof damage.
May 1997Thunderstorm WindSan Carlos$2,000no account filed
May 2017Thunderstorm WindEscobares$1,000Starr County Sheriff's Office reported utility pole blown down by thunderstorm winds on Lucianos Road in Escobares. Time estimated by radar.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindEl Sauz$1,000Law enforcement in Starr County reported numerous trees blown down on FM 649 near El Sauz.
August 2008LightningLos Saenz$1,000The Roma police department reported the police station was hit by a lightning strike at little after 9 PM CDT, which damaged equipment. The police radios sustained damage.
September 2008Flash FloodRoma$1,000Emergency Management officials from Starr County reported that six inches of water was covering and flowing across Highway 83 near La Rosita. It is likely that other minor flooding occurred near Roma, where an estimated 6 inches more rain fell on top of prodigious rainfall of more than 15 inches during the last third of August.
June 1997Thunderstorm WindEl Sauz$1,000Large limbs down
May 1997Thunderstorm WindSan Carlos$1,000no account filed

Mines and quarries

8 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 8 workings inside this county. All of them still produce. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction6
Stone, Crushed/Broken1
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Alto Bonito PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducerCaliche
Nordmeyer Incorporated OperationsClayProducer
Alto Bonito Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Fidel Guerra Gravel PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Fidel Guerra Gravel PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Guerra PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerGravel, Sand
Lopez Ready Mix PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducerGravel, Sand
Rosita Gravel Guerra PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

228

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.