Quality of Life

Ambience

Visitors to Raymondville can enjoy the lush semi-tropical climate and surrounding beautiful natural resources. What once was a small farming community now is a city with various eateries and quaint retail shops for its local residents and annual Winter Visitors.

The year 2004 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Raymondville and a celebration including a parade, dance, food and fireworks made for a birthday party to remember!

Outdoor Recreation

With nature in our very own backyard and inviting climate, Raymondville boasts outdoor recreation. With farm/ranchlands and the Laguna Madre only a short drive away, outdoor enthusiasts can plan various activities to include birding, fishing, hunting, sailing, and golfing.

Other destinations only driving distance include the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, the beautiful South Padre Island, and the Mexican border towns are sure to offer great shopping excursions.

Raymondville’s golf course is a 9-hole golf course with two par 5 and two par 3 holes. It is home to golf tournaments, fund raising events, and a popular place for local students, residents, everyday visitors, and Winter Visitors to enjoy.

The outdoor fun is not limited to nature activities as sports also play a major role in recreation. Area youths participate in competitive sports including little league and soccer.

Am I Allowed to Modify the Item That I Purchased?

Raymondville begins the year with the Willacy County Heritage Gala held in January. This celebration features the county’s rich heritage and includes a tour of the Historical Museum, a live auction with items such as artwork by local artists, gourmet dinners, and various hunting and fishing trips.

The Willacy County Livestock Show is held the last week of January at the Willacy County Show Grounds on South Business 77. This annual event has taken place since the early 1950’s and has grown throughout the years with participation from the young and young at heart. The highlights of the county fair include arts and crafts, art exhibits, food booths, baked goods, carnival, and rodeo.Fall brings the highly anticipated “Wild and Willacy†Heritage and Nature Festival. Natural attractions are available for nature lovers to experience first hand. Tours are scheduled on local private ranches and hosted by nationally renowned field guides for the best birding and spotting of wildlife. This festival also offers seminars on 7 Native plant landscaping, birdhouse building, attracting butterflies and dragonflies, and identifying grass and trees that is abundant to our area.

This time of year also brings our annual winter visitors, which are welcomed by a “Welcome Back Winter Texan†BBQ dinner organized by the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce. This event allows the community to meet our northern friends once again and get acquainted with any new visitors that have chosen Raymondville for their winter stay.

December brings plenty of excitement for the community. The Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony held at the Downtown Pocket Park begins the joyous season followed by the annual Christmas Parade.

Tourism

Visitors destined to experience the natural treasures of the area will soon find nature at its best and hospitality the size of Texas.

Nature enthusiasts will find numerous species of migratory birds, sea life and plant life abundant to the area. Spotting the unique Ferruginous Pygmy Owl at an adjacent ranch 10 miles North of Raymondville shall prove to be the highlight of any bird enthusiast.

For those looking for a water adventure, a short drive East to Port Mansfield will offer the shores of the Laguna Madre. Only nine miles out by boat, the Gulf of Mexico provides an avid fisherman some fishing to remember.

Shopping

Downtown Raymondville offers quaint shops with unique gifts, costume jewelry, and home décor. Discount retailers are also located strategically throughout the city.

Shopping malls are a short 20-minute drive south to Harlingen where malls and shopping plazas are plentiful. Brownsville and McAllen are also home to some major shopping grounds with shopping malls and flea markets and both are approximately a 45-50 minute drive away.

The Mexican border towns also provide plenty of shopping opportunities where unique home décor, fabrics, purses/wallets, and hats are among some of the items found. This shopping experience is only a 50-minute drive and the margaritas and Mexican hospitality are well worth the drive!

Sports

Hidalgo, Texas is now home to the “coolest†game in town…ice hockey. State Farm Arena, the newest sports facility in the Valley, and experience the RGV Killer Bees in action.

The Arena also boasts live entertainment with music to suit a variety of interests. The legendary George Strait was welcomed with a sell-out Rio Grande Valley crowd. The Arena not only hosts concerts but also family & children’s shows and sports events.

Culture

The local school groups present spring and Christmas band concerts and theatre productions for the community at little or no cost.

Tejano dancing is indigenous to the area with dance halls throughout the Valley to showcase the fancy footwork.

Performing arts facilities in Harlingen, Brownsville, and McAllen provide diverse programs of visual and performing art.

El Sal del Rey and La Sal Vieja

These two lakes’ history dates back almost to the discovery of America. Look for the historical marker west of Raymondville on Hwy 186 in front of El Sal del Rey.

Approximately 20 miles west of Raymondville are El Sal de Rey and La Sal Vieja lakes. Spanish explorers claimed El Sal del Rey or “The Salt of the King†for the King of Spain. Salt was taken from it for 40 years before it became part of the land grant given by the King to Juan Jose Balli of the Spanish Army.

El Sal del Rey covers about 500 acres with its underground depth unknown. It is said to be 90% pure and lies 12 feet above sea level. It has no connection to any other body of water and the secret to its formation is not known. Salt blocks removed from any spot in the lake are quickly replenished in a matter of two to three days. Engineers have estimated that the lake can produce four million tons of salt. The depth of the water varies from completely dry to 2 feet in dry periods to more than 10 feet during heavy rainfall.

The lakes have had several owners since the King of Spain including the Byron Campbell family of Raymondville. U.S. Fish and Wildlife has acquired the lakes and offer them for nature tourism.

Source: Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce’s History Cookbook from an article written by Elouise Campbell.

Port Mansfield

Described as “one of the 10 best fishing areas in the country.â€

Located just 22 miles east of Raymondville, visitors will find the peaceful shores of the Laguna Madre. Avid fishermen can enjoy bay and deep-sea fishing while others may want to simply stroll down the lighted fishing docks. Just nine miles from Port Mansfield bird watchers can experience the beauty and solitude of South Padre Island National Seashore and Bird Sanctuary. For outdoor sports, the shallow waters and smooth clay bottom near port is where water skiers and windsurfers can safely practice their talent.

Whether it is the fishing, birding, or water sports Port Mansfield is a site to see. Make plans to visit this quaint fishing community and experience nature at its best.

Contact the Willacy County Navigation District at (800) 663-5707 for land leases and boat stall leases or the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce at (956) 944-2354. An airport for small aircraft is available for guests wanting to fly in to the fishing community.9

City of Raymondville Economic Development Corporation

700 FM 3168,
Raymondville, Texas 78580

(956) 689-1862

Tourism

Raymondville, the “Gateway to the Rio Grande Valley†from north Hwy 77, is also the gateway for tourism opportunities of any interest. Nature, outdoor sports, and area attractions all are within an afternoon’s drive.

The Tourism Influence

The Texas Tourism division of The Office of the Governor – Economic Development and Tourism has generated out-of-state and international travelers to experience the great state of Texas. Marketing advertisements and promotional materials have contributed to the traveling frenzy leaving destinations to prepare for the influx of visitors.The Texas Tourism “Direct Travel Impacts by County†report for Willacy County lists 19,383 total spending ($000) in 2005. These travel dollars generated approximately 150 travel-related jobs with earnings of 2,880 ($000). Travelers to the area contribute 1,269 in state tax receipts ($000) and 141 in local tax receipts ($000). Destination spending increased from 14,718 in 2004 to 19,383 in 2005. (www.travel.state.tx.us)

The traveling data notably increases with consideration of the surrounding counties with even more tourism opportunities. Within a 30-50 minute driving distance from Raymondville, visitors will find the waters of the Laguna Madre and South Padre Island for relaxation or outdoor sports, the animals of the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, the best bird/wildlife watching, and border towns of Matamoros, Nuevo Progreso, and Reynosa for shopping or dining. Add to this diverse mix of destinations the semi-tropical climate with mild winters and it is no wonder South Texas is a prime destination for annual winter visitors and a great place to live for its residents.
Contact the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce at (956) 689-1864 or (956) 689-1860 ext. 222 and plan a weekend getaway to South Texas today.

Chamber of Commerce Schedule of Events

Willacy County Heritage Gala February

Winter Texan Appreciation Golf Tournament March

Chamber Annual Awards Banquet April

Health and Social Service Fair June

Wild in Willacy Nature and Heritage Festival October

Christmas Tree Lighting November

Christmas Parade December

Housing

Whether it is a home in a new or established subdivision or a home on acres of land out in the country, affordable housing and low cost of living is what you will find in the quaint community of Raymondville.

Affordable Housing

Most housing units in Raymondville are in established neighborhoods although new residential subdivisions have begun to take form. West of Raymondville is one of the newest housing subdivisions offering custom built, high efficiency homes. Other custom builders are also available in the area to build to specifications.

Rental units were sparse in this area, but not the case today. Developers saw the need for more rental units and recently constructed a 72-unit apartment community in the southwest area of Raymondville. This new community offers a community room, swimming pool, laundry facility, basketball court, and picnic area with gazebos.

Housing Costs

Homes listed for sale in the Raymondville/Willacy County area range from $65,000 to over $175,000 depending on the age and size of home. Country homes outside of the city limits are also available for those seeking a more secluded place to call home. These sites tend to sit on acres of land, which allows for plenty of room for outdoor pets or horses and other farm animals

Home Sale Prices – 2015

2800 sq ft. 5/4 home: $170,000

2188 sq ft. 3/3/2 home: $129,000

1600 sq ft. 2/2/2 home: $ 82,500

1212 sq ft. 2/1/1 home: $ 52,500

Average Mo. Rent – 2015

1-bedroom apartment: $250-$350

2-bedroom apartment: $450-$550

2-bedroom house: $550-$600

3-bedroom apartment: $650-$75011

City of Raymondville Economic Development Corporation

700 FM 3168,
Raymondville, Texas 78580

(956) 689-1862

Climate

Semi-tropical climate with mild winters and comfortable summers makes Raymondville a serene place to live and work.

Temperature

Because of its semitropical climate, residents and visitors alike enjoy the year-round opportunities for nature adventures of fishing, sailing, golfing, and bird watching.
The mild winters make the Rio Grande Valley the perfect place for winter visitors. Raymondville’s RV parks have been home to Winter Texans for many years with travelers from most of the northern states. These part-time residents enjoy the outdoor recreation that freezing temperatures in the northern states simply cannot offer.

Records and Averages – Raymondville, Texas

Month	Average High	Average Low	Average Precip.	Record High	Record Low
January	68.1°F	45.8°F	1.5 in	92° (01/14/72)	14°F (01/13/62)
February	72.2°F.	48.5°F	1.6 in	99° (02/28/40)	19°F (02/03/51)
March	79.5°F	55.8°F	0.8 in	105°(03/24/45)	21°F (03/05/17)
April	86.2°F	63.8°F	1.5 in	106° (04/27/84)	33°F (04/01/87)
May	89.4°F	69.2°F	3.3 in	107° (05/04/84)	45° (05/02/25)
June	93.5°F	72.4°F	3.3 in	109° (06/06/16)	56°F (06/04/19)
July	96.1°F	73.4°F	2.0 in	107° (07/07/98)	63°F (07/01/85)
August	96.8°F	73.4°F	3.1 in	107° (08/08/53)	60°F (08/15/67)
September	92.4°F	70.9°F	5.8 in	105° (09/21/47)	49°F (09/29/17)
October	86.6°F	62.9°F	2.2 in	100° (10/10/62)	33°F (10/31/93)
November	79.1°F	55.6°F	1.3 in	99° (11/05/88)	28°F (11/29/59)
December	71.3°F	48.6°F	1.2 in	94° (12/06/77)	15°F (12/24/89)

Health Services

A wide array of health care services available in South Texas to meet all health care needs.

Valley Baptist Medical Center

An affiliate of the Valley Baptist Health System, Valley Baptist Medical Center (VBMC) is an acute care hospital facility with over 600 beds and numerous specialty care areas and programs.

VBMC is located in Harlingen, approximately 21 miles south of Raymondville, and provides health care services to over 900,000 residents from the surrounding area covering Cameron County, Willacy County and Hidalgo County.

Medical services provided by VBMC include:

Source: www.valleybaptist.net 14
City of Raymondville Economic Development Corporation

700 FM 3168,
Raymondville, Texas 78580

(956) 689-1862

Harlingen Medical Center

Also located in Harlingen and providing health care services to area residents is the Harlingen Medical Center. The Harlingen Medical Center is a general acute care hospital led by physicians specializing in cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology.

The mission of the hospital is to be the provider of choice for the healthcare services that is offered and to promote health and wellness to the people served.

Services provided by Harlingen Medical Center include:

• Cardiovascular care
• Women’s Center
• Emergency Center

Source: www.harlingenmedicalcenter.com

Other Hospitals/Medical Centers Driving Distance From Raymondville:

Other Hospitals/Medical Centers driving distance from Raymondville:

Valley Baptist Medical Center – Brownsville (48 miles; Brownsville, Texas)

• Valley Regional Medical Center (about 48 miles; Brownsville, Texas)
• Knapp Medical Center (about 35 miles; Weslaco, Texas)
• Edinburg Regional Medical Center (about 40 miles; Edinburg, Texas)
• Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (about 40 miles; Edinburg, Texas)
• Rio Grande Regional (about 50 miles; McAllen, Texas)
• McAllen Medical Center (about 50 miles; McAllen, Texas)