Laredo, Texas

Laredo, Texas
City
City of Laredo
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): "The Gateway City" and "The City Under Seven Flags"
Laredo, Texas Location in the contiguous United States
Coordinates: 27°31′28″N 99°29′26″W / 27.52444°N 99.49056°W
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Webb
Metropolitan area	Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area
Settled	1755
Government
• Type	Council-manager
• City council	Mayor Pete Saenz (Democrat in nonpartisan position) Laredo City Council: (1) Rudy Gonzalez, Jr. (2) Vidal Rodriguez (3) Alejandro Perez, Jr. (4) Juan Narvaez (5) Roque Vela (6) Charlie San Miguel (7) George Altgelt (8) Roberto Balli
• City manager	Jesus R. "Chuy" Olivares
• Police chief	Ray Garner[1]
Area
• City	90.01 sq mi (233.12 km^2)
• Land	88.91 sq mi (230.27 km^2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (2.85 km^2)  1.30%
• Metro	161.76 sq mi (418.96 km^2)
Elevation	438 ft (137.2 m)
Population (2012)
• City	244,731 (US: 81st)
• Density	2,718.9/sq mi (1,045.1/km^2)
• Metro	259,172 (US: 178th)
• Metro density	1,602.2/sq mi (615.9/km^2)
• Demonym	Laredoan
Time zone	CST (UTC−6)
• Summer (DST)	CST (UTC−5)
ZIP code	78040–78046, 78049
Area code	956
FIPS code	48-41464[2]
GNIS feature ID	1339633[3]
Airport	Laredo International Airport KLRD (LRD)
Website	laredotexas.gov

Laredo (/ləˈreɪdoʊ/ lə-RAY-doh; Spanish: [laˈɾeðo]) is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,191, making it the tenth-most populous city in the state of Texas and third-most populated on the Mexican border, after San Diego, California, and El Paso, Texas.^[4] Its metropolitan area is the 178th-largest in the US and includes all of Webb County, with a population of 250,304.^[4] Laredo is also part of the cross-border Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area with an estimated population of 636,516.^[5]

Because Laredo is 95.6 percent Hispanic and Latino, it is one of the least ethnically diverse cities in the United States. When economic diversity, household diversity and social class diversity, are considered, Laredo is rated the 19th least diverse city overall out of the 313 largest cities in the nation.^[6]

Laredo's economy is based on international trade with Mexico. Most major transportation companies have a facility in Laredo. The city's location on the southern end of I-35 close to the manufacturers in northern Mexico promotes its vital role in trade between the two nations. Laredo International Airport is within the Laredo city limits, while the Quetzalcoatl International Airport is nearby in Nuevo Laredo on the Mexican side.

Laredo has the distinction of flying seven flags (the Flag of the Republic of the Rio Grande in addition to the Six Flags of Texas). Founded in 1755, Laredo grew from a village to the capital of the brief Republic of the Rio Grande to the largest inland port on the United States-Mexican Border. Today, it has four international bridges and one railway bridge.

Laredo has a professional soccer team, the Heat; baseball team, the Laredo Lemurs; and a women's full contact football team, the Laredo Roses. Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College are located in Laredo.

The biggest festival, Washington's Birthday Celebration, is held during the entire month of February, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists. The Jalapeño Festival, Border Beer Fest, Stockmen's Ball, Princess Pocahontas Pageant, Mr. South Texas Luncheon, an air show, and two major parades are all held in conjunction with the Washington's birthday events.

History

A graphical timeline is available at: Timeline of Laredo, Texas

Map of Laredo in 1892

Laredo Center for the Arts in the downtown square

Though the facility has been closed for years, the marquee of the Plaza Theater in downtown Laredo remains lit. A citizens committee, including the restaurateur Danny Lopez, Jr., of the Danny's Restaurant chain, is seeking to establish a private-public partnership to reopen the Plaza as a live entertainment venue. The plans call for $8 to $10 million in renovation.^[7]

The European colonial settlement of Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was founded in 1755 by Don Tomás Sánchez while the area was part of the Nuevo Santander region in the Spanish colony of New Spain. Villa de San Agustin de Laredo was named after Laredo, Cantabria, Spain and in honor of Saint Augustine of Hippo. In 1840, Laredo was the capital of the independent Republic of the Rio Grande, set up in opposition to Antonio López de Santa Anna; it was brought back into Mexico by military force.

In 1846 during the Mexican–American War, the town was occupied by the Texas Rangers. After the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ceded the land to the United States. A referendum was taken in the town, which voted to petition the American military government in charge of the area to return the town to Mexico. When this petition was rejected, most of the population, who were Tejano and had been in the area for generations, moved across the river into Mexican territory, where they founded Nuevo Laredo. In 1849, the United States Army set up Fort McIntosh (originally Camp Crawford). Laredo was rechartered as a city in 1852.

Laredo is one of the oldest crossing points along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the nation's largest inland port of entry. In 2005, Laredo celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding.

The origin of name of the original Spanish town of Laredo is unclear. Some scholars say the name stems from Glaretum which means "sandy, rocky place". Others state that Laredo stems from a Basque word meaning "beautiful pastures".^[8][9] Laredo might also stem from the Latin Larida which means gull.

In 1954, Laredo faced a devastating Rio Grande flood, when the water reached 61.35 feet, more than 10 feet higher than in the previous 1932 flood, which had also caused great damage. According to Laredo historian Jerry D. Thompson of Texas A&M International University, the 1954 flood was "the largest in ninety-one years and the second largest according to archeological records in the last three hundred years."^[10] Many were left homeless for a time because of the calamity. Former Webb County administrative Judge Mercurio Martinez, Jr., recalls that his father surveyed the depth of the water and advised residents to evacuate. Several downtown businesses had to remove their merchandise inventory or risk losing it to the rising waters. The flood caused the relocation of the Holding Institute. The international bridge was destroyed when it was struck by the floating railroad bridge, which had been hit by the debris of another bridge in Eagle Pass up the river. Photos of the flood by Teofilo Esquivel, Sr., are on the wall of a Danny's Restaurant on McPherson Avenue in Laredo.^[10]

In 2013, Laredo ranked tenth in Texas in the rate of violent crime, with 430.9 crimes per 100,000 inhabitants. Highest in ranking was Odessa, with 806.4 violent crimes per unit. The second most "dangerous city" was also in West Texas; Lubbock had 658 crimes per 100,000 persons. The other border cities of El Paso, McAllen, and Brownsville ranked 13th, 18th, and 24th, respectively. The city with the highest murder rate in Texas was Beaumont–Port Arthur, with a rating of 8.6, compared to Laredo's 1.5.^[11]

Geography

NASA satellite image of Laredo and Nuevo Laredo (2007)

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 79.6 square miles (206.0 km²), of which, 78.5 square miles (203.2 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (1.37%) is covered by water.

Location

Laredo is located on the west end of the Rio Grande Plains, south of the Edwards Plateau, west of the Coastal Plains, and east of the Mexican Mountains. The area consists of a few hills and flat land covered with grasses, oaks, and mesquite.

Bodies of water

Notable geographic features are the Rio Grande and Chacon Creek's man-made reservoir, Lake Casa Blanca, in Lake Casa Blanca International State Park. The lake is 371 acres (1.5 km²) of land and 1,650 acres (7 km²) of water. The six major creeks are Chacon Creek, San Ildefonso Creek, San Ygnacio Creek, Santa Isabel Creek, Sombrerillito Creek, and Zacate Creek, all of which drain into the Rio Grande. Several man-made reservoirs include the San Ildefonso Creek Lake (second-largest reservoir), and the Sombrerillito Creek Lake (third-largest reservoir).

Nearby cities

City	Population	Distance (km)
Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas	373,725	0 mi
Monclova, Coahuila	198,819	124 mi (200 km)
Monterrey, Nuevo León	4,080,329	125 mi (201 km)
Reynosa, Tamaulipas	589,466	130 mi (210 km)
Corpus Christi, Texas	305,215	131 mi (211 km)
San Antonio, Texas	1,327,407	154 mi (248 km)
Heroica Matamoros, Tamaulipas	449,815	167 mi (269 km)
Brownsville, Texas	183,046	170 mi (270 km)
Saltillo, Coahuila	709,671	181 mi (291 km)

Climate

Laredo's climate is semiarid with hot temperatures in the summer and mild temperatures during the winter. The climate is considered to be hot semiarid (Köppen: BSh). Its weather is affected by the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains to the west, the Gulf of Mexico to the east, and the Chihuahuan Desert of Northern Mexico and West Texas. Moisture from the Pacific is cut off by the Mexican mountain range.

Because of its geographic location, Laredo's weather can range from long periods of heat to sudden, violent storms in a short period of time. Laredo winters are cold by South Texas standards: with average daytime highs around 66 °F (19 °C) and average overnight lows of 43 °F (6 °C). Although snowfall is rare in Laredo, it was recorded on Christmas morning 2004 and in February 2011.

Laredo experiences an average high temperature around 101 °F (38 °C), and an average low around 75 °F (24 °C) during summer, and 22 inches (560 mm) of rain per year. As Laredo sometimes undergoes drought, a water conservation ordinance was implemented in 2003.

Climate data for Laredo, Texas (1981−2010 normals, extremes 1965–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	95 (35)	103 (39)	105 (41)	110 (43)	114 (46)	114 (46)	113 (45)	111 (44)	110 (43)	104 (40)	99 (37)	95 (35)	114 (46)
Average high °F (°C)	67.0 (19.4)	72.0 (22.2)	79.8 (26.6)	87.6 (30.9)	93.5 (34.2)	98.1 (36.7)	99.3 (37.4)	100.1 (37.8)	93.4 (34.1)	86.3 (30.2)	76.3 (24.6)	67.7 (19.8)	85.1 (29.5)
Average low °F (°C)	46.1 (7.8)	50.3 (10.2)	56.9 (13.8)	64.3 (17.9)	71.5 (21.9)	75.9 (24.4)	76.7 (24.8)	77.0 (25)	72.7 (22.6)	65.2 (18.4)	55.2 (12.9)	46.8 (8.2)	63.2 (17.3)
Record low °F (°C)	19 (−7)	20 (−7)	27 (−3)	32 (0)	45 (7)	58 (14)	66 (19)	61 (16)	49 (9)	28 (−2)	27 (−3)	11 (−12)	11 (−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.90 (22.9)	0.94 (23.9)	1.12 (28.4)	1.42 (36.1)	2.49 (63.2)	2.23 (56.6)	2.01 (51.1)	1.88 (47.8)	2.93 (74.4)	2.21 (56.1)	1.19 (30.2)	0.88 (22.4)	20.2 (513.1)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	5.9	5.3	4.4	4.2	5.3	5.1	4.8	5.1	6.7	4.4	4.3	5.6	61.1
Source: NOAA[12][13]

Demographics

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1757	85	—
1770	185	+117.6%
1790	708	+282.7%
1820	1,430	+102.0%
1830	2,052	+43.5%
1860	1,256	−38.8%
1870	2,046	+62.9%
1880	3,521	+72.1%
1890	11,319	+221.5%
1900	13,429	+18.6%
1910	14,855	+10.6%
1920	22,710	+52.9%
1930	32,618	+43.6%
1940	39,274	+20.4%
1950	51,910	+32.2%
1960	60,678	+16.9%
1970	69,678	+14.8%
1980	91,449	+31.2%
1990	122,899	+34.4%
2000	176,576	+43.7%
2010	236,091	+33.7%
2014	252,309	+6.9%
2015	255,473	+1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[14] Texas Almanac: 1850–2010[15][16] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[17]

As of the 2010, Laredo is the 81st-most populous city in the United States and the 10th-largest in Texas. According to the 2010 census^[2][18][19] there were 236,091 inhabitants in the city.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of Laredo was:

• Whites: 87.7%
• Black or African American: 0.5%
• Native American: 0.4%
• Asian: 0.6%
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.00%
• Two or more races: 1.5%
• other races 9.3%

Ethnically, the city was:

• Hispanic or Latino (of any race) – 95.6%

According to respondents' self-identification on the 2010 Census, the vast majority of Laredo's population is ethnically Hispanic (of any race), with 95.6%. Some 4.4% of the population was not Hispanic/Latino (3.4% non-Hispanic White, 0.2% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.6% non-Hispanic Asian, 0.1% from some other race (non-Hispanic), and 0.1% of two or more races (non-Hispanic)).

In the 2005 estimate, there were 99,675 males and 108,112 females. The average household contained 3.69 occupants. The population density was 2,250.5 people per square mile (868.9/km²).

Of the 60,816 households, 56,247 or 92.5% were occupied: 33,832 were owner-occupied units and 22,415 were renter-occupied units. About 62.0% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.7% were not families. Around 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.69 and the average family size was 4.18

The city's population is distributed as 35.5% under the age of 18, 11.4% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,019, and for a family was $32,577. The per capita income for the city was $12,269; 29.2% of families were below the poverty line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, at a 2000 census, Laredo was the second-fastest growing city in the United States, after (Las Vegas).

A study released in 2015 by the Martin Prosperity Institute of the University of Toronto in Canada showed Laredo as the most "economically segregated" smaller metro area in the United States. The wealthy tend to congregate in enclaves and gated communities, such as Plantation, Regency, Lakeside, Winfield, and Alexander Estates. Most of the poor inhabit neighborhoods known for overall and longstanding poverty, particularly in the southern portion of the city. Mayor Pete Saenz, however, said development is underway downtown and in The Heights neighborhood, once the city's most affluent residential area. There are no de facto Anglo and African-American neighborhoods. The second and third cities cited in the study are Jackson, Tennessee, and El Paso, Texas.^[20]

In 2016, Laredo was ranked the safest city in Texas for motorists and the 14th safest nationally. Its average annual car insurance rate is $1,515.76; the average years between accidents is 11.7. Detroit, Michigan, ranked the most dangerous city for motorists.^[21]

Economy

Walker Plaza office complex in Laredo was built in the early 1990s by the family of South Texas rancher Gene S. Walker, Sr.

Laredo Federal Credit Union on McPherson Road

The former Cotulla Barbeque on McPherson Road at Taylor Street was closed, razed in 2012, and replaced by office buildings. Former U.S. President George W. Bush regularly visited the establishment when he was in town.

Laredo has four South Texas banking institutions based in the city: Falcon International Bank, International Bank of Commerce, BBVA Compass, and Texas Community Bank.

Laredo is the largest inland port in the United States, and Nuevo Laredo the largest in Latin America. This is due to their respective locations, served by Interstate Highway 35 / Mexican Federal Highway 85, the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), dozens of twin assembly plants on the Mexican side, and dozens of import export agencies to expedite trade. In January 2014, the Laredo customs district processed "$20 billion in two-way trade with Mexico", about half that for the entire US with Mexico for the month.^[22] Laredo is a shopping destination for Mexican shoppers from Northern Mexico. In 2015 the San Antonio Express-News reported that the number of Mexican shoppers has declined due to drug war-related violence in Nuevo Laredo.^[23]

Trade

View across the Rio Grande at Laredo, Texas (postcard, circa 1909)

More than 47 percent of United States international trade headed for Mexico and more than 36 percent of Mexican international trade crosses through the Laredo port of entry.^[24][25] Laredo's economy revolves around commercial and industrial warehousing, import, and export. As a major player in international trade, the Laredo area benefited from passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has encouraged trade. The Laredo port of entry consists of four international bridges (with a proposed fifth one) crossing the Rio Grande into the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León.

Retail sales

Retail sales attract shoppers from Northern Mexico and South Texas.^[26] There is one indoor shopping mall located in Laredo, Mall del Norte. A proposed project is The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo, and another has not progressed past planning: Laredo Town Center, part of downtown redevelopment. There are dozens of shopping centers. The Streets of Laredo Urban Mall is an association created by businesses on Iturbide Street in the San Agustin historical district to beautify and renovate the area, which has a pedestrian scale.^[27]

• Mall Del Norte 1,198,199 sq ft (111,316.3 m²)
• The Outlet Shoppes at Laredo, 380,000 sq ft (35,000 m²) owned by Horizon Group Properties, will open March 2017 with as many as seventy-seven stores, including Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Michael Kors, Brooks Brothers, OshKosh B'Gosh, Old Navy, New York and Company, and Kay Jewelers.^[28]
• Streets of Laredo Urban Mall

Labor market information

As of October 2007, Laredo's labor market was in the following industries by percentage of number employed: Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (32%), Information (1%), Financial Activity (5%), Professional and Business Services (6%), Education and Health Services (15%), Leisure and Hospitality (10%), Government (23%), Mining and Construction (5%), Manufacturing (2%), and Other Services (2%).

Laredo has increased the number of non-agricultural jobs from 55,100 in January 1996 to 86,600 in October 2007. Laredo has had a higher job growth rate (2%-6.5%) than the state as a whole because of expanded international trade through the North American Free Trade Agreement. In 2007, Laredo experienced a job growth rate of 2.5%. As of October 2007, the Laredo unemployment rate was 4.1% or 3,700 unemployed persons, as compared to 3.9% in Texas statewide. This is a significant drop since the mid-1990s, when Laredo's unemployment was over 15%.

Laredo has had positive job market growth since the mid-1990s; setbacks in the mining (oil/gas) industry shifted a few thousand workers to other industries such as international trade and construction. Many large employers in the oil and gas industries shut down operations in Laredo and across Texas, and shifted to foreign countries. The same effect occurred in the garment industry (Levis and Haggar) along the Texas border area. Laredo lost its only garment-producing company (Barry), costing the jobs of about 300 workers. Laredo's strong job growth rate in retail and transportation services limited the adverse effects of long-term unemployment from the few massive layoffs of the late 1990s. Laredo's success with international trade is also a vulnerability; it is dependent on changes to Mexico's economy, that status of immigration laws (along with daily border crossings: shoppers and commercial trade), and terrorism.^[29]

In 2014, according to the financial research company NerdWallet, Laredo had the worst pay for women of any city in the United States, with a large gender gap: an average annual salary of $24,700 for women, compared to nearly $35,000 for men. The gender pay gap in Laredo increased 25 percent between 2007 and 2012. Only the wealthy city of Frisco in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, had a greater pay gap within Texas than did Laredo. According to census reports, Laredo has a 30 percent rate of poverty. Laredo households headed by women with children under the age of eighteen have a 51 percent poverty rate.^[30] By contrast, the San Jose, California, area, the heart of the tech industry, has an average pay of $56,000, ranking first nationally.^[31]

Laredo Top Employers^[32]

Employer	Category	Employees
United Independent School District	Education	6,179
Laredo Independent School District	Education	4,500
City of Laredo	Government	2,371
Laredo Sector Border Patrol	Immigration	2,000
H-E-B	Grocery	1,626
Webb County	Government	1,500
Laredo Medical Center	Health care	1,300
Texas A&M International University	Education	1,215
McDonald's	Food	1,200
Walmart	Retail	937
Convergys	Call Center	860
Doctors Hospital	Health Care	811
International Bank of Commerce	Financial Services	661
Stripes Convenience Stores	Retail/Convenience	337
Laredo Energy Arena	Entertainment	293
Falcon International Bank	Financial Services	292

Arts and culture

Annual celebrations

The Washington's Birthday Celebration (WBCA)^[33] is a month-long event that celebrates George Washington's Birthday. It is the largest annual celebration of its kind in the United States, with 400,000 attendees. It was founded in 1898 by the Improved Order of Red Men, local chapter Yaqui Tribe #59. The first celebration was a success, and its popularity grew rapidly; in 1923 it received its state charter. In 1924, the Celebration held its first Colonial Pageant, which featured 13 girls from Laredo, representing the 13 original colonies. The celebration includes parades, a carnival, an air show, fireworks, live concerts, and a citywide prom during which many of Laredo's elite dress in very formal attire. The related Jalapeño Festival is one of the United States' top 10 eating festivals.

Jamboozie is held in late January in downtown Laredo as part of the Washington Birthday Celebrations. Similar to New Orleans' Mardi Gras, the Jamboozie is a colorful event, with many people dressed in beads, masks, and flamboyant outfits.

The month of March is observed in honor of the Mexican-American labor organizer Cesar Chavez. A march, organized by the local League of United Latin American Citizens, is held downtown the last Saturday morning of March to remember Chavez for United Farm Workers, which in the 1960s and 1970s organized migrant laborers to obtain improved working conditions.^[34]

Museums

Republic of the Rio Grande Capitol Building Museum

Republic of the Rio Grande Capitol Building Museum^[35] is located in the downtown historical district next to the historic La Posada Hotel. What was once the Capitol building now showcases memorabilia from the short lived Republic of the Rio Grande. It displays pictures, books, and furniture from the 19th century Laredo area, and offers guided tours for school-age children and adults year-round. Because of this Republic, Laredo had flown seven flags instead of the traditional Six Flags over Texas.

The Laredo Center for the Arts^[36] is located in downtown Laredo. The building houses three galleries: the Goodman Gallery, the Laredo Art League Gallery and the Lilia G. Martinez Gallery. The Center for the Arts, located in the former City Hall offices known as "The Mercado", displays regional artwork and provides community events for children and adults. The Laredo Little Theater provides Laredo with live stage performances. The theater also hosts comedians.

Imaginarium of South Texas^[37] (formerly Laredo Children's Museum), located in Mall del Norte, provides a hands-on experience with science, technology, and art for Laredo's youth. A second museum is planned on the Texas A&M International University campus.^[38]

The Nuevo Santander Museum Complex is composed of restored buildings of Fort McIntosh, a historical collection of photographs of the fort, the main guardhouse, which contains World War I (1914–1918) memorabilia, and a science and technology museum.

Planetarium

The Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center Planetarium^[39] is located on the Texas A&M International University campus. The Planetarium surrounds audiences in a dome with an accurate image of the night sky showing all the motions and cycles of the Sun, Moon, planets, and constellations in the sky.

Library

The Joe A. Guerra Laredo Public Library at the intersection of McPherson Road and Calton Street

The Joe A. Guerra Laredo Public Library^[40] was first housed on the second floor of the City Hall, now known as the Market Hall, in 1916. In 1974, the Laredo Public Library moved to the historic Bruni Plaza in downtown Laredo. In 1993, the citizens of Laredo approved the construction of a new main library at McPherson and Calton roads, which opened on February 1, 1998. On July 22, 2016, the structure was named in honor of Joe A. Guerra, a former member of the Laredo City Council known for his support for the library and a personal passion for reading. Council member Roque Vela, who first proposed that the structure be named for Guerra, described the former councilman, who died in 2010, as "someone I looked up to for his unwavering commitment to public service. I am especially proud to know that the library and reading were passions of Mr. Guerra."^[41] The Laredo Public Library, which still uses the Dewey Decimal Classification system, has a 60,000 sq ft (6,000 m²). main library and two branches. The main library is located in central Laredo; the Bruni Plaza Branch^[42] is located downtown east of Washington Street, and the Santo Niño Branch is located in south Laredo.^[43]

Two new libraries opened in 2014, one in northwest Laredo, the Fasken Library on March 14, and another in the south sometime in July.^[44]

Market Plaza and Flores Avenue, Laredo, Texas (postcard, circa 1907)

Nightlife

The city is populated with both adult and family entertainment, such as bars, nightclubs, sports fields, movie theaters, family restaurants, and other entertainment venues.

Around the Springfield area, several restaurant/bars have set up residence. Some of these places include Agave Azul, Cosmos, Old No.2 and Lima Sol. This area has proven to be especially popular with the college crowd.

Churches and architecture

San Agustin Cathedral

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

Renovated St. Patrick's Catholic Church is located on Del Mar Boulevard across from the Laredo Fire Department.

The First United Methodist Church near the intersection of McClelland and Guadalupe; the cornerstone from the 1916 building on Hidalgo Street downtown was moved to the current location in 1949.

Most of Laredo's architecture is of Spanish Colonial, American, and Mexican flavor. Most of Laredo's Spanish Colonial style buildings are located in downtown Laredo. More modern American architecture can be seen along Interstate Highway 35 as well as in the downtown area.

Heavily Roman Catholic in church affiliation, Laredo has impressive houses of worship. The oldest congregation, now San Agustin Cathedral, on the downtown historic plaza, dates to the founding of the city in 1755. The striking building we see today was begun in 1871.^[45] Our Lady of Guadalupe is an imposing structure in Romanesque Revival Lombard (North Italian) style. It was designed by Leo M. J. Dielmann of San Antonio, a popular architect of Catholic buildings, and built for a Mexican-American and Hispanic congregation in the inner-city, at San Jorge Avenue and Callaghan St. Dielmann was commissioned by Church authorities to design churches for similar congregations in Houston and San Antonio. He also did the San Agustin parish school, and may have had a hand in the San Agustin church itself.^[46]

Other Catholic churches of note include Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King, both in the Heights neighborhood, St. John Neumann Church at Hillside Road and Springfield Avenue, San Martin de Porres at 1704 Sandman Street near the municipal water tower, and the large St. Patrick Catholic Church on Del Mar Boulevard, founded in 1970 and renovated in 2009. The Catholic diocese office, the headquarters of Bishop James Tamayo, is located on Corpus Christi Street north of Guadalupe Street. San Luis Rey Catholic Church at the intersection of Sanders and San Jose opened on September 16, 1951. Outside is a flowered prayer shrine. The congregation of the Church of the Redeemer, at the intersection of Main and Garcia streets downtown, observed its centennial on August 29, 2009. Its building is another work by Leo M.J. Dielmann.

Both the First United Methodist Church, in 1949, and the Christ Church Episcopal, were designed by Henry Steinbomer, a popular and prolific San Antonio architect who is credited with more than 100 churches and related buildings during the 1940s and 50s, from the Lower Rio Grande Valley mostly in South and West Texas, from the Sacred Heart Cathedral in San Angelo to Union Church in Monterrey, Mexico.^[47]

Other Laredo churches include Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Assembly of God, Mormon, and non-denominational congregations as well.

The homeless and other indigent are served downtown through Bethany House, established in 1982 by Roman Catholic priest Father Charles M. McNaboe (1929–1996).

National Register of Historic Places sites

• Barrio Azteca Historic District
• Fort McIntosh
• San Augustin de Laredo Historic District
• Hamilton Hotel, architects Atlee B. Ayers and Robert Ayers
• U.S. Post Office, Court House, and Custom House
• Webb County Courthouse, finished 1909 to designs in the Beaux-Arts style by renowned architect Alfred Giles

List of the tallest buildings

The former Hamilton Hotel, the tallest building in Laredo

Rank[48]	Building Name	Height	Floors	Year Built
01	Hamilton Hotel	150 ft (46 m)	12	1923
02	San Agustin Cathedral	141 ft (43 m)	N/A	1872
03	Rio Grande Plaza	–	15	1975
04	Holiday Inn Laredo	–	14	1984
05	Laredo National Bank	–	10	1926
06	Senior Citizens Home	–	8	–
07	Laredo Medical Center	–	7	1999
08	Gateway Inn	–	6	–
09	Rialto Hotel	–	6	1925
10	Walker Plaza	–	5	1995

Laredo in multimedia

Film and television

Streets of Laredo is a 1949 western film starring William Holden, Macdonald Carey and William Bendix^[49] as three outlaws who rescue a young girl, played by Mona Freeman. When they become separated, two reluctantly become Texas Rangers, while the third continues on a life of crime.

In the 1957 Christmas episode entitled "Laredo" of NBC's western series, Tales of Wells Fargo, series character Jim Hardie (Dale Robertson) must track gunrunners across the United States/Mexican border, a quest which keeps him from spending the holiday with friends in Laredo as he had intended. The episode stars Henry Rowland, Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr., Karl Swenson and Pierre Watkin.^[50]

In 1958, ABC aired the second episode, "Ambush in Laredo", of the 17-part miniseries, Texas John Slaughter starring Tom Tryon, with Robert Middleton, Chris Alcaide and Judson Pratt, broadcast as part of Walt Disney Presents.^[51]

The 1959 western film, Gunmen from Laredo, stars Robert Knapp, Walter Coy, Paul Birch, and Ron Hayes in the story of a man seeking revenge for the murder of his wife. He winds up in prison on a false murder charge, but the marshal allows him to escape to pursue the man who killed his wife.^[52]

In the episode "Cactus Lady" (February 21, 1961) of the NBC western television series, Laramie, it is revealed that series regular Jess Harper, played by Robert Fuller, had been nearly hanged by mistake in the border city of Laredo c. 1870 because of the McCanles gang, played by Arthur Hunnicutt, L. Q. Jones, Harry Dean Stanton and Anita Sands. In the storyline, the gang arrives suddenly in Laramie.^[53]

From 1965 to 1967, NBC aired an hour-long western television series entitled, Laredo, with the actors Philip Carey, William Smith, Peter Brown and Neville Brand. A spin-off of The Virginian, Laredo, with elements of comedy, focuses on Texas Rangers in the border country. It is available on DVD.^[54][55]Laredo was also broadcast on weekdays on the Encore Westerns Channel, having filled the time slot previously occupied by double episodes of the ABC/Warner Bros. series, Lawman, which also co-stars Peter Brown.^[56]

The 1983 film Eddie Macon's Run, based on a James McLendon novel, features John Schneider as Eddie Macon, who is wrongly convicted of mostly minor crimes. While performing at a prison rodeo in Huntsville, Texas, he escapes and heads for Laredo, where he hopes to join his family in Mexico. Carl "Buster" Marzack (Kirk Douglas) is a cop in hot pursuit of Eddie. Without transportation, Eddie journeys on foot. He ends up in the woods, where he is nearly killed. He meets Jilly Buck (Lee Purcell), a bored rich girl who agrees to help him.^[57]

Lone Star is a 1996 American mystery film written and directed by John Sayles and set in a small town in Texas. The ensemble cast features Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey and Elizabeth Peña and deals with a sheriff's investigation into the murder of one of his predecessors. The movie was filmed in Del Rio, Eagle Pass, and Laredo.^[58]

The 2011 series, Bordertown: Laredo, is a 10-episode documentary on the Arts and Entertainment Network based on the work of the narcotics unit of the Laredo Police Department.^[59]

Music

Laredo is a city that has been the subject of several songs in popular culture. One of the most popular songs is the "Streets of Laredo", originally known as "A Cowboy's Lament" and written by Frank H. Maynard, who lived mostly in Colorado. It has been recorded by artists such as Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Waylon Jennings, John Cale, Roy Rogers and Prefab Sprout (who also made a lyrical reference to Laredo in an early song, Cue Fanfare), and is even featured in a Charlie's Angels episode ("Pretty Angels all in a Row", Season 2, Episode 3). On October 28, 1958, in the episode "The Ghost" of the ABC/WB western series, Sugarfoot, the "The Streets of Laredo" is performed by the child actor Tommy Rettig.^[60]

Another popular song is "Laredo" by country music star Chris Cagle, who sings about Laredo having a positive influence on his significant other.

Ranked at the top of the charts in 1978 in several countries in Europe is Baccara's "The Devil Sent You to Laredo".

"Laredo" is a song from the album Infinite Arms, released by Band of Horses in 2010.

"Laredo Tornado" is a track from Electric Light Orchestra's 1974 concept album Eldorado. It uses the idea of missing the 'happy hunting grounds' of Laredo as a metaphor for the protagonist's loss of his dream-world.

Joe Ely has a song and album entitled "Letter to Laredo".

Sports

Laredo Heat

The Laredo Heat is a United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League team. The team's home stadium is the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex. The team was founded in 2004. It plays in the Mid-South Division of the Southern Conference In the 2006 season the Laredo Heat finished Runner-up yet made it only to the first round of the Open Cup. In the 2007 season, the Laredo Heat were the Southern Conference champions. And in 2007 Laredo Heat won its first PDL Championship. The Heat are on hiatus for the 2016 season.

Laredo Swarm

Laredo Swarm is also a professional basketball team in Laredo. They are in the ABA which was a league founded in 2002. They started playing in 2015 and they play in Laredo Energy Arena.

Laredo Honey Badgers

The Laredo Honey Badgers, is professional indoor soccer team to be based in Laredo, Texas. Founded in April 2013, the team is expected to make its debut in the Professional Arena Soccer League with the 2013–14 season. The team will play its home games at the Laredo Energy Arena.^[61][62] The official name and colors (black and chrome) of the team were decided with fan participation.^[63]

Laredo Lemurs

The Laredo Lemurs, a professional baseball team based in Laredo, played their first season in the independent American Association in 2012. They won the South Division in their inaugural season, but were eliminated in the first playoff round. They play their home games at Uni-Trade Stadium.

Laredo Roses

The Laredo Roses are a professional women's full contact football team in the South Texas Sugar N Spice Football League^[64] that began play in the 2012 season. The Roses play their home games at the Uni-Trade Stadium. The female players use short shorts and halfcut jerseys during games.^[65]

Club	Sport	League	Venue	Established	Championships
Laredo Heat	Soccer	USL PDL	TAMIU Soccer Complex	2004	1 (2006)
Laredo Honey Badgers	Indoor Soccer	Professional Arena Soccer League	Laredo Energy Arena	2013
Laredo Lemurs	Baseball	AAIPB	Uni-Trade Stadium	2011
Laredo Roses	Women's Football	SNSFL	Uni-Trade Stadium	2012

Defunct teams

Club	Sport	League	Venue	Championships	Years Active
Laredo Apaches	Baseball	TLL	Veterans Field	0	1995
Laredo Broncos	Baseball	ULB	Veterans Field	0	2006–10
Laredo Bucks	Ice hockey	CHL	Laredo Energy Arena	2	2002–12
Laredo Law	Arena football	AF2	Laredo Energy Arena	0	2003–04
Laredo Lobos	Arena football	AF2	Laredo Energy Arena	0	2005–07
Laredo Rattlesnakes	Arena football	LSFL	Laredo Energy Arena	0	2011–13
Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos	Baseball	MBL	Veterans Field	5	1985–2004
Toros de Los Dos Laredos	Basketball	LNBP	Laredo Energy Arena	2	2007–13

Stadiums and arenas

Laredo Energy Arena

Laredo Energy Arena, formerly the Laredo Entertainment Center

The Laredo Energy Arena, formerly Laredo Entertainment Center, is located at Loop 20 and Jacaman Road. The LEA was strongly pushed to fruition by former Laredo Mayor Betty Flores. LEA was home to the former Laredo Bucks. The 178,000-square-foot (16,500 m²), $36.5 million facility seats 8,002 people for ice hockey and arena football, and up to 10,000 for concerts. It has fourteen luxury suites, four meeting rooms and a private club for two hundred charter members. It was completed in mid-2002 through an increase in the Laredo sales tax of .25 percent. Sports that can be played at the LEA include Hockey, Arena Football, Indoor Soccer, Basketball, Wrestling, and Boxing. The arena also hosts many events such as The Laredo Hunting and Fishing Show, Miss Texas USA, Laredo Home and Garden Show, and high school graduation ceremonies. Well-known artists and bands that have performed in the arena include Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Kesha, Pitbull, Flo Rida, Shakira, Enrique Iglesias, Tool, Aerosmith, Kiss, Elton John, Styx, REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ricky Martin, George Lopez, T.I., Ludacris, Cher, Hilary Duff Monster Jam and WWE.

Uni-Trade Stadium

The Uni-Trade Stadium is Laredo's newest baseball field. The stadium is located near the Laredo Energy Arena. The project was first approved by the city council and was voted in favor of (with 61.32% of the votes in favor 38.68% against) constructing it with money collected since 2004 by a .25 percent sales tax increase. There is a surplus of about $15 million.^[66] The stadium will be home to the Laredo Lemurs.

Student Activity Complex

Entrance to the Student Activity Complex

Student Activity Complex is located on State Highway 359. It is utilized for United Independent School District's students. It was opened in the summer of 2002 and it contains the city's first artificial grass stadium. The SAC was also the home of the Laredo Heat. The capacity is 8,500 spectators. Sports played at the SAC include football, soccer, and baseball.

Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex

Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex (also known as Dustdevil Field and TAMIU Soccer Complex) was built in 2006 and renovated in 2007. The soccer complex is located at the Texas A&M International University campus. The complex has two soccer stadiums with a seating capacity of four thousand each. The Dustdevil Field is the new home stadium to the 2007 champion team Laredo Heat member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League (PDL) and the TAMIU Dustdevils women and men's soccer teams member of the Heartland Conference, NCAA Division II.^[67]

Shirley Field

The original Shirley Field was located next to the Civic Center and R&T Martin High School on San Bernardo Avenue. It was built in 1937, along with Martin High School. Shirley Field was the location for outdoor athletics for Laredo Independent School District and also hosts the annual Border Olympics events. It seats up to about 6,000 fans with additional seating at the 2 endzones. Professional Mexican soccer teams have played various exhibition games here, noting that the real grass allows for "better" soccer games. The various sports played on the stadium are football, soccer and track & field events. Major renovations are slated for this historic stadium. On November 2009 Shirley Field was demolished and was rebuilt by the 2011 football season. The total cost of the reconstruction was $12,000,000 and it now seats 8,000 fans and features artificial turf.^[68]

Krueger Field

Krueger Field is located in north Laredo and is owned by United Independent School District. The stadium has a capacity of 5,000 and is used to play football and soccer high school games. It is home to United High School's and John B. Alexander High School's football and soccer teams.

Veterans Field

Veterans Field is a baseball park which was previously known as West Martin Field. Its capacity is about 5,000. Major renovation is happening to update the 1950 ball park. Veterans Field was also the home to the five-time champion Mexican Baseball League team Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos from 1985 to 2003. Veterans Field is also home to the Texas A&M International University's Heartland Conference NCAA Division II Dustdevils baseball team.

Laredo Civic Center

Prior to the construction of the Laredo Energy Arena most major concerts and shows were performed at the Laredo Civic Center. The Laredo Civic Center complex has an auditorium with 1,979 seats and a banquet and exhibit hall with 1,635 seats.^[69]

Recreational

Lake Casa Blanca

Lake Casa Blanca International State Park,^[70] located on Loop 20, contains a 1,680-acre (7 km²) artificial lake along with cooking out, camping, picnicking, lake swimming, skiing, boating, and mountain biking. The most popular recreational use of the lake is fishing. A boat ramp and fishing pier is available on the eastern side of the lake. The lake is a popular destination for winter Texans. The park was operated by the City of Laredo and Webb County before it was acquired by the state in 1990 and opened in March 1991.

Golf

Laredo has three 18-hole golf courses: the Laredo Country Club,^[71] the Casa Blanca Golf Course.^[72] and Laredo's newset course Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course.^[73] The Laredo Country Club is an 18-hole private course that features 7,125 yards (6,515 m) of golf. The golf course has a rating of 74.6, a slope rating of 133, and has a par of 72. The country club was designed by Joseph S. Finger and was opened in 1983.^[74] The Casa Blanca Golf Course is an 18-hole course that features 6,590 yards (6,030 m) of golf. The golf course has a rating of 72.5, a slope rating of 125, and has a par of 72. The golf course was designed by Leon Howard and was opened in 1967.^[75] The Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course is an 18-hole course that features 7,200 yards (6,600 m) of golf. The golf course has a par of 72. The golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects and was opened in 2012.

Parks, recreational centers, plazas, and baseball fields

The City of Laredo owns eight recreational centers, thirty-four developed parks, twenty-two undeveloped parks or under construction, five baseball fields, and four plazas. The parks total area is 618 acres (2.50 km²).^[76]

David B. Barkley Plaza

David B. Barkley Plaza flag

A memorial honoring the forty-one Hispanic soldiers who have received the Medal of Honor was built in Laredo, Texas in 2002. The plaza was named after the only Laredo Medal of Honor recipient David B. Barkley. The David B. Barkley Plaza has a bronze statue of David B. Barkley and an American flag measuring 100 ft by 50 ft and is 308 ft tall making it the tallest flagpole in the United States.^[77][78] The memorial is located at 27°30′22″N 99°30′8″W / 27.50611°N 99.50222°W.^[79]

City of Laredo Shiloh Trail

Relatively new to Laredoans, this mountain bike trail is approximately 4 miles of single-track dirt trails, widening occasionally to double-track. Some technical parts make this trail challenging, but not impossible for beginners who can briefly walk their bikes before getting on their way again. Thorned shrubs and cacti encompass bikers, so be careful! The trail is well-marked and improvements continue to be seen as the months go by. The trail is located off Shiloh Road at the end of Livingston Road.

Government

Political affiliation

Laredo and Webb County are overwhelmingly Democratic in political complexion, but voter turnout is often below average, rarely even half of the number of registered voters. Even in weak Democratic years, Webb County voters remain party loyalists. Republicans rarely even offer candidates for county offices. Webb County Republican chairman Randy S. Blair of Laredo said that his party attracts its voters from competitive races for state and national office: "It takes more people coming out to vote to give the candidates an opportunity here. ... [Texas] is still a red state, and I think we'll hold a lot of offices statewide and bounce back in the next election."^[80]

More than fifty Democratic candidates from Webb County contested county, state, and national office in the primary election held on March 4, 2014. No Webb County Republicans filed for office,^[80] but Republican primary contests are competitive within Webb County for such races as governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator, and agriculture commissioner.

Donald Trump visit

On July 23, 2015, the occasion of Donald Trump's Republican presidential campaign visit to Laredo, city officials, led by Mayor Pete Saenz, heartily welcomed the New York City business tycoon to their heavily Democrat city.^[81] In his three-hour stopover, Trump, who wore a white sports cap to shield himself from the South Texas sun, had been scheduled to meet with representatives of the United States Border Patrol, but the BP union nixed those plans at the last minute.^[82]

Some three weeks after the visit, which received considerable national attention, many Laredo Democrats were still livid over the welcome afforded to the Republican candidate though there were no endorsements of Trump's candidacy by any of those officials. U.S. Representative Joaquín Castro of Texas's 20th congressional district, based in San Antonio, scolded the Laredo officials for "rolling out the red carpet" for Trump, whom Castro charged made "hateful comments to Mexican immigrants."^[83] The city officials issued a press release in their defense:

City of Laredo officials saw an opportunity to meet with Trump to give him a true perspective of not only the border, but the vital role that the City of Laredo plays in all issues related to border trade and security and why those issues are important to the rest of the country. ... Donald Trump has the national spotlight and the bully pulpit, and frankly everyone is listening to what he is saying. While I [Mayor Saenz], along with many here in Laredo, disagreed very much with his positions and comments, especially his characterization of Mexican immigrants and our relationship with Mexico, this wan an opportunity to engage him in meaningful dialogue that could hopefully affect his rhetoric. I believe we accomplished that."^[83]

In a letter to the Laredo Morning Times, Carlos Valle, Jr., a retired history instructor at Laredo Community College, of which Saenz was once president of the board of trustees, criticized the mayor's welcoming of Trump. Valle said that Saenz was used "in a political ploy" by Trump, whom Valle assailed as

his Lordship ... a bigoted windbag ... Trump may be a billionaire, but he is not a leader. He is a boss who ordered people around and shuts interviewers up when the questioning gets uncomfortable. ... He appeals to frustrated Republicans and Democrats In Name Only. It was all show, and he cares nothing about Laredo. ... Laredo's elected officials who greeted Trump reminded me of the Charro! movie scenes where a peon comes into the Hacendado's home, hat in hand and bowing his heads, hoping to receive some favor or crumbs from the rich man. ...^[84]

On July 30, 2015, Trump called for the deportation of all of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Clint Bolick, a lawyer with the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, and the co-author of Immigration Wars: Forging an American Solution with former Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, one of Trump's opponents for the presidential nomination, called Trump's idea "impractical and opposed by a large majority of Americans."^[85] In an interview on Cable News Network, Trump said the "good ones" could return through a proposed "expedited" process.^[85]

Republican county chairman Randy Blair disputes those who object to Trump's visit to Laredo. In a letter to the Laredo Morning Times, Blair said:

...Trump's greatest attribute to this presidential race is that he is getting people to talk about issues that many would rather sidestep and not address at all. ...The Border Patrol union invited Mr. Trump to Laredo to educate him on border security and how they were not being allowed to perform their job. At the very last minute they were forced to rescind their invitation, and the city had to step up and handle the visit by themselves. Our Mayor Saenz and City Manager Olivares handled the logistics of the situation in an exemplary fashion and should be commended for it.
Laredo is incorrectly labeled by the rest of the country as being lawless, dangerous, and at "the end of the world." Our history of not welcoming those of opposing opinions or political parties has caused us to lose an airbase and many other opportunities. We seem to prefer to stay isolated from the rest of the world and then blame everyone else when we feel we don't receive our fair share. The mayor and city manager took this as an opportunity to open the eyes of the nation to the real Laredo. While in the spotlight, it was made clear that Laredo is not a sanctuary city but a city of passion for people of all walks of life. The nation was shown a Laredo that is the hub of the country's international trade.... Now Trump is speaking of not putting up a wall between the U.S. and Mexico from coast to coast but instead only in select areas, such as Laredo Community College, which would be better protected by a wall....

Laredo should take this opportunity to go out of its way and invite all candidates from all parties to see the real Laredo and learn the truth about border security, immigration, and international trade...^[86]

Jesse Castañeda, listed as a disabled veteran of the United States Marine Corps, in another "Letter to the Editor", criticized Trump and the city officials who greeted him: "We veterans stand together for our captured veterans; they are heroes."^[87] In the same edition, Erna Pelto questioned the absence of outrage when Hillary Clinton came to Laredo in 2008 or the visit to Laredo Community College by Wendy Davis in 2014. "It is time that we grow up and remember that few areas of the country are as one-party as Laredo and Webb County. Trump came to the belly of the beast, and the beast has had a hard time digesting his visit. ... The critics of his visit want the old-time Laredo of the patrons and no publicity or outsiders."^[88]

Mario G. Ortiz proposed the recall of Mayor Pete Saenz, who with council members Alex Perez and Juan Narvaez had been, according to Ortiz, "made fools of" by Trump. Ortiz blasted Trump as a "racist, anti-Hispanic individual."^[89]

Trump won Webb County in the March 1, 2016, primary election with 1,427 votes (34.9 percent) to 1,163 (28.4 percent) for the runner-up, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz finished third in Webb County with 1,155 (28.2 percent) but carried the statewide primary vote with 43.75 percent.^[90] By contrast, Hillary Clinton won 18,559 votes (71.9 percent) in Webb County in the higher-turnout Democratic primary.^[91]

Political corruption

A wave of public corruption swept through Laredo and Webb County in 2014, as six officials were arrested in a seven-month period for an assortment of charges. Webb County Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Montemayor was indicted in March for bribery; he pleaded guilty in June to the charge and awaits sentencing. In May, Rio Bravo Mayor Manuel Vela was charged with gambling and money laundering by the Webb County Sheriff's Office. On August 1, Laredo City Council member Jorge Vera was indicted after being arrested by Laredo police on cocaine possession and filing a false police report.

In September 2014, Precinct 2, Place 2 Justice of the Peace Ricardo Rangel pleaded guilty on an extortion charge, was suspended without pay by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and finally resigned the position in humiliation. He was sentenced in August 2015 to thirty-seven months in prison and fined $5,000. Juan Enrique Rodriguez, the bail bondsman who offered the bribe, received thirteen months and a $15,000 fine.^[92]

In October, Laredo Independent School District trustee Johnny Amaya was indicted for having tampered with government records and engaging in organized crime in connection with his previous position as the Webb County water utilities manager. On October 12, city council member Alex Perez was arrested by Laredo police on a theft charge for having allegedly stolen a political advertising sign of his opponent in the November 4 municipal election.^[93]

Historian Jerry D. Thompson, based at Texas A&M International University, interviewed by the Laredo Morning Times in October 2014, called the wave of corrupt practices:

so petty you wonder why it happens. It's just chronic, and it's going to take some vigilance by the state and federal authorities to stop it. The political machine that ran Laredo for years is still alive ... Corruption is a way of life in Webb County government. I think the problem is the cream of the crop is not rising to the surface any more. It's partly the electorate's fault. We need to elect the right people. ... Corruption seems to happen more often than not in areas of great poverty. Those who do not have great wealth seem to be at the center of several corruption scandals.^[93]

Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson, author of Texas Politics: Governing the Lone Star State, blamed the influence of Mexico in regard to the spillover of corrupt practices into Laredo. Like Thompson, Jillson called the 2014 corruption "small time". Unlike Thompson, Jillson believes that the corruption is not particularly related to poverty on the border. Corruption, he notes, also occurs in affluent areas, such as Dallas County. "What we've seen in Webb County is not distinctive, and you can find it no matter where you go in Texas. It's one of the biggest problems facing our state", Jillson concluded.^[93]

Corruption is not confined to elected officeholders. On July 2, 2015, Jesus Javier Garcia, Jr., accepted a plea bargain in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas in which he admitted to have collected through the U.S. Customs and Border Protection more than $40,000 in pay for work that he did not perform. He manually manipulated his work schedule to procure illegally compensation for days not worked and overtime hours as well.^[94]

Municipal government

Administrative headquarters of the Laredo Fire Department are located on Del Mar Boulevard across from St. Patrick'ss Catholic Church.

The Laredo city government is a strong city council – weak mayor system. The mayor presides over the eight-member city council, but he/she may only vote to break a tie. City Council elections are based on single-member districts and campaigns have no party affiliations. Municipal elections are now held in November (formerly in May) of even-numbered years. The municipal government is administered by the city manager hired by the city council. All city elected offices have a four-year term and are nonpartisan though most officials have a Democratic party preference or affiliation.

City council meetings are held on Mondays and can be viewed on the Public-access television cable TV channel or live online at Public Access Channel live stream.

The current mayor, Pete Saenz, was elected in 2014 to succeed his fellow Democrat, the term-limited Raul G. Salinas. In his bid for a second term, Salinas had in 2010 defeated then city council members Jose A. Valdez, Jr., and Gene Belmares.^[95] Salinas also failed in a bid to unseat Webb County treasurer Delia Perales in the Democratic runoff election held on May 27, 2014.

The city manager, Jesus R. "Chuy" Olivares (born c. 1959), appointed by the eight-member city council in 2015, replaced the retiring Carlos Villarreal. Olivares is paid just over $249,000 annually, which includes a car and telephone allowance. He is a former city manager of Eagle Pass in Maverick County.^[96]

City council members receive a monthly gross salary of $1,000 plus $750 monthly for maintaining a home office, $150 per month for a city cell phone, and $750 monthly for fuel expenses. The annual total compensation is hence $31,800.^[97] However, total annual compensation will increase to $50,000. The mayor currently receives about $61,200; that will rise to $75,000 a year beginning with the 2018 election. Since council terms are staggered, those increases begin with each forthcoming election cycle.^[98]

On August 1, 2014, then city councilman Jorge A. Vera was arrested on a felony drug possession charge. He was accused of having earlier in the week offered cocaine to an off-duty agent of the United States Border Patrol and her friends outside a Laredo restaurant. First elected to the council in 2012, Vera faced a state jail felony (possession of a controlled substance) and a Class B misdemeanor (filing a false report).^[99] Vera was subsequently indicted on both charges by a grand jury of the Texas 406th Judicial District Court. His arraignment was in the 49th District Court. Because Vera did not resign from the city council, a recall election was held on November 4, 2014.^[100] By a wide margin, voters in District VII supported Vera's recall. Attorney George Altgelt won the special election to succeed Vera.

On April 30, 2015, the City of Laredo officially banned complimentary plastic bags for the use of customers in retail establishments. Some seven weeks later, the city produced evidence that the "beneficial measure is helping beautify the city". Photographs released by the municipal environmental services department showed several areas nearly free of litter, whereas there had been large amounts of debris in those locations prior to implementation of the ban. Though many residents had opposed the ban, the city predict that the law will be supported once the decline in litter becomes apparent.^[101] On June 29, 2015, Judge Beckie Palomo of the Texas 341st District Court rejected a suit against the ban on plastic bags filed by the Laredo Merchants Association. The city can now enforce the ordinance.^[102]

The U.S. District Courthouse in Laredo is adjacent to the Webb County Courthouse.

State and federal representation

The United States District Courthouse is a relatively new building adjacent to the Webb County Courthouse.

The United States Border Patrol Laredo Sector Headquarters is at 207 W. Del Mar Blvd, Laredo, Texas.

The United States Postal Service operates its main Post Office at 2700 East Saunders Street south of Laredo International Airport.^[103] Postal branches are located downtown and at 2395 East Del Mar Boulevard.^[104][105]

The Texas Army National Guard armory is located at 6001 E. Bob Bullock Loop 20 Laredo, Texas.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the Laredo Parole Office.^[106]

The private prison operator GEO Group runs the Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo, which opened in 2008 and holds a maximum of 1900 federal detainees.^[107]

In March 2014, it was reported that Laredo and Webb County have a child abuse rate at nearly double the state average. In 2012–2013, 515 child clients were served by the Children's Advocacy Center in Laredo, 105 for physical abuse and 360 for sexual abuse. Statewide, 9.3 percent of children have been victims of physical abuse, but in Laredo the rate is 17 to 21 percent. A special investigator for Child Protective Services said that he now sees two to three cases per day of such inflictions.^[108]

Education

Elementary and secondary

Newman Elementary School at 1300 Alta Vista Blvd., is named for the late businessman B. P. Newman and his widow, Peggy.

Laredo is served by two school districts, the Laredo Independent School District and the United Independent School District, as well as eight private schools.

The Laredo Independent School District^[109] (LISD) serves the areas in central Laredo. The LISD high schools are Cigarroa High School, Martin High School, J. W. Nixon High School and the Laredo Early College High School. LISD also contains three magnet schools: Dr. Dennis D. Cantu Health Science Magnet School, LISD Magnet for Engineering and Technology Education, and Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts.

The United Independent School District^[110] serves the rest of Laredo and northern Webb County. The UISD high schools are John B. Alexander High School, Lyndon B. Johnson High School, United High School, and United South High School. UISD has three magnet schools: John B. Alexander Health Science Magnet, United Engineering Magnet, and the United South Business Magnet. There are thirty-nine schools within UISD and more are under construction and/or in the development stage. United ISD is one of the fastest growing districts in the state, serving almost forty thousand students and covering an area the physical size of Rhode Island.

Former downtown campus of St. Augustine Parochial School

The city is also served by several private schools:

• Saint Augustine High School, Catholic school, 9th-12th^[111]
• Laredo Christian Academy, Assemblies of God, Grades PK–12th
• United Day School, nonpartisan, PK-8th
• Mary Help of Christians School, Catholic school, PK-8th
• Blessed Sacrament School, Catholic school, PK-7th
• Our Lady of Guadalupe School, Catholic school, PK-6th
• St. Peter Memorial School, Catholic school, PK-6th
• Saint Augustine School, Catholic school, now elementary and middle, PK-8th, established 1928, enrollment 485 (2008)

The city also has several charter schools, including:

• Gateway Academy K-12

Colleges and universities

Laredo is home to Laredo Community College^[112] and Texas A&M International University^[113] (TAMIU). The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio^[114] has a campus in Laredo.

The Laredo Community College is a two-campus institution which offers two-year Associate's degrees. The main campus is located at the western end of downtown Laredo near the Rio Grande, on the site of the former Fort McIntosh. This fort played a major role in the development of Laredo, as it served to protect the community from Indian raids in its early history. Several of the old buildings at the fort were converted into classrooms, but after renovation programs nearly all of the campus structures are now modern. The smaller, newer second campus, Laredo Community College South Campus, is located in south Laredo along U. S. Route 83.

Texas A&M International University Library

The Texas A&M International University is a 4/6 year university that offers bachelor's and master's degrees. On April 22, 2004,^[115] the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in Austin, Texas provided its approval for Texas A&M International University to grant its first Ph.D. in International Business Administration.^[116][117] TAMIU's College of Business Administration has been named an outstanding business school in The Princeton Review's "Best 282 Business Schools", 2007 Edition, and ranked third in the nation for the category: "Greatest Opportunity for Minority Students."^[118] The university's campus is located in Northeast Laredo along Loop 20. The university was once an extension of Texas A&I-Kingsville and later the former Laredo State University. Prior to its current location along Bob Bullock Loop 20, the university was housed with the Laredo Community College downtown campus.

The University of Texas Health Science Center campus is located in East Laredo near U.S. Highway 59 and the Laredo Medical Center. The campus is an extension university from UTHSC in San Antonio, Texas. The university offers doctoral degrees in the medical and dental fields.

Media

Newspapers

Name	Frequency	Language	City	Website
Laredo Morning Times	Daily	English	Laredo	lmtonline.com
LareDOS (Defunct, 2014[119])	Monthly	English	Laredo	laredosnews.com
El Mañana / Laredo Sun	Daily	Spanish / English	Nuevo Laredo/Laredo	elmanana.com.mx / laredosun.us
El Lider Informativo	Daily	Spanish	Nuevo Laredo	elquiosco.mx
El Diario de Nuevo Laredo	Daily	Spanish	Nuevo Laredo	diario.net
Primera Hora	Daily	Spanish	Nuevo Laredo	primerahora.com
Última Hora	Daily	Spanish	Nuevo Laredo	ultimahora.com

Television

According to Nielsen Media Research, the Laredo region (which includes Webb and Zapata counties) is ranked 185th market by population size in the United States.^[120] The first station to broadcast in Laredo was KGNS in 1956, followed by KVTV in 1973, then KJTB (now KLDO) in 1985.

Notably television networks missing from Laredo's airwaves are PBS and The CW. Laredo once had a full-power local The CW affiliate, KGNS-DT2, but on July 3, 2014 the affiliation switched to ABC. Prior to that KJTB channel 27, from January 1985 to October 1988 was Laredo's ABC affiliate. KJTB was later bought by Entravision and affiliated the station to Telemundo and changed its callsign to KLDO. Today KLDO is affiliated to Univision. Before KJTB, KGNS, an NBC affiliate had a secondary affiliation to ABC from its founding in 1956 through KJTB's founding in 1985. On November 6, 2013, KGNS reached an agreement to add the ABC affiliation. The ABC affiliate was to have been launched in February 2014 on KGNS's subchannel 8.2. But it was not until July 2014 when KGNS dropped The CW programming and added ABC programming.^[121]

In December 2014, all Nuevo Laredo stations must turn off analog television broadcasting and broadcast only digitally.^[122]

CH	VC	DT	DTV	Dish	TWC	Callsign	Network	Resolution	City of License	Official Website	Notes
2	2.1	17.1	•	•	99	XEFE	Televisa local	480i	Nuevo Laredo	•	Last station to broadcast in digital
•	8.1	8.1	8	8	10	KGNS	NBC	HD 1080i	Laredo	pro8news.com	•
•	8.2	8.2	•	15	9	KGNS-DT2	ABC	HD 720p	Laredo	kgns.tv	•
•	8.3	8.3	•	16	25	KGNS-DT3	Telemundo	SD 480i	Laredo	telemundo.com	•
•	•	•	•	•	11	KLRN	PBS	Analog	San Antonio	klrn.org	•
•	10.1^CP	10.1^CP	•	•	•	K10QK-D^CP	CarismaTV	SD 480i	Laredo	feypoder.com	Construction permit expires 7/2014
11	11.1	25.1	•	•	14	XHBR	Canal de las Estrellas	HD 1080i	Nuevo Laredo	televisa.com	•
•	13.20	51.2	•	•	•	XHLAT-TDT2	Dark	SD 480i	Nuevo Laredo	•	ID: FVDld
•	14.3	14.3	•	•	•	KYLX-LP	Testing	HD 1080i	Laredo	•	•
•	15.1	15.1	•	•	•	KLMV	BVB	SD 480i	Laredo	buenav.net	•
•	15.2	15.2	•	•	•	KLMV-LD2	Infomercials	SD 480i	Laredo	•	•
•	15.3	15.3	•	•	•	KLMV-LD3	Vida Vision	SD 480i	Laredo	buenav.net	•
•	15.4	15.4	•	•	•	KLMV-LD4	Televida Laredo	SD 480i	Laredo	buenav.net	•
•	19.3	19.3	•	•	•	KLDO-DT3	Dark	SD 480i	Laredo	•	•
21	21.1	50.1	•	•	98	XHLNA	Azteca 13	HD 1080i	Nuevo Laredo	tvazteca.com	•
•	21.2	50.2	•	•	•	XHLNA-TDT2	Proyecto 40	HD 1080i	Nuevo Laredo	proyecto40.com	•
•	27.1	19.1	27	27	78.1	KLDO	Univision	HD 1080i	Laredo	kldotv.com	•
•	27.2	19.2	•	•	•	KLDO-DT2	LATV	SD 480i	Laredo	latv.com	•
•	31.1	31.1	•	•	77	KETF	UniMás	SD 480i	Laredo	ketftv.com	•
•	31.2	31.2	39	39	2.2	KETF-CD2	Fox / MyNet	HD 720p	Laredo	myfoxlaredo.com	•
33	33.1	51.1	•	•	•	XHLAT	Azteca 7	HD 1080i	Nuevo Laredo	tvazteca.com	•
•	39.1	27.3	39	39	2.2	KXOF	Fox	HD 720p	Laredo	mylaredofox.com	•
•	39.2	27.4	•	•	•	KXOF-CD2	MundoMax	SD 480i	Laredo	mundofox.com	•
•	40.1^CP	40.1^CP	•	•	•	K40NU-D	Maranatha Church TV	SD 480i	Laredo	•	Construction permit expires 10/2016
45	45.1	32.1	•	•	15	XHNAT	Multimedios Plus	SD 480i	Nuevo Laredo	multimedios.tv	•
•	45.2	32.2	•	•	•	XHNAT-TDT2	Milenio TV	HD 1080i	Nuevo Laredo	milenio.tv	•
•	45.3	32.3	•	•	•	XHNAT-TDT3	Teleritmo	SD 480i	Nuevo Laredo	multimedios.tv	•
57	57.1	38.1	•	•	•	XHLAR	Televisa Regional	HD 1080i	Nuevo Laredo	televisa.com	•

^CP: Construction Permit

Radio

According to Arbitron, the Laredo region (which includes Jim Hogg, Webb, and Zapata counties) is ranked 191st market by population size.^[123]

AM radio

Frequency	Callsign	Brand	City of License	Website	Webcast
530	WPMQ285	TxDOT HAR	Laredo	•	•
790	XEFE	La Mera Ley	Nuevo Laredo	•	listen live
890	KVOZ	Radio Cristiana	Laredo	lanuevaradiocristiana.com	•
960	XEK	La Grande	Nuevo Laredo	xek.com	listen live
1000	XENLT	Radio Formula	Nuevo Laredo	radioformula.com	listen live
1090	XEWL	La Romantica	Nuevo Laredo	radiorama.com	listen live
1300	KLAR	Radio Poder	Laredo	feypoder.com	listen live
1340	XEBK	Mega 95.7	Nuevo Laredo	radiorama.com	listen live
1370	XEGNK	Radio Mexicana	Nuevo Laredo	radiorama.com	listen live
1410	XEAS	Ke Buena	Nuevo Laredo	kebuena.com	listen live
1490	KLNT	Super Tejano	Laredo	klnt1490.com	listen live
1550	XENU	La Rancherita	Nuevo Laredo	radiorama.com	listen live
1610	WQA200	CBP Information	Laredo	•	•

Long range AM stations

The following Clear Channel AM stations can be heard in Laredo:

Frequency	Callsign	Brand	City of License	Website	Webcast
680	KKYX	Country Legends 680	San Antonio	kkyx.com	listen live
720	KSAH	Norteño 720	San Antonio	•	•
740	KTRH	Newsradio 740 KTRH	Houston	ktrh.com	listen live
760	KTKR	Ticket 760 AM	San Antonio	ticket760.com	listen live
990	XET	La T Grande	Monterrey	•	listen live
1030	KCTA	KCTA 1030 AM	Corpus Christi	kctaradio.com	listen live
1050	XEG	Ranchera de Monterrey	Monterrey	rancherademonterrey.com	listen live
1140	XEMR	MR Deportes	Monterrey	•	•
1200	WOAI	News Radio 1200	San Antonio	radio.woai.com	listen live
1210	KUBR	Radio Cristiana	San Juan	•	listen live
1530	KGBT	La Tremenda 1530	Harlingen	latremenda1530.com	•

FM radio

Frequency	Callsign	Brand	Format	City of License	Website	Webcast
88.1	KHOY	Catholic Radio	Religious	Laredo	khoy.org	listen live
88.9	XHLDO	Radio Tamaulipas	Public Radio	Nuevo Laredo	tamaulipas.gob	listen live
89.9	KBNL	Radio Manantial	Spanish religious	Laredo	kbnl.com	listen live
91.3	XHNOE	Stereo 91	Spanish Contemporary	Nuevo Laredo	xhnoe.com	listen live
92.7	KJBZ	Z93	Tejano	Laredo	z93laredo.com	listen live
93.7	"XHNLT"^PR	Radio Estereo Uncion FM	Christian Radio	Nuevo Laredo	uncionfeypoder.com	listen live
94.1	XHTLN	Imagen / RMX Laredo	Talk / Contemporary	Nuevo Laredo	rmx.com.mx	listen live
94.9	KQUR	Digital 94.9	Spanish Pop	Laredo	digital949.com	listen live
95.3	XHLPZ	La Traviesa	Spanish Regional	Lampazos	•	•
95.7	XHBK	Mega 95.7	Spanish Contemporary	Nuevo Laredo	radioavanzado.com	listen live
96.5	"XHTWO"^PR	Radio Two	Norteño	Nuevo Laredo	•	listen live
97.1	XHNLO	La Caliente	Norteño	Nuevo Laredo	mmradio.com	listen live
98.1	KRRG	Big Buck Country	Country	Laredo	bigbuck98.com	listen live
99.3	XHNK	40 Principales	Top 40	Nuevo Laredo	radiorama.com	listen live
100.5	KBDR	La Ley	Tejano	Laredo	laley1005.com	listen live
101.5	XHAS	Ke Buena	Norteño	Nuevo Laredo	kebuena.com	listen live
102.3	XHMW	Stereo Vida	AC/Oldies	Nuevo Laredo	radiorama.com	listen live
102.9	none^PR	La Guerrera de la Frontera	International	Nuevo Laredo	laguerrera.mx	listen live
103.3	none^PR	XRock	Classic rock	Nuevo Laredo	•	listen live
104.5	none^PR	2 Beat	Electronica	Nuevo Laredo	•	•
104.9	XHNLR	Radio UAT	University Radio	Nuevo Laredo	uat.mx	listen live
105.1	none^PR	RN Radio	Spanish	Nuevo Laredo	rn105.com	listen live
105.5	none^PR	Mas Musica	Spanish	Nuevo Laredo	•	•
106.1	KNEX	Hot 106.1	Urban / Rhythmic Top 40	Laredo	hot1061.com	listen live
106.5	none^PR	Radio Voz	Norteño	Nuevo Laredo	radiovoz1065.net	listen live
107.3	XHGTS	107.3 Me Gusta	Spanish Pop	Nuevo Laredo	xhgts.com	listen live
162.55	WXK26	NOAA Weather Radio	Weather	Laredo	noaa.gov	•

^PR:Suspected pirate radio stations since they are not licensed with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States or COFETEL in Mexico.^[124][125] Some pirate stations are suspected, due to the fact that other licensed stations nearby share the same frequency, such as 106.5 Radio Voz and KMAE from nearby Bruni, Texas and 103.3 Radio 33 and XHAHU-FM from nearby Anáhuac, Nuevo León, each city less than 50 miles from Laredo.

Internet Radio

Name	Format	Website	Webcast
Power Hits HD	Classic rock	powerhitshd.net	listen live

Infrastructure

Health care

Laredo Medical Center, formerly Mercy Hospital, is the largest hospital in Laredo.

Doctor's Hospital in Laredo

Laredo Specialty Hospital, near the Laredo Medical Center, handles certain patients requiring long-term care.

In addition to the University of Texas Health Science Center branch, there are five other principal medical centers in Laredo: the Laredo Medical Center, Doctor's Hospital, Gateway Community Health Center, Providence Surgical & Medical Center, and the Laredo Specialty Hospital.

Doctors Hospital^[126] is the second-largest medical center in Laredo. The hospital complex is over 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²), with 180 licensed beds on a 58-acre (230,000 m²) campus. Affiliated with Universal Health Services, it is located on Loop 20 in north Laredo. The Doctors Regional Cancer Treatment Center offers comprehensive cancer services.

The Providence Surgical & Medical Center^[127] is an ambulatory health care center located in north-central Laredo and also owned by Universal Health Services.

The Gateway Community Health Center^[128] is the third-largest medical center in Laredo. The health center's main building is 64,000 square feet (5,900 m²). The Medical center moved to its new $11,000,000 building in 2006. The main Gateway Community Health Center is located in East Laredo, close to U.S. Highway 59. It also has three branches in the Laredo area: the South Clinic, El Cenizo Community Center, and Quad City Community Center.

Gateway Community Health Center services include:

The Laredo Specialty Hospital^[129] is the fourth-largest medical center in Laredo. It is owned by Ernest Health Inc. and was founded by Elmo Lopez, Jr., on May 22, 2006, and admitted its first patient within hours of operation. The grand opening was held in March 2007.

Transportation

Air

Laredo International Airport

Map of the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Metropolitan Area

Tex-Mex Railway International Bridge view from Laredo

Laredo is served by the Laredo International Airport. Daily flights are available to Houston (George Bush Intercontinental Airport) and to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Tri-weekly flights to Las Vegas, Nevada are available. After Laredo Air Force Base closed in the mid-1970s, the federal government handed over the old air force base and property to the City of Laredo for a new municipal airport. From the mid-1970s until the mid-1990s, the airport utilized a small terminal for passenger airline service and several old hangars for air cargo and private aircraft. A new state-of-the art passenger terminal was built along the then newly constructed Loop 20 to accommodate larger jets and to increase passenger air travel through Laredo. Expansion of air cargo facilities, taxiways and aprons, air cargo carriers such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, BAX, and others have responded by adding commercial air cargo jet services. Laredo also has two medical helipads, at Laredo Medical Center and Doctor's Hospital.

Mass transit

El Metro is the public transit system that operates in the city with 21 fixed routes and Paratransit services, with approximately 4.6 million passengers per year. El Metro works with a fleet of over 47 fixed route buses, 2 trolleys and 18 Paratransit/El Lift vans. The El Metro hub is located in downtown Laredo at El Metro Transit Center. The Center also houses Greyhound Bus Lines and provides fee-based daily parking for downtown shoppers and workers.

Rural transit

Rural transportation is provided by the Webb County operated "El Aguila Rural Transportation" (the Eagle) bus services. El Aguila serves fixed daily routes from rural communities (Bruni, El Cenizo, Mirando City, Oilton, and Rio Bravo) to the downtown El Metro Transit Center.

International bridges

• Gateway to the Americas International Bridge
• Juárez-Lincoln International Bridge
• World Trade International Bridge (commercial traffic only)
• Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge
• Texas-Mexican Railway International Bridge

Major highways

Major highways in Laredo and their starting and ending points:

• Interstate 35 Laredo-Duluth
• Interstate 69W Laredo-Victoria following I-69 to Port Huron
• Interstate 2 is proposed to be extended to Laredo following US 83. If its extended, I-2's terminus would be I-69W. It would also serve as the southern end of I-35.
• U.S. Highway 59 Laredo-Lancaster. Included on the I-69W corridor.
• U.S. Highway 83 Brownsville-Laredo-Westhope
• State Highway 255 Laredo-Colombia
• State Highway 359 Laredo-Skidmore
• State Loop 20 Loop around Laredo
• Farm to Market Road 1472 Laredo – Colombia Solidarity International Bridge

Major highways in Nuevo Laredo and their starting and ending points:

• Mexican Federal Highway 85 Nuevo Laredo-Mexico City
• Mexican Federal Highway 2 Matamoros-Nuevo Laredo-Colombia-Ciudad Acuña
• Tamaulipas State Highway 1 Nuevo Laredo-Monterrey
• Nuevo León State Highway Spur 1 Colombia-Anáhuac

Notable people

Born in Laredo

Tom DeLay, the Republican House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2006, was born in Laredo.

• Domingo Arechiga (1926–1987), president from 1974 to 1985 of Laredo Community College
• Peter Arguindegui (1931–2014), oilman and former member of the Laredo City Council^[130]
• Charles Robert Borchers (1943–1997), district attorney of the 49th Judicial District attorney 1973–1980; UISD board president, 1986–1991^[131]
• Louis H. Bruni (born 1949), businessman; former Webb County county judge and former member of the Laredo City Council
• Esther Buckley (1948–2013), member of the United States Commission on Civil Rights from 1983 to 1992; Laredo educator
• Kaleb Canales (born 1978), assistant coach of the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association
• David Barkley-Cantu, first Mexican-American to be awarded the Medal of Honor
• Pedro "Pete" Astudillo, composer
• Freddie Benavides, former professional baseball player
• Santos Benavides, Confederate States of America colonel
• Orlando Canizales, professional boxer. Career W 50 L 5 D 1
• Francisco G. Cigarroa, chancellor of University of Texas System
• Henry R. Cuellar, Democrat U.S. Representative from Texas's 28th congressional district since 2005, former Texas Secretary of State (2001) and state representative (1987–2001)
• Tony Dalton, American actor and screenwriter
• Tom DeLay, former U.S. Representative from Texas's 22nd congressional district, former House Majority Leader, Republican from Sugar Land, Texas
• Ramón H. Dovalina (born 1943), educator; president of Laredo Community College from 1995 to 2007
• Elma Salinas Ender (born 1953), first Hispanic woman state court judge in Texas; served on the 341st District Court from 1983 until her retirement in 2012
• Megan Frazee (born 1987), women's professional basketball player, 2009-
• Betty Flores (born 1944), first woman mayor of Laredo, 1998–2006
• Julio A. Garcia (1943–2008), district attorney from 1980 to 1988
• Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (born 1973), film and television director
• Joe A. Guerra (1934–2010), Laredo businessman; 20-year member of the city council; Republican political activist
• William N. "Billy" Hall, Jr. (1940–2002), state representative, county treasurer, civic leader
• Armando Hinojosa (born 1944), sculptor, designed Tejano Monument in Austin and "Among Friends There Are No Borders" at the Laredo International Airport
• Oscar M. Laurel (1920–2001), state representative, district attorney, member of the National Transportation Safety Board, executive director of the International Good Neighbor Council
• Rodney Lewis (born 1954), oil and natural gas industrialist based in San Antonio
• Honoré Ligarde (1920–1986), state representative from 1963 to 1973, lawyer, banker, businessman, civic figure
• Thomas C. Mann, former U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador
• Jose C. "Pepe" Martin, Jr. (1913–1998), mayor of Laredo from 1954 to 1978; convicted federal felon popularly known as el patron
• Mercurio Martinez, Jr., former Webb County judge and former Laredo city councilman, trustee of Laredo Community College
• A. J. Mayers, science fiction and crime novelist
• Alicia Dickerson Montemayor, Democratic political activist and educator
• George Neel, Jr. (1930–2015), businessman, rancher, community leader
• Federico Peña, former mayor of Denver, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Democrat
• Ana Rodriguez (Miss Texas USA) and Miss USA finalist, finished third runner up, 2011
• Johnny Rodriguez, Tex-Mex Country singer
• Pete Saenz (born 1951), mayor of Laredo since November 12, 2014; former trustee of Laredo Community College and Laredo lawyer
• Ezequiel D. Salinas (1908–2007), state district court judge from 1950 to 1974; civil rights activist for Hispanics
• Antonio R. "Tony" Sanchez, Jr., oilman and banker, 2002 Democratic nominee for governor of Texas, lost to Rick Perry
• Mario Santos, Jr. (1940–2014), Webb County sheriff from 1977 to 1988
• José Silva, parapsychologist
• Edgar Valdez Villarreal (born 1973), nicknamed La Barbie, Mexican-American drug lord and former leader of Los Negros^[132]
• Jack Wheeler (1944–2010), co-founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund; aide to U.S. Presidents Reagan, G. H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush
• Tano Tijerina (born 1974), former professional baseball player and the Webb County County Judge
• Judith Zaffirini (born 1946), Democrat Texas state senator since 1987
• Oscar J. Zuniga (1922–2007), engineer and developer
• Gene S. Walker, Sr. (1926–2015), rancher and businessman

Other notable residents

• W. J. Adkins (1907–1965), founding president of Laredo Community College, 1947–1960
• Steve Asmussen (born 1965), horse breeder who won three legs of the Triple Crown
• Robert L. Bobbitt (1888−1972), politician, former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives and state attorney general
• Norma Elia Cantú (born 1947), Chicana postmodernist writer and a professor of English at the University of Texas at San Antonio
• Thomas Haden Church, actor in "Sideways" and sitcom Wings
• Ruthe B. Cowl (1912−2008), philanthropist
• Edmund J. Davis (1827−1883), governor of Texas from 1869 to 1873; resided in Laredo during parts of the 1850s.
• Joe B. Finley (1924–2011), rancher, co-founder of United Independent School District
• Ray Keck (born 1947), fifth and departing president of Texas A&M International University
• Oliver Winfield Killam (1874–1959), Oilman, philanthropist, rancher, former Oklahoma state senator
• Radcliffe Killam (1910−2007), rancher, oilman, developer
• Ned Kock, information systems professor affiliated with Texas A&M International University
• Janet Krueger (born 1953), artist of south Texas ranch life, former professor at Texas A&M International University
• Ray A. Laird, president of Laredo Community College, 1960 to 1974^[133]
• Jack Lanza, ex-professional wrestler, now WWE producer
• Rafael A. Lecuona (1928–2014), Cuban-born former Olympic gymnast and retired Texas A&M International University political science professor^[134]
• Juan L. Maldonado (born 1948), sixth president of Laredo Community College
• B.P. Newman (1927–2008), businessman, developer, and philanthropist who originated Chaparral, Vista Hermosa, and Sierra Vista subdivisions
• Saul N. Ramirez, Jr., mayor of Laredo from 1990 to 1998
• Richard Peña Raymond, state representative from Webb County since 2001; previously represented Duval County
• Raul G. Salinas, mayor of Laredo from 2006–2014; native of Alice, Texas
• Crispin Sanchez (1924–2008), educator and advocate for Mexican American issues
• Aldo Tatangelo (1913−2008), reform mayor of Laredo from 1978 to 1990
• Jerry D. Thompson (born 1943), historian affiliated with Texas A&M International University
• Vidal M. Treviño (1929−2006), school superintendent and state representative
• Robert G. Whitehead (1916−2007), businessman/artist who marketed "Blue Star" first-aid ointment
• Roger L. Worsley (born 1937), president of Laredo Community College, 1985 to 1995
• Kevin Patrick Yeary (born 1966), Republican member of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; born in Cotulla, reared in Laredo, resides in San Antonio

Sister cities

During the month of July, Laredo sponsors the Laredo International Sister Cities Festival, which was founded in 2003. The festival is an international business, trade, tourism, and cultural expo. All of Laredo's sister cities are invited to participate. In 2004, the Laredo International Sister Cities Festival received the best overall Program award from the Sister Cities International.^[135] The following list is of Laredo's sister cities and friendship cities:^[136][137]

Acámbaro, Mexico 2004 Angostura, Mexico Campeche, Mexico Cerralvo, Mexico Chenzhou, Hunan, China 2001 Ciénega de Flores, Mexico 1987 Ciudad Valles, Mexico Cuautla, Mexico Escobedo, Mexico General Terán, Mexico Guadalupe, Mexico 2000 Jalpan de Serra, Mexico

Jerez de García Salinas, Mexico 1987 Lampazos, Mexico 2000 Laredo, Spain 1978 La Cruz, Costa Rica Los Herrera, Mexico Lower Hutt, New Zealand Mexticacán, Mexico 2002 Monclova, Mexico 2003 Montemorelos, Mexico Murray Bridge, Australia 1984 Nuevo Laredo, Mexico 1986 Papantla, Mexico

San Antonio de Areco, Argentina 2001 San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 2001 Tainan City, Taiwan Tainan Hsien, Taiwan Tepatitlán, Mexico Tijuana, Mexico Tlahualillo, Mexico 1988 Tonalá, Mexico Torreón, Mexico 2004 Wenzhou, China Wuwei, China 2004 Zixing, China 2002

Friendship Cities

Cuernavaca, Mexico Guadalajara, Mexico Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico León, Mexico 2006 Veracruz, Mexico 1992

See also

• Laredo–Nuevo Laredo
• Nuevo Laredo
• Webb County, Texas

References

1. Mikaela Rodriguez, "It's Chief Garner: UISD chief is new top cop at Laredo Police Department", Laredo Morning Times, March 19, 2013, p. 1, 11A
2. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. U.S. Census Factfinder 2010 Population estimate for Laredo, Texas
5. "World Gazetteer: America – largest cities (per geographical entity)". Archived from the original on 2007-10-01.
6. "Study says Laredo is least racially diverse city in America". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
7. "Aldo Amato, "Plaza Theater: Future Glory Eyed: Investors willing to give it another try", Laredo Morning Times, April 9, 2014, p. 1
8. Laredo Origin
9. Laredo Origin(Spanish)
10. Gabriela A. Trevino, "Flood of 1954: Devastating natural disaster caused serious damage", Laredo Morning Times, June 28, 2015, pp. 1, 18A
11. "Most Dangerous Cities in Texas", Laredo Morning Times, January 25, 2015, p. 6A
12. "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
13. "TX Laredo 2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 2, 2015.
14. U.S. Decennial Census
15. Texas Almanac: City Population History 1850–2000
17. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
18. U.S. Census Bureau Estimate for the Laredo, Texas Area in 2005
19. U.S. Census Bureau Estimate for the Laredo, Texas Metropolitan Area in 2006
20. Gabriela A. Treviño, "No. 1 rankjing: Laredo's wealthy are most segregated", Laredo Morning Times, April 20, 2015, pp. 1, 17A
21. Julia Wallace (May 28, 2016). "Laredo named one of the safest cities for drivers". The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
22. Aguilar, Julian (13 March 2014). "In Laredo, a Quiet Symbol of Closer Ties With Mexico". new York Times. Retrieved 5 June 2015. The South Texas city houses America's busiest inland port. In January alone, the Laredo customs district saw about $20 billion in two-way trade with Mexico, according to WorldCity, a Florida-based company that uses census data to track trade patterns. That figure represented about half of the $41 billion that the United States saw in overall trading with its southern neighbor for the month.
    "The City of Laredo Transfers Ownership of World Trade Bridge to GSA". United States General Services Administration. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2015. Since its inception the World Trade Bridge Port of Entry has become the busiest commercial port on the southwest border.
23. MacCormack, John (22 September 2012). "Laredo's image hammered by drug violence". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
24. "National report lists Laredo as largest inland port", Laredo Morning Times
25. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas "Southwest Economy "
26. Shopping Demographics in the Laredo Area
27. LareDOS Article "Streets of Laredo Urban Mall
28. Kendra Ablaza, "Official confirms 31 stores: Opening set for 2016, Laredo Morning Times, July 9, 2015, pp. 1, 12A
29. Laredo Labor Market, South Texas Workforce Commission
30. Aldo Amato, "Gender: Pay gap called large, Laredo Morning Times, April 1, 2014, p. 1
31. Matthew Nelson, "Financial Research: Laredo ranked worst in pay", Laredo Morning Times, February 6, 2014, p. 1
32. Texas Metro Market Overview: Laredo: Labor page 14
33. Washington's Birthday Celebration Association Home Page
34. Gabriela A. Trevino, "Chavez's March for Justice observed", Laredo Morning Times, March 30, 2014, p. 3A
35. Republic of the Rio Grande Museum Home Page
36. Laredo Center for the Arts Home Page
37. Imaginarium of South Texas Home Page
38. Second Imaginarium Museum on TAMIU Campus
39. The Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center Planetarium Home Page
40. Laredo Public LIbrary Homepage
41. Judith Rayo (July 22, 2016). "Laredo Public Library renamed after former city councilman". The Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
42. Laredo Public Library Bruni Branch
43. Laredo Public Library Santo Niño Branch
44. KGNS: Two new libraries coming to Laredo
45. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/cgc02
46. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/drtsa/00011/drt-00011.html
47. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fst92
48. Emporis; Laredo Buildings
49. José David Saldívar, The Dialectics of Our America: Genealogy, Cultural Critique, and Literary History (Duke University Press, 1991), 52.
50. ""Laredo" on Tales of Wells Fargo, December 23, 1957". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
51. "Texas John Slaughter: "Ambush at Laredo", November 14, 1958". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
52. "Gunmen from Laredo (1959)". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
53. "Laramie: "Cactus Lady", February 21, 1961". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
54. "Laredo". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
55. Billy Hathorn, "Roy Bean, Temple Houston, Bill Longley, Ranald Mackenzie, Buffalo Bill, Jr., and the Texas Rangers: Depictions of West Texans in Series Television, 1955 to 1967", West Texas Historical Review, Vol. 89 (2013), pp. 115-116
56. "2013 Monthly Schedule, All times EST". angelfire.com. Retrieved July 4, 2013.
57. "Eddie Macon's Run (1983)". The New York Times. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
58. Lone Star at the Internet Movie Database.
59. "Bordertown: Laredo". aetv.com. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
60. "The Ghost". Classic Television Archives. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
61. Bailey, Ryan (April 18, 2013). "Indoor Soccer Coming to Laredo". Laredo, Texas: KGNS-TV. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
62. "Professional Arena Soccer League Coming to Laredo Energy Arena". Professional Arena Soccer League. April 18, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
63. "Indoor Soccer Coming to Laredo". Laredo, Texas: KGNS-TV. May 18, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
64. http://sugarnspicefootball.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=5
65. Laredo Roses homepage
66. Laredo Morning Times; Webb County Vote Totals
67. Laredo Morning Times article; Laredoans of the Year; LMT names sports leaders Shashi and Priya Vaswani (renovation of the TAMIU Soccer Complex)
68. KGNS TV article: "Shirley Field demolished, LISD to award construction contract soon"
69. Laredo Civic Center
70. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Lake Casa Blanca International State Park
71. Laredo Country Club Website
72. Casa Blanca Golf Course Website
73. Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course
74. Golf Link; Laredo Country Club golf course information
75. Golf Link; Casa Blanca Golf Course Information
76. Parks & Recreation Department
77. Laredo Morning Times; Monument to medal holders unveiled early
78. There's a Flagpole Spec? The story behind the design and construction of the world's tallest flagpoles.
79. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
80. Aldo Amato, "Webb County: Candidates file for election", Laredo Morning Times, December 11, 2013, p. 1, 11A
81. Kendra Ablaza, "Trump visits Laredo: To meet with law endorcement, Laredo Morning Times, July 213, 2015, pp. 1, 7A
82. Kendra Ablaza, "3 hours in Laredo: Donald Trump tours border", Laredo Morning Times, July 24, 2015, p. 1
83. Gabriela A. Trevino, "True perspective: City defends warm welcome", Laredo Morning Times, July 30, 2015, pp. 1, 12A
84. Carlos Valle, Jr., "Writer disagrees with way elected officials conducted themselves during Trump's visit", Laredo Morning Times, July 30, 2015, p. 4A
85. Jill Colvin and Alicia A. Caldwell (Associated Press), "Trump calls for mass deportations: Wants all 11 million people living in the country illegally out", Laredo Morning Times, July 31, 2015, pp. 1, 14A
86. Randy S. Blair, "Writer: City should go out of its way and invite all candidates to Laredo", Laredo Morning Times, August 9, 2015, p. 17A
87. Jesse Castañeda, "It is a shame to see these city councilmen and city employees behind Trump", Laredo Morning Times, August 14, 2015, p. 4A
88. Erna Pelto, "The critics of Trump's visit want the old time Laredo of the patrons and no publicity", Laredo Morning Times, August 14, 2015, p. 4A
89. Mario G. Ortiz, "A racist individual has used Laredo and our leaders as a tool to further his personal agenda", Laredo Morning Times, August 15, 2015, p. 4A
90. "2016 Republican Party Primary Election". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
91. "Democratic Party Primary Election". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
92. Philip Balli (August 28, 2015). "Rangel sentenced to prison for extortion". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
93. Aldo Amato, "Corruption runs deep: Six officials in Webb, Laredo arrested in past seven months", Laredo Morning Times, October 19, 2014, pp. 1, 16A
94. Phillip Balli, "CBP officer pleads guilty: Wrongfully collecting pay when not workingm Laredo Morning Times, July 11, 2015, pp. 1, 7A
95. City of Laredo Government
96. Kendra Ablaza, "City manager contract approved: Olivares will receive $250k plus benefits, Laredo Morning Times, April 22, 2015, p. 1
97. Laredo Morning Times, August 1, 2013, p. 4A
98. Gabriela A. Trevino (April 4, 2016). "Compensation for Laredo City Council members, mayor to increase". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
99. Aldo Amato and Cesar G. Rodriguez, "Councilman Vera busted: Faces felony drug possession charges", Laredo Morning Times, August 2, 2014, pp. 1, 9A
100. Aldo Amato, "Jury Indicts Vera: Drug possession, filing false report". Laredo Morning Times, August 22, 2014, pp. 1, 11A
101. Malena Charur, "Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance: Signs of Improvement: 'Beneficial measure is helping beauify the city'", Laredo Morning Times, June 17, 2015, pp. 1, 12A
102. "Judge rules for city: Laredo to move forward with enforcement of ban", Laredo Morning Times, June 30, 2015, pp. 1, 7A
103. "Post Office Location – LAREDO." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
104. "Post Office Location – DEL MAR." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
105. "Post Office Location – EL CENTRO." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
106. "Parole Division Region IV." Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Retrieved on May 21, 2010.
107. "Rio Grande Detention Center". GEO Group. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
108. "Child abuse alert: Local totals are double the rate of state average", Laredo Morning Times, March 30, 2014, p. 1
109. LISD Home Page.
110. UISD Home Page
111. San Augustin High School Private Catholic School.
112. Laredo Community College Home Page.
113. Texas A&M International University Home Page.
114. University of Texas Health Science Center Laredo Campus Home Page.
119. MacCormack, John. "Sharp-penned watchdog in Laredo calls it quits". San Antonio Express-News. Hearst. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
120. Nielson: Local Television Market Universe Estimates
121. Gray to Air ABC on KGNS Subchannel TVNewsCheck, November 6, 2013.
122. tdt.com.mx Apagon Analogico en Nuevo Laredo (Spanish)
123. Arbitron: Arbitron Radio Market Rankings: Fall 2012
124. COFETEL: FM stations in Mexico
125. FCC: FM Stations in Nuevo Laredo
126. Doctor's Hospital Of Laredo Homepage
127. Providence Surgical & Medical Center
128. Gateway Community Health Center
129. Laredo Specialty Hospital
130. Louis San Miguel, "Well known Laredoan dies: Burial Mass set for St. Patrick's Church", Laredo Morning Times, August 6, 2014, pp. 1, 12A
131. Odie Arambula; et al. (March 20, 1997). "Former 'hands-on DA' Borchers dies in San Antonio hospital". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
132. "Mexico orders Laredo-born drug lord 'La Barbie' extradited to US". Laredo Sun. Agence France-Presse. Retrieved November 22, 2010.
133. Ray A. Laird obituary, Kerrville Daily Times, Kerrville, Texas, October 7, 1986
134. Dr. Rafael A. Lecuona (1928–2014), Laredo Morning Times, June 11, 2014, p. 10A
135. visitlaredo.com Laredo International Sister Cities Festival
136. City of Laredo: Sister City List
137. Sister Cities International: Laredo, Texas

External links

• City of Laredo Homepage
• Laredo Chamber of Commerce
• Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Laredo Development Foundation
• Laredo, Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Laredo History provided by the City Of Laredo
• Historic Photos from the Laredo Public Library hosted by the Portal to Texas History

Coordinates: 27°31′28″N 99°29′26″W / 27.524445°N 99.490593°W