The most common occupations in Harlingen are Health Care & Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Educational Services. This information is based on Census data tagged to residential address. The city also has a higher percentage of single residents than the rest of Texas. Approximately 54% of the city's population is employed in the retail trade sector. Another important demographic fact about Harlingen is that its residents are primarily white.
The city's population density is low, with only 14.5% of residents born in another country. However, its proportion of foreign born residents is much lower than other places in the region. The area with the highest percent of foreign-born residents is Juarez CDP, which is 17.0% larger than Harlingen. Despite this low percentage of foreign-born residents, the city is still significantly smaller than the rest of Texas.
The city is an important transportation and commerce center. World War II brought new military bases, which increased the population. Cotton production, tourism, and citrus fruit production have also been important in the community. The city is well known for its tropical birdwatching, and is located at the convergence of two primary flyways. Santa Ana NWR is also nearby, and offers a tram tour during the winter. In 2000, the population of Harlingen was 57564.
Harlingen is a Texas city located in Cameron County. The city is located in the Rio Grande Valley, approximately 48 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The city covers more than 40 square miles or 88 square kilometers. It is the second largest city in Cameron County and fourth largest city in the Rio Grande Valley. At the 2010 census, the city's population was 64,849. It is also part of the larger Brownsville-Harlingen-Raymondville metropolitan area.